Unbelievable characters

Zany, mean, and stupid characters can be really funny, but it’s easy to go over the top and make them impossible, and once that happens I don’t enjoy the book as much. The strange thing is that oftentimes these kinds of people actually exist – they really are that stupid. I’ve known a few, but if I shared some of their words and deeds with you, you’d never believe me. You’d spend the whole book rolling your eyes and saying “come on!” So I can never write about them, because it just wouldn’t be believable, and therefore it wouldn’t be funny. I admire writers who are able to capture zaniness and stupidity without going over the top – it can’t be easy.

(Of course, in some genres, it’s ok. In science fiction, for example, characters can be as insane as you want – you don’t need to worry about suspension of disbelief. But in chick lit, when readers usually want to relate to the book, you have to be more careful.)