Blowing It Up: Exaggerations Big Bang
Writing the Satire
Exaggerations the dynamite of satire – it takes a spark and makes a boom. Stretch a flaw to absurdity: a slow clerk becomes “so glacial, icebergs passed her with my receipt.” Target a braggart – a CEO: “His new jet flies so fast, it lapped yesterday.” The tricks in ballooning a truth – pride or greed – until it pops with laughs. Random blasts miss; anchor it to the sin. Mark Twains “million-pound banknote” blows wealth into hilarity. Start tame: “My coffees so cold, it froze my spoon.” Escalate: “It iced the room.” Practice turns pebbles into preposterous peaks.
Teaching the Technique
Teach exaggeration with a stretch race. Give “cat naps” – blow it up: “Kitty slept so long, she woke as pharaoh.” Show how it highlights quirks without drifting. Use “The Onion” – “Man Eats City” – to dissect: small seed, big bang. Assign “late bus” – spark: “Bus so tardy, Im retired now.” Discuss what lands: truth in the stretch. Warn against chaos – focus keeps it funny. Play a game: one line, next kid amps it, vote on the wildest win. Exaggerations a cannon – teach them to aim it.
