Fic classification issues again:

[hmpf]

is a fic in which one character loves another but there is no actual relationship between them, and the fic is in fact sort of about the impossibility of a relationship, gen?

Comments

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

No, I think that's a ship fic, even if the ship is unresolved, even if there's no active relationship, it's still about the idea of the relationship, even discussed as an impossibility. I mean, knowing which fic you mean or more about it might change my opinion. But on your description here, that's a fic about being love, about a relationship in some way rather than a more generic character study or plotbased thing. I mean, I'm sure it's about the character too, but the character through the fram of his/her love for someone else?

It's "How to Love a Madman"

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

And yeah, I think I agree, but I always get unsure about stuff like this when faced with the submissions mask of an archive. *g*

[kimboosan.livejournal.com]

No, I'd say it is a relationship fic, het or slash, and tag it as UST/URT.

I pretty much define "gen" as NO romantic/relationship elements to the story line, outside of offhandedly mentioning someone is dating etc.

[m31andy.livejournal.com]

Definitely = it's about a relationship =/= Gen.

Conversely, a case fic where X and Y are going out/partnered/married, assuming no relationship themes = Gen.

It's surprising how often writers get these mixed up!

[raine-wynd.livejournal.com]

To be fair: the term "gen" has evolved since I started writing in '97, and it can vary between fandoms. Gen used to always include het relationships...basically, anything you'd see on an ep of the show. Queer as Folk broke that definition, as did a few other shows where a homosexual relationship was canon. Now I tend to think of gen in terms of the source. If the fic doesn't include explicit sex or longing for such, I tend to classify as gen.

[m31andy.livejournal.com]

Hetronormativity. Don't you just hate it?

If there's sex, I want to know. Period. Not quite warning for it (though, I have been known to warn for het), but I don't want read a case fic wandering off into relationships without warning. It spoils the flow of the piece.