Is it just me, or is it harder to write a happy-ending, sunshine-and-puppies fic than something angst-ridden? How would you go about writing something warm-n-fuzzy without it descending into out-of-character schmoopiness?

I find it incredibly hard to write light -- but then, if anything, I tend toward the angst, misery, heartbreak and despair end of the spectrum a little too much.

I think a part of the problem is that, as a writer, I find it hard to differentiate the emotions on the warm-n-fuzzy end in a way that makes for very memorable or interesting writing. I have an extensive vocabulary of shades of dark gray; when I go for happy, it all just comes out... happy. Obviously, there are as many nuances there as there are on the dark side of the spectrum, but it's frustrating to come out with stuff that looks like just "happily ever after" on the page. So, being profoundly lazy, I don't push myself to do more in that mode. I stick to my dark corners instead.

(Actually, looking at the above, "Happily Ever After" may have as much to do with it as my own laziness. Particular kinds of happy endings -- the romance plot represented by that phrase in particular -- are such a strongly entrenched cultural formula that it's much harder to see your way to something different. This is my own preferences speaking, of course, and not meant as a dismissal of romance, just of my own ability to do anything with it.)

Interesting question. Happy fic writers, what do y'all think?

And is anyone up for a challenge? Write something dark if you usually do light, and vice versa? Lord knows I need to get out of the usual habits; does anyone else feel the same way?

I'm a sucker for happy endings, but they've got to EARN that happiness. And happiness may be defined as cessation of pain, laying down of arms with honor, or any number of other things that don't involve picket fences and all the rest.

I find myself getting annoyed that people think there's only one kind of happy ending, with everyone paired off in peaceful domestic bliss. You can be happy in the ruins of civilization, if you're with someone you like (doesn't even have to be romantically, just someone at your back) and you're at peace.

Particular kinds of happy endings -- the romance plot represented by that phrase in particular -- are such a strongly entrenched cultural formula that it's much harder to see your way to something different.

For some reason, I don't feel that that's a problem for me. I see that it's easier to find the shades of grey in dark-fic than in light, but one of the things that amuses me is to take the happily-ever-after ending, and narrate beyond it, by telling the next bit-- the having children that has to follow, even in the cliche; or from the other end, looking back at it.

is anyone up for a challenge?

Normally I'd say 'yes! Of course', but I think I'd have a hard time figuring which one to write.

I write light and dark, funny and serious, short and long, het and gen and slash.

First person, second person, third person.

Shit.

I have no usual habits.

Okay, do they not understand that us multi-fandom geeks are going to get overbooked at some point?

HAHAHA. Suck it up and just read the drabbles?

... I don't think I really think of the two as very separate categories.

But I think I'm looking at narration in a very specialized way. And I don't have the time right now (although I would so rather do this then what I'm supposed to be doing right now!) to be interesting about it, so I'll shut up.

happiness may be defined as cessation of pain, laying down of arms with honor, or any number of other things that don't involve picket fences and all the rest.

Yes. This. 'Winning the fight' is a happy ending. It can have a happy ending, and still offer a lot of loose ends and problems to deal with.

Hey, I still think Triptych had a happy ending. I'm not the best judge of these things.

And happiness may be defined as cessation of pain, laying down of arms with honor, or any number of other things that don't involve picket fences and all the rest.

Oh, absolutely. And I tend to think those are the best kind. I hope I didn't seem to imply otherwise, aside from the very specific case of my own difficulties in hatching happy stories.

If a story doesn't involve some sort of triumph through adversity, even if it's only with a character dying with a secret kept or knowing that a larger victory is assured, then I don't think I could bring myself to bother. People tell stories to try and make sense of hte world, to try to make things turn out right.

People tell stories to try and make sense of hte world, to try to make things turn out right.

Speak for yourself.

I don't try and make things turn out right, I just follow the bouncing cottontail.