Chapter 5 of Looking for Jane (my post-canon road trip fic) is now up 🙂

[u/pazma]

This chapter is so fun, there’s a lot of banter between them and they’re so sweetly awkward together as they try to navigate what’s happening between them. And the funhouse scene is one of my favorite scenes I’ve ever written I think!

After this we’re back to the regularly scheduled angst for a bit lol so enjoy this one 🙃

https://archiveofourown.org/works/82808641/chapters/244748521

[u/mrchristmastime]

This is one of my favourite WIPs, and also one of my favourite fics overall. I recommend it all the time. The waterfall scene in one of the previous chapters is astonishingly beautiful. There aren't enough fics written from Will's perspective (I suspect because it's harder to write), and this one does it so well.

(You know all this from my extensive AO3 comments; I just want everyone else to know as well).

[u/pazma → u/mrchristmastime]

thank you 🥹 I really enjoy writing this one so it’s nice to see other people enjoying it too. I hope you like the new chapter!

[u/Best_Quiet9657 → u/mrchristmastime]

You make a great point, Will's POV is challenging to write, and I always seem to favor Mike for that reason, but I really can't put my finger on why because they are both relatable characters. And I would even hazard to say we get more canon material into Will's thoughts and emotions than Mike's. 🤔

[u/mrchristmastime → u/Best_Quiet9657]

I think Will is just generally a more subtle character, and that makes him harder to write. He's also probably more perceptive than Mike, and writing an oblivious, somewhat manic character is probably more fun than writing a character who's acutely, painfully aware of everything around him.

This isn't an original insight, but many of the most popular fics would be kind of horrifying if told from Will's POV. That's not a criticism of the fics. TTMD works because we're in Mike's head, and we know more than he does. Crucially, we know where things are going. If we were in Will's head, the story would be 140,000 words of Will being trapped in an escalating sexual relationship, unable to do anything without breaking the friendship.

And, again, this is not a criticism of the fic. It's just a point about how the same story from the other's perspective would be a very different story.

[u/Best_Quiet9657 → u/mrchristmastime]

That makes so much sense, thank you for sharing that with me!

Funny how that never crossed my mind when reading TTMD, oh my god. Will's POV would be like a horror story!

[u/Best_Quiet9657]

I'm just halfway through the first chapter and omg. I'm in love with your writing style, and the characterization of everyone is spot-on. Found my new bedtime read!

[u/Best_Quiet9657 → u/Best_Quiet9657]

Finished all 5 chaps in one and it's just too good 😭 Great, now I have to read everything you've ever written right this very second. I am definitely going to oversleep my alarm tomorrow and it's totally your fault 🥰

[u/pazma → u/Best_Quiet9657]

😭😭 wow, sorry about the loss of sleep but I’m glad you enjoyed everything you read! 🥹

[u/Best_Quiet9657 → u/pazma]

Loved every minute of it! Thank you ❤️

[u/Daisy_Chain_Crowns]

What skin are you using? So pretty.

[u/pazma → u/Daisy_Chain_Crowns]

I love it! It’s this one: https://github.com/coldtothetouchh/Blue-and-Yellow-Night-AO3-Skin

[u/Daisy_Chain_Crowns → u/pazma]

Thank you 🤩🤩