--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started writing 'Southern Baptist…" description: "\"I started writing 'Southern Baptist Sissies' right after I had written the screenplay for 'Sordid Lives', so that's when I started on a darker path in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/del-shores-24409_church_i-started-writing-southern-baptist-sissi_2060917.jpg" --- # I started writing 'Southern Baptist Sissies' right after I… ![“I started writing 'Southern Baptist Sissies' right after I had written the screenplay for 'Sordid Lives', so that's when I started on a darker path in telling the truth about my journey in the church, but there was still a lot of funny.” quote by Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/del-shores-24409_church_i-started-writing-southern-baptist-sissi_2060917.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/del-shores-24409_church_i-started-writing-southern-baptist-sissi_2060917.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/del-shores-24409_church_i-started-writing-southern-baptist-sissi_2060917.jpg) > “I started writing 'Southern Baptist Sissies' right after I had written the screenplay for 'Sordid Lives', so that's when I started on a darker path in telling the truth about my journey in the church, but there was still a lot of funny.” [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes moving from a comedic screenplay to a darker, truthful narrative about church experiences, while retaining humor **In simple terms:** Shift from comedy to darker truth, still funny Key Takeaway Balance honesty with humor in storytelling Themes creativity truth humor Mood introspective humorous Type memoir inspirational When to use this quote - church community - writing process - public speaking Key Concepts memoir screenwriting Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain humor while addressing serious topics? - What risks arise from mixing comedy with truth? A Different Perspective Humor may dilute seriousness of issues ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Southern baptist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/southern-baptist/) [Telling the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling-the-truth/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When I wrote 'Southern Baptist Sissies,' that was the first time that I really ventured out into pure drama with themes where there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/when-i-wrote-southern-baptist-sissies-that-was-the-first-time-that-i/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > ['Sordid' is rather unique. That's why so many gay fans are comfortable to share 'Sordid Lives' with their families. It's not really a gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/sordid-is-rather-unique-that-s-why-so-many-gay-fans-are-comfortable/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [Through the years, I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have shared how much they relate to my 'Sordid Lives' family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/through-the-years-i-have-been-overwhelmed-by-the-number-of-people-who/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [I'm accountable - this sounds emo - to black American writing, Southern writing, Southern black American writing, American writing and my people. That's kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiese-laymon/i-m-accountable-this-sounds-emo-to-black-american-writing-southern/) [Kiese Laymon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiese-laymon/) > [I can't tell you how many letters I've gotten where someone showed 'Sordid Lives' to their mom, dad, or family and used it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/i-can-t-tell-you-how-many-letters-i-ve-gotten-where-someone-showed/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [Not a day goes by where someone doesn't write me asking me for more 'Sordid Lives.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/not-a-day-goes-by-where-someone-doesn-t-write-me-asking-me-for-more/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [In late 1999, I was walking down Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks with my late producing partner Sharyn Lane after a day of editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/in-late-1999-i-was-walking-down-ventura-boulevard-in-sherman-oaks/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [I have no regrets of fighting for four years to get 'Sordid Lives' on the small screen. It was a fantasy. I mean, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/i-have-no-regrets-of-fighting-for-four-years-to-get-sordid-lives-on/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [My family are very, very religious in Texas. They're Southern Baptists. I left to go to New York when I was 17 and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-collins/my-family-are-very-very-religious-in-texas-they-re-southern-baptists/) [Lynn Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-collins/) > [“Yeah his being Sumerian to this group would go over like an Ozzy Osbourne/Marilyn Manson duet at the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/yeah-his-being-sumerian-to-this-group-would-go-over-like-an-ozzy/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > ['Christian' used to be a throwaway word. People didn't used to use it much. People didn't start self-labeling or getting labeled Christian until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/christian-used-to-be-a-throwaway-word-people-didn-t-used-to-use-it/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [The truth is that family values, as used by the American Family Association, Dan Quayle, and the southern Baptists, has nothing to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-sullivan/the-truth-is-that-family-values-as-used-by-the-american-family/) Morris Sullivan > [The biological evolutionary perception of life and of human qualities is radically different from that of traditional religion, whether it's Southern Baptist or Islam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-o-wilson/the-biological-evolutionary-perception-of-life-and-of-human-qualities/) [E. O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-o-wilson/) > [Christianity has a built-in defense system: anything that questions a belief, no matter how logical the argument is, is the work of Satan by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/christianity-has-a-built-in-defense-system-anything-that-questions-a/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [I grew up in a Southern Baptist-style church with a choir, a band, and music, but I've been asking myself my whole life, 'Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-grew-up-in-a-southern-baptist-style-church-with-a-choir-a-band-and/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) ## More by Del Shores > [I don't discriminate against straight or gay people in casting; I'm open to good acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/i-don-t-discriminate-against-straight-or-gay-people-in-casting-i-m/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [With my work, I always want to people to just forget about anything stressful going on in their lives and be fully entertained. Laughter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/with-my-work-i-always-want-to-people-to-just-forget-about-anything/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [When I wrote 'Southern Baptist Sissies,' that was the first time that I really ventured out into pure drama with themes where there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/when-i-wrote-southern-baptist-sissies-that-was-the-first-time-that-i/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [I came from the theatre, which had given me opportunities in television as well as a film adaptation of my second play 'Daddy's Dyin'...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/i-came-from-the-theatre-which-had-given-me-opportunities-in/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [In late 1999, I was walking down Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks with my late producing partner Sharyn Lane after a day of editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/in-late-1999-i-was-walking-down-ventura-boulevard-in-sherman-oaks/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [I was there in 2009 for the Matthew Shepard Foundation dinner. I was honored with an award - Making A Difference Award. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/i-was-there-in-2009-for-the-matthew-shepard-foundation-dinner-i-was/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [Putting a face on a gay is important. We are just people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/putting-a-face-on-a-gay-is-important-we-are-just-people/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [Not a day goes by where someone doesn't write me asking me for more 'Sordid Lives.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/not-a-day-goes-by-where-someone-doesn-t-write-me-asking-me-for-more/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [As a kid, I was always inspired by the comedy of Carol Burnett. I loved Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon's 'Mama's Family'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/as-a-kid-i-was-always-inspired-by-the-comedy-of-carol-burnett-i-loved/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [Good southern boys always have this connection with their mom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/good-southern-boys-always-have-this-connection-with-their-mom/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [I can't tell you how many letters I've gotten where someone showed 'Sordid Lives' to their mom, dad, or family and used it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/i-can-t-tell-you-how-many-letters-i-ve-gotten-where-someone-showed/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [Through the years, I have been overwhelmed by the number of people who have shared how much they relate to my 'Sordid Lives' family,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/through-the-years-i-have-been-overwhelmed-by-the-number-of-people-who/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [So many kids are still sitting in pews being told they are not worthy of God's love. 'Sissies' will show them they are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/so-many-kids-are-still-sitting-in-pews-being-told-they-are-not-worthy/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [I love my play 'The Trials and Tribulations Of A Trailer Trash Housewife' because I get these letters from all of these women who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/i-love-my-play-the-trials-and-tribulations-of-a-trailer-trash/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) > [I consider myself a religious person, but when it comes to God and faith, I don't know. I guess that means I'm agnostic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/i-consider-myself-a-religious-person-but-when-it-comes-to-god-and/) [Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) [Explore all 24 Del Shores quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/) ## More Church quotes > [While the 1963 Birmingham church bombing is the most historic, there also was a series of church burnings in the 1990s. Recognition of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthea-butler/while-the-1963-birmingham-church-bombing-is-the-most-historic-there/) [Anthea Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthea-butler/) > [If I had my brothers I think with just a little bit of the correct marketing, I'd like to be almost exclusively in small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bozzio/if-i-had-my-brothers-i-think-with-just-a-little-bit-of-the-correct/) [Terry Bozzio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bozzio/) > [Turn over the pages of history and read the damning record of the church's opposition to every advance in every field of science. . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/turn-over-the-pages-of-history-and-read-the-damning-record-of-the/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, the hope of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/god-is-not-calling-us-to-go-to-church-he-is-calling-us-to-be-his/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Worship is not about personality, temperament, personal limitations, church background, or comfort. It is about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wimber/worship-is-not-about-personality-temperament-personal-limitations/) [John Wimber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wimber/) > [A beggarly people, A church and no steeple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-b-macaulay/a-beggarly-people-a-church-and-no-steeple/) [Thomas B. Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-b-macaulay/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [The minute you walk outside of your church on Sunday you're in mission territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barron/the-minute-you-walk-outside-of-your-church-on-sunday-you-re-in/) [Robert Barron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barron/) > [I'm not ashamed of the things I believe and why I believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/i-m-not-ashamed-of-the-things-i-believe-and-why-i-believe-them/) [Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/) [Browse all 9,430 Church quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started writing 'Southern Baptist Sissies' right after I had written the screenplay for 'Sordid Lives', so that's when I started on a darker path in telling the truth about my journey in the church, but there was still a lot of funny.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Del Shores" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/i-started-writing-southern-baptist-sissies-right-after-i-had-written/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Church" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/i-started-writing-southern-baptist-sissies-right-after-i-had-written/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/del-shores-24409_church_i-started-writing-southern-baptist-sissi_2060917.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/del-shores-24409_church_i-started-writing-southern-baptist-sissi_2060917.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f06/del-shores-24409_church_i-started-writing-southern-baptist-sissi_2060917.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started writing 'Southern Baptist Sissies' right after I had written the screenplay for 'Sordid Lives', so…” — Del Shores", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Del Shores", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I started writing 'Southern Baptist Sissies'...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/i-started-writing-southern-baptist-sissies-right-after-i-had-written/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/i-started-writing-southern-baptist-sissies-right-after-i-had-written/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```