Tips on Finding the Humor in Writing: Laughter Heals And Connects Us by Memoirist Jan Marshall

Posted by Kathleen Pooler/@kathypooler with Jan Marshall/@janmarshmellow

“In between the pain and disappointments life brings to all lives, the fact is that in between most of this, Not a Shred of Evidence actually Exists That Life is Serious” ~Jan Marshall

I am pleased to feature Jan Kellerman in this guest post about how incorporating humor into memoir writing has helped her. Jan was Founder of the International Humor and Healing Institute, circa 1984. Board members included Norman Cousins, SteveAllen, John Cleese, Dr. Bernie Siegel, and other healers and entertainers.

Here is their mission statement :

“Humor as a universal language promotes rapport among individuals. It has the potential, along with art,athletics, and music in creating a liaison between people, perhaps the ultimate common denominator. Through shared laughter we will bring about our  global purpose of caring for one another”.

Jan and I met online several years ago. She is the author of a memoir, Dancin’ Schmancin’: Finding the Humor No Matter What! 

My reviews can be found on Amazon, Goodreads, LibraryThings and Riffle.

Welcome, Jan!

Author and Humorist Jan Marshall

Tips on Finding Humor in Writing: Laughter  Heals and Connects Us.

My Journey to Humor Writing:

I started writing when I made up funny stories and verses for my children. My  first success was a poem sold to the Wall St. Journal’s editorial page for the fee of $5.00. This was back in the last century…I never cashed the check and since Dow Jones owned the journal, I think I may have been responsible for the economic slow down as the accountants figured out the trillions but could not figure out where the five bucks was.

Thereafter, I sold more lite verse to Good Housekeeping magazine for $85. That was a thrill.

While writing humor for several magazines, and receiving many rejection notices, one piece that was accepted in Los Angeles Magazine caught the attention the California Daily News AKA The Green Sheet and I was asked to be their humor columnist.

After noticing a press release that a major publisher, Pinnacle Books, moved to California, on the spur of the moment and in a brave moment that appears every once in a while, I called their office. The receptionist said they do not usually publish humor but she’d connect me to an editor. In a lengthy and funny conversation, the editor Carole Garland said,

“Well, send me a sample of Eat Over The Sink” (the original title of my first book).

Ultimately they accepted the book, the title was changed to“Still Hanging In There: Confessions of a Totaled Woman which is still available in some places and I  was on my way to media appearances and speeches.

This first book included a large advance, royalties,and a publisher that did everything; cover design, editing, marketing, scheduling book signings and media appearance and anything that was required to make the book a success. All I had to do was appear.

The book and my ability to ad lib funny lines opened up doors that I  could not imagine. When advising writers, I always suggests they accumulate their writings and get a book out, an e book is fine as a wonderful calling card.

As I was often asked to consult on humor and healing, I became a clinical hypnotherapist and formed the International Humor and Healing Institute where I exchanged techniques with Norman Cousins and the physicians.

I also became an early member of Woman In Film because of my many media appearances and eventually hosted my own two television series.

One guest was Steve Allen. We  connected really well and ultimately I became a semi- regular on Steve’s syndicated WNEW radio show.

Looking for humor in traumatic situations…

While lots of good things were happening there were traumas that taught me many lessons,

“I get it! Enough with the lessons already”

Among the incidents was the ending of a 25 year marriage, breast cancer and later on a brain tumor.

There were lots of tears to the point that I wished tears had calories and I’d be a tall thin blonde instead of the short chubette that chemo brings to many woman when the hormones are no longer functioning.

What always made me feel better was connecting and assisting others who had been challenged and I  formed “Jan’s Army” where I sent badges to other cancer survivors. And then I looked for the humor; always my saving grace. I am currently an expert on humor and healing for boomers and beyond and writes humor columns for 4 different American newspapers and one in Canada called the Sage News.

“Jan’s Army” badge

I compiled several for columns and essays for my current book, Dancin’ Schmancin with the Scars: Finding the Humor No Matter What! for sale on Amazon and many other outlets. Because of the drastic changes in publishing, this book was self-published. Dancin is simply a code word for anything that gives one pleasure.

One lucky reader will receive a free autographed copy.

I am of the mindset that whatever genre you write in, humor can always be added as it is a most natural characteristic of humans.

Sometimes, I claim,  when we become “mature” we think we have to be serious. I do not agree.

We just may have forgotten our natural instinct to remember the laughter, which is so physically and emotionally healthy.

SOME TIPS TO FIND THE HUMOR

*Pretend you are a humor columnist and have to report one amusing incident each day to collect your salary. In the beginning, just like keeping a grateful list, you may feel a tad challenged, in the beginning but all of a sudden you will find humor all around you and who knows; perhaps will write your own book!

• Rent funny movies, buy comedy tapes and books particularly when you are going through a stressful episode.

*View your life as a sit-com. Who would you cast as your family, your boss or yourself?This could be amusing and make you giddy!

*Carry an item like a kazoo, a rubber chicken (or a cooked one) or anything in your purse or attaché case as a gentle reminder to lighten up.

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Author Contact Information:

http://www.amazon.com/Dancin-Schmancin-Scars-Finding-Matter/dp/0988514605

Website:www.authorjanmarshall.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/janmarshallauthor

LinkedIN: www.Linkedin.com/jankellermanmarshall

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/janmarshmellow

Pinterest: www.Pinterest.com/justjanmarshall

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Thank you Jan for sharing your fascinating career and for shedding light on the importance of humor in our life and in writing. We can all use some reminders about lightening up. Carrying a rubber chicken would do it for me!

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How about you? Does humor help you get through stressful times? Do you incorporate humor into your writing?

As Jan mentioned, an autographed copy of Dancin’ Shmancin’ with Scars will be offered to a commenter whose name will be selected in a random drawing.

We’d love to hear from you. Please leave your comments below~

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Next Week:

Monday, 9/12/16: 

“Ready for the Refiner’s Fire: The Hard Work of Memoir Writing”