SGA fic + SG1 rec + writing babbling

[dragojustine]

Five Items in John Sheppard's Will, (comments 3-5) over at sg1_five_things . I'll probably archive it here in a bit- anybody know what the accepted polite waiting period for that is, anyway?


This one was strange to write. For one thing, the impulse in "five things" stories is always, always to put the really shippy one last, and in this case, it just WOULDN'T GO. I couldn't come up with anything about Rodney that would be right at the end. And I knew there had to be one about Teyla, but for some reason it HAD to have something to do with the Athosians, instead of just a little personal item. And then the one about Ronon just HAD to be about Earth, somehow, which I didn't see coming at all.

I spent so damn long fighting those three things, until I gave up and wrote it the way it wanted to be written. But I am one of those people who wants to be able to articulate things like that; either I think "If I were a good writer, I would be able to articulate this!" or maybe it's "If I learn to articulate this, I will become a better writer." Either way, here it is:

One of the most moving central stories of Atlantis is John Sheppard finding a home and family. He moves from trying to escape the family he was born into, to Antarctica (and I am SO OBSESSED with Sheppard's relationship with Antarctica. I think the moment he says "I like it" in the pilot is the most stunning moment of unintentional character building I've ever seen. The fact that Sheppard is completely in exile from all of humanity and he LIKES IT because he thinks that's the best he deserves or the best he'll get... gah), then through how shocking and disconcerting is is to realize he's actually among friends, and into actually being happy with this found family. The relationship with Rodney isn't the culmination of that at all- it's just the start, the first step for John. That's why Rodney couldn't come at the end. Then expanding outwards- not just about John Sheppard finding a home, but the ability that gives him to provide that home and connection to others- hence Ronon and Earth.

Now that I can see that, of course, I really want to go back and revise the damn thing, because writing is always so much better when you know your own damn theme. But at least I've articulated it now, so I'm happy.

SG1 rec: Say Rather Farewell by teand , a PG-13 Jack/Daniel with a great team vibe, fantastic Vala voice (*snerk*), and an ending for all of them that is awful and bittersweet and triumphant and glorious all at once.

Remember to bid on my leet beta skills at livelongnmarry .

Comments

[dragojustine.livejournal.com]

I didn't know she wrote SG1 *at all*- she's on my flist from Supernatural. So that was such a pleasant shock!

[princessofg.livejournal.com]

omg her backlist is stunning for sg=1. really awesome. yay. Five Thousand Words for Oops, more gems. Are you in for a treat. Thanks again for the pointer. Lucky SPN! :).