Bob Hostettler – The Making of a Humorous Writer (And How You Can Become One Too)

Author, speaker, and overall funny man Bob Hostettler has cost me too much money. He keeps writing books. And I keep buying them. Not only because I enjoy them, but because I’m hoping to learn his secret to writing with both depth and humor.

Bob also speaks at a lot of writers conferences. Of course, I’m compelled to attend them when I see his name on the list. (He should write a book about speaking at writers conferences. I’d buy it.)

If you’d like to inspire people with a powerful message they’ll remember long after they’ve read your last line, glean from Bob’s wisdom and humor here. But first . . .

Who’s Bob?

Bob Hostetler is an award-winning author, agent, and speaker from southwestern Ohio. His 47 books, which include the award-winning Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door (co-authored with Josh McDowell) and The Bard and the Bible: A Shakespeare Devotional, have sold millions of copies. Bob is also the founding pastor of Cobblestone Community Church in Oxford, Ohio. He and his wife, the lovely Robin, have two grown children, Aubrey and Aaron, who have given them five beautiful grandchildren.

Now you know who Bob is. Here’s a glimpse into the making of this humorous writer, and how you can become one, too. 

Here’s Bob!

Jean: Hey, Bob! When did you first discover you’re funny or was it a skill you had to develop?

Bob: Wait. I’m funny? I seriously (get it?) don’t think of myself as funny. I like to laugh and I know what makes me laugh, so I guess that translates to “funny.” But I grew up with two older brothers (much, much older), and each of them has a great sense of humor, so I probably learned from them. But I do think of humor as a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it gets. That has been my experience, at least.

Jean: How does using humor help you in your writing? 

Bob: Oh, so many ways. Humor defuses tension and increases interest. It builds trust, affection, and loyalty. All of those things are critical for a writer. I think of Shakespeare, whose greatest tragedies featured his most memorable clowns and fools—the gravedigger in Hamlet and the porter in Macbeth, for example. His plays are examples of the wise and timely use of humor.

Jean: What are your favorite kinds of humor?

Bob: The funny kind. Oh, you want more than that? Okay, I admit to a fondness for puns, probably because I love words. I enjoy satire and parody. I love Steven Wright’s deadpan quips, and Jack Handey’s “Deep Thoughts.” I even find humor in the Bible, believe it or not, and hope to write about it soon.

Jean: What would you say to a writer who doesn’t think they’re funny but would like to use humor?

Bob: Three words: surprise, exaggeration, and unlikely combinations (see what I did there?). Also, consider what makes you laugh, and then try to understand why it makes you laugh. Then go and do likewise (Luke 10:37).

Jean: Who are some of your favorite humorous writers?

Bob: I guess I already started my answer by mentioning Steven Wright and Jack Handey. And Shakespeare. Feel free to tell those guys I mentioned them in the same breath as Shakespeare. Also, my friends Dennis Hensley, Liz Curtis Higgs, Rhonda Rhea, and Jim Watkins always make me laugh—sometimes even intentionally. I enjoy Steve Martin’s Twitter feed, and some others, like @LloydLegalist and @BackRowBaptist, often crack me up. More than I am already, that is.

Thanks, Bob, for a look into your life as a seriously (I got what you did there) humorous writer.

♦

Be sure to check out Bob’s website and order his books. Also, check his speaking schedule and register for a conference. In fact, you should do it right now: 

Bob Hostetler, Author, Agent, & More