Sherlock Holmes wrote:

Ha, that's a good question. I think on a simpler level, it's because he's our hero, and people like to see a hero who has faults and flaws, a hero who can feel pain and suffer, just like we can, a hero they can relate to.

And in Johnlock, who doesn't like to read about John the doctor coming alongside and saving the day, helping Sherlock get better, etc. John has killed a guy to save Sherlock, so he certainly would move heaven and earth to help him when sick or incapacitated in some way. Lovely to read, IMO, maybe especially if before getting sick, Sherlock hadn't admitted his feelings for John, but when made vulnerable and seeing John's heart in that way, he who once was lost can then be found. Yum.

Last edited by ancientsgate (June 16, 2013 11:22 pm)

QuiteExtraordinary wrote:

"The best man", according to John.   Personally, I don't like fics that focus too much on changing Sherlock's personality for the "better". Just because somebody is different that doesn't necessarily mean they have to adapt and become like everybody else. I don't like the moral of that.

A lot of fan fic is written by children (teens), and IMO they don't have the life experiences or wisdom to really know how to handle a complex character like Sherlock. Some do, I suppose, but I think most of the good stories are written by people who have been around the block a couple of times-- you know, they've seen them come and they've seen them go, and not only do they "get" Sherlock, they know how to reproduce him in their stories.

Technically, if an author messes with the characters' appearances, personalities, ways of speaking, ways of being, that's not really fan fic. If they want to write their own original characters, they should name them Joe and Henry and just write their story. Even in AU or AR, it's important to keep Sherlock recognizable as Sherlock and John as John. They must look like them, sound like them, act like them, have the same basic foibles and wants and needs. After that, an author can play with them like she would paper dolls all she wants, but for fan fic to be that-- fan fic-- the characters have to be recognizable from the original movie, TV show, or book.
 

Sherlock Holmes wrote:

AG, you're such an expert in fan fic!

This is my 3rd major fandom in which I've read (and in one, I also wrote 35+ short stories) fan fic. I am no expert, but I'm interested in writing and editing (beta reading), for sure. Sorry, I know I can be a bore, going on and on.

Sherlock Holmes wrote:

QuiteExtraordinary wrote:

Oh, I forgot to say - it's a very sad, but very good story, Boss!

Hehe, thanks. I kind of enjoyed it, so think I'll probably write more in the future. I set up an AO3 profile anyway.

Please tell us your user name, so we can all leave kudos!

That is a lovely Twitter name 
And very sad story, loved it. A prequel would be nice to read, your style is beautiful.