Hi all!

So I was thinking all day yesterday and though significant part of today what I should put into the intro part of this post, considering our topic. I mean how do you talk about crack and humor? I find it's hard to define it, so I looked for some help. Here's what Urban Dictionary says:

1. crackfic
A type of fanfiction (or original fiction) that is intentionally unbelievable and insane; often humorous. Usually short, one-shot stoires.


2. crackfic
A type of fiction where it is believed that the author must be on crack to have written such a story because it's so bizarre or off the wall
Often, a facial expression after reading one of these crackfics is 'O.O' or 'O.o'


cybermathwitch just shared this bit of comic-verse with me:



(That's Wolverine, Spiderman and Clint, discussing a show called "Dog Cops". In which, apparently, actual dogs are involved. I'd say this is a good illustration of what crack is and how it's supposed to work - make you tilt your head just slightly and crack up about the idea, the content or both).

From a writer's perspective, crackfics (and humoristic fics) are a special kind of challenge. I like layered humor, with lots of references and good banter, so that's what I try to write myself. I know that writing crack makes me think outside the box, which is fun and good for my writing skills. Crack is often funny, but there are examples when it's not - while the premise of Tangled up in blue by im_ridiculous might sound cracky (Clint as a country music singer), the final product is everything but funny. It's an in-depth take on a man who owns little but his regrets, his messed up life and considerable problem with alcohol. (If you head over there to read - I linked you to most recent chapter, where are the links to previous chapters, make sure you read the warnings:)

Humorous or not, I find crack is often the best when it explores things, even subtly, so it gives us both the thinky thoughts and laughs as we read. For the occasion of the Valentine's Day Mini Promptathon I wrote two crackfics - It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage (teen, warnings for language and hospital setting) one in which Clint and Natasha are movie stars for a prompt inkvoices had left. I poked fun at entertainment industry and celebrity world, but also attempted to come up with Avengers - movie paralels. Hopefully that worked out. The other one was Bop Bop Baby (rating: mature; warnings: some language and sexual content), for multiple prompts, but basically SHIELD Valentine's Day tradition and one thing that came up in promptathon post discussion, namely Clint singing boyband songs to Natasha. (If there is off the wall idea, that has to be one). A particularly big challenge regarding this fic was coming up with pop culture and musical references and making them work within story. It was fun (and dear God, you should have seen my writing playlist), but I think all the effort paid off.

Enough of tooting my own horn, I have some recs for you, and mind you, the purpose is to enable you to post your own recs - to fanfiction, but also videos and art that you find cracky and funny. Also!! Link us to your own cracky and funny works, be it fic or art or vids! Tell us about cracky scenarios you'd like to see written or turned into art! Everything goes, as long as it's funny and fun and Clint/Natasha flavored.

1. Love you like a love song by alwayslera -- in which Natasha and Steve are trying to understand pop songs, and the team doesn't get spared. Clint/Natasha, Steve and Natasha friendship. The author warns for lot of angst and some fluff. A very funny, chock-full-of-feels stuff.

2. Bechdel test by frea_o; in which Tony has concerns for his teammates and ends up verbally ass-kicked by Natasha and Maria Hill. You can have three guesses on which Team Clint is. Apart from being a funny fic, it's also a clever take on the purpose of Bechdel test.

3. Similar to a piece of string by ashen_key in which Natasha is called to work and Fury ends up looking after BlackHawk baby. Guys, just think- Nick. Goddamn. Fury. BABYSITTING. Need I say more? No warnings.

4. They Will Rock You by hufflepuffsneak which was just posted, and written for the mini promptathon prompt "Knight's Tale AU". As far as I can tell, we're off to a great adventure with fake Sir Clint and his friend Steve who plan to enter knight tourneys just to raise enough money for their purposes. There is a certain Lady Natasha as well, along with Sir Fury, Jane the Blacksmith, Lord and Lady Stark, Darcy Lewis, the Princes Odinson, Father Banner and the Winter Knight. I just read and loved it.

Enough from me! You guys know what to do! :D