---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I wrote 'Southern Baptist Sissies,'…"
description: "\"When I wrote 'Southern Baptist Sissies,' that was the first time that I really ventured out into pure drama with themes where there was not one laugh s..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/del-shores-24409_drama_when-i-wrote-southern-baptist-sissies-th_296253.jpg"
---

#  When I wrote 'Southern Baptist Sissies,' that was the…

![“When I wrote 'Southern Baptist Sissies,' that was the first time that I really ventured out into pure drama with themes where there was not one laugh sometimes. But I've always gravitated organically to blending tones and usually get good reviews about that. That's what life is about.” quote by Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/del-shores-24409_drama_when-i-wrote-southern-baptist-sissies-th_296253.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/del-shores-24409_drama_when-i-wrote-southern-baptist-sissies-th_296253.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/del-shores-24409_drama_when-i-wrote-southern-baptist-sissies-th_296253.jpg)

> “When I wrote 'Southern Baptist Sissies,' that was the first time that I really ventured out into pure drama with themes where there was not one laugh sometimes. But I've always gravitated organically to blending tones and usually get good reviews about that. That's what life is about.”

[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.

The author shifted from comedy to pure drama, seeking serious storytelling while still blending tones, reflecting life's complexity.

**In simple terms:** He tried serious drama while keeping mixed tones, showing life's mix.

Key Takeaway

Embrace both humor and seriousness in work.

Themes

creative expression genre blending life lessons

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

artistic inspirational

When to use this quote

- theatre production
- writing workshops
- personal growth
- audience reception

Key Concepts

dramatic storytelling tone balance

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance humor and seriousness?
- What risks arise when changing genre?

A Different Perspective

Pure drama may alienate audiences accustomed to humor.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Southern baptist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/southern-baptist/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/i-started-writing-southern-baptist-sissies-right-after-i-had-written/)

[Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/)

> [It is very curious that the United States and Canada both assume that diversity means only race and ethnicity. They never assume it might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rodriguez/it-is-very-curious-that-the-united-states-and-canada-both-assume-that/)

[Richard Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rodriguez/)

> [“It inspired a kind of Huck Finn moment when I decided it was better to risk hell than shrivel in the midst of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-j-cogswell/it-inspired-a-kind-of-huck-finn-moment-when-i-decided-it-was-better/)

[Kelly J. Cogswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-j-cogswell/)

> [“Wait, go back to that Southern Baptist part,” Julia said, interrupting, as she does. “Are you a born-again?” articulating her question as if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathleen-falsani/wait-go-back-to-that-southern-baptist-part-julia-said-interrupting-as/)

[Cathleen Falsani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathleen-falsani/)

> [I dont feel qualified or that I really have time to be involved with the Southern Baptist Convention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-bryant/i-dont-feel-qualified-or-that-i-really-have-time-to-be-involved-with/)

[Anita Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-bryant/)

> [Well, I was dedicated to God before I was born by Momma and Daddy, and I was raised in a very traditional Southern Baptist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/well-i-was-dedicated-to-god-before-i-was-born-by-momma-and-daddy-and/)

[Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/)

> [“Southern Baptist Churches Are Losing Millennials Hemant Mehta Southern Baptists are in trouble,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/southern-baptist-churches-are-losing-millennials-hemant-mehta/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“coming to Christ and bringing others along are among the core responsibilities of a Southern Baptist, for whom it is an article of faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/coming-to-christ-and-bringing-others-along-are-among-the-core/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/i-started-writing-southern-baptist-sissies-right-after-i-had-written/)

[Del Shores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/)

[Explore all 24 Del Shores quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/del-shores/)

## More Drama quotes

> [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/)

David Hudgins

> [Music is a job, but I figured out ways to get my mind into a place where I could be creative. I actually discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/music-is-a-job-but-i-figured-out-ways-to-get-my-mind-into-a-place/)

[Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/)

> ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/)

[Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/)

> [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/)

[Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/)

> [All drama is conflict. Without conflict, there is no action. Without action, there is no character. Without character, there is no story. And without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-field/all-drama-is-conflict-without-conflict-there-is-no-action-without/)

[Syd Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-field/)

> [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/)

[Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/)

> [I never wanted to be the lead on a TV drama. It just robs you of your life, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-noth/i-never-wanted-to-be-the-lead-on-a-tv-drama-it-just-robs-you-of-your/)

[Chris Noth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-noth/)

> [When I discovered drama, I felt a connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-fearon/when-i-discovered-drama-i-felt-a-connection/)

[Ray Fearon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-fearon/)

> [Dont hate me cause ur man want me dont be jealouse cause hes thinking of when he says he loves u dont hate him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana/dont-hate-me-cause-ur-man-want-me-dont-be-jealouse-cause-hes-thinking/)

[Ana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana/)

> [I hadn't been to drama school. I hadn't been to university and acted there. I had no qualifications behind me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/i-hadn-t-been-to-drama-school-i-hadn-t-been-to-university-and-acted/)

[David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/)

> [I was painfully shy, so my aunt suggested to my mum that me and my brother go to Stage 84, a performing arts school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-cooke/i-was-painfully-shy-so-my-aunt-suggested-to-my-mum-that-me-and-my/)

[Christian Cooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-cooke/)

> [I kind of pride myself on coming onto things that are well-oiled machines and finding a way to bring what I bring and fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-kind-of-pride-myself-on-coming-onto-things-that-are-well-oiled/)

[Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/)

> [They say that art comes from the soul. The more drama in an artist's life, the more he can draw on for his art.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/they-say-that-art-comes-from-the-soul-the-more-drama-in-an-artist-s/)

[Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/)

> [I would love to do a love story or a socially relevant drama. Something on the lines of Netflix originals. I would love to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roop-durgapal/i-would-love-to-do-a-love-story-or-a-socially-relevant-drama/)

[Roop Durgapal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roop-durgapal/)

> [“Thinking about the weather was one way of shutting out of his mind the appalling bloody human mess sprawled out over the bed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ellis/thinking-about-the-weather-was-one-way-of-shutting-out-of-his-mind/)

[Mark Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ellis/)

[Browse all 5,150 Drama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I wrote 'Southern Baptist Sissies,' that was the first time that I really ventured out into pure drama with themes where there was not one laugh sometimes. But I've always gravitated organically to blending tones and usually get good reviews about that. That's what life is about.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Del Shores"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/when-i-wrote-southern-baptist-sissies-that-was-the-first-time-that-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Drama"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/when-i-wrote-southern-baptist-sissies-that-was-the-first-time-that-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/del-shores-24409_drama_when-i-wrote-southern-baptist-sissies-th_296253.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/del-shores-24409_drama_when-i-wrote-southern-baptist-sissies-th_296253.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/add/del-shores-24409_drama_when-i-wrote-southern-baptist-sissies-th_296253.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I wrote 'Southern Baptist Sissies,' that was the first time that I really ventured out into pure drama…” — 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": "When I wrote 'Southern Baptist Sissies,'...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/when-i-wrote-southern-baptist-sissies-that-was-the-first-time-that-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/del-shores/when-i-wrote-southern-baptist-sissies-that-was-the-first-time-that-i/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
