Tragedy to comedy, 'Everything is copy'

 

“Mymother wanted us to understand that the tragedies of your life one day have thepotential to be comic stories the next.” – Nora Ephron
Ephron, born in May of 1941, was a journalist, essayist,playwright, screenwriter, novelist, producer, director, and blogger born into afamily of writers. She popularized the term "Everything is copy" when asked where she got her writing ideas.   Ephron's parents were both writers, and she was the first of 4sisters to follow the profession.  One of her three marriages was to WashingtonPost writer Carl Bernstein - with who she had two sons (one, Jacob, also becoming a writer).   Ephron died from pneumonia in 2012, a complication brought on by leukemia.  A three-timeAcademy Award nomineee for her writing of Silkwood,When Harry Met Sally, and Sleeplessin Seattle, she won numerous writing awardsin many different genres.  And for When Harry Met Sally, hadthere had been an award for best original scene, she probably would have takenthat home too.  It depicts an elderly womansitting in a restaurant watching Sally and telling the waitress “I’ll have whatshe’s having.”   If you haven’t seen it, take a look onYou Tube to brighten your day. “I try to write parts for women thatare complicated and interesting,” Ephron said. “Just as women actually are.”