A few weeks ago, I shared some thoughts about how Charles Dickens addressed time and mortality in his fiction. Today I wanted to share a little about what I learned from Dickens about how to use humor in my stories.

One of the best things for me as a storyteller is hearing from readers from all over the world who email or message me on Facebook or through this website. Like any other writer, I love hearing how my stories have brought readers enjoyment. While my characters get a lot of mentions, one of the things that makes me happiest is when readers say my stories made them laugh. Let’s face it, we could all use a little more laughter in our lives, especially these days. 

I’ve been wanting to share how I incorporate humor into my stories, but when it came down to it, I was having trouble explaining something that comes fairly easily to me. Why does it come fairly easily? Because I learned from the best. 

I decided to become a novelist after reading David Copperfield and Great Expectations when I was getting my Master’s degree in English. There was something about Dickens’s writing that called to me, and I wanted to do what he did—create new ways of seeing every day things. While I would never compare what I do to what he did, I do believe that I inherited my ability to be funny on the page from him. If I want to explain how I incorporate humor into my writing, I should start with what I learned from Dickens.

When readers think of Charles Dickens, they tend to think of fog-drenched London streets, grim workhouses, and the shadows of poverty. His novels are full of social critique, after all, but Dickens was also funny, as in wickedly funny. His use of humor was one of his greatest creative powers. Humor gives Dickens’s writing energy, and it makes his characters leap off the page. It allows him to tackle dark topics without losing his readers. Dickens shows us that laughter is a vital part of storytelling.

Humor Builds Memorable Characters

From Mr. Micawber’s effusive optimism in David Copperfield to the absurd pomp of Mr. Bumble in Oliver Twist, Dickens uses comedy to make his characters unforgettable. Their quirks, exaggerations, and verbal tics aren’t just funny, they make the characters come alive. Humor can be a tool for deepening characters. Think about how a witty line, a comic exaggeration, or a ridiculous habit might reveal not just personality but vulnerability too.

Humor Balances Darkness

A few years ago, for an interview about When It Rained at Hembry Castle, the interviewer kindly asked, “When It Rained at Hembry Castle contains many hilarious scenes. Why do you find it important to use humor in your writing?” 

“This goes back to my love for Dickens,” I answered. “Dickens was a hilarious writer, and from him I learned that if you’re going to write truthfully about people then you have to include the light as well as the dark. People are funny. We do and say funny things all the time (sometimes without meaning to do so—which makes it even funnier). And besides, a sense of humor goes a long way in making a story fun to read.”

Dickens never shied away from social injustice, child poverty, or systemic cruelty. But readers can only handle so much darkness. His playful descriptions and comic interludes offer relief, making the heavy themes more digestible. I’ve learned that if your story deals with difficult themes, moments of humor can keep your reader engaged. Laughter and sorrow side by side create emotional depth because that’s the reality of our lives. We can be crying in despair one moment and laughing like we’re five in the next. 

Humor Critiques Society

Dickens’s wit wasn’t just for laughs. His humor often pointed directly at the hypocrisies of Victorian society. Think of the ridiculous system of law in Bleak House or the shallow social climbers in Our Mutual Friend. By making readers laugh at these figures, Dickens also made them question the systems those figures represented. Humor can expose truths and challenge readers without feeling preachy.

Humor Creates Connection

Part of Dickens’s genius was that he was writing for everyone. His jokes, puns, and comic set pieces brought people together. No matter who you are, you can laugh at Mrs. Gamp’s drunken ramblings in Martin Chuzzlewit. Humor makes a story more accessible. It builds a bond between writer and reader since laughter is a shared experience.

Humor is more than decoration in a story. It can be a creative force. It shapes characters, deepens themes, and brings readers closer through a shared moment. Even when Dickens was writing about poverty, injustice, or death, he knew when to throw in a good laugh. For modern writers, that’s the lesson, I think. Humor in writing isn’t about being a stand-up comedian and telling jokes, though that’s okay if that’s the way your mind works. It’s about using laughter to reveal truth, to connect, and to keep your readers interested and turning the page.