Mother Inferior

 

Welcome to my website! I'm so grateful you stopped by. :)

My name is Dena Dyer and I'm an author, speaker, editor, entertainer, and frequent media guest.

I'm also the wife of a talented, funny guy and mom to two rambunctious, creative boys.

If you're looking for speaking topics, click here. I have experience in professional entertainment, as does my hubby Carey, so we're also willing--individually or as a couple--to do music, drama, and storytelling at your church, retreat, or other event. Click here for media appearances I've done, as well as promotional pictures for publishers, editors and meeting planners.

Need to talk about my fees and availability? Just send an email to denadyer [at] gmail [dot] com, and I'll respond ASAP. (P.S. I love speaking to women--it's about the only girl time I get!)

Whatever brings you to my site, I hope you'll kick off your shoes, stay awhile--and come back often. You're welcome here--and you never know just what you'll find!

What the Theater Taught Me About Writing

The smell of popcorn takes me back…backstage, that is. On Fridays and Saturdays during most of the years between 1998 to 2007, I played a variety of entertainers from 1950′s, ’60′s and ’70′s popular music. My husband and I, along with several other talented individuals, performed thousands of shows to enthusiastic crowds in two small-town Texas theaters. The experience taught me enduring lessons about creativity, professionalism, and making a living through the arts. These tenets apply to your writing life and other creative endeavors, as well. Here are five things the theater taught me about writing, in no particular order:

1. Word of mouth is the best publicity

Our audiences, though small, were passionate. We provided quality entertainment and our most ardent supporters talked about us…a lot. They brought groups, gave their friends tickets, and sometimes drove hours to see us. Local merchants also talked about the shows and encouraged tourists to catch a matinee or evening performance. Though we bought print ads, paid a few publicists, and had a large email newsletter, the theater’s best advertisement was—without a doubt—word of mouth.

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5 Ways to "Funny Up" Your Prose

Humor is a life-giving stress reliever and ice breaker. I often sprinkle my talks, articles and books with funny word pictures and phrases, because laughter opens a reader/listener’s heart to the serious points I want to make.

Thankfully, my home is full of crazy guys (including my husband, who’s the most hilarious person I’ve ever met) and I’m a ditzy, accident-prone bundle of midlife hormones. Thus, I’m never short on material.

It’s true that humor, like writing, is an innate gift, and some people have it in abundance. Others…well, not so much. However, certain aspects of both crafts can be taught.

As a follow-up to this popular post, here are a few ways to humorously pump up your prose:

 

1. Wordplay.

Mae West said, “I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.” Classic!

 

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