So, I'm writing this Firefly fic...

[agilebrit]

...with Jayne and a kitten.

And it brings home to me just how hard writing humor is. Most fanbrats, it seems, think that all they have to do is OD on Pixie Stix and scribble a few paragraphs of characters running into walls, wearing underwear on their heads, and screaming "Cheese!"--and that makes a "humor" fic. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Vomit-inducing, perhaps. If I decided to lose weight by becoming bulemic, I'd give myself a steady diet of fics like that. But they're not funny.

Humor is situation-driven and character-driven. Throw Jayne and a kitten together in the same room, and I'm pretty sure hostilities will ensue, which can be funny. Make Jayne go see Simon after those hostilities are over and done with...? That can be hilarious. Add River, and you can be falling on the floor with laughter.

But the characters have to be in character. Jayne has to be grouchy and stoic and not necessarily happy with needing medical treatment for a kitten bite; Simon will be all deadpan and professional while dispensing that treatment with barely concealed glee; and River will be cryptic and mysterious and just a little bit creepy when she comments on it. Overdo it, and it's parody. Underdo it, and it's not funny enough.

I hope I have a deft enough hand at this...May need a beta when it's all done. First Firefly fic; probably should have a beta anyway. *mumbles*

A few icontests are over for the week, so I can post these:


And if speakr2customrs can have Plot Capybaras, then I can by golly have one of these:

Comments

[kantayra.livejournal.com]

ANTEATER! *wibbles*

And where'd you get that pic? I collect anteater pics I find online, yet I don't have that one. o.O

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

You don't have that one, because I shot it myself in Sacramento. Along with most of a roll of film. :o) *innocent look* No, anteaters aren't my favorites, not at ALL...

[nodrogg.livejournal.com]

Well, I'd be happy to beta the story; the only difficulty would be in ascertaining In-or-Out of Character, because I don't know Firefly from Lightning Bug. I understand it's science fiction, and I've heard that it's a good series, with passionate devotees, but that's all, folks.

So mine would be a more linguistic / grammatical / structural analysis, rather than any kind of Buffy effervescence.

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

It's more than a good series, it's an excellent one. My only regret in watching it is that I didn't get the DVD set years ago. Well, that and the fact that the wankers at Fox aired it all out of order in the Friday Time Slot of Death, preempted it for baseball every other week, and cancelled it after eleven episodes.

Not that I'm bitter...

It's a whole 'nother critter than Buffy or Angel. Not much supernatural in it, just ordinary people trying to live their lives in extraordinary circumstances. If you like sci-fi, I highly recommend it. Heck, even if you don't. The fact that it's in Amazon's Top Ten DVD sales should tell you something--especially when you realize that the show got killed almost three years ago.

[kantayra.livejournal.com]

Wait... You have anteater pictures and you didn't pic!spam LJ? I don't know if I can talk to you anymore. I just feel so betrayed. :P

Also, I'm so jealous. It's been far too long since I've seen a live anteater. I miss the fuzzy. *sniff sniff*