The biggest problem with writing comedy or humour (for me) is trying to be funny. Chances are, when you actually try to be funny you don’t succeed. Humour tends to be impulsive and it works best when it isn’t expected.

The funniest stuff isn’t someone having an accident or getting hurt. Pain and suffering are not funny. Though people will laugh when they are nervous or upset. Is that really the kind of laugh you, as a writer, are looking for?

Humour works best when it takes us by surprise.

Erma Bombeck (1927-1996) was a wife, Mother and famous humour writer in the US.

I remember Erma Bombeck.

She was a newspaper columnist, a woman who shared a way of looking at life and living, telling everyone not to take it all so seriously and to actually live rather than just work your way through life. Erma Bombeck wanted women in particular, to remember to enjoy life and not worry about getting the laundry done or the oven cleaned.

How Erma Started Out

Erma lived in Ohio, married and had three children. As a child she was a great student and she loved to read, a lot. In 1940, she wrote a column for her high school newspaper. She worked as a copygirl for the Dayton Herald, newspaper, in 1942. Her first feature interview for the newspaper was with Shirley Temple when the actress was visiting town in 1943. After high school Erma continued working with the newspapers planning to attend the Ohio University. However, she didn't do well on her literary assignments, was rejected from writing for the university newspaper and was not able (for financial reasons) to return for another year at the university.

Maybe it was fate. If she had graduated from the Ohio University she may have become a reporter and never have created the career she did, as a humour writer.

What Erma Did

At the University of Dayton, Erma was inspired by Bro. Tom Price who told her "You can write." Sounds simple but this man inspired her to keep writing, even though she had been feeling discouraged. (There is an interview in the videos below where she talks about this).

Erma attended university and wrote for the student newspaper. During this time she worked at a department store and wrote for the company newsletter. She also worked part time at an advertising agency and as a public relations person for the YMCA. In 1949 she graduated and married Bill Bombeck, who had been at the same university.

Erma Bombeck Writes

You may think it was all writing from there. But, no. Her first career move was to become a Mother. One adopted child (they were told she could not have children) and then two sons were born afterwards. Those early years she was a wife and Mother first. But, she did write a series of columns for the Dayton Shopping News.

In 1964 Erma took up writing as a career again. She began with weekly columns, written in her bedroom/ home office. (In those days a home office was a desk with an old fashioned typewriter and something to sit on). From this small beginning Erma Bombeck's writing career took off. In 1965 she wrote two columns for the Dayton Herald Journal which were a hit within just weeks. Her column, "At Wit's End", was syndicated in 36 major US newspapers. In 1966 she was giving lectures and by 1967 her columns were being published in book form.

RIP Erma Bombeck

Not everyone will know who she was now. It doesn't seem like very long ago that she died, but it is actually about 18 years ago, in 1996. That's a lifetime ago for some of the young people walking and talking, even old enough to have a job, a vote and a family of their own, these days. What would Auntie Erma say to the fresh generation of people born?

Erma Bombeck Writers's Workshop

Erma Bombeck Collection

The Hilarious House of Frightenstein is a Canadian classic television show. The show ran for 130 episodes, filmed over nine months in 1971. Although it was an educational show it wasn't intended to be just for children. The humour appeals to all ages which is how the show is still in syndication over 40 years later.

First shown on CHCH, the Hamilton, Ontario station which used to be channel 11 when I would watch the show. Later I can remember seeing it come on in reruns very early in the mornings during the week. Catching the Hilarious House of Frightenstein was a great start to any school or work day. Even if you had already seen the episode there was still enough silliness, real humour and creativity to make you laugh again.

Do you Remember Billy Van?

The show starred Billy Van (1934 - 2003) as most (18) of the characters. Billy Van continued to create new characters as the show filmed. His picture is on the Canadian Comedy Wall of Fame at the CBC broadcast centre in Toronto, Ontario.

Some characters (actors and puppets) were: Count Frightenstein, Harvey Wallbanger, Super flying Hippie, the Gronk, The Professor, Igor, Grizelda The Ghastly Gourmet, Flying Hippie, Doctor Pet Vet, the Grammar Slammer Bammer, the mosquito, the gorilla suit, The Maharishi, The Oracle, The Wolfman, the Librarian, and the explorer Bwana Clyde Batty.

Vincent Price (1911 - 1993) narrated parts, including the opening and closing of the show. He came to Toronto for the first time, filmed approximately 400 segments over 4 days and bought the crew a couple of cases of beer.

Fishka Rais, (RIP 1974) was a jazz singer from South Africa. He played Igor, Count Frightenstein's sidekick and the Wolfman's dancing partner. No matter how many times he asked, the Count would never let Igor have one of animals which Doctor Pet Vet brought for Igor to see and find out about.

Julius Sumner Miller (1909 - 1987) appeared as The Professor, demonstrating and explaining physics experiments and scientific theory. He really was a professor with a Master's degree and a PhD in physics from Boston University.

Guy Big (Alan Hoffman, 1946 -1978) was originally to play Count Frightenstein but he did not come across as funny when he read the script as the shows began filming. Instead he was kept on and became the mini Count Frightenstein.

The music which began and ended each show, was titled March of the Martians. written by Harry Breuer, Gary Carol, Jean Jacques Perrey and Pat Prilly and played on a Moog synthesizer.

I've never understood the draw of scary movies. I can read about scary things, frightening and horror books are interesting when they have a real story behind them. There are very awful, frightening and horrifying things in the world. I guess having experienced my own personal, real horror, I don't want to see it illustrated with extra violence, blood and aggression in moving pictures. Besides, the books rely on your own imagination so you can use your own inner censor (or just skip a few paragraphs, pages or chapters even). When you watch a horror movie the best you can do is close your eyes and hum while you view someone's nightmare.

Is Horror like Culture Shock for you?

So, I don't enjoy horror on the screen. I did watch Fearless Vampire Killers on television last year, however. I liked the campy 70's feel to it. I liked the cleverly stupid humour. I liked that it was intended as a satire. So, even though there were some awful moments which I did cringe through, it was easier to consider them as part of the satire than to think of them as something more.

One odd thing about the movie was the sexuality. In these days, about 40 years later so much has changed. Yet this movie is pretty open about sexual relationships, specifically homosexuality. Watching it, I wondered if this is more open and somewhat perverted than would be accepted in our media/ movies now.

I loved the historical costumes and the costumes in general from Fearless Vampire Killers. One thing I do enjoy about vampire movies and TV shows are the costumes, the clothes and even the home style too when it's more than just bland background. Especially nice is the scene where they dance in their old fashioned ball gowns, suits, wigs and all. The castle is shown well too in several scenes. The rooftop still stand out in my memories of the movie.

Also, the surprise ending was pulled off well, even though I was expecting it. I was still surprised.

What do you think of horror movies? Do you watch the satires or must it be all out gore and dripping blood (no funny stuff) to please you?

Would rather read a book than see the movie... try one of these paranormal writers - my personal picks and among my favourites.

Betsy, Queen of the Vampires is the main character. MaryJanice Davidson is credited as the first to write paranormal fiction with humour. She is very prolific as a writer. It is easy to wind up spending the night reading in bed and realizing you have read through the night just because you could not find a place you wanted to stop reading and put down the book.

Gerry Bartlett writes about a plus sized vampire babe, Glory. I started reading the series just for that reason. But, the story drew me in and I have read all but the latest two. It is a shame the books don't come out in standard paperback here. I end up waiting to find them in secondhand bookstores. Which suits me fine but does mean there is a lot of waiting involved.

Kimberly Raye is no longer writing this series. A huge shame because I loved the characters in her books. The heroine, Lil could be a fashionable shoe diva type (which I am not) but she was so much more and she did not let her shoes keep her from adventure, even if it meant getting dirty. The male characters are not just cardboard cut outs either. I liked that Lil's men could be grumpy, could even be jerks but still feel like a guy you wanted to notice you, in a good way.

These are three paranormal writers who write about vampires with humour, fun and the occasional blood letting for those who must have some element of the traditional horror in their vampire tales. I am involved in reading each of the series of books below. However, Kimberley Raye's Dead End Dating series ran aground and it doesn't seem to be continuing.

I would be glad to have suggestions for more paranormal books with humour in the comments. There are a few others I have read but these are my favourites, so far.

I strongly recommend Kim Harrison too, especially if you love adventure more than satire or humour.