It's Thursday. It must be navel gazing day!

[hackthis_archive]

There's been this mass proliferation of Generation Kill fic lately. But not just fic, really fucking good fic. I am particularly thinking of kaneko's After That, alethialia's Pleasure Over Propriety and romanticalgirl's Going Nowhere Slowly, all of which are tremendous and you should read them now. Go on. I'll wait.

Okay, now my initial thought about these stories was that they all take place in a post-series place and they all manage to take the series and expound on the events beautifully. And a part of me thinks, "Hey, why can't I do that too? Why the love of the AU? Other people are all over the source material. Shouldn't I just deal with what I'm given? Blah blah blah. Canon vs. crack, blah blah."

And then I get annoyed that a part of me has been warped into thinking my writing can be seen as "lesser" because I'm working outside of canon constraints.

The fact of the matter is that an Alternate Universe is just as valid as a canon.

The fact of the matter is that crack is just as valid as writing non-crack.

Anything that you put your heart and soul and time into is worthy and valid. Don't ever let anybody else convince you otherwise.

Everything we're writing is actually an alternate universe anyway, because unless you are writing for shows (and I know who you are), IT'S NOT HAPPENING. It is called fan 'fiction' for a reason.

You shouldn't automatically discount something just because it's not the norm or not quite what you're used to. And if AUs or crack aren't your thing, that's fine, but don't you dare fucking put someone else down just because they're not adhering to whatever the fuck you think they should. Who died and put you in charge of what's 'worthy'? If you don't like the story because you think it's faulty, that's fine. If the structure or characterization or the comma proliferation put you off, that's understandable. But slighting someone because you think your interpretation is greater and what they're doing is obviously lesser?

Fuck you very much. And shame on you.

The fact of the matter this: If you want something done, do it your damn self. So, if you don't like the way other people are doing it, stop bitching and write your own.

sparky77, I should've known that 'crack as a lesser art form' thing was going to come back eventually. Like acid-reflux.

And as for me and Generation Kill, the fact of the matter is that other writers write post-series beautifully, and I'm so glad that they do, because I can read their works... but that's just not what inspires me to write.



So it started like this:

svilleficrecs posted the below photo and asked: Who took the photo?






To which I wrote this:

//His lover. Who was obviously pretending to be fiddling with his/her camera at the time and mostly being ignored. You think they work as a team? I think they do. They tried not to, you know, bad form to spread your legs where you get your paycheck, but life is short and they see that more everyday and it just seemed so fucking stupid to deny something they clearly wanted so much. So, s/he's sitting on the bed, telling him to sit down, because he keeps pacing. It's wearing a groove in the floor, but he can't sit down. He wants to be out there, needs to be out there, telling this story, because this is a story of everything. It's fucking epic. Instead he's confined, they're confined, and his lover is exasperated and a little worried and a little horny, because that's kind of the norm when they're together and there's not a chance of imminent death, and s/he takes the photo, because it's more than just the time and the place, it's the idea and the history and where they are now//

And then when I said I actually had an idea of who they were. svilleficrecs naturally said who: I said:

When they first met Brad was the gristled veteran photographer and Nate was just this green thing, sent by the WSJ on the say so of Tom Ricks to Iraq, and Brad ended up looking out for him, b/c he couldn't really help himself, only it sort of evolved. Nothing happened in Iraq though. It didn't even when they got back stateside. Which to this
day, irritates the hell out of Brad. It actually happened in Pakistan, Nate almost got blown up in a roadside bomb, and Brad was in the car behind him. Actually, when he saw Iron Man (bootleg download, thanks satellites) he had a bad flashback to that day. Except Nate didn't end up with shrapnel in his chest, just a piece or two in his forearm, which is a whole other story. And that night, Brad tied Nate to the bed with three shirts and informed him that if he ever scared Brad like that again, Brad was going to send him the fuck home. Which Nate
reasonably pointed out that he wasn't six and couldn't be sent home. And Brad told him to stop being fucking reasonable, b/c it was irritating and then he kissed him and they've been together ever since.//

Which has since lead to this exchange with alethialia about Brad and scars and people and I think, when I can string a few more words together, I might send Brad back to Iraq.

Or maybe not.

Maybe I'll think this story is too hard. Too likely to upset me to no end with the politics. Or maybe I'll start thinking that AU's are a lesser art form instead and just 86 all of it. Or maybe I'll remember that every interpretation is as valid and valuable as the person who creates it, and anybody who says otherwise is just a moron.

Maybe I will write thief!Brad and detective!Nate.

I would do ninjas, but my local is opposed to me giving away trade secrets.

Comments

[shoshannagold.livejournal.com]

I'm loving the massive amounts of fic that have been posted lately. Hopefully we can do something similar to celebrate the anniversary, sort of a Porn Skirmish type thing.

I don't understand the derision toward crack. I'm personally in awe of people like you and Sparky and A and about a hundred more people who can take these characters and put them in a whole new world - crime families, magical kingdoms with dragons, the Secret Service, whatever - and still make it work. I write what I do because I like the security of canon, like having that to lean against if I hit a rough spot. And I'm kind of a research geek, too, maybe, though I could probably just as easily research magic kingdoms and dragons. But creating a universe and writing a story that still resonates with everything that's great about the fandom is a special skill, and people who don't get that can suck it.

Is there any chance that you might still write War Journalist Brad?

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I supposed people think of crack like they think of MPREG, which you know, uhhhh. The fact of the matter is that crack isn't even about something outrageous -- but it can be -- mostly it's about taking something you know and trying to make something completely new but still recognizable. And yet, well...

As for War Photog Brad, we'll see. The idea has more traction than it should considering I posted 38,000 words of Southland last week.

[sparky77.livejournal.com]

I am very much in favor of war reporter Brad and since I am writing merman Brad my vote counts times a million. I am also in favor of thief!Brad and detective!Nate!

And as far as au writing vs. canon writing, I think it's really just a matter of some people's minds bending one way and some people's minds bending another way (and the occasional person's mind bending in corkscrews) and it's all beautiful and awesome as long as it ends in Brad and Nate having lots of sex.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

LOL. Yes, dear, your vote counts a lot. A just get irritated when people are all 'oh, well, yeah, but that's not fic, that's crack.' I suppose in a way that's down to when we say 'it's crack!' but to us its not derisory, but it be celebrated, because yay, CRACK! We took something and made something completely new and hopefully still recognizable. It just... irritates me when people say it doesn't count.

[redheadaholic.livejournal.com]

I think it's really just a matter of some people's minds bending one way and some people's minds bending another way

Bending of body parts is always good...even the mind.

[lazulus]

AUs in which the writer manages to make the characters totally fit in with what the reader expects from the canon are amazing. I have enormous respect for people who can do it.

Brad as war photographer rocks. Brad as a thief also rocks. It's basically win-win as far as I'm concerned, babe.

*passes the blood pressure meds*

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I love Abby and Tim. As for this... I just... I got aggrivated. I put just as much time and effort in as everybody else and when the story is 60 odd pages are chances I've put in even MORE time b/c I did research. Just b/c I write fast and have different ideas doesn't mean I don't work hard.

[romanticalgirl.livejournal.com]

You know, it's funny, because I was never into AUs/crack'verses, but then I read some that were written by awesome people like you and sparky77, and I realized that if it's *done well*, it's amazing. Even more amazing is when they're laugh-out-loud funny, because funny is HARD.

Also, if you think about it, people writing AUs have to do world building in ways those who write in canon don't, and world building is not necessarily evil. Not only that, I think it's intriguing to see how the characteristics of someone would work in another field/world/life. As long as they're the same recognizable characters, whose to say it's not possible?

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I was actually going to make a comparison in this post about drama vs comedy and non-crack vs crack. Actors always say that comedy is harder, that you can make anybody cry, but making somebody laugh takes real work. But then that devolved into that Oscar issue, which is generally when that argument is brought up in the first place and I decided to let it go.

I think everybody works hard when they write, whether it's crack or non-crack, I just want the credit to be given where it's due and not short changed just becuse it's 'different.' Differences aren't something to be ashamed of, they should be explored and appreciated.

[robjlea.livejournal.com]

I love your AU's and in no way are they a lesser art form. They are part of my favorite's from this fandom and you rock with your world building. I think that it is much harder for someone to shift their thinking outside of the original canon to develop new worlds for the characters and you do this so wonderfully well.

I like the idea of Brad as a war corrsepondent and his need to look after Nate, I would love to read it if you decide that it is something you want to give your time to.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I guess I just get irritable when people assume that it's easy or some form of lesser writing.

[amberlynne.livejournal.com]

WTF? I though STXI made AUs cool again? I give props to anyone who can write a story that is entertaining/engaging/whatever. But I once enjoyed "John and Rodney as ice cubes" fic soooo.

Seriously though, I honestly believe that writing "crack" or whatever you want to call it and making it interesting and in character is about eleventy billion times harder to do than to write completely within the constraints of agreed upon canon.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

My entire though on the Reboot boils down to "Yes, but when are Bones and Jim having sex?" I think writing crack requires a lot more inginuity, but I am biased. I also tend to do research. If I'm just rolling along with whatevers in canon, that doesn't tend to be required.

[thorne-scratch.livejournal.com]

Like everyone's saying above, I enjoy the AUs and crack (and your AUs and crack) because they're such a challenge to do well, but when they're pulled off, it's completely awesome. It takes skill and effort to take the Brads and Nates and Rays and Pokes we recognize and attribute certain characterization and behavior patterns towards, and to show the choices and events that make the new plot or situation possible, and how in turn the new plot or situation might change the characters or events, and so forth.

AUs and crack make you think, which I think is always kind of a mark of a good fandom, where you keep getting new bits and possibilities out of it.

Also, new opportunities for hot sex, but that goes without saying.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Well, if you'd watched Southland like I TOLD YOU TO, you could read the story I posted last week. Actually, you could read it anyway, apparently it works regardless.

[redheadaholic.livejournal.com]

I admire good writers. Period. Genre or approach makes no difference. 'Cause you can have amazing canon and amazing AU, and then you can have really crappy writing that makes you want to claw your eyes out in both, as well.

And, as someone who started a western AU in the BoB fandom, and got a few chapters posted like a year ago before my brain froze, and the quality of which was about 1/10 of the amazing stuff you write, well...

Let's just say I worship great writers like you and sparky77 and all the amazing GK writers you listed above!

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I admire good writers. Period. Genre or approach makes no difference. 'Cause you can have amazing canon and amazing AU, and then you can have really crappy writing that makes you want to claw your eyes out in both, as well.

I agree. I think you can write about anything if you handle it properly.

[kaneko.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the rec!! (Also - ahahaha, I had this little moment the other day - staring at a WIP - thinking "Why, why, why are you not good. You know, like a hackthis story.")

I loooove AUs. (Especially your AUs -- that's what got me into this fandom! <3<3<3)

Also I um. am writing a robot!Brad (http://community.livejournal.com/trolleys_art/20758.html#cutid1) story.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

You are very sweet and I look forward to this robot!Brad AU like a whole heap load. I was blathering to trolleys about Robot!Brad the other day, but we totally went off the deep end of insanity and I was talking about Nate creating his own Cylon version of Brad 20 years after the one in the picture died saving his life from drowning. trolleys was responsible for the drowning comment! And the part where new!Brad was turned into an assassin and sent to kill Nate, b/c Nate has been erased from his memory, but he couldn't do it! Um, so, yeah. I look forward to your story. :D

[veryshortlist.livejournal.com]

I love that you find all the best fic, thank you!

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

You are very welcome!

[lamardeuse.livejournal.com]

The fact of the matter is that an Alternate Universe is just as valid as a canon.

The fact of the matter is that crack is just as valid as writing non-crack.

Anything that you put your heart and soul and time into is worthy and valid. Don't ever let anybody else convince you otherwise.

Thank you. Yes.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I'm just saying.

[bluflamingo.livejournal.com]

And a part of me thinks, "Hey, why can't I do that too? Why the love of the AU? Other people are all over the source material. Shouldn't I just deal with what I'm given? Blah blah blah. Canon vs. crack, blah blah."

Really? I read your AUs and think 'why can't I do *that* too?' Then I remember that they wouldn't be as awesome as yours and go back to being grateful that you're writing them (and reminding myself that, hey, it wouldn't kill me to leave an appreciative comment every once in a while, I suck at commenting). But yeah, total pick-me-up fic, is yours, without all the canon depression (Gen Kill is undoubedly the saddest canon I ever got hooked on, it needs some lightness).

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Gen Kill is undoubedly the saddest canon I ever got hooked on, it needs some lightness

I have to say I think Band of Brothers has GK beat there. And Southland. I think what makes GK great is that, while it's heavy, it's got these fabulous moments of levity. I mean the greatest screenwriter ever could never create someone like Ray. Or Poke. Which is more the shame and yet, all the better, because they're out there, somewhere, doing their thing. And very far away from this thing. Did any of that make any sense? ANYROAD. I am a great fan of Seagulls and Sand and hope to read more from you whenever you so decide. :)

[ex-trolleys.livejournal.com]

AUs are, and always will be, my favorite fanfiction genre. There's a thrill in seeing one's favorite characters thrive in different worlds - like, for me a good AU becomes a validation of characters' strengths as much as it is proof of the author's talent & dexterity.

I am in LOVE with your war photographer scenario. <333 There's a gorgeous parallel to GK in that he and Nate would be thrust onto the other side of war this time, while still relying on their observing skills.

And of course I always encourage more of thief!Brad and detective!Nate. :D!!!

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

AUs are, and always will be, my favorite fanfiction genre. There's a thrill in seeing one's favorite characters thrive in different worlds - like, for me a good AU becomes a validation of characters' strengths as much as it is proof of the author's talent & dexterity.


See now THAT is what I'm talking about. It's also why I'm a huge fan of *your* art. I mean Robot!Brad? Never would've thought of that, but the minute I saw it I loved it dearly.

[alethialia.livejournal.com]

Everything we're writing is actually an alternate universe anyway, because unless you are writing for shows (and I know who you who are), IT'S NOT HAPPENING. It is called fan 'fiction' for a reason.

I wanna write for shows. Fuck, I'll take assisting on shows.

::headdesk:: I am so beyond bitter my job went kablooey like Brad shot a freakin' .203 at it.

ANYway. That's not actually why I'm here. I am here to say, though I've said it before: what the fuck is this shit about lesser forms of writing? I mean, seriously? SERIOUSLY? Do people really feel the need to fabricate some kind of moral superiority based on the type of porn they write (using others' characters)? REALLY?!

This, I do not understand at all. This seems like harshing on others' squee to make yourself feel better...and if you need to do that, you've got bigger problems, I'm just saying.

Maybe people who spend time bemoaning the inferiority of crack should refocus their energies on writing whatever it is they DO like and step the fuck off. I mean, I dislike angst, but you don't see my going all Ranty McRant in my LJ about how much angst sucks; instead I write as much snarky porn as I possibly can. And hopefully that spreads the love and leads others to write snarky porn, too, and the world will become a better, funnier, pornier place. Putting other genres down certainly won't make it so.

Possibly that's just me being goal-oriented, idek.

Oh, and also: humor is difficult. Humor is DAMN difficult. It is a skill that takes practice and effort and a lot of goddamn hard work. Crack encompasses both humor AND world-building, which is just - dude, people get paid to do ONE of those and can't even manage to do it well. The fact that you can do both - and HOW - should be cause for nothing but praise.

Furthermore, (and I swear to god I'm gonna stop preaching to the choir any second) in thinking about this post you know what I realized? I don't think of it like that: 'I'm going to write crack' or 'I'm going to write post-series.' I think, 'self, let's write something funny and pretty and hot.' And if that happens to be post-series Brad finding porn on the 'net about himself, so be it. If it happens to be sekrit service-Brad getting assigned to protect VP Nate's daughter? So be it.

Because really, wtf does it matter whether it's within canon or post-series or crack or whatever? Who gives a fuck so long as it's GOOD?!

Whatever, man. All I know is that I'm incredibly honored that you thought POP was good. That's the standard to which I aspire: a good story. Everything else is just details.

In summation: you rock, other people suck, and photog-Brad is hot. Oh, so is thief!Brad and detective!Nate. I am all over that shit, I'm sure you're shocked to hear.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

ANYway. That's not actually why I'm here. I am here to say, though I've said it before: what the fuck is this shit about lesser forms of writing? I mean, seriously? SERIOUSLY? Do people really feel the need to fabricate some kind of moral superiority based on the type of porn they write (using others' characters)? REALLY?!

This, I do not understand at all. This seems like harshing on others' squee to make yourself feel better...and if you need to do that, you've got bigger problems, I'm just saying.

I hear you, dude. I just. IDEK.

I dislike angst, but you don't see my going all Ranty McRant in my LJ about how much angst sucks; instead I write as much snarky porn as I possibly can. And hopefully that spreads the love and leads others to write snarky porn, too, and the world will become a better, funnier, pornier place. Putting other genres down certainly won't make it so.


See, and this is my line of thinking. Write what you want to see, maybe other people will get excited and want to write it to, but at least if you're turning it out, you know it's out there in the world, doing its thing.

I don't think of it like that: 'I'm going to write crack' or 'I'm going to write post-series.' I think, 'self, let's write something funny and pretty and hot.'

And this is how I think of it too, but you know, people always want to classify shit, box it up and put a label on it. Can't we all just write things we like and call it a day? The whole thing makes me tired. Tell me more about Brad and Nate's wee one, and now Brad reads her bedtimes stories (but not Harry Potter, b/c as much I love it, I can see Brad being all HELL no!), and then Brad falls asleep reading and when Nate comes in to kiss his daughter good night he ends up staring at Brad for 10 minutes.

[dragondie.livejournal.com]

Haters- failure. True facts. <3
War reporter Brad sounds awesome!

[heavensrepublic.livejournal.com]

Amen to the crack vs. non-crack. As a wide fanfiction reader and non-writer (at the moment) I often enjoy crack more so than non-crack; you can truly see the effort and thought that a writer puts into an AU, just as you can with 'canon' writing.

[elfinobsession.livejournal.com]

What ever crack you are on, I am buying! You keep doing your thing, your way. Damn, if I don't want more Photographer Brad!

*skips off to read recs before becoming a slave to your journal*