--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a rule of writing: if everything…" description: "\"There's a rule of writing: if everything is funny, nothing is funny; if everything is sad, nothing is sad. You want that contrast.\" — J. Michael Stracz..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/j-michael-straczynski-2548_contrast_there-s-a-rule-of-writing-if-everything_1997628.jpg" --- # There's a rule of writing: if everything is funny, nothing… ![“There's a rule of writing: if everything is funny, nothing is funny; if everything is sad, nothing is sad. You want that contrast.” quote by J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/j-michael-straczynski-2548_contrast_there-s-a-rule-of-writing-if-everything_1997628.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/j-michael-straczynski-2548_contrast_there-s-a-rule-of-writing-if-everything_1997628.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78a/j-michael-straczynski-2548_contrast_there-s-a-rule-of-writing-if-everything_1997628.jpg) > “There's a rule of writing: if everything is funny, nothing is funny; if everything is sad, nothing is sad. You want that contrast.” [J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Contrast creates humor and pathos; without opposition, emotions lose impact. **In simple terms:** Contrast makes feelings stand out. Key Takeaway Use contrast to sharpen impact. Themes humor emotion writing contrast impact Mood thoughtful analytical Type advice observational When to use this quote - Comedy writing - dramatic scripts - stand‑up routines - advertising - teaching Key Concepts Narrative theory psychology of humor emotional resonance Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance contrast without exaggeration? - When does contrast become cliché? A Different Perspective Overreliance on contrast can feel forced or manipulative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-funny/) ## Related quotes > [The main rule of writing is that if you do it with enough assurance and confidence, you’re allowed to do whatever you like. (That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-main-rule-of-writing-is-that-if-you-do-it-with-enough-assurance/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I made up my mind long ago to follow one cardinal rule in all my writing — to be clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-made-up-my-mind-long-ago-to-follow-one-cardinal-rule-in-all-my/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Rules such as "Write what you know," and "Show, don't tell," while doubtlessly grounded in good sense, can be ignored with impunity by any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/rules-such-as-write-what-you-know-and-show-don-t-tell-while/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [First rule of writing: When still a child, make sure you read a lot of books. Spend more time doing this than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/first-rule-of-writing-when-still-a-child-make-sure-you-read-a-lot-of/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [As a general rule, writing is very inconvenient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/as-a-general-rule-writing-is-very-inconvenient/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [A good ground rule for writing in any genre is, start with a form, then undermine its confidence in itself. Ask what it's afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-john-harrison/a-good-ground-rule-for-writing-in-any-genre-is-start-with-a-form-then/) [M. John Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-john-harrison/) > [“There's only one absolute rule in writing: None of us gets it right the first time. Revise, reverse, reinvent, re-vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-yolen/there-s-only-one-absolute-rule-in-writing-none-of-us-gets-it-right/) [Jane Yolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-yolen/) > [ The basic rule \[of writing\] given us was simple and heartbreaking. A story to be effective had to convey something from the writer to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/the-basic-rule-of-writing-given-us-was-simple-and-heartbreaking-a/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The only rule I have when writing is to try to tell the truth. That doesn't mean you can't exaggerate, edit, rewrite things to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/the-only-rule-i-have-when-writing-is-to-try-to-tell-the-truth-that/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [I don't see much comedy in the Bible, where people are writing about funny people. 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