Open Thread: Oracle Hotline

[mithen]

I knew the time difference when traveling was going to throw me, and sure enough, it did! I must have reminded myself 20 times to post last night but it just didn't take. *eyeroll*

--How do you feel about crack?

Dangerous stuff, man. Don't do drugs.

Oh, the fic category! I don't even know quite how to define this--it's got a very wide range of meanings. But in general I guess I would dub it "stories not meant to be taken seriously at all, that do silly or bizarre things in order to have fun." I was going to say it's an insult, but I pretty much only see it used as a self-deprecating insult--that is, you don't tend to call other peoples' stories crack, you call your own stories crack as a sort of apology. As such, I'm not a huge fan of using the term--embrace your fic and don't be bashful about it! Actually writing bizarre things? I'm all for having fun with fic, although I do think the odder your story becomes the more you need to understand and accept that your audience is narrowing down.

I've been with my parents all week and haven't been able to steal any writing time at all, so that's too bad! But I did get a little writing done on each and every project while I was on the plane, so there's a silver lining. And starting from today I'm staying with my husband's brother, who works long hours and thus I will have more time for writing, I think! How about you guys, was your week productive? Did you embrace your crack? (That doesn't sound good...)

Comments

[me_ya_ri]

Real crack, bad stuff. Pants falling down crack, ugh, please no! Story crack, small doses please and usually only when I really need a pick-me-up but other than that nope.

It's something that I don't generally indulge because I like my plot and logic and character development and crack is the exact opposite of that. Still, occasional hits of story crack can be a ton of fun. And story crack that's taken seriously, blown up into a whole enormous story that somehow totally makes sense (Discword, anyone? Good Omens?) can be the best thing in the entire world. :D

Writing totals haven't been what I wanted but they've still been pretty decent. I think I'm about 1/3 through the newest novel but I'm not sure. I'm never sure because I tend to write into the dark. Part of the reason the total was lower this week is that I'm making a concerted effort to learn how to use Adobe InDesign for publishing my POD books. Finally made progress last night which is wonderful. Difficult but wonderful. The hardest part is figuring out what all the familiar old functions are called and where to find them. Once I get that I'll be doing well. :D

Good luck on your writing!

[mithen]

And story crack that's taken seriously, blown up into a whole enormous story that somehow totally makes sense (Discword, anyone? Good Omens?) can be the best thing in the entire world. :D

Ooooh, good point! There are some lovely series that are basically crack premises built into whole worlds, and as long as everything keeps going it's a crazy Rube Goldberg machine of fun. :)

I'm glad to hear your work with Adobe is going well! I really struggle with some of their products, they're SO Byzantine. I know they're powerful and can do a lot, but that's exactly why they're so hard to understand...

[prince0froses]

I feel like crack is a young person's game (the fic kind, obviously). Every fan fiction author I know began writing deliberate badfic or crackfic (save for the like, two, who I know that conform to the stereotype and began writing mary sue romance). The first phase in loving a thing is poking fond fun at it, and when immature, humor is a blunt instrument. Most writers I know either stop writing deliberately 'cracky' things or they do it in subtle, well crafted ways and thus it is no longer crack and merely 'humorous' or 'light-hearted'. I feel inversely to you that crack is usually an audience label - people who label their stories as crack usually do so preemptively or defensively, but for the most part the distinction between crack and/or badfic and mature humor is usually made by the skill of the author and the interpretation of the reader.

I mean, I've written zombie invasions where the heroes were too busy making Shaun of the Dead references to fight properly, but I did it with a straight face and with decent prose, so it's humor (though I might, to protect myself, refer to it as 'a bit cracky' when linking it). If someone took the same premise and didn't pull it off as well, it would likely be labeled as crack no matter what. This is where I also come around to the conclusion that I feel like 'crack' is slapped on things more often to excuse bad quality or poorly executed humor rather than purely bizarre humor.

I did a little writing this week as a treat for myself because otherwise life decided to, in mental health terms, beat me up and take my lunch money. I treated myself to a niche kink. Given work, life, the universe and everything, I despair wondering if I will ever return to the narrative proper, or even more plotty fluff, again.

[mithen]

Every fan fiction author I know began writing deliberate badfic or crackfic (save for the like, two, who I know that conform to the stereotype and began writing mary sue romance).

*coughs self-consciously* All things considered, crackfic might be a better beginning! :)

This is where I also come around to the conclusion that I feel like 'crack' is slapped on things more often to excuse bad quality or poorly executed humor rather than purely bizarre humor.

Well put! I do think the line between "crack" and just plain "humor" is pretty fine and has a lot to do with the quality of the writing. And you know, I have no problem at all with writing that's done in the heat of the moment that's full of flaws and energy--it's not usually something I'll take the time to read, but I understand the impulse behind it and am always glad to see someone inspired to write, you know?

It does really feel like the universe is sometimes conspiring to keep anything from being written, doesn't it? Why gang up on us, universe? *shakes fist*