TWW Fic: Until I Break Into Pieces Without a Trace

[normative_jean]

Title: Until I Break Into Pieces Without a Trace
Author: Normative Jean
Fandom: The West Wing
Rating: PG
Warnings: none
Prompt: 94) “Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all.” Hypatia of Alexandria (370-415), Greek mathematician, scientist, philosopher, teacher and inventor. Credited with creating

Comments

[normative_jean]

Thank you so much! In my view, as much as Donna was always used as Exposition Girl on the show, she was also often The Girl Who Knows Things, so it seemed to me that once she started having an epiphany, she wouldn't be able to stop. Yes, clear-eyed Donna is the best, because she makes things happen!

[firstbreaths]

This is fabulous - there's not enough Donna genfic, especially not fic that's well written and actually captures something of the show to boot.

Also, I adore the crab metaphor - it's a brilliant way to describe both situations, and it's lovely and subtle but still says so much.

[normative_jean]

Oh, thank you! I'm so glad you thought this had even a glimmer of the show in it, since TWW is one of my favorites ever. And yes, there needs to be more Donna genfic! I adore her, and there are so many possibilities with the character.

[violaswamp]

The above commenters are right--Donna genfic is all too rare, and both the show and the fanfic missed an opportunity to do something with her recovery from the bomb. And this is just so well-written. It has a precise, logical quality to it that gives Donna a structured emotional arc.

[normative_jean]

Thank you! I love that you thought there was actually a logic to Donna's story; I was so worried that I was just writing disconnected moments that didn't flow naturally. And you're so right, both about the need for genfic and the missed opportunity on the show. It's a shame that the show dropped the ball on this, because Donna had a very obvious emotional journey she needed to go on. Thanks again for reading!

[anotherdreamer5]

This was beautifully done. Such a strong choice, and great use of the canon. You write like poetry. Great, great job.

[normative_jean]

Argh! Stupid lj notifications. I'm just now seeing this, but thank you so much! I'm so happy you liked it, and also that you felt it meshed well with canon. It was a new fandom and a very different writing style for me, so I was worried about, well, everything. Thank you again!

[damelola]

Oh, I just stumbled across this and it's beautifully written. I'm not the biggest Donna fan, but this is a perfect examination of how she got to the point of leaving and her reasons why. Wonderful.

[normative_jean]

Yay! Thank you so much! Honestly, your comment means even more if you didn't really care for canon Donna, since that means that there was something worth building on and exploring in fic. I'm so glad you liked it. :)