Would you rather be smart or fun? Why not both?
A small crowd of authors and prospective authors recently connected with me on LinkedIn. Based on their comments, apparently a highly respected publishing industry expert had mentioned me as a qualified nonfiction book expert during a workshop she gave and prompted them to connect with me.
That’s very nice, and a gratifying reflection on my continuing efforts to contribute to the author community.
One of the authors told me that the consultant said I was also a “fun guy.”
Cool. I guess.
Smart or fun?
I tirelessly work to remain up-to-date on how publishing is changing and to bring those insights to my editorial, ghostwriting, and coaching work with authors. That’s deliberate.
I’m also an inveterate smartass who attempts to see and reveal the ironic or humorous side of every situation — whether that’s in the public sphere or just between me and a client. That’s not deliberate, it’s instinctive.
I’m convinced that my sense of humor has brought me more clients than those it’s driven away, although there is no way to be sure.
It informs my writing and makes it more interesting to more people.
It’s essential in my relationships with authors, since my job includes delivering lots of criticism. People are more willing to understand why what they’ve done isn’t going to be effective if you not only deliver it, not just with a solution, but with a smile.
After all, we’re all just humans beings scrabbling out a living in an absurd world, and publishing is more absurd than the typical industry. (Do finance, waste management, and oil-and-gas executives indulge themselves in irony on a daily basis? I have no way of knowing, but probably not.)
But being a “fun guy” is, more than anything, the thing that allows me to love my work. And that’s what keeps me going, especially on days when I’m delivering — or receiving — bad news.
If you’re a fun guy of any gender, don’t give up on it. Just keep learning your craft. The learning will keep you current and valuable. And the fun part will keep you sane and happy.
Your influence is mushrooming!
Since I’m a University of Chicago grad, it’s clear where I stand: https://www.redbubble.com/i/t-shirt/The-University-of-Chicago-Where-Fun-Goes-to-Die-by-clrobi/49981386.NL9AC
Definitely both, but … I’ve steered clear of being funny, because it seems to really upset people. I go for “serious and light-hearted,” instead. I think we put ourselves at risk if we take our work too seriously, just as we put ourselves at risk if we don’t take ourselves seriously, at all. … Both/And. That’s my thing. Seems to be the way our Universe works, anyway.
Someone has to put the fun in fungus!
But who?
https://soundcloud.com/dankeldsen/who-put-the-fun-in-fungus
Years ago my mother used to say to me, she’d say, “In this world, Elwood, you must be” – she always called me Elwood – “In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.” Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.
— Mary Chase, _Harvey_