Direction and Humor
The book I am writing focuses on overcoming adversity, learning to dance in the rain, and being prepared for life challenges. It will center around the story of my family and Kennady; our daughter born with many special needs. I write about how we move through difficult times and how life was set up or prepared for it.
While preparing to write and getting the concept prepared, I am running into a bit of a challenge. The topic is obviously serious and difficult to wade through. Humor, on the other hand, plays a huge role in my life. It will be very difficult for me to communicate anything without humor.
My question for you is: how can I talk about deep emotional issues and still be true to my style of humor? Will people be ‘set off’ by it? is there anything I should be cautious of? (besides dangling participles? mom, that was for you)
thanks,
robin
Posted on May 14, 2009, in Uncategorized and tagged alobar, hpe, writing. Bookmark the permalink. 12 Comments.
Robin Steele 
All are good questions—even the last one! I don’t think a person can learn to dance in the rain—-face adversities with positiveness—without having some humor in a person’s life. Maybe you could make some reference to this in your preface, explaining your type of writing???
Pastor, I am not writer but I can make a suggestion and give permission to add a paragraph or perhaps a chapter about Vera Mendez. It will provide entertainment. And if you want to be really funny, add my husband, Michael. Remember it is only a suggestion. LOL
no doubt, that would be entertaining, Vera!! 🙂
As a writer, my suggesting is write the first draft through…just write; allow your personality to flow. Later it will be time to edit, edit, edit, edit until you just cannot edit any more. You will know what needs to go.
When I was talking to Dori (Saturday after service) she said a writer friend told her (she is also writing a book) to make her audience fall in love with her family. That is a perfect suggestion for what you are doing…start by letting people know you and Erica in a way that “makes them fall in love”. That is when they will understand the challenging you seemed to face when the circumstances hit you. The reader will need to understand the full impact of the situation. Which y’all probably didn’t even understand when you were first told but only as you faced things daily did you realize it was happening and you were/are dealing with it.
thanks, casey. you are inspiration.
Pastor, I say Humor! You preach with humor and we get it.Humor takes one to a deeper understanding of what the writter is saying,its like when i read “The Shack” I laughted,I cryed,and did not want to put the book down until I had read it all. We will laugh,cry and want more as we do when you are preaching the word to us. I might say ….oh pastor he is something else!!!!u is…..Make it real.
I completely agree with Kathy. I have never met a person with a positive outlook who can’t find humor in hard circumstances. I am very certain that something you write will, at some point, offend someone, because there are enough people out there who look for ways to be offended. But, for every one of those people, there are so many more who will be inspired to laugh in the midst of their struggles. It’s gonna be good!
be yourself. funny and wise. that is you.
Jacob, that is so concise. I hope that I am
I agree w/both Jacob and Casey…
1st, your humor is very balanced…I’ve never heard you carry something too far in that regard. I think your humor will bring a perfect balance to what would otherwise be a very heavy, serious book.
2nd, what Casey said…just write what you’re led to write; editing is a beautiful thing…you can always fix what needs fixing.
Since John already called number 1 million, I want number 500,000…that way I can read it before him. 🙂
I would like to have a copy. (or gladly pay for one)
Great idea, Hope! Paying would be a good idea for all of us, I believe. 🙂