kathleen_dailey

I had more or less resolved to stay off my Trek hobbyhorse of "please don't ask me to believe in characters who would never be chosen to serve on an interstellar mission if their AO3 tags actually appeared in their Starfleet psych profiles." But then I came across the extract below on Diane Duane's Tumblr. A reader complimented her on McCoy's characterization in Doctor's Orders. She responded in part:

The rest of McCoy’s characterization, though, was based on the continuous intention to write these characters as if they were the professionals that they would honestly have to be. [Emphasis in original.]

That's the type of characterization that I find the most credible, engrossing, and satisfying to read, both in fanfic and in profic. I wish that more of the current crop of TOS fan writers would consider taking a similar approach. (And I'm hugely appreciative of those few who already do.)