Q: How Do You Write Satire That’s Absurd But Still Coherent?

A: Mastering the Method Behind the Madness – By Alan Nafzger

The Delicate Balance of Logical Lunacy

At Bohiney Magazine, we’ve perfected the art of crafting satire that’s wildly absurd yet internally consistent. Here’s our framework for creating pieces that are completely ridiculous yet make a strange kind of sense.

1. The “One Absurd Premise” Rule

We establish:

• One clearly impossible core concept

• Everything else follows logically

• No additional absurdities muddying the waters

Example:
“Congress Passes Bill Requiring All Laws to Be Read Aloud by Siri”
(Absurd premise + logical bureaucratic execution)

2. The “Real World Logic” Technique

We apply:

• Actual corporate/political decision-making patterns

• Genuine bureaucratic processes

• Authentic institutional behaviors

…to completely ridiculous scenarios.

Case Study:
“Company Announces New ‘Unpaid Internship’ Benefit for Executives”
(Absurd reversal but real corporate logic structure)

3. The Bohiney Coherent Absurdity Checklist

Before publishing, we verify:
✓ Is the premise clearly impossible?
✓ Does everything else follow logically from it?
✓ Would the scenario make sense if the premise were true?
✓ Is the humor in the premise, not the confusion?

4. The “Escalating Normalcy” Method

We structure pieces to:

1. Start with mild absurdity

2. Escalate gradually

3. Maintain straight-faced tone throughout

Example:

1. “Company announces new policy”

2. “Employees must pay for parking”

3. “Parking fees increase based on salary”

4. “CEO gets $10,000 monthly parking subsidy”

Final Thought: Absurdity as Revelation

When we write “Government Launches ‘Common Sense’ Department (Immediately Defunded)”, we’re not just being silly – we’re using airtight absurdity to expose real-world irrationality. Because the most effective satire isn’t just funny – it’s disturbingly plausible in its implausibility.

— Alan Nafzger