Bill Conrad's Blog, page 18

Interviewing Bill

Last week, I got a fantastic email, “We would like to interview you on the radio.” That’s great news! And, of course, I immediately emailed back, “Sounds wonderful. Please send me the details.” My mind was on cloud nine for the next two days as I thought about possible interview questions and conversation topics.
Finally, the email reply came. For $35, they would convert my book cover into a 3D animation and place it along with my biography on their site. There was no mention of an interview or the word “radio.” Plus, their site was down, and I located a two-year-old YouTube promotion video with nine views. If there were a $35 money-wasting contest…
Long before the internet, there were useless paid services, scams, and bogus offers. Even with a bunch of filters set up, I get ten spam emails a week on my website email account. “Click here to have your website ranked #1! RE:Website design proposal. Add merchandise to your website.” I heavily filter my personal email account and still get at least three spams daily.
But this email was different. It lifted my hopes and then dashed them to bits. I hate being targeted, but unfortunately, this is the future of advertising. Artificial intelligence is already harvesting databases and generating targeted advertisements. Our remaining mental weak spots are under attack, and the walls we will have to put up will shut out everyone and everything.
Soon, the artificial intelligence scams will be so well disguised that, more often than not, we will not be able to tell. Perhaps in the near future, I will be fooled into accepting a “radio interview,” and while discussing my book, the artificial intelligence chat-box will casually ask for personal information. “Wow, that sounds like a fantastic plot. Hey, tell me about yourself. What is your mother’s maiden name?” I only wanted to promote my book…
Of course, this blog is about writing, and I have a plan to turn the tables. For the last six months, I have been outlining the plot for a new book series (that will probably come out in 10 years LOL) where I dive into the perils of a world filled with artificial intelligence. That is how an author takes revenge.
Yet, I’m still disappointed. I honestly thought my book was worthy of a radio interview. It’s tough when people take advantage of our humility. But I have four loyal blog readers, which is more than enough. Plus, this blog is sort of like an interview. I get to think about my own questions and write up the answers. “I’m your radio blog host, DJ Pop and Fresh. The time is 1:25 in the afternoon. Let’s get an update on traffic.”

All In

The recent Roe vs Wade Supreme Court decision got me thinking about the various groups who openly share thoughts on the matter. They all had strong opinions and were not shy about sharing them with every possible media outlet or person who would listen. But what if a person in one of these groups disagreed with the “group opinion?” The other members would not be happy and may even ask the member to leave.
That harsh reaction seems confusing because humans are diverse, and we have many opinions. Why should we be 100% in agreement with everybody in the group? Yet, we appreciate like minds and enjoy being accepted. Some of us even enjoy directing the group opinion.
Conformity has been part of our mental patterns since the beginnings of civilization. Along the way, the popular people removed decenters, and this action further strengthened the group. This conformity extends to all areas of human existence. For example, it would be unlikely that a high school math club would hold a sporting event.
The fraternity of authors must also abide by certain rules or risk being shunned by readers. For example, publishers manufacture books to specific sizes, and the stories follow content, structure, and format rules.
A big rule to follow is to keep the story within the pre-stated boundaries of which the book is marketed. For example, a mystery book must contain a mystery. Halfway through, the mystery part of the story cannot end without resolution, and the plot turns romantic. Authors must commit themselves to meet their reader’s expectations or risk harsh reactions. The same applies to character types. The evil killer cannot become an adorable person who loves puppies. Instead, their evil heart must extend to all parts of their personality.
What about a mystery-romance book? That’s fine, but the mystery and romance elements must exist from the start (and the book description). The same is true with anti-heroes or characters with complex personalities.
Is this book format notion as strong as the deep-rooted issues facing our society like Roe vs Wade? One is tempted to answer no, but I disagree. People have nearly infinite entertainment options and will harshly reject anything they disapprove of. Every author knows readers will put down a terrible book in the blink of an eye and write a scathing review. New readers will not pick up a book if they dislike its description or cover. They are further influenced by bad reviews. This means that new readers apply lots of effort to avoid something they may not enjoy reading. However, they apply their rejection effort from the comfort of their computer chair or while browsing the library or book store. But we must not forget that millions of readers actively choose not to read a particular book. Like mine. Did I mention that my second book is for sale?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734038705
Driving to a protest requires significant effort. Even discussing a matter, or finding an online outlet to discuss a topic, requires much more effort than putting down a book or clicking “one star.” Therefore, I would argue that an author must treat their readers with great respect.
To prevent rejection, an author must be “all in.” For example, halfway through a romance book, the plot cannot pivot to science fiction without warning. It’s funny that humans are so rigid, and we cannot accept a unique story format.
The same applies to this blog. My four regular readers are used to my quirky style and focus on writing. So while my readers have tolerated vague material that takes a while to make a point, my readers would not accept a sudden switch to an intense Roe vs Wade discussion.
On a side note, my Roe vs Wade opinion is not too exciting. I feel X, and if this is not your opinion, I understand. But we need to wrap this blog up with the spirit of this topic. So, I am all in with bringing this topic to a close.

Puzzle Stories

Humans have a nearly infinite amount of entertainment at their disposal. Want a basic example? Try thinking up words that end in “y.” Or a long one. Watch every episode of the Simpsons and count the number of times they draw characters with five fingers.
Of course, this blog is about books and writing. Books have been around for a long time and the vast content and styles available range from comics without words to epic tales that span many volumes. However, I wanted to concentrate on one particular category called a “puzzle story.” This is where the author places clues or information thought the plot, and the reader or viewer must mentally put together the “big picture.” Mystery, crime, and some thrillers stories fall into this category.
Video Games sometimes fall into this category of entertainment. A typical video game might start with a backstory, and the player searches for clues or objects to get to the next level. At this stage, more backstory is revealed, and the process repeats itself. Often, the player must go to a former level to obtain clues or information.
Puzzle stories are not for every reader because they do not desire the challenge of deciphering a complex plot. This means they have a limited market, and readers dislike it when the book description fails to inform the reader about the plot type.
Creating a puzzle story is also challenging for writers. First, they begin with a complex “map” of the entire story. This might be an outline, diagram, or 3x5 cards. This last option is actually the most common method, according to an article about writing mystery books I read years ago. An author writes out a basic plot on the cards and then throws them up into the air to mix. Then they can create a story that reveals itself in unexpected ways.
Writers face significant problems when trying to reconcile complex plots. The biggest issue is missing (not fully describing) a key aspect. There might even be one or more apparent alternative solutions. As a result, puzzle stories are challenging to write, debug, and edit. Also, this category of entertainment has limited interest.
Puzzle stories are challenging to turn into successful movies. The best examples begin (like the above video game example) with entertaining backstory and then grind down to a halt as the main character searches for clues. Therefore, moviegoers dislike plots adapted from video games. The same applies to popular mystery books and some thrillers. The result is flat because the filmmaker cannot spend precocious screen time vetting dead ends or searching for clues.
I have never tried to write a mystery or puzzle story because they are too complex. Also, my outline process would probably require a year or more to develop a solid story. But I have thought about adapting my second book into a video game. Unfortunately, I would face the same issue. It’s tough to keep players entertained without frustrating them. Fortunately, I try to keep the mystery out of my blogs. They are hard enough to write without intentionally trying to trick readers.

Overengineering

The term “Overengineering” applies to the practice of making something far more robust than necessary. For example, if a roof requires (through calculations or building codes) four trusses, the builders install six. The result would be more expensive but (in theory) would last longer.
What is the difference between overengineering and overkill? Overkill is when the maker applies far too much effort to ensure resilience. In the above example, this would mean installing ten or more trusses.
What is the difference between overengineering and making a design redundant? A redundant design usually has an extra element to continue working during a failure. Such designs have rules or formulas that specify how to make something redundant. They are often in critical designs, such as an airplane.
I find all overengineered designs have a common factor. It takes far longer to disassemble these contraptions. For example, I often use three times more screws than necessary and excessive glue in my wooden projects. Side note. I recently purchased an extra bottle.
Is an overengineered design better? I find them to be heavier with poor craftsmanship and appearance.
Has an overengineered design ever saved the day? A few times, and that’s enough incentive for the trend to continue with gusto. It’s strange how our mind works.
There is another aspect of overengineering that needs to be explored. It’s fun! Hey, if 4 trusses are required, let’s put in six! I have a box of screws. Let’s use them all! Hmm, that might fail someday. Let’s add more structure. I think I can make this design last for 100 years.
What does overengineering have to do with writing? It’s all the same. A description that should require three sentences will go on for a page, or a quick plot takes two chapters. In other cases, the author introduces unnecessary characters, plot twists, or unrelated drama. Such works take forever to unravel and are boring, confusing, or tedious.
Have I ever overengineered my writing? Unfortunately, I do this far too often, and here is a detailed example of my exuberance:
https://interviewingimmortality.com/b...
Does the term overengineering specifically apply to writing? Wordsmiths like myself have spent years inventing vocabulary to describe everything. This means we have crafted specific words to describe a work that requires editing.
Babbling, jabbering, run-on, gossiping, obfuscating, muddling, confounding, jumbling, discombobulating, befuddling, and so on. This means that writers have overengineered their capability to describe overengineered literature. Wow, that is a lot of power. The pen is indeed mightier than the sword.
Do I overengineer blogs? In each one, I like to make sure that I completely cover the topic. The result is a robust gem that probably has far too many words to vet the issues. But that might not be too bad; perhaps that is why my four blog readers stick around.

My Greatest Stories

Some people have a life full of adventure, and others have not traveled over 20 miles from where they were born. However, everybody has at least one unforgettable story in their life. In my case, I do not consider myself to have led an adventurous life. I did not serve in the military, choose an exciting career, risk my life or live in a crazy part of the world. Yet, I broke two bones, got into minor car accidents, had stitches three times, been in two life-threatening situations, met fantastic people, and worked on two great projects. My family has had a similar level of adventure.
I thought it would be interesting to describe my top five most interesting/pride-filled/life-experience stories that happened to me or my family. However, I did not want to make my selection a list of “I am better than you” challenges. For example, I was a passenger in a race car with a professional driver. Clearly, describing this exciting experience would be bragging, not the direction I was going for. So here are my top five.
I took SCUBA diving lessons in high school, which became a minor interest. Diving is a dangerous sport, and I ran out of air twice. However, one dive stood out.
My father and I were on the bottom near a kelp bead off San Diego at about 50 feet. We began hearing a strange banging sound. We both thought an enormous ship was passing above us and its massive propeller made the sound. However, we did not see the ship above us or its shadow in the distance. We found it strange that the sand on the seafloor moved during the event, and the fish seemed confused. I looked at my father, and we both shrugged. When we returned, the people on the dock all asked about the earthquake. Wow, we dove during an earthquake.
My father grew up in rural Pennsylvania, and in his college years, he worked at the steel mills during the summer. The inside temperature was staggeringly hot, and to compensate, the managers placed a salt pill dispensing machine at the entrance. Every shift, each worker grabbed a handful and ate them to keep up their electrolytes. In addition, they each carried in a six-pack of beer for refreshments and would frequently visit the drinking fountain. Did the managers frown upon drinking? It was so hot that the alcohol went through the skin and acted like a natural coolant. So, the workers were never drunk. Also, OSHA was not a thing back then.
To make steel wire, enormous hot ingots come from the furnace and are pressed/pulled into long bars. These are then reheated and passed through dies to meet the customer’s size requirements. It takes several steps to make the final product.
My father’s job was to tie up each bundle of wire and then load it on a truck. This was mildly dangerous and not too exciting. The most dangerous job was the person who fed the red-hot wire into the die machine. He needed lightning-quick reflexes to grab the wire with tongs and fling it into the correct location.
The danger came when there was a mistake. The machines did not have modern safety guards or automatic stops. This meant the wire could wrap around the man and burn him to death. Scary. However, there was a perk. If the operator wanted the (paid) day off, he could fling the red-hot wire away (from him), making an enormous mess that would have to be fixed with a team of people with cutting torches. My father witnessed this spectacular event a few times.
The steel plant my father worked for was on the Allegheny River. One of the many items they needed to maintain production was a constant supply of oxygen and acetylene tanks for their cutting torches. At one point, it became apparent that they were losing oxygen tanks, and they assigned a person to investigate. He concealed himself in an air duct above the tank holding area and looked for suspicious activity. A day later, a truck arrived with a new shipment of tanks, and they were unloaded.
The truck drove away, and the supervisor stayed behind. After checking to ensure he was alone, he took an oxygen tank and rolled it over to a bank near the river. He placed the tank at an angle and pointed downriver. Then he used a hammer to smash off the valve. There was a mighty whoosh, and the tank went flying downriver. So yeah, they fired him.
I had a challenging college experience both inside and outside the classroom. Being away from home forced me to grow up quickly, and studying was tough. However, two unforgettable personal achievement moments stand out; both happened the same year.
In my second quarter, I took EE2002 (the second Electrical Engineering class), which was meant to “weed out” non-serious students. There was a 50% failure rate, and at least 25% of the kids took the class a second time. 10% of the kids were taking it for the third time.
Wow, this class was challenging. I spent every waking hour studying, attending teacher’s assistant study sessions, studying with other students, or doing homework. I even had dreams about the subject.
After the final, I was convinced I had failed the class. The professor posted the grades late that night, and my friend and I went to check. He passed. Yay. I was too nervous to check and made him do it. I passed!! The moment was so exciting that I hugged him, which caused him to be quite uncomfortable. To celebrate, I went down to the pond and threw old hard drive platters as far as they would fly.
This was an incredible personal achievement, and three of my friends in the class did not pass. One of them had to take it three times. Side note. They had better math skills, but I wanted it more.
During spring break of that same year, we drove to New York. My roommate Matt (who would be later called Victoria) (that is an entire blog) was into climbing, and he convinced me to tag along. We went to a place called “The Gunks,” which was a popular climbing destination.
https://www.climbing.com/places/the-g...
An outcrop of rocks ranged from 50 to 200 feet high. The advantage was that each section had different difficulty levels, which made it perfect for all climbers.
I had zero climbing experience, and Matt had to show me how to tie knots, set up my gear, and climb. My first job was to watch everybody else and then do finger exercises in the cracks. An hour later, I started climbing for real. The first test was to climb up five feet and let go. This reassured Matt and me that the climbing gear would prevent my fall. My gear held, and I started climbing again. There were many difficulties, and the experience was super challenging. I got stuck once, and he had to climb up (without a harness) and help. Eventually, I made it to the top of the 500foot section. Wow, did the view look fantastic. I had EARNED that view.
That’s it. My five best life stories. Perhaps I should consider myself lucky. I know people who had horrific stories and terrible life experiences. Fortunately, my meager life stories made me what I am. After I finished this blog, I recalled a few more, and perhaps I will blog about them.

Write Angry

Since covid, I have been re-watching movies because of the limited number of new releases. My selection included the ‘80s action/adventure movie Blue Thunder which revolved around a high-tech helicopter. While dated, it had a good story and exciting action. The DVD also contained a “making of” video with many interesting facts and behind-the-scenes footage.
One fascinating gem was that the story was not based on a book. Instead, Dan O’Bannon came up with the script one night when a helicopter buzzed around his house with a searchlight. The incident made him so mad that he started writing. The video advised people to “write when you are angry.” That really got me thinking.
Anger is a powerful tool. It gets us off our butts, provides energy, and creates ideas. Unfortunately, a pleasant individual might even resort to violence. Entire nations have gone to war because they were angry.
Do I ever write when I am angry? A long while ago, I learned the hard way never to edit while emotional. So here is a blog about that experience.
https://interviewingimmortality.com/b...
However, I have never tried writing while angry. Then, a month ago, in the late evening, my job stress peaked, and I wrote something. One of my bucket list items was to write about book reviews. So, I bangled away for three hours. The result was not even a helpful guide; instead, it was a set of incoherent orders. Not my best work.
Yet, when I took a step back, my creation was to the point and gave the reader an accurate view of my beliefs. Is that not the point of a “how-to guide?” Yes, but that does not mean the reader will enjoy the document.
What about the idea (concept) quality? Was my document more creative? The result was not too creative or insightful. Plus, the document quality was poor. But unfortunately, that was not the fundamental problem. My points were not solid, and the document had no structure.
There was a bright side. The experience got me thinking about the creative process. Writing angry felt good. I had a creative and safe outlet to vet my thoughts. Is there a place in my life to write angry? Perhaps I could use it to create gritty scenes. Our hero bursts into the room and beats up the bad guy. Take that! Throw some punches. Let’s examine that last sentence. I do not want to punch somebody, but I can write such actions. “Bill punched Sally.” How cruel! Bill is my real name, which means I truly wished to inflict pain on a woman. No, I did not. Those were only words. Nobody got threatened, injured, or in danger. Simple words. And now, I have less anger in my heart. Plus, I got a mean statement “on paper” that can be edited.
In the future, I will experiment with writing when I am angry. Perhaps some plot ideas or a rage-filled scene? Will any of this anger end up in a book? Perhaps. Will I be “angry blogging?” I have to admit something to my four blog readers. I was upset while writing this blog. Work has been... Well, I am no longer working. So, my four blog readers got a few angry words. And I did something out of character. I applied minimal editing to give my four blog readers some” raw Bill thoughts.”
Am I proud of this blog? To me, it reads brash. However, this document reads direct and provides perspective. So, my four blog readers are getting a peek into my angry mind. Fortunately, my soul only has a few mean corners.

Acronyms

We define the term acronym as “a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of words in a set phrase or series of words and pronounced as a separate word. The military and technology sectors love acronyms. For example, RAM stands for Random Access Memory, and ASAP stands for As Soon As Possible.
Acronyms have become so ingrained in our society that we cannot remember what they stand for. PCMCIA = Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. Plus, a trend has emerged where people substitute their own acronym definition. PCMCIA = People Cannot Memorize Computer Interface Acronyms. MACINTOSH = Machine Always Crashes If Not The Operating System Hangs. FORD = Found On Road Dead.
To make matters worse, acronyms can have multiple meanings or exist for no reason. BLUF = Bottom Line Up Front. This means a summary. Why can’t they say the summary?
While acronyms are important, this is a writing/book blog, and I wanted to explore acronyms in fictional writing. Let’s invent a new one. SABO = Space Arena Battle Operations. Wow, that sounds cool? Right? Umm, no.
The goal of a fiction writer is to lead the reader’s mind into the unreal. In order to be successful, writers must start with a foundation of (true/untrue) facts to build their plot. If successful, the reader will accept the unreal and enjoy the plot.
The problem with acronyms is that people only understand them with repetition. Do you remember what SABO stood for? I just invented it, and I cannot remember. Even a common acronym like ASAP is not always recognizable. Therefore, I advise avoiding inventing acronyms and sparingly using common acronyms. Readers have a tough enough time remembering everyday acronyms.
Let’s end this blog with a quote from the movie, Good Morning Vietnam. “Seeing as how the VP is such a VIP, shouldn't we keep the PC on the QT? 'Cause if it leaks to the VC he could end up MIA, and then we'd all be put on KP.”
Even that quote left me confused. What does PC stand for? Person in charge? Personal Computer? Paper Copy? Politically Correct? Peace Corps? I watched a movie clip on YouTube and it stands for Press Conference. Fortunately, my four blog readers will not need a PC to understand SABO.

I Thought I Would Be Further Ahead

By this point in my writing adventure, I had expected to have at least five books on the market, modest profits, and a slim following of readers. Well… Things did not work out the way I had hoped. Why? My first two books had significant issues, and I needed to put writing new books on hold to correct the existing problems. A big problem was that editing took far longer than expected. While self-editing, I uncovered additional issues that required me to update previous efforts. This discovery cycle happened four times in my second and third books.
Sales remain elusive. Part of the problem is my low marketing effort and social media presence. However, I do not think this is my core issue.
I am still under a delusion about how modern self-publishing works. Subconsciously, I have this crazy idea that my work is out there, and anybody can do an internet search for “good book.” Logically, my books should be on top of the search. Clearly, I live in a dreamland.
Plus, I feel that marketing is not my job. If I ran an ebook sales site and a bunch of authors sent me their books, it would be my job to promote the heck out of them. Yet, the attitude of ebook sites seems to be, “Jump into the pool if you dare. You can sink or swim. I don’t care. If you float, I am happy to cash the reader's checks. Maybe I’ll throw you a few bucks.”
What books do ebook sites promote? Excellent reviews and powerful story do not seem to matter. One would think that an ebook site would at least have some sort of “chief editor” that would read the book and promote it if they liked it. Wow, I’m living in a fantasy world. Unfortunately, ebook sites only promote books with great sales. This makes the club challenging to get into.
My other delusion is that I will get “discovered.” Someday, somebody will read my book and become a huge fan. Then, they will do everything to let the world know. Perhaps Oprah Winfrey will get a copy and tell all her fans? Wow, my fantasy world is enormous.
It was a tough battle to get to this point, and I now understand that success will take time. However, I’m not giving up and will continue to put maximum effort into writing, editing, and blogging. For my four blog readers, there is good news. You get to watch my struggle.

Pride in a Bad Design

Ten years ago, my former boss designed the Battery Charger Contactor Unit (BCCU). And boy-howdy was he proud of it. Did I mention how small it was? Because he mentioned that fact to everybody until their ears went bloody.
And one day, the magic happened. The BCCU went proudly into production. Spoiler alert! There were endless problems. My boss cut so many corners to reduce the size that the technicians had difficulties assembling and testing it. However, he was the boss and convinced everybody that the design was exemplary. Side note: The BCCU could have been twice the size, and nobody would have cared. Size reduction somehow became a personal challenge.
Yet, my boss persevered. “You are not using it correctly.” “Look how small it is!” “The assemblers did not follow my instructions.” Eventually, he had no choice and needed to “make minor tweaks to pacify the naysayers.” Thus, the BCCU quietly underwent three major revisions. Unfortunately, it never worked right, and production/customers hated it. Further testing revealed additional flaws that were never addressed.
I coined the term for this kind of behavior, “Pride in a Bad Design.” This means that engineers cannot get out of their own way to see the design flaws. Since those early days, I have encountered this flaw several times.
What does this term have to do with writing? It’s all the same. Authors get wrapped up in their books and cannot see colossal mistakes. “Pride in a bad plot.” “Pride in an awful character.” The list goes on.
Have I ever been guilty of this behavior? Readers told me that my romantic interaction was wrong in my second book, but I refused to face the issue and published it. That was a big mistake, and I have not completely fixed the problem. Side note. I got a proof copy today, and hopefully, in two weeks, I will be over this mess.
I see evidence of “pride in a poor book” when writers react to spot-on negative comments. “You did not understand the character.” “Editors introduced the poor grammar. Not me.” “The plot makes sense when you look at it differently.” “There are many books with this same premise.”
What can authors do to break this cycle? It starts at the beginning by thinking about the big picture. Is this story something readers might like? Who is the audience? What are the potential plot pitfalls?
The problem with writing is that the result is “an open book.” Once somebody clicks “buy it now,” they get full access to the good, bad and ugly. Fortunately, my flaws have not been too bad. Or at least that is what I tell myself. Perhaps this explains why I only have four blog readers. Nah, that’s not it. My good looks are too intimidating.

Tongue and Cheek

The formal definition of “Tongue and Cheek” is literature characterized by unnecessary irony or whimsical exaggeration. Yet, I have my definition, “improperly injected humor.” This is when writers intentionally make something funny that does not require humor.
As you may have guessed, I dislike injected humor and the term Tongue and Cheek. I consider this kind of writing to be the boxing equivalent of hitting below the belt. Such applications make me want to yell out, “This is not supposed to be funny.”
Writers might apply Tongue and Cheek to a financial report. “Our profit is down 95%. But, hey, remember Dolly Parton in that Nine to Five movie? Get it 95%, Nine to Five. Ha! Dolly was a riot!” Financial reports are supposed to be serious, but this does not mean the author cannot liven things up. “Look. Profits are down by 95%, but this next quarter is shaping up. It’s going to be a good year, folks.”
Another example might occur at a funeral. “Hey, sorry your son died. But that is one less mouth to feed. Am I right?” People would consider this kind of injected humor tasteless, and that is my point. Tongue and Cheek humor is often tasteless.
Yet, there is a fine line between Tongue and Cheek and a joke that does not work. In the Simpsons Season 6, Episode 22 titled, "'Round Springfield" Homer is giving a life lesson, and he tells Lisa, “When the sign says, 'Don`t Feed The Bears', man, you'd better not feed the bears.” Then, Homer lifts his arm up and a bear cub is biting him:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1gxW...
This is a typical funny scene from the Simpsons, and many people, including myself, enjoyed it. Yet many nature/animal lovers were offended, and they felt this joke did not work. “Bears are dangerous and should be respected.” Yet, this is not Tongue and Cheek humor. The distinction is that writers intended the Simpsons show to be funny, which means they did not make serious situations funny. However, not all jokes work for all people.
What is the difference between Tongue and Cheek and straight humor? Most Monty Python clips are perfect examples of straight humor. A typical scene would be an upstanding individual doing a regular activity while something funny occurs. A good example is the famous “here for an argument” clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohDB5...
Yet, people often say, “John Cleese is being Cheeky.” True, but Cheeky and Tongue and Cheeky are different terms. I suppose we could consider connecting several Tongue and Cheek scenes together cheeky.
All writers should consider their audience and know when to be serious and when to be funny. My blog concentrates on writing, but I liven things up with puns or mild humor. Here is a recent example:
“I suppose this is a bland ending to a bland topic. But it could have been worse. Imagine how my four readers would feel if I spent this blog trying to convince you that horses would rule the world. Want something worse? Imagine if horses ruled the world? Streets would stink from all the horse poop. How would they vote in elections?”
https://interviewingimmortality.com/b...
If I wrote this blog in a Tongue and Cheek style it probably would have ended with, “Well, that does it for this blog. I’m glad I did not get horse poop all over you.” Fortunately, I know my four blog readers, and seeing as they have stuck around for the last few years, this proves they can handle a “appropriate” humor. Thanks for sticking around.