One of the skills one must possess to have fun while writing fiction is finding ways to undercut dour seriousness. While I’m not saying everyone should put on clown makeup, I am advocating coming up with character-driven ways to make a situation interesting.

Let’s say someone is being questions by a Sheriff about a murder. Usually such men are dour and serious. It’s a tool used to intimidate the truth out of suspects. But what if you had a Sheriff trying to bottle-feed a baby while questioning a suspect?

It sounds silly, but if your Sheriff happens to be keeping a secret that his wife has left him and his newborn son? Well, then it’s not as silly. It’s amusing, but there’s some pathos to it.

That’s what I’m shooting for, rather than just tossing in anything I can think of, including the copper kitchen sinks.