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Four Tips from the Erma Bombeck

Writers’ Workshop

By Glenda Ferguson
When humor goes, there goes civilization.
— Erma Bombeck (EBWW, 2022)

I remember my mom’s laughter while she read Erma Bombeck’s humorous newspaper columns under
the title “At Wit’s End.” Erma Bombeck (1927–1996), an American humorist who lived in Ohio and
Arizona, wrote more than 4,500 syndicated newspaper columns and a dozen books about her family life,
nine of which became New York Times bestsellers. When I was a child and then a teenager, her columns,
hanging on our refrigerator door, didn’t seem that funny to me. However, after years as a Grade 4 teacher
and as a writer, I now realize every written word from Erma was genius. That was why I registered
for the 2022 Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop (EBWW) at University of Dayton (UD), Erma’s alma
mater.
EBWW was started in 2000 as a one-time event and, due to its popularity, is now offered every
other year “to laugh and learn” (EBWW, p. 2), with the next event scheduled for April 4–6, 2024.
The workshop is for new and published writers throughout the nation and designed specifically for
humor writing and human interest writing. EBWW is held at UD because Bombeck credited one of her
professors for launching her writing career. Thanks to a generous scholarship from DKG Indiana State
Organization for enhancing professionalism, I participated in nine workshop sessions, heard five keynote
speakers, laughed during stand-up comedy night, and took an Erma road trip. Here are four practical tips
I learned from the EBWW that you can apply to the DKG workshops, conferences, or conventions you
attend. Just remember E-R-M-A.

Tip #1. Engage in everything offered.

Organize your schedule. Before arriving at EBWW, I researched
the speakers and became familiar with their styles of writing and their
books. I picked up my materials early so I could read over all the session
descriptions covering the craft of writing, humor writing, publishing,
and marketing. On the last day, I took advantage of the Erma Road
Trip, accompanied by two of Erma’s three children. I’ll never forget the
emotional walk to Erma’s gravesite. At the UD Library, we concluded
with a viewing of the Erma Bombeck Collection that includes handwritten
notes, personal photos, and one of her tapped-out typewriters.
During those three days, I was the Early Bird AND the Night Owl.
EBWW scheduled early-riser sessions called “Nuts and Bolts,” which
focused on writers’ basic needs for publishing, marketing, and running
their businesses. The topics and the promise of warm breakfast quiches
lured me onto the 7:15 a.m. shuttle bus from the hotel to the event Glenda Ferguson
and Laraine Newman
center. In the evenings, I attended the book signings with eight authors.
I stayed late for the photo shoot with Laraine Newman, one of the original Saturday Night Live (SNL)
performers. I posed next to her and said, “I’m sucking in my stomach.” Laraine said, “Me, too!” (That’s
when the photo was snapped.)

Collegial Exchange · 13