I don't know about you, but I like a little humor in books. Today, author Carol Heilman shares where she finds sources for humor. -- Sandy
Carol: What
makes you smile, chuckle, or laugh out loud? If you can share your humor with
your readers, you will enrich their lives.
How
to begin?
Look
at some of your own life experiences or those of family members. And if you
enjoy writing fiction, you can change any names or locations if you need to
protect the innocent.
I
was blessed to have a mother and dad who often saw the humorous side of stressful
situations.
The
following is a story that was often repeated in my family, and it became a
treasured one. If you don’t have such stories to draw from, listen to those
around you or visit an assisted-living home. Listen to the residents there. They
have a wealth of wisdom, information, and often humor to share.
During
WW II, in a Mobile, Alabama shipyard, my dad was known as a “burner.” Skilled
with a blowtorch, he helped our country build new warships or repair those
damaged at Pearl Harbor.
Mother,
with a newborn and a toddler, coped with his long work hours and she also
learned to deal with shortages--everything from beef to milk to nylons. I’ve
often heard her say, “Whenever I saw a line, I got in it.”
She
did the best she could, but she pined for her Kentucky folks. When she couldn’t stand being homesick any
longer, she packed up the three of us and caught a northbound train.
On
one such trip, she rushed down station steps. She wore a fashionable,
short-skirted dress, sling-back pumps and stockings. Somehow she managed a
diaper bag, purse, suitcase, an infant, and a two-year old clinging to her
skirt.
When
she felt a garter break and something cascading down her leg, she knew she was
in trouble. She stopped beside a luggage cart and handed me to a surprised
railroad worker before removing the hose gathered around her ankle. Then she
pulled her skirt up and unhooked the other one. After carefully placing them in
her purse, she slipped on her shoes, gathered her children and belongings and
continued racing to the train relieved that her rationed nylons could be worn
another day.
Laughter
is good medicine for the soul.
Mother’s spunky spirit stayed with her
throughout her life. She did not give in or give up, much like Agnes in my
book, Agnes Hopper Shakes Up Sweetbriar. Do you use humor in your stories? Where do you find your inspiration?
~~~~~~
Carol
Heilman, a coal miner's daughter, married her high school sweetheart, a
farmer's son. She began writing family stories, especially about her dad's
Appalachian humor, for newspapers and magazines. One day her mother said,
"We don't have any secrets any more!"
Carol's
book, Agnes Hopper Shakes Up Sweetbriar, was inspired by her mother's
spunky spirit and her dad's gentle one, as well as both parent’s humor.
