Rumpus Columns

Funny Women

January 24th, 2012

FUNNY WOMEN #74: My Debilitating Anxiety Decodes My Unread Work Emails

When you send me an email, don’t think I don’t know what you’re really saying. …more

January 17th, 2012

FUNNY WOMEN #73: How to Write Like a Funny Woman

Recently, I started taking improv classes at Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York (founded by the high priestess of funny, Amy Poehler). During each class exercise, I’d think, “This would help my writing.” I compiled a list of writing lessons I learned from Improv 101: …more

January 10th, 2012

FUNNY WOMEN #72: People We Want to Be and the People We Are

When I tend to think about myself, I tend to think that I am okay. My hair is fairly soft, and I have very tiny hands. I don’t necessarily imagine men fantasize about me, but maybe they fantasize about me in certain situations. …more

January 3rd, 2012

FUNNY WOMEN #71: My Attempts at Sexting

My boyfriend recently informed me that I might be approaching this “sexting” trend wrong. I’m not sure if I agree. See what you think: …more

December 20th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #70: Top Vaginal Scents for the Holiday Season

Okay, ladies, you’ve read our tips on pleasing your man in the bedroom, but over the years many of our faithful readers have written in with the same concern: …more

December 13th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #69: Pitches for the Lifetime Movie Channel

Dear Lifetime Channel,

I’m delighted to see Lifetime breaking new ground in source material for feature films, tapping directly into the zeitgeist and speaking straight to the next generation of viewers, in the 140-character terms they understand best. …more

December 6th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #68: Scenes from Realistic Rom-Coms

Because in real life, sex can be boring…

…more

November 30th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #67: Carl Jung’s Epiphany Cakes

David Cronenberg’s recent thriller A Dangerous Method is about Carl Jung’s steamy and exuberantly fanciful affair with his very young patient, Sabina Spielrein.

Here is a recipe to match:

…more

November 1st, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #66: A Day in the Top 40

Ever wondered what your day would look like if you lived in the Top 40? Wonder no longer. (Bonus points if you can sing parts of it. Our sympathy if you can sing all of it.): …more

October 25th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #65: Literary-Minded Sister is One of the Guys

As the only girl in a family of five boys, Sarah Thompson always felt left out.

“It was like, because I didn’t have a penis, I wasn’t allowed to pee standing up,” she recalls, shaking her head. Matters weren’t helped by the fact that Sarah was more of the quiet, literary type, while the boys were made of noise and brawn. …more

October 18th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #64: A Call for Artists

How often have you read application guidelines such as: “Artists working in their home countries, women, emerging writers, and people of color are encouraged to apply”? Have you felt flattered by the special invitation? …more

September 27th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #63: Calendar for Women

A special Funny Women daily calendar: …more

August 23rd, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #62: Call It What It Is

I go to the League For Undocumented Students. I have an appointment to see one of their counselors. …more

August 17th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #61: My Imaginary Wet Hot American Summer

Even though I’m Jewish, I never went to summer camp. …more

July 12th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #59: Looking for Best Friends, m4ww

Craigslist is unfiltered potential. It’s criteria gone crazy. In a single day, you can get ripped off, score free kittens, …more

July 5th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #58: As Seen on TV

A day in the life of a woman whose life is exactly how all TV ads think it is:

The first thing I do when I wake up is dance-twirl to the kitchen and pour myself a bowl of Special K. …more

June 28th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #57: That’s Absolutely Not What She Said

The infamous “She” of the “That’s What She Said” jokes has released a new tell-all book making shocking claims about the joke’s validity. …more

June 21st, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #56: This NPR Pledge Drive Is Getting Out Of Hand

Now more than ever, NPR could use your help. Facing federal cutbacks, we rely on our listeners to donate, and we’re pleased to offer some great premiums in return for your generosity. …more

June 14th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #55: Facebook Giveth and It Taketh Away

I have so many friends.  So many!

379, to be exact, although the number keeps fluctuating up and down by 1. Someone, or more than one someones, must be defriending me and then refriending me every few days. …more

June 7th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #54: Thomas Hardy Isn’t Jane Austen; Get Over It

They hated the ending. I knew they would. They always hate the ending. “They” means my university students. “The ending” means the last chapters of Thomas Hardy’s novel Far From the Madding Crowd (1874). …more

May 31st, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #53: An Editors’ Slush-Pile Meeting at the Backdoor Review

At Backdoor Review, we receive tens of thousands of submissions. We’ve collected a few cover letters and reprinted them now (without permission) with manuscript comments from our editors in italics. …more

April 26th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #52: Literary Classics Summarized as Trashy Romance Novels

To Whom It May Concern Regarding the Freelance Writer Position for eHarlequin.com:

Hello. I noticed you hadn’t gotten back to me regarding the freelance writer position, but I am writing to assure you that I am still very interested in writing back cover copy for eHarlequin.com. …more

April 19th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #51 (INAUGURAL AUDIO EDITION): Ayn Rand’s Headcheese

The Atlas Shrugged movie has opened–and we have the antidote. Rebecca Coffey recorded and musically scored (really!) “Ayn Rand’s Headcheese” recipe. Listen or download the podcast here. …more

April 5th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #50: Defense Mechanisms (Some New Game Apps for Your Feelings)

“As the computing power of cell phones increases, more and more sophisticated mobile apps are being developed for the mental health field. They’re seen as a way to bridge periodic therapy sessions — a sort of 24-7 mobile therapist that can help with everything from quitting smoking to treating anxiety to detecting relapses in psychotic disorders.” – NPR

Here are a few we anticipate: …more

March 29th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #49: RE: Interesting Article

Dad,

Thanks so much for your most recent email! It’s been awhile since we’ve last spoken (no hard feelings, it was White Sox season, I know), so I can hardly express how great it was to see your name in my inbox, especially once I saw the subject line. …more

March 15th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #48: Catalog of Men’s Collegiate Scarves—Fall 1989

Although it’s Spring 2011 and the snow in the Quadrangle is melting, why not treat your manly neck like it’s 1989? Life is just a collection of scarves, and scarves were meant to last. …more

March 1st, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #47: Become a Woman Celebrated During Women’s History Month

As American women, we are privileged to have every March dedicated to our accomplishments. For thirty-one incredible days, we can walk into any elementary school classroom and see our sisters’ faces decoupaged on pink poster board alongside bullet points of praise. …more

February 25th, 2011

Rumpus Women on Firedoglake Book Salon

The Rumpus Women, Vol. I contributors have been on tour. We’ve read in bookstores, bars, and family rooms in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Brooklyn, and Denver. The readings have been awe-inspiring: smart, funny, charming, sad, honest, brave.

In case you couldn’t make a reading or live in Iowa, Rumpus Women will be on Firedoglake Book Salon, an online news site that hosts author discussions every Saturday and Sunday. …more

February 22nd, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #46: Excerpt from Rodeo Girl’s Awesome Blog

Hello, everybody! I’m back!

I know, I haven’t blogged for almost over a day now, and it has been the worst day of my life because of Brad. …more

February 15th, 2011

FUNNY WOMEN #45: One-Handed Reading

Loads of people have slept with authors or well-read individuals, but what would it be like to sleep with a book? …more

About Funny Women

If you were a book, Jessi Probus would probably want to "read" you but would most likely fall asleep with her shoes still on while you sat on the covers still waiting to be read. You can follow her on Twitter @JessiProbus, or in real life, to and from Waffle House #1000.

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