I’d Rather Laugh

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Our resident hound asked, “ Have you ever really had FUN writing a scene (or scenes)?”

My immediate reaction to this prompt was, “Of COURSE I have fun writing. That’s why I do it!” But then I thought back to the past two months, which have been spent completing and editing a story that I’ve been working on for over six months. Actually, this was the second version of the story, which I’d started more than a year ago. But life intruded, and for several months, it was difficult for me to carve out time for myself, and many of my activities were put on hold, including writing.

When we moved and my husband was released from the hospital, I put my foot down and demanded writing time, at least a few hours every day. I found it really difficult to get back into the story. For one thing, my two hours of writing time was normally a few minutes here and there, sandwiched between doctor and therapy appointments, dispensing medicine, administering breathing treatments, and taking care of meal prep. It seemed that every time I’d get my head back in the story, I had to pull myself out of it in order to deal with the present. I couldn’t complete an entire scene in one sitting, so I started to view writing more as a chore than as a pleasure.

I finally managed to carve out some uninterrupted writing time when my writing groups started sponsoring Zoom write-ins, where we checked in with each other at the top of each hour. I joined one, explaining to the coordinator that I might not be able to work the entire time due to disruptions. I explained to my husband what I was doing, and told him that if he needed something, he could send me a text. I was floored when my phone stayed silent, and for three straight hours I was immersed in 1840s England. I joined these write-ins two or three times a week with the same result, and even missed a few check-in times because I was so focused on what was happening to my characters. Finally, I was able to finish the book (which was supposed to be submitted in August) and hubby has happily returned to needing my help on a regular basis.

I have the most fun writing scenes that have a bit of humor in them. I don’t write  slapstick comedy like the hound does, but every now and then an amusing situation will pop into my head. In my recently completed manuscript  I thought it might be fun to take my hoity-toity hero down a bit. Here’s what I came up with:

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When Grace’s maid opened the door to his knock, the scene greeting him left him stunned. Four young boys and two adults ran about, shrieking and jumping onto the furniture. Papers were strewn everywhere.

“What is the meaning of this?” he roared. 

Everyone froze, and there was silence — other than a fluttering sound coming toward him. Before he could react, a bright red parrot landed on his head.

Grace appeared at his side. “At last! Bertram, you naughty boy. Come, your antics have earned you several hours in your cage.” She reached up and lifted the bird, crooning to him gently as she carried him off as the maid and housekeeper straightened the furniture. Frederick and his friends busied themselves gathering the errant flyers and sorting them into piles. 

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On the other side of the coin, I find  scenes that contain pain and sadness are more difficult to write. In this same manuscript, there’s a death, and it took several write-ins to complete that scene and the ones immediately following. I guess I’m happier dealing with happy times.

If you’re a writer, what types of scenes do you most enjoy writing?

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