Tip #280: Reactions & audience

the biggest laughs always come from watching characters react, think and take action... humor that's specific to the situation and the characters.

http://sevencamels.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/true-comedy-comes-from-character.html

It's fascinating stuff for the audience, even if you aren't writing humour, as peoples' reactions vary so widely.

Start with their visceral reaction. That’s the involuntary physical reaction we have no control over, that just happens despite all our best efforts to suppress it or hide it. These reactions occur immediately, before any thought processes or deliberate actions... Next, show an immediate thought-reaction, like Ow,or Oh no, or Damn, or Omigod, or That can’t be.

http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/show-visceral-reactions-first.html