Writing Pranks in a Story

[RandomPasserby]

Whether it's the Marauders, the Weasley twins, Harry or the next generation playing them I'm sure we've all read fic where the pranks just aren't funny. The classic 'change their hair/robes to pink' for example, doesn't so much as inspire a giggle in me. There's also pranks which border on cruel which also aren't funny whether they're called out by other characters or not.

Part of having a prank in-story is making the readers, as well as the characters, laugh. Especially cruel pranks can also be used to show a character's moral compass or as a wake-up call.

I'd love to hear the sort of pranks that you just don't find funny any more, didn't find funny in the first place or thought were just too cruel

Conversely, I'd also love to hear about fics with pranks that were hilarious.

[RandomPasserby]

And I think I've just found the perfect example of a 'prank' which is far too cruel.

I don't typically like replying to myself but this was too much of a perfect example to waste.

www.fanfiction.net/s/9682791/1/ - The premise is that Harry, who was bullied by Dudley for most of his childhood, ought to have been less accepting of the way Ron treated Hermione in the early part of their first year.

The first two chapters are very good. Well writted, well paced and I was enjoying the development of a relatively minor character.

And then Chapter 3 happened.

In retaliation for Ron being mean to Hermione and refusing to apologise the Weasley twins engineer a 'prank' which sees Ron (an aracnophobe) covered in spiders until he has what appears to be a panic attack and passes out.

That isn't a prank, that is a form of torture.

So tip for people writing pranks - if it relies on playing on a phobia, it ain't funny, don't do it or you're an asshole.

[Kitty279]

As I am not into pranks, I tend to forget what was where, but I have to admit that most pranks don't do much for me - most seem either immature or not that funny, and as you said, some can be too cruel. Which doesn't do much to endear the whole pranking issue to me.

The example you now mentioned is certainly one of these 'pranks' that I wouldn't count as one, as they are way too cruel, no matter what Ron did. There was one story - right now I can't remember which one - where Ron was punished for something in a much more fitting way: He only could eat one helping of food at every meal, and anything he tried to grab beyond that vanished. No matter what tricks he tried, stuffing his pockets or whatever, he still only got one helping. Not necessarily funny, either, but it punished him without being cruel. (Though I am sure he would have seen it differently, but honestly, more than one overpiled plate per meal is neither necessary nor healthy, so I happen to disagree with him there)

[physicssquid]

That story you mentioned, where Ron got punished by having food vanish after he'd eaten one serving, is www.fanfiction.net/s/7800174/1/Eating.

As for decent pranks, there are a few good ones mentioned in Dear Order, by SilverWolf7007, and Death's Doorbell by Paladeus.

Dear Order:- www.fanfiction.net/s/3157478/1/Dear_Order

Death's Doorbell:- www.fanfiction.net/s/6583426/1/Death-s-Doorbell

In fact, a lot of SilverWolf7007's stories are rather funny, and could give one some ideas of decent pranks.

[Kitty279]

Thanks for the link, but no, that wasn't the one I remember. It was just part of a longer story. Seems I am reading too many, as I keep having problems to keep straight which story certain scenes belong to. I am sure I'll remember the story one of these days.

Oh, I know 'Dear Order'. A rather crazy one. Crazy, but funny

[physicssquid]

I completely understand the problem with reading too many stories to keep track of certain scenes. I've had it before, though, some of the time, I've eventually remembered the title, and then gone to look for that story, and discovered that it was deleted, either by the admins, or the author.

[Kitty279]

THAT would be so annoying! Admittedly, I am pretty sure some I liked were deleted, too. In some cases, though, it was just the name change. There was one I did partly read when it was posted, but then lost track when I drifted off to the LotR fandom again. Years later I stumbled over the copy of that unfinished story on my computer and went to search for it. Couldn't find the author, though. Somehow I then tried the title, got way too many hits, but went to dig through them and actually found it again. The author had changed their name.