Fluff is a term related to lighter stories, scenes, arcs, or moods. They’re the things that give you the warm fuzzies, hence the name. Usually it’s feel-good, but it’s not a requirement. It usually requires more than one character. And one of my favorite types of it is casual intimacy between characters.
(For any of those new to me as a writer, CASUAL INTIMACY IS MY JAM.)
But this week’s post is about fluff as a broad thing.
So let’s have a list of some ways to tackle fluffy writing!
-SET THE MOOD! I’m a queen of writing to inappropriate music, so much so that I have a playlist for just that. But when you’re trying to force a swing into something else, it’s best to help things along. So get some happy music! Yes, HAPPY. The fun, funky, pop-ish stuff, not necessarily cutesy or soft or romantic. You want THE FUN STUFF. I like techno, nightcore, and pop a lot!
I also like to personally throw one thing on loop for hours on end. Like many writers, I make playlists, and I’ll have those on for hours on end too, but I’m really bad with the one song thing.
-Have an idea! Fluff is one of those things that works best with an end goal in mind, in my opinion. Let it be a light idea. Nothing like a plot, just an idea.
-COMEDY! Of course fluff can exist without being funny, and comedy doesn’t automatically equate to fluff, but fluff is great with some humor. Whether that means hijinks, or shenanigans, or hilarious misunderstandings, or even just your characters joking around together, go for it! Fluff is meant to make people feel good, after all.
-Physical intimacy is So Fucking Important to me, and I value it hugely when reading. But it can be hard to do, especially platonic stuff! But honestly, until I started writing smut, I’d written platonic characters doing more together than I’d ever really done for romantic couples, and I got away with it. Readers ate that shit up.
The easiest way to do this is to cut the narration. That’s it! Have the character act. Absolutely nothing else attached. No pining, no surprise, no thoughts attached.
Have them do most things a couple do, and just delete the thirst, the pining, the staring soulfully into each other’s eyes, the way their heart speeds up. You’ll probably end up with something pretty damn neat.
-HOLDING HANDS IS FOR EVERYONE NOT JUST COUPLES. Actually, in general, there’s a ton of stuff characters can and should do together that doesn’t automatically make them a couple. Holding hands, hugging, changing in front of each other, sharing a bed, laying on each other, protecting each other, even kissing depending on how you swing it.
(An example: nothing slays me more than someone picking up someone else and spinning them around. It works best with reunions, but it doesn’t automatically mean romance! But it’s SUCH a good.)
Think about your fave character(s) smiling. The really nice kind of smile that crinkles their eyes, or maybe it wrinkles their nose a little, or gives them dimples. Maybe they’re making a face for a reaction or a picture. Maybe they just told a really bad joke. Maybe they found out they’re going to Disneyland. You don’t gotta write it (though you totally could!), but just imagine it.
Make yourself happy before writing happy! In my experience, most writers can write moods they’re not feeling themselves, but if you’re trying to get into a new swing of things, then start with yourself. Good luck, and literally happy writing!
