To Joke or not to Joke

I'm working on a novella called 'The Sinking of the Mary Rose'. It's about a dull suburban childless couple called reg and Mary Rose. One day Rose starts to notice she is gradually dissapearing into the ground. This goes on until she can no longer go out in public. Anyway she eventually disappears altogether and Reg gets accused of murder with various twists and turns to cut a short story short. My problem is my natural instinct is to include jokes, but it throws the story off kilter. Its a kind of modern fairytale. Should I follow my instincts or risk it turning into some arty farty thing.

Ooh, I like it! Just write it and see how it goes. If you're doing it professionally then it'll mean the many gut-wrenching, head-hurting, soul-destroying rewrites anyway, so get the first draft down how it comes naturally and then prepare to be told to do it entirely differently anyway
I'll have a read of it once it's done and won't even charge you (but be patient!).

Quote: AJGO @ October 3 2012, 1:03 AM BST

Ooh, I like it! Just write it and see how it goes. If you're doing it professionally then it'll mean the many gut-wrenching, head-hurting, soul-destroying rewrites anyway, so get the first draft down how it comes naturally and then prepare to be told to do it entirely differently anyway
I'll have a read of it once it's done and won't even charge you (but be patient!).

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Yea I think I'll just have a go and see where it takes me. This kind of thing isn't my normal line but in my old age I feel like a change.

That's the spirit!

You could always experiment with it as a short story first before going down the novella route, then you may feel less apprehensive about making changes if you feel it's not working as it is

I hate feeling apprehensive.
It has a funny theme and it could work I think you should spread the first part out so you can get an idea of the lengths it can reach

Thanks for your input, I think I'll just see where it goes like you said. My humour is bit abstract and tends to fly off in all directions, I want something more subtle for this. I'll just keep rewriting and reigning it in a tad.

i would say keep any jokes or settings quite dark .... , most novels I read are historical fiction , but even they have funny moments ! with yours I would go with something like the first time she notices it that she has the radio on with something like the jams 'going underground' or berlinda carlises 'heaven is a place on earth' ...

i like this,it has a dark and creepy feel to it and if its dark laughs you want I would go for the (oops we've ate the wrong berry's type of situation) and it gives a good premises for her thinking she is sinking/dissolving in to the ground.

Atropa belladonna aka Deadly Nightshade berry's might just be the key because they are easily mistaken for blueberry's, especially if reg and Mary are of the older community and their eyesight isn't up to much.

is it real? is it a trip? did they both die on the carpark before going home?

dark comedy is the best comedy in my humble opinion.

I think your natural instinct to avoid actual jokes is right.
Doesn't mean you can't have humour.
Kafka's 'Metamorphosis" ( of which this reminds me, somehow) is darkly funny.

It sounds like Beckett. Who is often hilarious. And gag-free.

Avoid the jokes, I reckon.

I'm trying to avoid the jokes. I don't think I'm quite up to Beckett or Kafka, although I love them both, but I'm trying a softer approach with some sly humour. I don't want it to get to Alan Bennett though. I want it to be as real as possible not to dreamlike. Thanks everyone this may take some time though...

Obviously the written word is capable of anything however, a technical query, at what point in her 'illness' would she not be able to leave the house?

I don't know why but this has made me think of 'Wilt'.
I read it once years ago but can't remember much about it at all yet it immediately sprang to mind.

Should I get me coat?

Quote: Pingl @ October 3 2012, 12:55 AM BST

I'm working on a novella called 'The Sinking of the Mary Rose'. It's about a dull suburban childless couple called reg and Mary Rose. One day Rose starts to notice she is gradually dissapearing into the ground. This goes on until she can no longer go out in public. Anyway she eventually disappears altogether..

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Sooner or later, there had to be a rehash of "The Incredible Shrinking Man" - "The Incredible Sinking Woman".

Quote: Stylee TingTing @ October 4 2012, 11:30 PM BST

Sooner or later, there had to be a rehash of "The Incredible Shrinking Man" - "The Incredible Sinking Woman".

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She doesn't shrink, she simply fades into the floor. She also doesn't fight earwigs with a giant needle.

Quote: Pingl @ October 4 2012, 11:33 PM BST

She doesn't shrink..

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When you learn to read, you'll see I wrote "Sinking" as regards the woman.