Sanctuary: Things I like in Helen/Will fic

[ceilidh]

I just posted a Helen/Will fic yesterday (that I'm kind of proud of, btw :D), then started bookmarking my favorites on AO3, and it got me to thinking about the stuff I really love in fics of this pairing. There are certain things that just make a fic work for me, and because there isn't that much good H/W out there, the ones that hit my buttons

Comments

[shetiger]

You are awesome. <3

the vast majority of Helen/Will fic that I've read is from Will's point of view

Frankly, Helen intimidates me. I've played around a little with her POV in notes, but I definitely needed to get my footing with other voices first before I even think about telling a story from her POV. I suspect I'm not alone in this.

(Also, Requiem, in my opinion, is pretty much a perfect hour of TV.)

[ceilidh]

YOU are awesome! <3

Frankly, Helen intimidates me.

Uh yeah, me too. I feel much, much more comfortable writing Will's pov and I think most H/W writers do as well. I did a little of Helen's POV in the Victorian AU I started, because some things just needed to be told from her POV, but it was very uncomfortable. I think I only managed it because that Helen hadn't had the gigantic amazing life she's had, which took a little of the pressure off.

(Also, Requiem, in my opinion, is pretty much a perfect hour of TV.)

um, yes. nnnngh.

[kageygirl]

You're BOTH awesome, so there. <3 <3

Helen POV intimidates the hell out of me, too. I tried it once (which was for a fic I ended up not being totally satisfied with anyway, I rushed it for a flashfic challenge), and, funny thing, not since. I think there's also the matter of Will being much, much more of an open book than Helen, so Will-POV tends to be less certain of her responses than Helen-POV is of his, and if you're writing, say, first-time fic, uncertainty plays a big part.

Um, hi, I apparently have opinions. :)

[ceilidh]

I think there's also the matter of Will being much, much more of an open book than Helen, so Will-POV tends to be less certain of her responses than Helen-POV is of his, and if you're writing, say, first-time fic, uncertainty plays a big part.

YES. And part of Helen's appeal is that she has so many secrets and mysteries. When we write from Will's pov, she gets to keep those, and it works. At least for me, part of the appeal is that he's always just a little bit behind her in most ways, and then every so often a step ahead of her (see: Eulogy). I like Will wondering why she does what she does, or misunderstanding her, and things like that.

[cata_clysmiic]

HEY LOOK, THIS IS A GREAT POST. I don't even know how I came across this, I swear I wasn't stalking you, but anywhoo why aren't we friends? We should be.

I love all of these things. All of theeeemmmm. There needs to be more Helen/Will fic like these/with these things. So much more fic (SO MUCH DEEPER)

Also, this isn't a canon pairing so I love to see how they get there

WHAT. It isn't canon, IT ISN'T CANON. We must be watching different shows. ;D

[ceilidh]

Yes we should be! *friends*

So much more fic (SO MUCH DEEPER) *cracks up* I can never, never not watch that scene and think badwrong thoughts. :D

It's canon to me, shhh. that was just deflection for the haters.

[missparker]

I agree with so much about what you choose to be. And the world needs more h/w fic that is good so you need to keep writing it because I know I said this on AO3 but them making out forever made MY WHOLE BODY FEEL TINGLY AND WARM I JUST HNNNNNNNG.

So, my Carentan fic (which is coming, I promise) is Helen POV, and giiiiirl, that shit is hard, yo.

[ceilidh]

The one benefit of being freshly unemployed and not starting PhD-school till September is that I have plenty of time to write Helen/Will fic. :D I kind of want to write something where they just make out until they both go a little nuts.

You are a brave, brave woman for attempting to write Helen POV. I can't do it. *flail*

The amount of Requiem icons in this post is amazing!

[missparker]

I kind of want to write something where they just make out until they both go a little nuts.

like, i literally got dizzy when i read that. i want that so much you don't even know. i... it would pretty cruel to say this and not write it immediately, just so you know. unf.

[ceilidh]

I will do my best to accommodate you :D

[sheikah]

Haha, I guess I'm a weirdo because I absolutely love writing from Helen's POV. I don't mind writing from Will's and have plenty of fics from his but I adore hers.

[ceilidh]

Weirdo? WHATEV. You write her sooooo well, I could NEVAH.

[sheikah]

Bah, I do not. I just secretly like getting my Victorian knickers in a twist.

[ceilidh]

um, hello, what you are pasting me right now is amaaazing.