Intro
When you read or write a story, what is most important to you? The adventure? The character development? Worldbuilding? Honestly, those are very important, but what I love is small moments that don't really matter to the story, but give your characters some fun interactions. Who says your hero has to be all work and no play? Give them a day off! Have them joke around or have a prank war with their companions!
Why Are They Fun?
Very simple, the reader sees the character in another light. Imagine for example an introvert studious bookworm who mostly keeps to keep to herself and is mostly focused on the task at hand. Very important... But when she is with the people she trusts and loves? She can joke around and tease. She can have prank wars with her siblings, give her friend a joke gift for their birthday before giving the actual one etc. That shows this character in a different light than she usually is. She might be mostly serious, but that doesn't mean she always is.
I enjoy these type of things, because they are funny if you write it the right way, and they show more character.
Don't Overdo It
Can you have characters that always pull pranks and joke about everything? Well... Yes, you can. A good example is Fred and George from Harry Potter. They are almost always joking and pulling pranks on their most hated teachers. But it's not overdone in the story. They are side characters who make an impact, but they can be serious if they have to.
Having a character that is always on screen and always makes jokes is different though. When there is for example a scene where someone's love is killed or someone's family member, you don't want a character in the background joking around. When they are preparing for battle that will be between life and death, the protagonist might not be in the mood for a silly prank or teasing joke.
Keep most scenes like this separate from the main plot. Sure, a character can make a joke if they are there during the main plot and it is appropriate, but keep the scene's vibe in mind. Just throwing in a joke to lighten the mood after a darker scene will not be something the readers enjoy. To me, it is actually something that will make me feel annoyed about the character.
Quick Prompt
Bonus for today: Let's do a prompt! Write a scene where your character is having fun with their friends. Let them have a prank war, or a snowball fight... Anything you want, even playing hide and seek with their younger sibling counts. Just let your character have a day off and have some fun after a long day of being a hero!
Conclusion
Happy April Fools! I thought this would be the perfect time to do a prompt about joking characters and fun scenes. Do you have a favorite jokester? Let me know in the comments.
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