[inquiring mind]

[hackthis_archive]

I somehow found myself reading a critique of one of my stories (no, the point is not what the critique said), that said [Story X] was "a classic hackthis story."

I have no idea what that means.

The stories I write are the ones I want to see. The ones that I want to write. I've always been firmly of the belief that if you want to see something written you should write it your damn self. But now, I am curious.

What does "a classic hackthis story" mean to you? Comma abuse? Crack? Lots of cursing? Ari? Discuss.

Comments

[kristories.livejournal.com]

Classic hackthis Story to me means the witty banter that you're really, really good at. The attention to detail and the attention to actual plot that you put into your stories. The hotassery that comes with anything you write and yes, the world revolves around Ari.

[amberlynne.livejournal.com]

Snappy in-character dialogue and SMOKIN' HOT SEXIN'!

I just finished Due South the other day, so I've been having fun reading over your stories from oh so long agoooo.

[suaine.livejournal.com]

To me it's a combination of warmth, a slightly distant, often hilarious narrative voice, and self-contained scenes that make a sort of patch-work whole. I mean, obviously, that's just off the top of my head, but that's what I associate with your writing when I'm not reading it. (When I'm reading it I'm too busy with the story to think about such things)

[goss.livejournal.com]

I have no insight to give you. I think your writing has a slightly different flavour depending on the fandom. But one thing I know for sure - if I'm familiar with the source material and it's your writing, there's no doubt I'm gonna enjoy the hell out of it. Meaning I *know* it's gonna hit all the right spots for me. :D

[slythhearted.livejournal.com]

To me, your 'classic' stories are not necessarily your older works. They are the stories that I didn't even know I wanted to read until I clicked on them and promptly wished they were canon because they were that damn good. These are the fics that I read and re-read. Sometimes cracky but in the 'damn, that's such a cool idea' rather than 'what exactly was she smoking when she wrote this' way. The mafia GK story is a good example of this.

[sparky77.livejournal.com]

It's a story that fills me with so much glee that random people at Starbucks as me why I'm so happy.

[norah.livejournal.com]

I scrolled back to see if that was my comment, because it sounds like something I would say. I have a strong feeling that your style is unique - you tend to have, huh, I'm thinking affectionately antagonistic relationships? Good banter? Your pairings tend to be things that other people would take a novella maneuvering to set up, but you just sail into them matter-of-factly.

...I'm trying to think what else. You have a distinctive style, for sure, but since your tags and my recs are organized by fandom, it's hard to see all your stuff in one place.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

No, I didn't see this in your LJ. If I had I'm sure I would've just inquired, but I didn't know this person.

[lamardeuse.livejournal.com]

I don't know - the first thing that comes to mind when I think of your writing is "always fresh and different" (also "great character voices"). "Classic" to me implies a staleness I don't associate with your work.

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

Kick-ass writing and you always seem to take the road nobody takes. And then you OWN it.

[sundappled.livejournal.com]

In my mind, a classic hackthis story = smart; funny; well-paced; includes those moments that make you go 'Yes!! If I had written this that is totally what I would have included! Except probably with a less awesome delivery so I must spend several seconds/minutes/days squeeing at the computer screen in sheer pathetic joy at this concept's existence!'; composed with wonderfully accurate characterizations and tone of the particular fandom; cracktastic qualites and/or ridiculously well-written, no nonsense sex scenes optional, but typical.

I didn't mean this to come off as shamelessly obsequious but, er, this is genuinely what I think of your writing so there's not much of a way round it I'm afraid!

[noeon.livejournal.com]

Perhaps your stories are instant classics, so adroit that they make their own rules? (And break them with elan)

[storm-petrel.livejournal.com]

I associate your writing with tight pacing, excellent dialogue, and an increasingly high likelihood I will follow you into almost any fandom.

[fivil.livejournal.com]

Typically slash of the delicious sort that contains some porny stuff but is also undoubtedly in-character. Small segments, some that get into the characters head and others with dialogue. Believable sexual frustration and trouble to express one's feelings. Sometimes crack of the amusing sort.

To be honest, though, I can see how a LOT of these would apply to majority of fanfic written, even some of my own (though I mostly write het). But you're especially good at dialogue, porn and the mix of the two, and portrayal of frustration, whether emotional, sexual. Not that I don't love your non-porny fics, for example I adore this one Theo/Neville piece that establishes a connection between them beautifully sans anything physical.

I'm kind of tipsy so now my mind is wandering to those Phelps fics you wrote last year. Christ, honored lady, that was good stuff. I may go re-read now.

[copracat]

Great dialogue, recently small fandom, crossover, strong characterisation, rarely emo*, rarely fluffy, but often sharply humorous, mostly gay.

Your sharp, sharp, witty dialogue is the best. It's invigorating.

*Which kind makes it seem like I imagine your Smallville oeuvre** was written by another person.

**I even pick a word that reinforces the idea!

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I admit that some of my SV ouvre is, uh, special. But I do still have a great love for 'Conflagrations Up at the Place' and 'Square One.' The rest of it, well, it was the first fandom where I actually put dialogue in. I was learning! Still am.

[mydocuments.livejournal.com]

To me, a classic hackthis story is one in which you take canon characters and mold them into your own, in a totally believable way. For example, when you talk about Umoja, the line that always gets me is Nate thinking about Brad, and how his sharp edges have been filed off. Now, this is not canon at all, but it fits so perfectly with your version of Brad.

...Also your porn is really hot. =)

[sumofparts.livejournal.com]

Haven't read all the fandoms you write in but your writing to me: third-person but with a definite point-of-view; your characters are snarky, practical but have sentimental sides; juxtaposing weird images/scenes or just showing them to reveal new connections; short paragraphs; your sentences have a...quick rhythm or like you don't have the purple prose or "literary" feel/sound, very down-to-earth, no-nonsense style; not necessarily lots of cursing but you definitely don't shy away from it.

That's all I can think of for now, in addition to what others have mentioned above.

[callmesandy.livejournal.com]

Great realistic in character dialogue, actual intentional funny as fits the canon, awesome pop cult references where applicable. Generally not too long but you only notice because you're like, awww, over already?

[lovetheboys.livejournal.com]

A hackthis story to me means great one-liners, snappy/witty dialogue, great characterization, often very amusing even in the midst of something serious (adopting and mob wars are on my mind since I'm re-reading your GK stuff).

And also a sort of... I don't know, sparse? style. (We'll go with "sparse" since it's the best but not-quite-perfect word I can come up with...) You say so much with so little, conveying everything I said above in about half the word count of other writers. For a lot of writers, it would take several pages what you manage to do in two paragraphs.

You handle language beautifully. That's practically signature hackthis in my mind... */fangirl*

[xanatosdecrion.livejournal.com]

I concur with everyone else. Your wit. The overall dialogue. The quick pace and ability to adapt to the voices of characters you're reinterpreting...namely Ari Gold ;)

[ender24]

Ari :D

[firesprite1105.livejournal.com]

To me, "a classic hackthis story" means it's a bitchin' story with awesome snappy dialogue and smokin' hot sex. My favorite combination. :)

[thorne-scratch.livejournal.com]

Quality! Um, like a lot of people have said-- snappy dialogue and wit. Short and often punchy sections. Ari Gold. Really good insults. Hot sex. Smart stuff. Oh, also-- rimming and some sort of mention of Jay-Z and his ninety nine problems.

[lembeau.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, your stories mean awesome banter and they make me feel something. You always will have a line or a paragraph that will ping me in some way and make me say THAT or OH LORD. That is a hackthis story to me. ♥

[mijmeraar.livejournal.com]

For me it is a story that explores the human condition in such a way, that I want to read it, even if I'm unfamiliar with the fandom. Your characters are addictive, even if they're arseholes.

[iwwfw.livejournal.com]

I will say that you have a quick grasp of characters that is true, especially male characters. You write them in a voice that feels realistic and is in line with the characters in canon as I know them.

Someone above said sparse and I would add to that efficient, but neither sound particularly flattering, though they are. Your writing is precise, nothing wasted, nothing missed. Someone once said to me that poetry is the art of conveying as much as possible in as little as possible. I'm still not a big fan of written poetry (it makes much more of an impact for me when spoken) but that's what your writing is for me. You express so much in a look, a phrase, a gesture.

A classic hackthis story for me isn't the story/plot/characters itself, it's in your execution. Your choice of words, a turn of phrase, the details, the visualness of your work. (Okay, I know that's not a word, but I can't come up with something better).

[doctor-denmark.livejournal.com]

Smart and funny. Witty dialogue but not so as it seems forced. Pretty much all-around good reads.

I think also you have a good handle on the way that young men relate to one another.

You seem to be able to take plots, collections of characters and fusions of worlds that seem like they would never work and make them into something that feels real.

[entropynchaos.livejournal.com]

Classic hackthis stories are ones that we search the internet for - long, well-written and absolutely fantastic, and also stories that can drag us into new fandoms like Generation Kill AUs set around mobster families, damn you ;p

^_^

Drive by from the GK fandom with a side of Merlin

[odetteisodile.livejournal.com]

On that note, I have to say AUs that ring true, no matter if they are awesome dragon slaying crack or serious and sweet Marines with a baby.
But truly, I don't think there are words in English (or French for that matter) that I can combine to explain. Your stories simply have the je ne sais quoi that causes me to make undignified noises before reaching for the phone to tell my beta that you've done it again just when I thought it couldn't get any better.
Sorry I can't be more help. :P

Odile

Re: Drive by from the GK fandom with a side of Merlin

[odetteisodile.livejournal.com]

Ok, so this should teach me to post when I should be asleep. I totally meant the awesome crack that is your mafia AU. My brain decided to run off and remember other AUs without consulting me. Well done me. Sorry about that.