Today's writing woes

[seriousfic]

So, ironically enough, I have two projects which seem to me to have the extra same problem. One is a 100K+ original fic (or "novel", as I'm told they're called in "the biz") and the other is a Chloe/Davis fic. In both cases, I can't quite decide how much bantering to leave in before it becomes too... jokey.

In Chloe and Davis's case, I have one-half of a great angst fic, all suicide and shameful secrets coming to light and untoward sexual urges. And then it seems like everything is way too happy and fluffy? I don't know, sometimes that happens to my plots. I still have a Dick/Kara "spin-off" lying around. My theory goes, Chloe has been so long without a friend to talk with about her secret life -- other than Clark, who is her secret life, and Ollie, who is not her friend because friends don't threaten to frame friends for murder, OLLIE -- that basically as soon as Davis is cured, she starts unloading on him when he's most vulnerable: Pillow talk.

Davis: Oh, baby, that was great. Night.

Chloe: This reminds me of the time my best friend turned into a sorority girl vampire!

Davis: ...IT WAS JUST A HICKEY, BABY, GEEZ.

This scenario does not belong anywhere near a fic about mass slaughter, broken friendships, and attempted suicide. Which is why I give it to my beta to worry about.

In the "novel's" case, I can't decide where banter between the villains stops being amusingly subversive and starts turning them into jokes. Fuck it, first draft, I'm throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks. Because it's fun and self-indulgent, which I think all first drafts should be.

Villainess looking for arch-enemy/love interest: We're looking for three men! The first looks like blah blah, the second looks like blah blah blah, and the third is totally nondescript, I don't know why I'm even describing him to you.

Villain sidekick: He's hot! He's got those big hands and dimples...

Villainess LFAE/LI: SHUT UPPPPPP.

Comments

[mcity.livejournal.com]

I just make everything that's not Plot, Drama, or Awkward Romance a joke. It's easier that way.

[solitarysputnik.livejournal.com]

For the Chloe/Davis stuff : If you're worried about the jokey banter seeming out of place, make it REALLY out of place - then it's a symptom of the characters deep angst and signpost of their inevitable breakdown.