During my woodcarving days, I carved over 200 original figures and scenes. I then created individual pages on each figure, describing how the idea came about for the figure; how it was produced, and any problems connected with the piece, etc. This is how my interest in writing began.

"Writing is the best way to talk...without being interrupted."  Jules Renard

Several years after I started wood carving, I was invited to join the Southwest Writers Workshop, by the then president of the organization, Eileen Stanton, who is one of New Mexico's top writers. She has sold more than 5,000 of her articles to some of the top newspapers and magazines in the country. With over 1,000 members nation-wide, SWW has some of the most talented and accomplished writers in the country. Needless to say, I was flattered with the invitation.

Later, and as my interest grew in the field of writing, and in my 40's, I completed three writing courses, to try to improve my writing skills. I completed: the Writer's Digest Correpondance course; the National Writers Club course; and a creative writing course at the University of New Mexico. This is one of the best things I have ever done for myself, as it has given me the confidence in my writing. The confidence to build my website, write my articles and my book and show them to the world, etc.

With respect to building my website, I knew there would be plenty of humor, because I've been in the humor business for over 40 years. But, I wanted more than that...I wanted to address other important issues such as the environment; encouraging kids to stay in school; and good healthcare. To do this, I had to write articles of interest to me, and hopfully to others. My interest in writing has taken me down the creative writing path.

I could never be a journalist (reporter) out there "getting the scoop." I could never sit through a trial; a town meeting or do research directed by an editor. I would quickly go back to the art world from which I came.

I enjoy writing about my experiences such as the piece I wrote entitled, The Two-Headed Monster; Music: The Beginning Of Rock and Roll For Me (1955); Don't Golf My Way...and using my imagination in the piece, Auto Racing: Ladies...Start Your Engines! (A piece about 33 women drivers at the Indy 500 race). In the serious pieces I've written, I also try to write with some emotion, such as in the piece, Ricky's Story: Alcoholism and "Tough Love!"; Depression and Suicide; and You Can't Please Everyone...So Don't Try. As a woodcarver< I always took chances with my work (See: Taking Chances With My Ideas), and now with my writing, I'll do the same thing.

I took a chance in writing a combination plate, that is, quoting from an article, and then giving "my two cents" included in the piece. I did this with Diabetes On The Rise, which went to number one on my article list and remained there for a month. I also did this with How Humor Helps Us All With The Aging Process, and it has climbed into the top ten of my articles list. Taking chances with two other pieces, SOS! My Serious and Silly Articles and Future Articles On My Drawing Board, are actually more like reports rather than articles, and I thought would go no place, but they both climed into the top ten of my article list. So, I was pleasently surprised with these two pieces.

"I think knowing what you cannot do, is more important than what you can do."  Lucielle Ball

As a novice in writing, I think one of the most important things is to write to please me FIRST. I don't write to please a search engine! I write to please my readers next, and I hope they enjoy what I do. I don't care about key words when I write a piece. I look at all this later, but I can't imagine what one of my writing pieces would look like if I wrote for a search engine! (Yuk!) I do the same thing in writing that I did when I was a woodcarver...I carved wood to please myself FIRST...and then I hoped the general public would like my work. (To "toot my horn" a little...I sold almost everything I ever carved)

My problem...when I started writing seriously, was I was trying to write like a "writer," whatever that means! I was NOT being myself! When it came to writing, I had to learn how to be myself! So, what I did, was to "talk to the keyboard," write a story just like I would tell it! DO NOT try to be a writer...just tell your story and let the words drop onto the page and do it in relaxing way. I started seeing some results...as I began to string along words, that I was even surprised I had in me!

In the humor pieces, Sweet Dreams; Easy On The Mayo; and Human Services, I give the reader a few tips on writing humor, such as using a few of the primary tools in humor, such as exageration; irony and keeping the piece brief. These are all examples of the creative writing I really enjoy!

"If a story is in you...it must come out!"  William Faulctner

SITE MAP For Hopelessly Lost Souls;
Copyright; 2009; Jerry Aragon/The Humor Doctor
Website name; humordoctormd
http://humordoctormd.homestead.com