RIP Robin Williams

As I was growing up, I watched lots of Robin Williams movies. He was a funny actor, in the movies I was allowed to see. When I got older, I got to see some of his deeper movies, the ones that cast him not just as a comedian but as a character. And some in which he wasn't funny at all, in which he was a dark character, or a different kind of character.

But I remember him for his humor.

What is humor? Why is it important?

It's how we face the darkness inside ourselves. It's what gives us the strength to look beyond the moment, look past the night, and see the sunlight coming up over the edge of the day. It helps us face the worst of the world but makes it okay to do so; it's how we acknowledge that there is a lot of suck going on, and we're helpless against most of it--but that there is good, too, and we can still partake in the good. And it lets us think about dangerous things, dark things, brings us to the questions we couldn't bear to face otherwise, and helps us ask them, helps us think.

When confronted by darkness, we want to hide or fight. Humor gives us the chance to choose neither; to fix instead of run or destroy. It eats the fear and helps us see.

Humor alone doesn't fix the demons. It doesn't stop the night. And it can't bring back those who are lost.

But it's a sword in the hand, and a candle in the window.

I'll always remember how he made me smile. His life was a blessing, and I'm glad to have seen parts of it; it wasn't perfect, but it brought a lot of good for me and mine. He lit a lot of candles and gave us many hero's swords.

May he have peace. 

Moment of Remembrance

It's been a sad week for authors who keep in touch on the blogosphere. We've lost two people who have consistently gone out of their way to help developing writers.

Ann C. Crispin

Ann C. Crispin, of Writer Beware, passed after a battle with cancer. She devoted years of public awareness to help writers avoid being scammed. Countless authors owe their continued financial security to her warnings: because of her efforts and those of her colleagues, they know what to look for to avoid being bilked for thousands of dollars.

Carolyn Kaufman

Carolyn Kaufman, of QueryTracker, passed after suffering an aneurysm. Her blogs helped writers improve their craft and approach writing as a career, inspired hope, and welcomed new writers to the community.

Thanks to both of these amazing women for all they've contributed. I, for one, am grateful to have known their work.