strangetomato | Thought for the day: Sim stories are like serial comics

Remember how I said I thought sim stories were more like graphic fiction than novels or movies? No? Well, I did. I think they're often sometimes like television shows too, in their serial nature, but the format speaks more to the comic medium (if we're talking about text and image sim stories, and I am).

The latest issue of Bitch magazine came in the mail today, and I was reading the review of Alison Bechdel's The Essential Dykes to Watch Out For (a GREAT read, in my opinion - you should check it out). At the end of the review, they quote her as saying, "A comic strip, like life, is a novel that never seems to get anywhere." It really reminded me of sim stories, especially mine. They just soldier on, perhaps with an end in mind, perhaps not, and that's just what I like about it. That's why I enjoyed DTWOF too. I came to really feel for the characters, and I was content to see them going through their day to day dramas, or even just cooking dinner (laced with politics, which makes it even more interesting). With sim storytelling, I'm writing (and playing) instead of reading, but I enjoy the feeling of following a set of characters as they gradually grow. Is it the same for you when you play and create? Or read, for that matter?

Of course, if I'm going to compare my story to a specific comic, I'd probably lean more towards Strangers in Paradise, which does have a plot, but it's really not nearly as important as the ongoing development of relationships between the characters. I love that series, but it's introspective to a fault, just like S,HWC is. It's obviously something I enjoy. In fact, when reading SiP, I often find myself going "yeah, yeah... crime stuff, plot... where's the next scene where the talk about that awkward kiss they shared?" Yeah, I may have a problem (I'll look into getting the help I need). SiP even ocassionally features pages and pages of lyrics, which is something a lot of us sim storytellers indulge ourselves in (it's super indulgent in the most teenagery kind of way - I know this, but still I just can't resist at times).

Anyway, I just wanted to share my musings. Feel free to add your own two cents or three.

(Is this what they call a meta? A baby meta, maybe?)

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I'm not sure what a meta is. :P I've heard the term several times but I've never been able to quite figure out the meaning.

I totally agree with you on the long-running comic = long-running sims story. Sometimes they have little sub plots, etc. but it keeps on keeping on... and as long as the author is still enjoying it I think that's wonderful! :D

Meta(fiction) is when a writer writes about their own writing in the course of their story.

Most noticibly (in sims stuff) it's when a writer inserts their self sim and doesn't try to hide the fact that that sim is THEM. I'm guilty of it in my one neighborhoods. My self sim is "me", the author of Nocheat. Two of my characters even figure it out but the one guy keeps it to himself while the other one is regarded as a senile old man so no one believes him anyway. (I even have one update where JL--my self sim--is confronted by the "senile old man" character who's pissed that he got impregnated with twins).

If you want some great meta style writing you should check out Jasper Fforde's stuff. He's always "breaking the fourth wall" like that. Not in the way of inserting himself but he has his characters refer to writing and they know that they are characters in books. Funny stuff.

God, I love Jasper Fforde <3

I wrote my dissertation (not sure it's the right word?) about reflexivity in film and the terms (reflexivity and metafiction) contains so many things it makes it difficult to talk about. Learned that the hard way...Hah! Anyway, "quoting" (and double translating, how unacademic!) Robert Stam: "Reflexivity exists wherever people "talk about talking" and start thinking about consciousness, language, communication and art."

So everything from explicit fourth wall breakage ("talking to the camera") to more subtle references (Lucy painting Beau as St. Sebastian, using characters from other sim stories in ones own), to the commentary section after each chapter is "meta". Both a story and the reactions to it are (or could be) seen as meta. The interwebs (and the series format) makes it even easier to see (and do) :D And...I'm rambling :P

Yes, that's the meaning of the word, but it seems to have taken on a more specific internet-only meaning too, in that people call a short written analysis "a meta" rather than saying it's a (meta-)fictional analysis. That's what I was referring to.

I suppose it's a very fine distinction, but it's like the way meme has come to mean something very specific in net speak, when the term has a much broader application.

Oh, yeah, I was just trying to include this (for me new) internet meaning in the broader (already vague) "definition" :) I have a meta hang-up... *blushes*

Yeah, sorry about that. I didn't mean to take away from what you said (I really liked the examples, and it's a great explanation). I was more concerned with explaining that I do know what meta means in a broader sense. Well, I've talked about it before, so one would hope, right? :P

It's interesting when we get to witness new words (or uses of words) forming, don't you think?

Heh, 's OK ;) I guess I was elaborating on Madame's definition there (who I see in turn was answering cindyanne - now, is that meta?) and the examples from your story were really handy :D (And I'd never dream about implying such a thing ;)

I do! One reason why I find lol-speak and it's relatives entertaining too :P Etymology live :D

Now what I still don't get... is like in a stupid_free post when they say it goes all "meta" or "epic meta." I'm always confused. :P

Yes, urbandictionary.com is a VERY good friend of mine :P

I use that all the time too. I like to look up words, and especially brand new words like that.

(By the way, I've finally mailed off your magazine. I was putting off the trip to the post office, but it is finally en route to you now. ^_^)

Woo! Thanks again - looking forward to reading it :) Decided to order a subscription along with some older issues so I can expect more than just bills in the mail now ;)

OMG I love that! That could make for some pretty funny set-ups when it comes to the sims, lol!

I think Stephen King might do that as well. Several of his stories are convoluted together that way and he refers to parts of some stories within other stories. Never by name, of course, but if you've read his other books then you know. ;)

Yeah, Stephen King has a lot of meta. It's really fun to watch the movies made from his stuff. You'll find a lot of references to him (and sometimes he's even a very bit character). It's like playing Eye Spy.

I like your comment about the key factor being the enjoyment of the simmer/author. I couldn't agree more. I've really come to peace with that after some doubts about what people want to see vs. what I want to write about in my story. I've decided that I'm going to do what I want. That's really the only sensible thing to do, right?

Thought for the day: Sim stories are like serial comics

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