Meta: What makes a story CLex for me?

[danceswithgary]

Recently, I've been going through my collection of CLex stories, working on adding to my rec lists. In addition, I'm always reading through the new stories on offer in the SV communities I follow, looking to add to that collection.

My rec lists are comprised of stories that I've enjoyed, not just a categorization of every stories, hence not all stories are included. Usually, when I bypass a story it's because I don't care for a particular kink or trope, the characters are acting too out of character in my opinion, or the characters are too generic. I know many people are reading for the sex - I'm looking for the story. Sex is icing on the cake.

Excessively out of character or too generic. Story killers for me when it comes to my OTPs, and the story won't end up on my hard drive or a list.

So, what makes a story CLex for me?

In a recent meme, gyri asked me, "If you could narrow it down to just one, which universal theme/human condition would you say the bond between Clark and Lex represents?"

My answer was, "I'd say the overriding factor in my stories is that, despite their differences, they both yearn to belong. Rich/poor, older/younger, loving parents/absent parents, alien/human - it all boils down to what happens until they fill in the empty spaces for each other."

That really is a large part of the attraction of CLex for me; the story of two characters that are able to connect despite their differences. In addition, in my opinion, a CLex story should incorporate at least some elements of SV or DC/JL canon that make Clark and Lex identifiable, something that makes them different from everyday Tom, Dick, or Harry. If you could change the names and the story reads the same, I'm afraid it's likely not going to mean CLex to me. It could very well be a good story, but if I'm looking for CLex, I expect to find it. That personal rule applies to AU's as well as episode tags or remixes.

Important pieces of canon for me: keeping/revealing secrets, use/abuse of power, use/abuse of money, physical/mental alienation, morality issues, physical presence, parental influences, jealousy/envy, and of course, world domination. *grin* A story doesn't need to contain all or even any of those items, but at least considering it could be helpful.

One of the first things I do when constructing a CLex story is decide how I'm going to represent Clark and Lex, how I will make it clear to the reader who I'm writing about. Granted, I'm writing in a fandom and there is some expectation that the reader will at least be familiar with Smallville so that I don't have to fill in every detail, but there should still be something identifiable.

Using some of my own stories, I'll try to give examples of how that thought process worked, focusing on AU's, since the other stories I've written were usually episode tags or remixes and, as such, contained the elements in question as a given.

His Alibi was the second story I wrote, based on a favorite film, and I admit I was still very new to the process. Still, despite the fact that I used extensive sections of the movie dialogue, I added elements that I believed changed it into a CLex AU.

A large portion of the plot was dependent on a series of incidents that led Clark, a washed-up crime novelist, to believe that his mysterious houseguest, Lex, was trying to kill him. Now, Clark Kent is invulnerable, so how could he be afraid of or be injured by knives, arrows and garage doors running amuck? The answer: Clark chose to become vulnerable in order to understand humans better, in the hopes of being able to write more believable books. In addition, how did the beautiful stranger Lex end up bald and associated with a circus, and on the run from evil henchmen? Backstory, my friends, which plays to the final solution of the mystery. Throw in some existential angst on the responsibility of Clark to be a superhero, an ex-wife named Lana with Lana traits, a snarky editor named Chloe, a loyal friend Pete and you have a CLex AU.


A later story, Regarding Lex had at least one negative review which led me to become a great deal more careful in the amount of movie dialogue to incorporate in remixes. I was accused of simply changing the names, although the reviewer admitted to abandoning the story early on.

What made that story CLex for me was the examination of Clark and Lex's relationship when Superman's responsibilities were added into the mix. In addition, it dealt with a relationship between two men, one of whom wasn't willing to make a commitment, along with a daughter from an 'adulterous' encounter, details which obviously did not appear in the film. Lex struggles back from a life-threatening injury and memory loss discovering he'd turned into Lionel along the way, Clark deals with an injured partner and a return to keeping secrets previously revealed in their life together. In addition, JL characters helped develop the plot along with an SV Pete who saves the day as a therapist.

In short, it all boils down to if it isn't a story specifically dealing with Clark using his powers; I want to know if there will be powers or secrets past, present, or in the future. The same applies to Lex who is rich and has parental issues and a less-than-pristine past. This is proto-Superman we're dealing with - that's who Clark is, Lex is the issues-ridden rich man or the future villain. PWP's are one thing, but I'm finding I've lost my taste for generic porn, unless it deals with Clark or Lex-specific differences from the norm.

Some additional examples not built on SV episodes, but use SV canon/backstory/characterization:

You've Got Mail! - Clark has to deal with his mother's diary and the search for why he's different, in addition to losing his livelihood to book tycoon, Lex.

Have A Mice Day - PWP with a Clark that tends to artistic destruction when he loses control.

Destiny's Savage Heart - historic AU that deals with Clark and Lex raised by American Indians and including a very alien Clark, dangerous meteorites, and an evil Lionel.

Destiny Wears A Disguise - historical AU with meteorites, an exiled Lex, an alien ship that sends Clark running to the big city.

Beneath The Skin - deals with Clark's alienation and the resultant revealing of his secret to Lex.

In His Image - What would happen if someone other than the Kents found Clark and Lionel dies in the field? Canon characters with twists.

Save A Horse - PWP with farmboy/billionaire contrasts.

Dance With Your Heart co-written with morganichele - Lex took a different direction when it came time to go to Smallville and Clark has his powers, which needs to be dealt with when it comes to competitions.

Do You Believe In Magic? with morganichele - The Kents belonged to a circus and as a result certain canon characters lived a very different life. Clark has powers, secrets are dealt with very differently, and Lex is a Luthor who isn't instantly mistrusted.

Le Beau Et La Bete Noire Lex and Clark don't meet until much later and Clark is barely dealing with Jor-El's demands on a remote island.

Dalla Luce Della Luna (By the Light of the Moon) - Clark's powers are one of the issues to deal with when he meets Lex.

Not Of This Earth Clark and Lex are actors and Clark's powers are just one of the problems they face getting together.

Sculpted from Life - Clark's powers are gone due to illness and a reclusive Lex holds the cure.

Art Appreciation - Clark has to deal with the AI's expectations and find his place in the world, Lex attempts to move beyond his reputation.

Two Years From Tomorrow - Clark's powers aren't enough to save Lex, it will take something more.

Nothing But Air - Lex is disinherited and Clark's powers won't save the day.


Finally, what does out of character for CLex mean for me?

Too sweet, too many pet names, weeping (a few tears are okay), overly femininized (really a separate discussion because I have my own extensive issues with feminine stereotypes), Clark excessively BDA (Big Dumb Alien), Lex too emotionally weak/fragile, abusive Clark with the exception of red-K.

Note: The above are my opinions and not meant to point to specific stories outside my own.

Comments

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

As a new writer in the fandom, this makes for interesting and thought-provoking reading. Thank you for sharing your insights and opinion, as well as the examples.

[danceswithgary]

Thank YOU, for reading. I actually enjoyed stepping back to verbalize something I always keep in the back of my head when writing or beta'ing. :-D

[lexalicious70.livejournal.com]

Very interesting! As a CLex writer, I always like to see how other writes interpret them. Also, now that I have more time, I really look forward to going back and reading some of your stories I just couldn't get to.

I also agree with your OOC elements, especially the pet names. It's hard for me to picture Lex, especially, calling anyone gooey pet names!

[danceswithgary]

After reading and re-reading CLex stories for years, it's always fascinated me how certain writers portray CLex, as well as how they convey their vision. I enjoyed writing out my own little view. :-D

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

I think, looking over your work, that what you've done is amazing. It's a bit like watching an artist's apprentice, first emulating the master, and then going on to produce wonderful work in his own right. I envy you your ability to produce wonderful tightly plotted stories, to bring real science fiction into a fandom that really ignores the potential ( I think that you and suzvoy really cornered the market on that) and I think that your Clark and Lex have always been spot on, regardless of the universe they inhabit.

If you could change the names and the story reads the same, I'm afraid it's likely not going to mean CLex to me. It could very well be a good story, but if I'm looking for CLex, I expect to find it. That personal rule applies to AU's as well as episode tags or remixes.

Important pieces of canon for me: keeping/revealing secrets, use/abuse of power, use/abuse of money, physical/mental alienation, morality issues, physical presence, parental influences, jealousy/envy, and of course, world domination. *grin* A story doesn't need to contain all or even any of those items, but at least considering it could be helpful.


Keeping the boys in character is paramount--I agree that if they don't exhibit the characteristics you list, than it's not Clex.

Too sweet, too many pet names, weeping (a few tears are okay), overly feminized (really a separate discussion because I have my own extensive issues with feminine stereotypes), Clark excessively BDA, Lex too emotionally weak/fragile, abusive Clark with the exception of red-K.

Again, I completely agree with you here. While I've deliberately made Clark into a BDA for comedic affect, I know I've skirted that edge a few times. And of course it's ridiculous, because whether SV chooses to show it or not, Clark is, compared to a human, of genius level intelligence.

The weeping business I was called on early in my fic writing--guys just don't cry openly that often.( Unless they are Winchester's than it's almost a daily event. *G* ) And Lord, don't get me started on overly feminized men.

I don't care for fic in which Clark is purposely abusive. It's impossible for him to be that way, unless he's under Red-K influence and even then, it's hard for me to swallow. Nothing in Clark's background would lead to him being abusive. Secretive is one thing--being an asshole is another. Neither of his parents are really anything but supportive.

This is such an interesting post! I enjoy reading what makes a writer write the way they do about the boys.

[danceswithgary]

Thank you for the lovely comments and, of course, take a well-deserved bow for your influence in my taking the plunge into writing my own stories. *hugs*

I've played Clark as BDA for humor myself, and played up purple and persnickety for Lex. That's just fun. There are others I've encountered where it's cruel and just plain character assassination.

The same applies for abusive Clark, which I've written once (as Kal-El under Jor-El's influence) and cringed my way through it. SV canon had Clark in a bar fight with red-K, and out-of-control in Metropolis, not to mention busting up an engagement party, but those instances seemed consistent with DC canon, so I didn't have an issue with it on the show.

It was a nice change to spend some time being introspective about my writing. Stretched my brain a bit. :-D

[twinsarein.livejournal.com]

Val used the BDA acronym in her post too and I meant to ask her what it means. Then you used it. I finally thought to check an acronym site online. Do you know there are about 50 things that BDA is abbreviated from? #30 on the list was 'Big Dumb Alien' - that's the one, right?, right? I figure it makes the most sense next to the #1 meaning - Battle Damage Assessment - or #10 - Bedienungsanleitung - or #22 - Brachydactyly (sounds like the name of a flying dinosaur).

[danceswithgary]

BDA is indeed Big Dumb Alien in this case. I'm adding it above. :-D

[jlvsclrk.livejournal.com]

Ooh, what a great read. Except for short stories, it bugs me when the author doesn't use some aspect of their defining characteristics: Clark's alien abilities or Lex's obsessive genius intellect (though granted Smallville doesn't tend to play up the genius angle).

If Clark has given up his powers, there'd better be a compelling reason why. I liked the way His Alibi addressed this: it wasn't just that Clark wanted to fit in. He'd tried to make a go of superhero-ing and nobody seemed to care. He wasn't making a difference and meanwhile found himself losing his loved ones.

If Lex isn't a bald billionaire, again, why? In His Own Image shows my favorite reason: that he broke away from his LuthorCorp heritage to pursue a more satisfying career.

I smiled when I saw "Not of this Earth" on your list. I adore that story and forgot you wrote it.

[danceswithgary]

I'm glad you enjoyed reading my little introspective riff. Just taking the time to remember why/how I constructed a particular story can help spawn new ones (or help me avoid repeating the same theme too many times).

Even better, it reinforced the fact that I'm not even close to being done writing about CLex. :-D

[voldything.livejournal.com]

What a great post! It seems we think alike when it comes to the Clex we want :D

[danceswithgary]

It's nice to be on the same page. :-D

[ciaan]

Your description of the core of Clex is pretty close to mine. I like how they are so different and yet so similar, and when added together, they are not just the sum of their parts. They make each other better, they make each other MORE. (Because sometimes I define "better" as "better at being good" and sometimes as "better at taking over the world.") They fill each other in and complete each other and raise each other to higher standards.

And oh, those sad generic stories where sometimes I finish them and can't even tell that Clark was a superpowered alien. :(

[danceswithgary]

...they make each other MORE.

Exactly! Those are the best stories to read. :-D

[littlehollyleaf.livejournal.com]

Hey, nice, thought-provoking post :) I agree with much of what you say here, especially about the 'not just changing names' issue. There has to be strong elements of Lex and Clark characteristics in a clex story for it to work for me as well. Although, I have to say, I prefer my stories much closer to cannon than most fanfic writers/readers i.e. I like to see SV episodes re-written or write ups of missing scenes as opposed to a seperate plot with Clark and Lex in it.

Reading this has been especially interesting for me then because it has re-inforced the fact that stories CAN still be clex even while outside a SV setting. I know I tend to pass over AUs like quite a lot but after this I think perhaps I'll read more :D You've been my acception because I have read and enjoyed several of yours in the past, but maybe it's time to broaden my horizons clex-wise and try some other authors as well :p

p.s. ITA with your OOC points too and it's an issue I'm continually struggling with in my own fic. Mostly because I really LOVE the idea of Lex being emotionally fragile, purely because I know he ISN'T, and I worry that sometimes I veer towards that portrayal too much in an unconscious attempt to panda to that kink. Any advice? :)

[danceswithgary]

There are certainly a number of AU's that wouldn't qualify as CLex for me, but off the top of my head and can't recommend specific AU stories that I enjoyed outside of a number in the svbigbang, harlequin_sv and Clex the Classic collections I enjoyed.

Advice on an emotionally fragile Lex? That's a tough one for me I guess since although I gravitate to emotionally stunted or warped individuals(Lex, Sheppard, McKay), they aren't weak. They've prevailed against some overwhelming odds and if they were going to fall apart it would be in private and possibly never.

Lex, in particular, can be over the top in rage but, in my opinion, the only time we see him truly fragile and vulnerable in canon is when he's been drugged in Shattered and Asylum. I try to keep that in mind when I'm writing, visualize the man who ordered the investigations into Clark's secrets, who set up ethically suspect experiments, etc. If I allow him to soften, it is usually due to a vulnerable Clark or a child, both cases are canon. Soften, not turn into mush.

That said, you should also write what you like or you may end up dissatisfied with your work. If a more fragile Lex appeals to you, then write him as you see him, understanding that others may not. I like everyone of my stories, even the ones with 3 or 4 comments, because I wrote them to please me, not just to fulfill a prompt. That's also a big reason why some stories are still WIPs - I haven't reached the state of being pleased with what I have put to page.

I wish I could supply more specifics on your work, but I confess I haven't tackled your epic WIP yet, although it's bookmarked.

Best wishes on your writing!

[littlehollyleaf.livejournal.com]

Hi. Yes, it's been YEARS between your comment and this reply, sorry :p

Thanks for the recs and the tips. ITA about Lex only being fragile when he's alone or drugged, that's what I meant really. That and fragility coming through in his inner monologue. In the presence of others he'd appear strong no matter what. Like you I don't mean to make mush out of the guy! That's why I absolutely love seeing/reading him being/thinking/acting emotional, BECAUSE it is so rare for Lex. Hence my struggle, because I know if I KEEP writing him like that he will turn to mush and the fragility will lose it's effect. Going back to his stronger moments like you suggest (him working with Nixon etc) is a good way to combat that though, so thanks.

And it's sweet of you to bookmark my WIP! I guess I hav come across as kinda begging to be read :p Don't feel obligated to read or anything, I really know how hard it is to find time for that kind of thing (witness my late late reply!)

TTFN.