Comedy = Tragedy + Time
It is a strange irony that many of the funniest people on the planet struggle deeply with depression. Many of us turn to comedy when we want something “fun” or “light” – and yet, the most beloved comedies, the ones we return to over and over again, are the ones that do more than tickle our funny bone. They’re the ones that make us feel something. Something deep.
In my post last week, I recommended defining your audience by their pain points in order to find emotional resonance. I think that folks who are writing light, cozy, or humorous stories may skirt the dark or the deep emotions when writing out of fear of making their stories too heavy.
