Resource Roundup
A collection of free/cheap resources I've put together over the years
Check out my first post here to read more about the namesake of this newsletter and make a copy of the input/output tracking sheet if you so desire.
I’m on vacation!
So I thought this would be a good time to send out a compilation of some of the writing and comedy resources I’ve put together over the years. Enjoy!
If you’re interested in learning a step-by-step process for writing topical satire, here’s a class I recorded for Pandemic University in 2020. It’s about $8 after the conversion from CAD to USD, and comes with a 90 min class and a written tip sheet.
Looking to take an online writing class elsewhere? I put together a list of online writing schools and what they specialize in here.
I asked several of my favorite writers about their creative systems for keeping work organized and put their answers and tips together in this Medium post.
Here’s an episode of Scott Dikker’s (co-founder of The Onion) podcast “How to Write Funny.” I recorded this in 2018, but it’s probably one of the top ways people find me these days. Check out the other guests as well!
I put together a list of 40+ outlets that take satire and humor pieces here. I’ll be updating it in the fall, but always good to have a sense of additional outlets!
And here are a few more from a Chill Subs newsletter that I wrote a guest essay for:
The New Absurdist
"We are an online Arts and Culture Magazine, and our goal is to use the internet to create a space for creativity, curiosity, and passion to flourish. We look for works of all genres and styles. What matters to you? Whatever it is, we want to hear about it. "
Genre: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry
Catch Feels! Read:
Minutes To Midnight by Ciara Burke
Why Do Movie Audiences Love Suicide Bombing? by Gregg Maxwell Parker
in the hours of the early morning, london december 2021 by Katie Rejto
Special Sauce: “Our hot tip for people interested in submitting to our magazine is: impact, brevity and clarity! We aim to publish well developed, intentional pieces of writing, so make every word count. Take a look at some of our Editors’ Picks to get a sense of what we’ve chosen to publish in the past.”
Chill Subs Breakdown: Founded in 2020. No fee to submit. No payment for publication. (Responds within 90 days). They are active on socials. Accessible acceptance rate.
The Scalar Comet
The Scalar Comet publishes humor, satire and other things online. If you think we are just getting started, congrats
Genre: Nonfiction, fiction, poetry, art
Catch Feels! Read:
Special Sauce: “Tell me about what products you have strong feelings for, which personalities intrigue you, maybe even send an open letter or poem to them... any of these can be real or imagined. In the grand scheme, I seek work that might seem unusual, curious, or just a little bit perplexing.” - Akin Aguda
Chill Subs Breakdown: Founded in: 2021. Sim-subs are fine. No fee to submit. No payment for publication. (Responds within 30 days)
Defenestration
A Literary Magazine Dedicated to Humor - We don’t worry about the particulars of genre, style, or form as long as the work is funny. What exactly constitutes as funny varies from person to person, but we try to publish a wide range of humor, from the ridiculous to the satirical, and everything in between.
Founded in 2003. Sim-subs are fine. No fee to submit. No payment for publication. (Responds within 28 days). They don't appear to have any social media presence.
What are some of your favorite shareable resources? Created by you or by someone else.
New Q4 Class Just Dropped!
“Funny Frameworks for Fiction” through Writing Workshops. Saturday, 10/14, 1-3pm ET, $75
“In this class, Caitlin will take writers through three forms—parody, travelogue, and epistolary—that can be used as frameworks for longer comedic fiction. We’ll go over the hallmarks of each of these forms via examples and class discussion, then move into structured writing prompts for the three forms.
This generative writing can serve as framing devices for a longer story, or perhaps as the jumping off point for a short story or piece of funny flash fiction. We’ll also discuss why starting with an elevated form can make it easier to write fiction in a comedic key. Students will be sent several longer examples to read prior to meeting.
This class is for those curious about comedic novels, different novel structures, and how to jump into the process of writing funny longer work.”
Do me a favor—if you like these newsletters, hit the heart button! This helps more people in the Substack Network find it.
ABOUT ME: My name is Caitlin Kunkel and I’m a comedy writer, long-time teacher, and creator of The Second City’s Online Satire Writing Program. I currently teach classes and consult on gift book proposals, modern adaptation, satire, and comedic literature. I co-founded The Belladonna Comedy and the Satire and Humor Festival, and I co-wrote the satirical gift book New Erotica for Feminists: Satirical Fantasies of Love, Lust, and Equal Pay, named one of the Top 10 Comedy Books of 2018 by Vulture.
And one more resource! Here's an exercise from my Reading Modern Comic Lit class at Catapult (RIP) that's a simple way to create comedic characters with inherent tension: https://catapult.co/dont-write-alone/stories/turning-reality-into-comedy-writing-prompt-writing-exercise-humor-writing-caitlin-kunkel
I'm 97.7% sure that I got this resource from you in the first place, but here's a killer calendar of funding opportunities for writers: https://www.juliaphillipswrites.com/funding-calendar.html