On Writing Joyce
The JOYFFA Dictators' hints and tips on writing Joyce
Writing any character well isn't easy. It's even more difficult to do it more than once, or to do it again and again. However, Joyce isn't as difficult as some of the characters - and if anything, there is more leeway with how you can write her because we don't know as much as we do about, for example, Buffy.
Nevertheless there are some things that any writer using Joyce as a character should remember about the Great One (that's Joyce). We'll try and break it into easy to read chunks.
Motivation & Personality
Well, Joyce's motivation will vary depending on your fic, of course, but in the show the running theme for Joyce is principally caring for her daughters - and Joyce would sacrifice it all for Buffy or Dawn. At the same time she's also always ready to dispense motherly guidance (and not just to Buffy or Dawn), even when it isn't wanted. Therefore if anything in your fic goes against that motivation or behaviour you'll need a damn good reason. Aside from this, Joyce is also on the look out for love - and can be very flirty when she wants to be. However, you do get the impression she was a bit awkward as a teenager and this trait hasn't entirely gone from her now - in 'Fear, Itself' we learn that she didn't have any friends in Sunnydale the first year that she and Buffy lived there. Perhaps the divorce from Hank had knocked her confidence, but nevertheless Joyce is hardly likely to be the most outgoing person or excessively forward in romantic situations.
Having said this, she does fear loneliness (witness the exchange with Faith/Buffy in 'Who Are You'), so the true Joyce is probably very confident when she gets to know people and does try to do so - but does take a while to let people into her trust. Joyce is, however, sophisticated - no mere Philistine could run an art gallery, so never write Joyce as stupid - although she can be very naïve, as her whole denial of all things Slayer proved - as did, indeed, her reaction to the murdered children in 'Gingerbread'. Finally Joyce is also a very caring person - and all the Scoobies were comforted by her at some point or another (not to mention a dead cat), so a cruel and callous Joyce would have to have a better motivation for turning out that way. Remembering all these themes and using them to suit means you can incorporate more accurate depth to your characterisation of Joyce.
Hobbies and Interests
Often including what a character likes and enjoys means that you make that character more real, and Joyce is no different. Art is an obvious place to start, and judging from the show Joyce is particularly fond of African tribal pieces.
In terms of pop culture, Joyce has a few known interests - she seems to like 'chick flicks' - or romantic/girly movies - like 'Thelma and Louise'. In her youth she was evidently also a fan of 'Gidget' - a surfing movie starring Sandra Dee - at least enough to have her hair done in the same way. She's a fan of 'Passions', a cheesy daytime American soap opera with supernatural elements (an interest she shares with Spike), and apparently likes reading too - she joined a Book Club with Pat in the summer that Buffy had ran off and read 'The Deep End of the Ocean' by Jacquelyn Mitchard. Musically, at least when she was a teenager, we know Joyce liked 'Seals and Croft' (a popular MOR rock band from the 70s) and Juice Newton (the very early 80s version of Shania Twain). Lastly, she appears to like Burt Reynolds. God help her.
Joyce also seems to be quite the homemaker - a good cook and seamstress at various points in the show. Speaking of clothes, as this is us, we have to make reference to Joyce's style. She likes simple yet effective ensembles, largely blacks, browns and greys, although she has been known to be more daring and go for oranges and blues. Nevertheless she is never seen in gaudy colours like pink or bright yellow, so if you need an outfit, it's not really convincing if the skirt is cerise. Finally, Joyce accessorises nearly every outfit with silver jewellery, especially dangly earrings and long necklaces.
Speech Patterns
A character in fic can have the exact motivation of their on-screen equivalents, have the same interests and do the same things and yet not be convincing if they don't speak as they are supposed to. Joyce is relatively simple in that she talks in a logical way (unlike, for example, Oz, who is somewhat Yoda-like in his sentence arrangement). She does pepper her speech with terms of endearment like 'dear' and 'sweetheart' - although only to the appropriate people.
Giles started out as Mr. Giles, but latterly became Rupert (and Ripper during 'Band Candy' of course). Everyone else is generally referred to by their first name - although as Giles shows if she doesn't know them well and they are older she will likely add a title (e.g. 'Mr. Sanderson from the bank).
Otherwise, Joyce also has quite a dry sense of humour, and usually makes cutting jokes if the situation is good for it. She talked in a new-agey way in season one, but this seemed to have evaporated by season 2, but if your fic is set then remember the importance she placed on her parenting manuals at that time. In fights with Buffy she tends to become less eloquent, and generally doesn't say what she wants to say, so making her too verbose in an argument doesn't square with what we know of the character. Having said this, if she's had a chance to think about things first though she can be more forceful (as in 'Passion').
In the main though, Joyce's speech is not too difficult to write.
That's really all our tips for Joyce writing. Basically practise makes perfect - and until then, you have beta readers! If you need any further assistance though, do let us know.