I acknowledge it without shame: I like being the “funny girl” when I get the chance.
I like it when the perfect one-liner just pops out.
I love a well-crafted zinger.
I enjoy making folks laugh. I mean, I’m no Fanny Brice a la Barbara Streisand. (Though, I did like the movie “Funny Girl.” Say what you want about Barbra Streisand’s politics or her multiple farewell tours or the missing “a” in her first name. The lady can sing.) But I do enjoy pulling off feats of comedic flair from time to time. Even if they are accidental feats. Like when I blew up the microwave at work…
This is probably why my favorite-est things to write are funny scenes. Especially awkward scenes. Oh, I love me a good awkward moment on paper. And I get such a kick out of crafting such moments.
I’m comfortable with funny. I’m comfortable with awkward. Not sure what that says about me…Guess there was something about the collective experience of braces, glasses that take up your whole face, monkey arms and driving a station wagon in high school that just knocked the fear of the awkward out of me. I can do awkward. And I feel like I’m okay at writing those sort of scenes.
When I stray, though, I hit snags. True story: I tried to write an eery Ted Dekker-esque scene once. Think it came off feeling more like a circus scene gone wrong. Which, hey, is probably kinda scary in its own right. But so not what I was going for.
Thing is, I can’t write an entire book full of funny, awkward moments. I need, gulp, other emotions. Double-gulp.
Writing emotion is hard for me. I’m okay with subtle emotion, but I think every book needs at least one or two moments of swelling emotion, right? I’ve been working on those moments in my own story and gosh, it’s just not coming easy.
Or hasn’t been.
Till this week.
I hung out for a couple days at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City this week. In the PICU. In my newborn nephew’s room. And I am telling you, in those two days, I experienced every emotion in the book.
Some talk about the various colors or hues of emotion. Folks, I was a rainbow this week.
…Shock at the size of the staples in Oliver’s chest.
…Awe at how much his little body has been through.
…Joy the first time I saw him open his eyes.
…Delight at his adorable dimples.
…Fear as we waited to see how he’d react to being taken off the vent.
…Hope when the doctor said his fluids looked good.
…Concern when I learned he had to go back on the vent.
…and such overwhelming love when his little fingers gripped one of mine.
Deep emotion – the kind that reaches inside of you and tugs at your heart – it’s gritty, it’s impacting, it’s anything but easy.
But it’s the stuff life’s made of. And without it, even the funniest of funnies falls flat.
So here’s to an emotional Saturday evening…with prayers for Oliver at the forefront and some fine-tuned emotional scenes finally complete.
*****
p.s. If you’re like me and find writing emotion a challenge, check out Susan May Warren’s Deep and Wide workbook, the follow up to her first My Book Therapy book, From the Inside…Out. So, so good and so, so helpful!
p.p.s. In case you’re not familiar with my beautiful nephew’s story, he was born with a heart defect – two actually – and had his first open heart surgery a couple weeks back. My sister and brother-in-law write updates here.
Comments 5
Your emotional rainbow brought tears to my eyes. Continued prayers for Ollie. He’s a toughie.
I love well-crafted funny scenes and you have a natural voice for it. If you haven’t read Trish Perry’s The Guy I’m Not Dating, you must. It’s probably the funniest book I’ve ever read. I laughed so hard in places that it was hard to breathe.
M-Tagg,
I know you can do funny because I still smile when I recall listening to you read your scene at StoryCrafters.
And I’m suspecting you can do the whole rainbow too.
Praying for Ollie.
And seeing how he’s already changing people’s lives.
Thanks for the comments, ladies. Man, I wrote that blog on Saturday…it’s now Tuesday and a lot more has happened with Ollie. If I was a rainbow last week, I don’t know what I am now…
LJ, I’ve read that book. You’re right – it was hilarious! There’s a sequel, too, if I remember right, and it was pretty funny, as well.
We spent 2 1/2 weeks in NICU with our son in 1982. Maybe that’s why I cry when writing heavy emotional scenes. Hmmm.
You and Oliver and his parents are often on my mind.
Thanks, Jolene! I still need to give my sis “Different Dream.” I know it will encourage her!