Date: December 02, 2007 06:48 pm Title: Chapter 4 - Mrs. Halpert, in the Art Room, with a Secret
Whoa, it's an early fanfic Christmas present! I love the structure, the first-person POV, how you're portraying Pam's issues with her art. I can totally relate. Especially the part where Kellie is complimenting her drawings and she can't truly believe it. Ah, so good!
Author's Response: sudzy, that's so wonderful to hear. I'guess a lot of us have been at that low point where our faith in ourselves and our abilities gets shaken to the core and that's right where Pam is right now, the poor thing. Writing the conversation with Jim in chapter 3 just wore me out - going to that place where you feel unworthy of and pressured by the support and encouragement from someone who loves you. Man, that's a tough place to be. Ya gotta have faith, though. I can't let anything too awful happen to our girl!
Date: December 02, 2007 06:45 pm Title: Chapter 1 - The Beesly Guide to Trimming Your Tree
Ok, so if I actually nudged you into posting this, I'm really, really glad. And four freakin' chapters! That's like second drink squared, I guess. Or something.
So let's see what I especially loved in this opening chapter besides Jim's POV, which I always have a special fondness for. Oh yeah, this:
I picked Taller and told her it was because the tree had a jaunty personality, and she agreed, saying it reminded her of me.
Heh. Jim = Tree. Smort. Climbing ensues.
Arrgh! This line made me cry in the OR today!
And no matter how many Christmases we have, I’ll always remember the second one because she gave me something I didn’t even know I was wishing for.
Good thing I'm sitting behind the drapes giving the anesthesia so nobody can see me all weepy. And why are the words so big all of a sudden???
And this?
“I’ll help you find it.”
Had me laughing out loud. Seriously.
The start of another classic for sure. :)
Author's Response:
You totally nudged me and I spent a good portion of yesterday getting these chapters posted. I'd tinker, I'd edit, I'd paste it into the interface and read it and tinker some more, fix the formatting, hit preview, fix, adjust, lather, rinse, repeat. But I'm so glad I finally got them out there so I can start on chapter 5. And I'm glad to see someone else had some formatting problems, too!
I originally had Jim pick "Fuller" and then I thought of the Taller=Jim=tree thing and I KNEW someone would make the connection to CLIMB. God love you for that! I'm sure there were some readers who were totally grossed out by the mucous plug, but it's so damned funny to me. You work in the OR - you've seen it all - so probably nothing can gross you out!
Thank you so much for being such a cheerleader and a faithful reader and such a great reviewer. You rock so hard.
Date: December 02, 2007 04:35 pm Title: Chapter 4 - Mrs. Halpert, in the Art Room, with a Secret
Two more solid chapters, Sweetpea. So wonderful. I have to admit, I think I'm partial to Jim's POV. You capture him so well.
Author's Response: Thank you so much, Nan. I'm secretly (okay, not so secretly now!) partial to Jim's POV, too, probably because it comes more easily for me. Pam is really hard for me to nail down, and she's in a terrible funk right now, so there's not a lot of joy in Pamville. I'm not going to give anything away, so I'll just say thank you for being such a faithful reader and a regular reviewer. So great to hear from you.
Date: December 02, 2007 01:05 pm Title: Chapter 3 - Goodnight, You Moonlight Ladies
Aww, Jim. Sometimes there is just no reasoning with a pregnant lady. Sometimes we just need to know you'll be there for us. (Pam in prenatal yoga is super-cute).
Author's Response:
Jim is a pretty wonderful guy, but like most guys, he wants to DO something, he wants to fix it so Pam won't be sad and cry. He's learning, though. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing him kick that prof's ass. Thank you for the review, lisahoo!
Date: December 02, 2007 12:47 pm Title: Chapter 1 - The Beesly Guide to Trimming Your Tree
Ok, I think this was the best chapter of fic I've ever read that used the phrase 'mucous plug' so often. Yes, Pam, some aspects of baby-making are really gross. You'll get used to it.
"I have you and you’re making me a baby." HA! Like she's knitting him a scarf. A really long stripey scarf.
Author's Response: You are too funny, lisahoo! Yeah, Pam better get over the idea of retaining any sense of dignity at all. So true about the scarf and I didn't really think of it like that, but so funny. Hey, is there a Dundie or maybe a coupon for Chili's for mentioning 'mucous plug" most often in a fic?
Date: December 02, 2007 12:23 pm Title: Chapter 4 - Mrs. Halpert, in the Art Room, with a Secret
Oh man.. the last part made me want to cry. my heart got a bit heavy there... I feel that way about writing when anybody reads my stuff. I can't imagine the emptiness I would feel if it didn't excite me when someone said "hey, this is really good." if you truly love something, that stuff does excite you, and I think it's more that Pam is trying hard NOT to care about design and art more than she really doesn't love it anymore. If she didn't love it anymore, I doubt she'd be so reluctant to show it off.
And two kelly/ies.... wow, you are a brave soul.
Great chapter! (hope this review excites you!)
Author's Response:
It does, it does! And now, AvilaGrace, I'm going to admit to you and everyone else in the circle that I didn't even realize the two Kelly(ies) deal until I read this review!!! Oh my God! But you may have just given me an idea....
Anywho, you totally nailed where Pam's head is right now. Her confidence has been shaken and she doesn't want to love something that's betraying her and eluding her. Our girl's really struggling with this whole thing and she's in a bit of denial. But it's only chapter 4, so who knows what might happen! Thank you so much for the review.
Date: December 02, 2007 11:03 am Title: Chapter 3 - Goodnight, You Moonlight Ladies
You're killing me, Sweetpea, but what a way to go.
I came to the library this afternoon to assault my honors paper (I'm writing about "The Office," so it's not too bad). The plan was to sit, focus, and write, but I had to drop by MTT first. Then I see not one but TWO chapters of this lovely story! I read them once, then again to make sure I didn't miss anything, and there went 25 minutes of my afternoon.
Oh well. It was more than worth it. More, please, asap!! I'm in love with the tone of this story, and you've created a really unique set of problems for our favorite couple that we don't usually get in BabyFic. Well done, well done, and more please!! -CH
Author's Response: A reread from you CH is a huge, huge compliment. Thank you so much. This review made me flashback to school and being in EXACTLY that situation. "I'll just take a peek at my email before I start writing..." Two hours later....YIKES! My solution? I wrote so many papers in a little tavern in the middle of the afternoon. Pretty quiet, but it had good background noise, and NO Internet. Plus food! and you can have a beer when you're done! Now, an honors paper on TO? That sounds intriguing!
10 [Report This]Date: December 02, 2007 10:47 am Title: Chapter 3 - Goodnight, You Moonlight Ladies
It's official. I'm in love with this story. This conversation between them is so real and and I can imagine Pam having this exact reaction. I also laughed out loud a few times - you are SO good at first person Jim.
I have to say though, I have a bad feeling of foreboding in the pit of my stomach. I'm a little worried, but I have faith in you! More, soon, please!
Author's Response: And I'm in love with your reviews, kells! It wasn't too hard for me to imagine Pam's feelings here. I've started over a few times, myself, and it's terribly disorienting and scary and when you're forced to start over because something hasn't worked out the way you thought it would...well, it can be soul-crushing. She has Jim, though, and he's not going to let that happen. I'm tickled this made you laugh and first person Jim is challenging, but so much fun to do. I promise your faith isn't misplaced. I love these two way too much. :-*
10 [Report This]Date: December 02, 2007 10:46 am Title: Chapter 2 - Mrs. Halpert Goes to College
Oh...poor Pam. It's hard enough when you're pregnant and your hormones make you feel like you're insane - and then to have someone say something like that to you. How upsetting.
I'm reading on now....
Author's Response: kells, I still think about the prof who told me that if I wanted to write the next great American novel, I should forget about journalism, quit school and buy a typewriter and just write it. Yeah, thanks for nothing, Assbag. I think Pam might have handled this differently had she not been in a hormone haze, but she's sensitive right now and the timing of this meeting couldn't have been worse for her. Thank you so much for reviewing and for your great rec on the boards. So sweet of you.
10 [Report This]Date: December 02, 2007 10:45 am Title: Chapter 1 - The Beesly Guide to Trimming Your Tree
This? Is really, really good. I love hearing about their first Christmas together - it's exactly how I would have pictured it. You also have them down perfectly. Their banter and back and forth - just perfect.
On to chapter 2!
Author's Response: kells, you're too sweet! I was a little afraid of making Pam too wide-eyed and girly with the Christmas stuff, but even a bitter old hag like myself is a sucker for Christmas ornaments. I seriously LOVE writing the banter. It can be tough to get it right, but when it comes together and I think it sounds true to my ear, man, it's such a thrill. Even better when I read a review like this and know that someone else appreciated it. Thank you so much!
Date: December 02, 2007 09:55 am Title: Chapter 2 - Mrs. Halpert Goes to College
No need to tinker anymore--it's beautiful as is! I think you're too hard on yourself : ) Thank you, Sweetpea, for this lovely story. I'm really enjoying it.
Author's Response: Oh, Nan, I can't thank you enough for saying that! This chapter really gave me fits and I was editing it in the interface and hit Preview about 10 times and kept jacking around with it and at one point, I hit the back button and lost the whole damned thing. AAAAHHHHH! I'm so glad you're reading and enjoying and thank you so much for this review!
Date: December 02, 2007 09:46 am Title: Chapter 1 - The Beesly Guide to Trimming Your Tree
I was about to move on to part two but felt the need to comment on part one first. Simply, I loved this so much. You made me feel so nostalgic (in a happy way). “I guess the baby stays juicier while it’s cooking with the plug, huh?” Loved it. Such a funny image that made me grin. This a perfect slice of Christmas. On to part two.
Author's Response: Hi NanReg! So nice to hear from you again and thanks so much for making this pitstop. I'm so glad you liked the "juicier" bit - that came to me because I was brining a duck while I was working on this chapter...and well, that's probably more than you wanted to know about the weird sources of my inspiration! This story started with Christmas because when I worked the timeline out in my head from the conclusion to the beginning, it just worked out that way, but it was really fun to write Jim and Pam at Christmas. Thank you so much for the review!
Date: December 02, 2007 08:01 am Title: Chapter 1 - The Beesly Guide to Trimming Your Tree
So much to like! 1st person Jim - a bold move, sweetpea ;-) Also, as usual, you write their dynamic so well - love how supportive/humoring of Pam he is and how intrepid about this strange new pregnancy thing. 'Ugh, Jim, pregnancy is disgusting...' ha! great line - I could so hear it. And I loved Jim calling upstairs on his cell and offering to help find the plug and this made me feel all smooshy: 'I have you and you're making me a baby. I have nothing to mope about.' Aww. More, please.
(And on a personal note - the term 'mucous plug' was precisely the one that freaked me out during my 1st pregnancy. Along with 'bloody show.' I remember feeling mislead, like it was supposed to be this beautiful thing, and instead I get non-stop puking and mucous plugs?!? The indignity! ;-)
Author's Response: Colette, you just cracked me right up! I totally fogot about "bloody show" - who thinks these things up? It's always so great to read a review from you. I always pictured Expecting!Jim to be very unfazed by the drama and very accepting of whatever weirdness comes along. I also think he's amazed by the whole thing, and totally thinks Pam is making that baby just for him. First-person Jim is definitely a challenge, but for me, first-person Pam is even moreso. She's so much nicer than I am, she's younger, cuter, cooler, and she has a great boyfriend/husband. I have absolutely no point of reference with her at all! Thank you so much for the kind and thoughtful review!
Date: December 02, 2007 07:34 am Title: Chapter 1 - The Beesly Guide to Trimming Your Tree
Yay Sweetpea! I am so looking forward to reading many, many chapters of this! You write Jim and Pam so freaking well. Like, this is how I imagine them. Also, I feel the same way Pam does about the mucous plug. Yikes!
And the title makes me think that maybe our fair lovebirds will start a new life in the other Pennsylvania city that is also the title of this story. Hmm, can't wait to see if I am right or wrong about that hunch!
Author's Response: Hey, sudzygirl, it's always so good to hear from you! Poor Pam, right? Her world is getting rocked all over the place. I'm not going to say a word about your hunch. It's killing me, but you can't make me talk! Thank you so, so much for the sweet review!
Date: December 02, 2007 06:33 am Title: Chapter 1 - The Beesly Guide to Trimming Your Tree
This was just really funny, and so true, and just...all around great. I enjoyed every word. I'm so happy right now (and the mucous plug is truly, really gross. Pam should not be thinking about it so early in her pregnancy....TMI).
Author's Response:
Recorderalways, I hated to be the one to let Pam find out about the mucous plug, but..COME ON! "Mucous plug" is comedy gold, Jerry! If Pam thought Dwight and Angela dating was gross...she's in for a bumpy ride, here! I'm so glad this made you happy and thank you so much for the review!
10 [Report This]Date: December 01, 2007 11:15 pm Title: Chapter 1 - The Beesly Guide to Trimming Your Tree
Oh man, Sweetpea, you're killing me over here. This is making me teary. Well, admittedly I'm moping at the moment and writing angst, but still. So... perfect.
I love the interaction here, the way they're so comfortable with each other, but not... complacent? They know what they have. Also, in this line:
“A, those are not bad grades, and 2, of course, the baby is responsible. Junior’s already causing trouble.”
I love that Jim says "A" and "2". And the mucous plug: hilarious. And gross.
Author's Response: thirty, the A and 2 thing never fails to crack me up, and I'm so glad you lmentioned that. And isn't "moping" a great word? I was really afraid the mucous plug might be too much and frankly, it gags me just to type the word mucous, but it was too funny to me to leave out. Thanks so much for the review!
Date: December 01, 2007 11:05 pm Title: Chapter 1 - The Beesly Guide to Trimming Your Tree
Ohhh I loved this, Sweetpea!! The banter was perfect, and I can't wait for another installment. Bravo for a lovely take on babyfic! -CH
Author's Response: Oh, CH, I just love meeting like this! Thank you for being my first (TWSS, of course) reviewer. You know, the baby thing just evolved out of nowhere. When I finished this chapter and checked back to my outline, it said, "Jim and Pam have been dating about 8 months." WHOA! How did that happen? Thanks so much for the review!