Funny on Paper

Courtney Hunt is the contemporary romance author of the heartwarming Cupid's Coffeeshop series, the lighthearted Always a Bridesmaid series, and the Kindle Scout winning title, The Lost Art of Second Chances. She writes the kind of books she loves to read--sweet contemporary romances with witty humor and heartwarming emotion. Visit her website for a FREE starter library at www.courtney-hunt.com or contact her at [email protected].

[blurds]

this is the funniest thing I’ve seen in weeks

[xxtc-96xx]

Me too, buddy XD

[tangledupinmist]

Participate in the Ted Lasso One Prompt For All Fic Collection: "One Bed"

Hi all - we thought it would be fun if many writers would take the same prompt and post their takes on a specific day. So here's round #1, with the prompt being "One Bed". Take any ship from the Lassoverse and share with us by posting

in the Ted Lasso One Prompt for All Collection on AO3 https://archiveofourown.org/collections/TedLassoOnePromptforAll_OneBed

on

October 24

as we are all from different time zones there will hopefully lost of fun stories be popping up throughout the day. Get in touch if you have any further questions.

[wordsnstuff]

Hi, so I've finished a short story, a first draft you could say, but there are still some kinks in it that I want to iron out. What is stopping me is that it seems just such a huge job, I wouldn't know where to start. And so I keep making excuses. (Chances are I'll use this as an escuse as well, that I'll wait until I hear your answer.) Any tips on where to start?

Procrastination & The Editing Stage...

Procrastination is typically a symptom of anxiety and perfectionism. Before you ask how you solve the problem, you should figure out why you’re having it in the first place. This is an immensely helpful practice in the long run. Ask yourself why you’re so anxious to start examining your own work and test various possible exercises that could soothe this anxiety long enough to get started. 

Editing is understandably very intimidating. It’s daunting to have to sit down and actively look for flaws (or as I like to say, room for improvement) in your own work. Writing is a practice in vulnerability sometimes editing can feel like critiquing your own emotions. In order to edit well, you have to detach from your own connection to the content and view it objectively. If you’re having trouble with this, I recommend putting literal distance between yourself and the writing. 

Let it sit physically and mentally away from you for a few months and then come back to it with fresh eyes and preferably a second project in the foreground of your writing time. This will allow you to see it as a story rather than a part of you, and therefore you will find it easier to criticize. 

I have a few posts and tips that touch on the subject of procrastination and approaching work you’re intimidated by that expand upon the topic:

Stop Getting Too Attached When Writing

Healthy Forms of Motivation

How To Have A Productive Mindset

How To Fall In Love With Writing

Writing Through Mental Health Struggles

 Dear Writers Who Are Hesitant To Start Writing

“All First Drafts Are Crap” -- My Thoughts

Getting Back To Writing After A Long Hiatus

Why “Burnout” Is Oay - The Creative Cycle

Wanting To Finish A Story You’ve Fallen Out of Love With

How To Use Beta-Reader Feedback

How To Actually Get Writing Done

Writing On A Schedule

Coming Back To A Story After A Break

Coming Back To A Story You’ve Grown Since

How To Prevent Getting Stuck

Sticking To A Story (Working on Multiple Projects)

Writing Your Way Through The Plot Fog

Get Back Into The Stride of Writing

When you are finally ready to start editing, perhaps a few of these resources may be helpful to you:

Step-By-Step : Editing Your Own Writing

Improving Flow In Writing

Constructive Criticism : How To Give & Receive

How To Make A Scene More Heartfelt

How To Perfect The Tone

Editing & Proofreading Cheat Sheet

A Guide To Tension & Suspense

What To Change Draft-By-Draft

Dialogue Punctuation

Finding And Fixing Plot Holes

On Underwriting

Denoting Flashbacks

Ultimate Guide To Symbolism

Expanding Scenes

Naming Stories

Tips on Descriptions

Tips on Balancing Development

Tips on Connecting Chapters

Tips On Dialogue

Using Vocabulary

Balancing Detail & Development

Showing Vs Telling

Writing The Middle of Your Story

–

Masterlist | WIP Blog

If you enjoy my blog and wish for it to continue being updated frequently and for me to continue putting my energy toward answering your questions, please consider Buying Me A Coffee, or pledging your support on Patreon, where I offer early access and exclusive benefits for only $5/month.

[inber]

Writing period dramas in the discord, lads

[kendallroy-deactivated20210425]

so after a couple days of scrolling through old social registers from the 1910s and 1920s, i think i have finally amassed the ultimate list of utterly insane old money names. i am going to use every single one of these as an alias in one way or another, starting with marmaduke corbyn and miss elinor vandegrift

[copperbadge]

This is the most delightfullz zany list of names imaginable. When I inevitably go on the run I shall travel under the name Talbot Olyphant. 

[sffan]

I’m torn between Hortense Trounstine Pappenheimer and Lady Marguerite Mackenzie Montague.

But honestly, they’re all delightfully awesome.

[chill-byers]

@lewisandquark please train a neural network on this list

[ralfmaximus]

@lewisandquark​ seconded!

[soft-butch-cassidy]

I was getting pretty fed up with links and generators with very general and overused weapons and superpowers and what have you for characters so:

Here is a page for premodern weapons, broken down into a ton of subcategories, with the weapon’s region of origin. 

Here is a page of medieval weapons.

Here is a page of just about every conceived superpower.

Here is a page for legendary creatures and their regions of origin.

Here are some gemstones.

Here is a bunch of Greek legends, including monsters, gods, nymphs, heroes, and so on. 

Here is a website with a ton of (legally attained, don’t worry) information about the black market.

Here is a website with information about forensic science and cases of death. Discretion advised. 

Here is every religion in the world. 

Here is every language in the world.

Here are methods of torture. Discretion advised.

Here are descriptions of the various methods used for the death penalty. Discretion advised.

Here are poisonous plants.

Here are plants in general.

Feel free to add more to this!

[thejovianmute]

An exceedingly useful list of lists for writers.

[sapphofinch]

i would take a bullet for you op i hate having to look up gemstones for fucking dragon names or jewelry

[buttercupmistymoon]

[jupitersmusings]

good things will happen 🧿

things that are meant to be will fall into place 🧿

[overlord-fire-bubble]

THIS ONE FUCKING WORKS. REBLOG IT.

[essenceofrose]

Okay I reblogged and got into the entrepreneurship program I wanted. This WORKS

[jensenackles-ismyreligion]

I POSTET THIS HALF AN HOUR BEFORE MY JOB INTERVIEW AND I GOT THE JOB OH MY GOD

[the-information-actionratio]

I love to make these lol

Good lord send me Karl urban now please

[theheroichydrangea]

If people could see my Ao3 history

[atalana]

[assassinregrets]

[corrie71]

It’s funny because it’s true. LOL.

[tvshowscouples]

Reblog if you are Team Zoey&Simon         

[lilyjcollins-news]

Emily In Paris posters by Art Machine.

[corrie71]

Love the designs of these!

[mistress-new-mistress]

Ok, I just watched the finale of Schitt’s Creek. Cried like a baby, obviously.

BUT

I really fucking hated the “happy ending” thing with David’s masseuse. It seemed SO out of character for both him and Patrick to just be like, “yikes, that was crazy. Anyway...” It was just so unnecessary and stupid. I hated it and it nearly ruined the finale for me.

[corrie71]

Same. I hated it. 

[sebastians-stan]

HENRY CAVILL for Details Magazine (2013)

[alliaofrph]

[writeinspiration]

WRITING HELP/CHARACTER

writing a bitchy character (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10)

writing a cocky character (1,2,3,4)

writing a emotion character (1,2)

How to play a hippie

Playing the quiet character.

Portraying the shopaholic.

Portraying a mute character.

Portraying a kleptomaniac.

How to play the stalker.

Writing distant, indifferent characters.

How to write a character who stutters.

Writing a character who is sassy.

A guide to playing a southern character.

Portraying characters with crushes.

How to portray a teen mom.

How to play a character who is mean.

How to portray a character high on cocaine.

Writing a character who is high on amphetamines.

Playing an efficient male character.

Portraying the asshole.

Playing a character who suffers from shyness.

How to play a mentally ill/insane character.

Writing a character who self-harms.

Writing a happy character.

Writing a character who suffers from night terrors.

Writing a character with paranoid personality disorder.

How to play a victim of rape.

How to RP a blind character.

Writing a leader.

Writing a character with Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Writing a character with depression.

Writing a character who is homosexual.

Writing a character with schizophrenia.

Playing a fe/male character.

Writing a character with Nymphomania.

How to write a worry wart.

How to write a character with HPD.

How to write a bad ass character.

Playing a pansexual.

Tips on writing a drug addict.

Tips on writing the pregnant female.

Writing insane characters.

Playing a character under the influence of marijuana.

Portraying a character with diabetes.

How to play a prankster.

Playing a character who has been adopted.

Portraying a vampire.

Playing a character with an eating disorder.

Portraying a character who is anti-social.

Portraying a character who is depressed.

How to portray someone with dyslexia.

How to portray a character with bipolar disorder.

Portraying a character with severe depression.

How to play a serial killer.

Writing a tomboy.

Playing a pyromaniac.

How to write a mute character.

How to write a character with an OCD.

How to play a stoner.

How to write an asexual character.

How to play a bitchy/vicious character.

How to play a character with HPD.

Playing a pregnant woman.

Playing the burn-out.

Writing a “nice” character.

How to play a gentleman.

How to play a shy/introvert character.

How to play a naive character.

Playing characters with memory loss.

How to write a character who smokes.

How to write pirates.

How to write characters with PTSD.

How to play a character who isn’t ready for sex.

How to play the geek.

Playing the manipulative character.

Portraying a character with borderline personality disorder.

Playing a character with Orthorexia Nervosa.

Writing a character who lost someone important.

Playing the bullies.

Portraying the drug dealer.

Playing a rebellious character.

How to portray a sociopath.

How to play a swimmer.

Portraying a ballerina.

Playing a promiscuous male.

Playing a character with cancer.

How to portray a bubbly character.

How to portray a power driven character.

How to portray the shy character.

Playing a character under the influence of drugs.

Playing a character who struggles with Bulimia.

Portraying a hippie.

Portraying sexually/emotionally abused characters.

Playing a character with asthma.

Portraying characters who have secrets.

Portraying a recovering alcoholic.

Portraying a sex addict.

How to play someone creepy.

Portraying a foreigner.

Portraying an emotionally detached character.

How to play a character with social anxiety.

Portraying a character who is high.

How to play a strong, female character.

Writing a character with a hangover.

Playing angry characters.

Playing a character who is smarter than you.

Playing and writing autistic characters.

Portraying a trans character.

How to portray a dominant character.

Playing a character who is faking a disorder.

Playing a prisoner.

Playing the opposite sex.

Portraying a character who has PTSD.

Playing a character who stutters.

How to play a depressed character who self-harms.

Portraying the “dumb” character.

How to portray a lesbian.

How to play a blind character.

How to play a sexual assault victim.

Writing a compulsive gambler.

Playing a werewolf.

Writing a character who is drunk.

Playing a Brit.

Portraying a character with amnesia.

Playing heroes.

Portraying a witty character.

How to play a vampire.

How to play a character who is manipulative.

Portraying the natural born leader.

Portraying the character who is flirtatious.

Writing a nice character.

How to portray a character who has asthma.

Playing a character with ADHD.

Amnesia

Children

Losing Someone (2)

Physical Injuries (2, 3)

Sexual Abuse (2)

Fight Scenes (2, 3, 4)

Horror

Torture

How to Describe the Body Shape of Female Characters

Character Appearance Help

Words to Describe Voice

Character Development Exercises

Art of Character Development

Introducing Characters

Characters You Need to Reinvent

Making Characters Likable

Heroes and Villains

Understanding Body Language

Mental Illness in Writing

Conflicts and Characters

How about some writing resources for those post-NaNoWriMo blues?

[littlegreenplasticsoldier]

[really-saraleee]

True

[merytsetesh]

Things I Have Learned Writing Smut:

1. There is a Goldilocks zone, or “sweet spot” if you will, for writing smut. On one end of the spectrum is Purple Prose. This is where you get laughable euphemisms like “polishing her pearl” and “love lance” and stuff like that. On the other end is Too Raunchy, where the author violently yanks you out of the narrative by slapping you in the face with someone using butter for lube, or going from anal penetration to some other hole with no concern for bacteria. Personally I like to err on the side of Raunchy, because the dirtier it is the more exciting! The problem is that everyone’s Nope limit is different, so your Goldilocks zone might be much bigger than your reader. This is getting into Your Milage May Vary and Your Kink Is Not My Kink/Dead Dove Do Not Eat territory, which is why fanfiction authors try so hard to tag appropriately. Professional authors, however, tend to err on the side of Purple Prose, or write repulsive/sad sex scenes like Ryan Boyd how mentions above.

2. You are writing an action scene. Only instead of throwing punches you are trying to find synonyms for thrust and groan without sounding like a thesaurus. How specific do you need to be in describing body and limb position for your audience to effectively visualize what’s happening? Can your audience infer that there was lube in the bedside table, or do you need to specifically mention somebody got it out of the drawer so the audience does not think the lube magically appeared? Is your pacing too slow because you are including these details? No one knows! 

3. Speaking of synonyms, you only get about a dozen words for genitals. That’s it. You get penis, dick, cock, balls, sac, clitoris, labia, vagina, pussy, cunt, anus, and asshole. Any others are Forbidden because they sound ridiculous (Purlple Prose territory) or as unsexy (twat is Too Raunchy), both of which ruin the mood. Exceptions to this rule are regional or period appropriate words. For example, the U.K. get to add prick and arse to the list. If you are writing a period piece, you can get away with slang from that time period, like cunny. Then once you have been allotted your ration of words for genitals you must strategically place them throughout your narrative. Because you don’t want to sound like you are deliberately trying to use a different term each time, because it becomes noticeable and jarring. But you don’t want to use the same terms over and over, because the repetition will be noticeable and jarring. *screams*

In conclusion, the enjoyment derived from reading smut is equal and opposite to the frustration of writing smut.

[emmacharlottewatson]

Oscar Isaac photographed by Jason Nocito for GQ Style, Spring 2018