Writing can be a bit solitary, so from time to time I like to put on pants and go out and speak. I speak on the following topics: Having Humor in Our Lives I was keynote speaker at "Reunion 2000," an all-school reunion in Peterson, Minnesota.   I was keynote speaker at "A Scandinavian Evening," a Nordland Fest 2001 event at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Keeping Heritage Alive With Food A speech to several Sons of Norway groups, churches, and other Scandinavian organizations. Ten Tips for Surviving as a Writer A presentation at Minnesota Northwoods Writer's Conference at Bemidji State University. A presentation at schools and to the Twin Cities Chapter of the National Writers Union. Writers Helping Writers Make More Money I made this speech at a 2003 writer's conference called "Cashing In: Writing Your Way to Financial Success." I was chair of the conference planning committee. Writing Good Query Letters A presentation to the Twin Cities Chapter of the National Writers Union. Lefse and Lutefisk Events I teach lefse-making classes every November. For more information, contact me.   I give lefse-making demonstrations at such places as Ingebretsen’s, a Scandinavian food and gift store in Minneapolis.   I wrote a humor skit on "Keeping Lutefisk Legal" for the Friends of Norway in Raleigh, North Carolina. Humor-Writing Instructor OK, first of all, I can be funny—but I’m not a funny guy. Know what I mean? I can buckle your knees once in a while with a witty comeback or an off-the-wall observation, but I am not a stand-up comic or a natural joke teller. The thing is, I love humor. Humor is connection, and we all want to connect with others. Often, humor alone saves the day, and it certainly saves most forms of writing. Show me a piece of good writing and, more often than not, the article or story or even a business report contains elements of humor. A funny word, a comical line, or a bit of wit can lighten and energize a paragraph or page like nothing else. I teach others what these elements of humor are, and why it is worth it to add humor to every kind of writing. I do workshops at Open Book in Minneapolis and in corporate settings using writing exercises, discussions, and even singing to answer such questions as: What’s the distinction between joke telling and humor?   What is substitution humor?   Why do overstatement and understatement work?   What is it about repetition and switches and exaggeration that make us laugh?   Why is a duck the funniest animal (Gimme some Chap Stick and put it on my bill.)? The goal of this workshop is to help people write it light. No, not to trivialize (unless trivia is your goal), but to add touches of humor at just the right place in order to connect to your readers and make your writing all the more effective. Gary Legwold glegwold@lutefisk.com (612) 926-1877 "Ideas Need Words" Home Page © Copyright 2004 Gary Legwold and Conrad Henry Press. All rights reserved.