How we’re using humor in fraught times

Here’s a rather nonintuitive writing tip I learned early in my career: When there’s tragedy, drama or big emotions in a story, pull the writing back. Do less. Let the story carry the weight of what’s happening.

It’s similar to a writing tip from Roy Peter Clark, who suggests to “use shorter words, sentences and paragraphs at points of complexity.”

But what about the use of humor?

I’ve seen it deployed expertly lately by my colleague, TyLisa C. Johnson, through the memes she creates for Poynter’s social media. They’re poignant, spot-on and reflect an industry dealing with layers of trouble.

I asked Johnson what else we can learn about writing from her work. She shared four tips and the memes that show them. (And for more of Johnson’s great work, follow Poynter on Instagram.)