Erma

There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.

Erma Bombeck

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My second post, A Mother's Panic (kerSMACK!), is up at An Army of Ermas today. I hope you enjoy it!

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Have a wonderful weekend.

I've Joined the Army...

of Ermas!

This is Erma Bombeck, writer, humorist, wife and mother extraordinaire (RIP). She's inspired many who dream to follow in her funny footsteps.

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She was my own first inspiration. I can't tell you how I became acquainted with her; whether it was with a book my mom owned, something from the library, or something entirely random. But oh, was I taken with her insight, her honesty, and her sense of humor.

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It was writing like hers I first tried to emulate, back when I began taking the craft seriously. I was a young married mom, looking for a creative outlet. And I wanted to pen casual essays and personal anecdotes, much like any found in her famous titles: If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits?; Family - The Ties That Bind... and Gag!; The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank. Those books are where I got my fledgling start, tested the writing waters. My first paid and published essay was in the vein of her kind of writing.

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Now, years later, several women writers have banded together to form An Army of Ermas. And I'm one of 'em!

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Visit our new blog, linked above, to see what we're about. Please read my debut post, Gimme a Break (up today!), and leave a comment if so inclined. It's a different side to my writing, so different from my women's fiction, and I'd love your thoughts.

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Three cheers for (and many thanks to) Erma!

*photo from Erma's website

Calling All Erma Bombeck Wannabes

I'm so stoked! I was just visiting my friend Stacey's blog, Flibbety Gibbet, and ran across news about a fantastic writing contest. It's the annual Erma Bombeck Writing Competition!

Adored the world over and locked into history as one of the greatest columnists ever (in my mind), Erma inspired many in the ways of humor writing. I know she's who I try to emulate with my own motherhood-themed essays and quarterly column.

The guidelines for this competition are awesomely ideal, down to the requested word count, which meets my own average count for such pieces. The categories are humor and human interest. We can submit just one entry (so make it your best, people), and it must be previously unpublished. No entry fee, no age limits, yada yada. Click on the above link to see all the rules.

I'm gonna get to work on this. My mind is already working on a topic for the humor category... We have until February 17th, folks. Let's get to writin'! Good luck!