Author William Saroyan wrote of tragicomedy: “Remember to be good-humoured. Remember to be good-natured. And remember that in the middle of that which is most tragic, there is always the comic, and in the midst of that which is most evil, there is always much good.”
I’ve been noticing dramatic plot twists recently and the impact on a reader, going from hilarity to devastation within a page and conversely, experiencing triumph in an impossibly dire situation. This certainly inspires continued reading. Although this makes for good reading, in real life, plot twists are frustrating and exhausting and I would usually prefer life on a more even keel. Read more
Exterior: southern Ontario countryside, winter blizzard conditions… interior of a very old pick-up truck. Woman behind the wheel is not dressed for the weather. She’s wearing a dress, light jacket and high heels. Through the windshield a deserted rural airport and runway are barely visible. She appears anxious, her cell phone sits on the dashboard. The phone rings… 
As a newbie to writing, and related editing and publishing processes, I recently experienced an eye-opening, roller coaster ride of a learning curve as the Ascribe writers prepared a collection of short stories with plans to publish.