The Random Tag · 6:05am Jun 5th, 2012
So, those of you who follow Wanderer D's blog on the main page may have noticed his "How to use Story Categories" post. He was kind enough to ask me to write up a blurb on the Random category and its (mis)use.
Random is one of those story types that gets abused a lot, particularly when an author forgets that a Random story still has to be a story. You can't just toss a bunch of words at the page, call it "Random," and submit to EqD. There at least has to be a hot Twilight/Trixie shipping scene for it to get on EqD.
Anyway, Random!
From the F.A.Q. This is kind of a sub-tag of "Comedy." It's for stories that are rather incoherent or "Random," if you will.
Ah, the Random category, for when you write something so crazy you need to preface it's craziness with a warning to readers:
"Warning, Random."
Any story can be random. In fact, most of the world's bad stories are random, not by intent but by incompetence. The trick is to make a good story that people want to read, but is so absurd that it mocks our attempts to place it in the larger MLP canon.
I've really only written one Random story -- Michael Bay Presents: My Little Pony. It's funny (or so people tell me) because it mixes two things: utter absurdity and a tiny sense of "yeah, that's logical." The characters are stuck in a crazy situation that could never, ever happen, but their actions, thoughts and intentions are internally consistent.
Good Random stories are rare. If you're looking for examples, try any of Blueshift's "What if..." stories, or some of Friendly Uncle's comedies. The common thread is that they're all comedies in addition to being Random. I'm sure it's possible to write a Random grimdark or Random shipping story, but you'd have to be an incredibly good author to pull it off.
Speaking of incredibly good authors, if you're looking for actual literature that qualifies as Random, check out some of Franz Kafka's works. The Metamorphosis is pretty close to being Random, and it had a really powerful moral. Don't turn into a giant cockroach. Or... something. The Cliff's Notes had a really good explanation.
Now that I think about it, Kafka wasn't really known for his comedies. God, The Metamorphosis wasn't funny at all! The main character died and no one mourned him.
Wow, way to bring me down, Random. Never again.
* * *
Anyway, what's next as far as stories are concerned?
Up next: A new 'Dark' tale, similar to The Glass Blower.
Soon: A new comedy!
Similar to The Glass Blower? Oh yes! Do want!
>Soon: A new comedy!
/)_-
Coincidentally, The Metamorphosis is the only Kafka story I've read. It was odd.
/)^3^(\ New story! YAY! Also good explanation on the world of Random.
Personally, I like to think of "Metamorphosis" as an allegory for Puberty. As in "Sure, your body is going through some weird changes right now, but at least you aren't THIS guy!"
There is a genre in published fiction that covers random as defined here pretty perfectly, it's called Bizzaro fiction, the works of Carlton Mellick III being some of the best known examples. I bring this up because I'm fundamentally incapable of passing up an opportunity to bring more whut into the world.
There was a guy who got banned for being the Random.
I miss him so much!
I'll have you know that Kafka was hilarious! I mean, the bleakness and overall hopelessness of it was where the humour came from! It's like Warhammer 40k, but with existential themes and much more serious. Besides, Franz Kafka's friends reported that, while writing his stories, he was laughing like a madman.
My name was in this blog. I approve.
images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090210131612/fallout/images/archive/7/71/20090210131715!Thumbs-up.jpg
Also, RANDOM!
I wouldn't call The Glass Blower dark... But damn was that a sad story.