Henneth Annûn Story Archive

Was e-mailing with Aralanthiriel, and got nibbled by a possible nuzgul.

There are a lot of humor stories that are basically metafics--PPC, OFUM, and the one whose name I can't recall wherein two fangirls (who really are fans, as opposed to the usual breed of Sue) get stuck as Sues in a PPC-friendly LOTR. There are also some canon-based stories that are funny without being metafics (Bryn's "Out of the Frying Pan" and TreeHugger's "In the Halls of the Wood Elf King", for example).

What I'm interested in, though, is humor that doesn't arise from the situation that a character is presently in, but comes from a character's story-telling and delivery--how would Boromir tell a funny story? What story would he tell? How would Gimli or Legolas or Elrohir, or anyone you like, tell a funny story? And what would they tell?

The goal is to make it believably the same character you've written before, just at his or her campfire-side stand-up comic best.

What think people? Would this be interesting?

 

What I'm interested in, though, is humor that doesn't arise from the situation that a character is presently in, but comes from a character's story-telling and delivery--how would Boromir tell a funny story? What story would he tell? How would Gimli or Legolas or Elrohir, or anyone you like, tell a funny story? And what would they tell?

The goal is to make it believably the same character you've written before, just at his or her campfire-side stand-up comic best.

What think people? Would this be interesting?

I definitely think this has potential. Are you volunteering to give us Denethor, Dwim?

 

I definitely think this has potential. Are you volunteering to give us Denethor, Dwim?

That would be most interesting, Dwim. You should definitely take up that challenge. >D

~Aralanthiriel

 

I note a minor conspiracy here!

Aralanthiriel:
You should definitely take up that challenge

Andria: I definitely think this has potential. Are you volunteering to give us Denethor, Dwim?

Hm. Will I do Denethor? Er... we are talking about Denethor right? I mean, the same guy I have commit marital rape, work himself to death, tyrannize the council, and play his sons off against each other, right? Same guy? The unsociable one? And you want me to write him as telling a funny story? [checks personal list of sins, compiled weekly by AngelsRUs, HeavenInc.] Nope, nothing there that particularly deserves it....

All righty... I will make an attempt *if* I get some other volunteers on this puppy. Any character you like--Aralanthiriel, if I do Denethor, you're not getting out of writing Aragorn's funny story. Andria, I'd say Arathorn, but that somehow seems too easy. Hm.... Elrond, perhaps? Yes... how about Elrond?

Any other takers? Come on, be brave... step right up and join the madness. So long as Andria and Aralanthiriel cooperate, I need two more before I try to get it posted as an official challenge!

 

Aralanthiriel, if I do Denethor, you're not getting out of writing Aragorn's funny story.

Well, I suppose I'd do anything for a funny tale told by Denethor. *g* However, I am completely clueless about the rangers' way of life, so expect lots of annoying e-mails from me with questions on Aragorn along the way. I can probably get started on it sometime in December or January, when I'm done with my university applications.

So... now that I've agreed, we'll be getting a funny story out of Denethor? >D

~Aralanthiriel

 

Oooh... tempting.

Can I offer "Gondor's Depraved" as an example? Or is that a bit too crass, even for our collection of oddbods?

Actually, it's sort of interesting contemplating the idea of Frodo telling a funny story - it'd be a nice change from all the angst, angst, ooh this ring is heavy, angst, Sam I love you (purely platonic like) angst, angst angst spam and angst, and did I mention the angst yet?

Now, which of them would be best suited to the hideously long, thoroughly deadpan delivery of a shaggy dog story?

 

I thought Gondor's Depraved was the drinking song...?

If you can get one of the characters to tell a funny story with a song, then yes, no problem. I was looking more for story-telling in the more conventional vein: "So I'm sitting at a bar, and...." (except modified for M-e, of course, with whatever subject matter you/your chosen character would like).

I'd actually love to see Frodo tell a *funny* story, given that he does, as you say, spend so much time angsting. It need not be long, just long enough to get the punchline across--it can be a straight first-person narrative, as if the reader were really "listening" to this character. The goal is for the character not to be totally OOC while doing this.

So you're good for a go? Can I count you among the few, the proud... the depraved? ;-)

 

Aralanthiriel asked:
So... now that I've agreed, we'll be getting a funny story out of Denethor?

I'm still waiting for an "ok" from Andria. C'mon Andria! Say 'yes' and I'll commit! It may not be funny, but I'll give it my best shot.

And you are welcome to ask question about rangering ways, although I can't promise to have answers. See the previous post, also, for a better idea of what I had in mind.

And I am utterly sympathetic to things that are done in December and January, seeing as I have now [counts on fingers] five fics that I'm commited to write/update once the semester is out.

 

Dwim wrote:

All righty... I will make an attempt *if* I get some other volunteers on this puppy. Any character you like--Aralanthiriel, if I do Denethor, you're not getting out of writing Aragorn's funny story. Andria, I'd say Arathorn, but that somehow seems too easy. Hm.... Elrond, perhaps? Yes... how about Elrond?

Eeep what are you trying to do? Terrify a poor, fragile, newbie dabbler half out of her wits? Elrond! He’s an elf – I don’t do elves, but I promise to mull it over – that’s as far as I’m going at the moment, coward that I am.

At least straight first person narrative is about the only thing I can “do”.

 

Dwim wrote:

I'm still waiting for an "ok" from Andria. C'mon Andria! Say 'yes' and I'll commit! It may not be funny, but I'll give it my best shot.

Hell, I suppose anything for that Denethor fic ......

But it might be a while in coming.

Andria

 

Hell, I suppose anything for that Denethor fic ......

Way to make a sacrifice for the cause! ;-)

But it might be a while in coming.

Same here. BTW, I hope that no one will mind if I use this challenge as sort of a... call it a practice run for an envisioned S&S scene? Gotta try to multi-task here, but I promise not to wait til that chapter comes up to post it.

Ok, so I've got Denethor, Aralanthiriel has Aragorn, Andria has mulled over the comedic genius of Elrond and can now properly address his unique sense of humor :-D, and Meg is seriously thinking of Frodo in a light moment.

Do we have other takers? Look through the appendices and indices of names in Sil and LOTR. Pick a name. Is anyone here crazy enough to try Túrin in this venue? How about Glorfindel? Any lady comedians out there? Rosie? Arwen?

 

What about Galadriel? Something tells me the lady is a howl at a bar, telling whoppers and bad puns to beat all the boys.

Ang

 

[bats eyes prettily] So you're volunteering to give us Galadriel's tale, Ang?

 

Nooooooo, I am not volunteering for nuthin'. Should the muse bite, who knows what might happen, of course.

And my muse bites big time.

Ang

 

Dwim: All righty... I will make an attempt *if* I get some other volunteers on this puppy.

For the sake of reading your Denethor, I think I'd volunteer to anything!! I love this challenge, and will be looking forward to reading whatever gets posted.

Any other characters you would like to see as the victims of our insanity? What about Eomer? And, don't you think it would be nice to see a Saruman/Wormtongue sort of thing... ?

And, Aralanthiriel, please go on with your Aragorn!

 

Then step right up and pick a character. The idea is to get him or her to tell a funny story--one can provide the audience via third person setting (but the humor cannot stem primarily from the circumstances of that setting--it has to come from the character's telling of a particular story), or else just write it in first person, making the reader the direct audience, as it were. There are advantages to both methods.

Éomer I think would be hilarious. Saruman... yeeouch! I thought I was masochistic (or weak-willed, which is also true, clearly). If you can pull that off credibly, um, geez, you are due major kudos and a career as a humor writer!

So... counting heads, I'm seeing about five people who are willing to try their hands at this and a few other parties who would be interested in seeing this done. Ang, can I send you a Challenge text and have you post it? Is that how this works?

 

Ang:
Nooooooo, I am not volunteering for nuthin'. Should the muse bite, who knows what might happen, of course.

And my muse bites big time.

Hm. [eyes Ang's fanged muse] How about Rosie, then? You're a hobbit specialist--surely you can give Rosie a good story that'd knock Sam's socks off with laughter, did he wear any.

 

My bag-lady muse is bicycling into view, but I can't tell yet if she's got Faramir or Bergil riding on the handlebars.

 

Yup, yup, that's how it works.

I set it up, then you can modify it as necessary.

Ang

 

No more freaking Hobbits! I've got a story I can't finish already.

Let me mull it over. No promises whatsoever....

 

Dwim wrote:

Same here. BTW, I hope that no one will mind if I use this challenge as sort of a... call it a practice run for an envisioned S&S scene? Gotta try to multi-task here, but I promise not to wait til that chapter comes up to post it.

Hmm....Why do I have this ever-so-vague, incy wincy feeling that I might have been had in some way here?

 

I have no idea why you'd think that!

Actually, I really *hadn't* planned it that way. That particular scene is not on the horizon of things that will be worked on during Christmas break, and might not be written this summer either. You just happened to give me the opportunity to do a trial run and see how Denethor handles humor; so much as I cringe to think of what he might find amusing, it's beneficial to the story. :-)

Had I had my own pick, I would, of course, have done someone *else*... like Háma, actually, with that haystack incident he's still a bit paranoid about....

 

Actually, I really *hadn't* planned it that way.

Evil just comes naturally, right, Dwim? >D

Had I had my own pick, I would, of course, have done someone *else*... like Háma, actually, with that haystack incident he's still a bit paranoid about....

No one's stopping you from writing more than one response to the challenge, Dwim.

~Aralanthiriel

 

Tell that to the part of my brain concerned with logic and time management. It's fighting a losing battle as it is, and has put its virtual foot down. :-)

As for that *other* charge which I shall not dignify with a citation, is this the face of evil?

 

I'll have to put my two cents in...

With regards to evil coming naturally, I'd have to say that sounds more like our own dear Aralanthiriel... There I was, minding my own business (happily hunting for Easter Eggs) when she popped up on my screen and started badgering me to claim Haldir before someone else snatched him up. I have no inspiration, and am not an especially funny individual, but if no one else wants him, I'll give it a go. I make no promises, though!

Down, Aralanthiriel! Are you happy now?

Drew *sets out Nuzgul traps*

 

One question before I go off to sleep,

When the challenge says that the circumstances isn't where the humour comes from - does that mean that the story the character tells can't be funny? (i.e. it should be a serious tale told in a funny manner) or what?

~Aralanthiriel, far too tired to respond to outlandish accusations...

 

When the challenge says that the circumstances isn't where the humour comes from - does that mean that the story the character tells can't be funny? (i.e. it should be a serious tale told in a funny manner) or what?

No no. The story can be slapstick if that's how you think your character's sense of humor would believably manifest itself.

What I mean is that the humor of your tale can't stem from Aragorn's chair getting tipped too far back at the climax of the story and dumping him into a mud pit or such like. Likewise, I don't get to make the humor of Denethor's tale stem from the fact that he's extremely drunk and acts like a moron. The funny part has to be the story itself that the character tells and the way he or she delivers it. Preferably in such a way that we can go "Yup, if so-and-so were set on making someone laugh, that's how s/he'd go about it!"

Tall order, but it's all your fault anyway, so I have no sympathy. ;-)

And Drew, I utterly sympathize. Humor writing is not something I've ever really tried to do in a non-parody format. This'll be a challenge for us both!

 

What I mean is that the humor of your tale can't stem from Aragorn's chair getting tipped too far back at the climax of the story and dumping him into a mud pit or such like.

Although I did just laugh out loud at that.

BTW, anyone wanting proof that Tolkien could write comedy should come round to my place and hear my other half read 'A Long Expected Party'. It was absolutely hilarious.

 

BTW, anyone wanting proof that Tolkien could write comedy should come round to my place and hear my other half read 'A Long Expected Party'. It was absolutely hilarious.

Does he do phone requests? ;-)

And are you going to give us your rendition of [flips a coin] Éowyn's sense of humor, Madame List Mom?

 

What I mean is that the humor of your tale can't stem from Aragorn's chair getting tipped too far back at the climax of the story and dumping him into a mud pit or such like.

I agree with Una - that's hilarious! *g* Oh, I just had the funniest image of Aragorn trying his best to look all kingly while covered with mud.

Tall order, but it's all your fault anyway, so I have no sympathy.

*splutters* My fault? How? Need I remind you who it was that actually started this thread?

Anyway, thanks for the clarification!

Will be off to plot (the story, that is) now,

~Aralanthiriel

 

Okay, I've been roped in by the lovely Aralanthiriel--Valar bless her black little soul. ^_~

I claim Gimli! If anyone can tell a funny story, it's that wonderfully cantankerous Dwarf of mine! *ducks as Seaweed throws a possessive glare* Yikes!

*snicker*

Heh heh heh...



~Katharine

 

Katherine the Great wrote:
Okay, I've been roped in by the lovely Aralanthiriel--Valar bless her black little soul. ^_~

Indeed. Thank you for supporting my position that Aralanthiriel is quite evil. :-)

And I'm glad someone will take on Gimli. I agree. He ought to have some great stories that should have people wishing for beverage monitor warnings.

Aralanthiriel demanded:

*splutters* My fault? How? Need I remind you who it was that actually started this thread?

Descartes would say that you 'eminently possessed' this Nuzgul since it was your conversation that caused me to conceive of it. Others might raise the spectre of the post hoc fallacy, but I do not fear them. Clearly, my gloomy soul could never conceive of this challenge without outside help, therefore it must be your fault.

 

I thought Gondor's Depraved was the drinking song...?

Re-read the information about which sporting body sings it, and who their Captain is. >D

Anyway, I'll see whether I can work something up. I don't promise anything, but, who knows.

...

 

Oh, and before anyone asks, the particular nuzgûl that is currently finding its way past my chainmail nuzgûl-wrangling gaiters and heavy metal-plated gauntlets has a very loooong and involved story which can only effectively be done by Aragorn.

It won't be forthcoming straight away - I'm trying to apply for a different job at present, and a lot of my writing energy is getting eaten up by that. Then there's all the *other* things on my "in progress" pile...

Dammit, who let that bloody nuzgûl loose, anyway?

 

BTW, anyone wanting proof that Tolkien could write comedy should come round to my place and hear my other half read 'A Long Expected Party'. It was absolutely hilarious.

Does he do phone requests? ;-)

You do the phonin', he'll do the talkin'!


And are you going to give us your rendition of [flips a coin] Éowyn's sense of humor, Madame List Mom?

*shivers* The merest thought of Éowyn's sense of humour fills me with fear.


Una

 

Meg is seriously thinking of Frodo in a light moment

Actually, no, I wasn't. I was setting that particular nuzgûl loose for someone else to nibble. Possibly someone with a B blood group - for some reason they aren't that fond of me.

However, I do have everyone's favourite ranger trying to tell a very long, involved and above all *painful* shaggy dog story. Now, if I can just settle down and write it...

Thank gods I got me the Palm Pilot. I need something to be able to work on in these odd moments where I'm out of reach of either of the PCs that I typically write on (home and work). Next purchase on the "writer's aids" list is a laptop PC...

Meg
--

 

Awright, bloody heck, Gimli's funny tale is almost complete.

Now, how do I stick it up for all to view?



By the way, I LOVE that little rolling smiley. He makes me crack up every time I see him! *laughs*

~Kate

 

Go to "My Stories"

Click the "Add a Story" button in the sidebar navigation

Create a listing for the story - just about everything is select from a drop down list. I suggest making it a "General" status story.

Now, on the main "My Stories" page, look at your "General" stories. You'll see the listing you just made.

Click on "Add Content" just tothe right of the story name. That is where you will be able to add chapters.

Click on "Add a New Chapter" button and fill out the chapter form as many times as you have a chapter.

It's pretty much exactly like Nindaiwe.

Once you've created a story listing (you don't even need a chapter to do this part), go to the bottom of "My Stories" main page (Yes, I know the page layout stinks - it is slated for a nice makeover!) and click "Accept a Challenge" to enter the story in the Challenge of your choice.

Toodles - Ang

 

Finally...

I've finished the story, I'm just about to post it up at the moment.

This is the first story I've written from go to whoa on the Palm, so apologies if it seems a little patchy.

It's called "Campfire Story" if you want to read it.

 

Okey doke, Gimli's tale is done. Its title is "Three Guys, Some Wine, and a Really Funny Joke." ^_^ I love this title, it's just so...dumb. ^_^

Anyhoo, I entered the story in as a General, but I couldn't find this particular challenge listed when I went to Accept Challenge. Am I missing something here?

Love and Pop-Tarts,

Katharine





P.S. I love those smileys. They make me giggle.

 

Hm. Should be there.

Click "Challenges" in the sidebar, then scroll to the right, where you will see a list of the five challenges with the most imminent closing dates. In that list, about in the middle, is "Make 'Em Laugh." Click on the title of the challenge. Scroll to the right again to see the skinnier column, where "accept challenge" is written. Click on that. A drop-down menu will appear, and you just pick the relevent fic, hit "ok" and off you go.

Alternately, click "Challenges" from the sidebar menu once again. In the sidebar, you will see options appear beneath "Challenges," including "open challenges." Click that to see the old layout, then scroll down to "Make 'Em Laugh." Under the title, there's a button that says "Accept Challenge." Click on it, and you'll be at that drop-down menu again. Proceed according to instructions.

Glad to hear that Gimli is getting a story. I look forward to reading it! Don't forget that you can talk about it in "Challenges: Story Discussions" forum. I think I already have a thread dedicated to the "Make 'Em Laugh" challenge.

 

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