1 [Report This]Date: October 29, 2020 04:06 pm Title: Chapter 5: Silence
This was just a really sweet journey through their history!
Author's Response:
Pam had a lot of work to do to be ready for Happily Ever After (Jim did, too, but Pam had to go farther, as she says in their engagement scene). I liked looking at it with this structure.
Thanks!
1 [Report This]Date: October 29, 2020 04:06 pm Title: Chapter 4: Light
"It is as if she has left this negative space specifically for him to fill (and maybe she has)." is a truly amazing line.
Author's Response: Ooh, thanks. I love imagining that first night.
1 [Report This]Date: October 29, 2020 04:05 pm Title: Chapter 3: Tomorrow
Pre-Merger Pam endlessly frustrates me, and you've still managed to make me feel for her - she's just so completely unshielded against what's coming here.
Author's Response:
Right? Why didn't she call him? Whyyyyy?
On the other hand, the acting in the episode when Jim returns (and the "egregious" backrub) always gets me. You can see the emotional beating it is taking on Pam and I figured it must be because she got her hopes up so high.
"Unshielded" is a great word for it, thank you for that.
Date: January 24, 2008 06:34 pm Title: Chapter 5: Silence
i knew it i knew it i knew she was pregnant! squee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Author's Response: Ha! Yes, I doubt that we'll ever get Jambabies on the show, but for some reason babies keep popping up in my fic lately. Hm, wonder why? Hee. Thank you so much for the "squee!"
Date: January 24, 2008 06:33 pm Title: Chapter 4: Light
this so makes up for the previous heartbreak. jim is there. the perfect sleepless night. no joke, tears of happiness. because i cry ay anything. specially happy things
Author's Response:
I am very, very pleased that they are tears of happiness! I think they needed a good long night of talking so they could clear the air and move forward. This review is a happy thing! Thank you!
10 [Report This]Date: January 24, 2008 06:31 pm Title: Chapter 3: Tomorrow
Yay! I can finish this story now. (specially since you finally replied to my review. Hehe. nah, its just cause I finally have a computer)
God the night before a big tomorrow is the worst!
God, that was so perfect. I can so imagine that was what it was like and it breaks my heart thinking it dind't go the way she planned, but this was perfect!
Author's Response: Thank you! It really was hard to watch her get so disappointed, wasn't it? I think seeing how sad she was really convinced me that she must have had her hopes up pretty high. But it gets better! Thank goodness!
10 [Report This]Date: January 15, 2008 05:05 pm Title: Chapter 5: Silence
Sorry I'm so late in reviewing - there are simply not enough hours in the day lately. I liked this idea - I think I've missed "5 things" stories in general. :-) My favourite nights? Well, the night before Jim's return was so exquisitely sad because I can believe she really was that hopeful, that night-before-Christmas feeling flying around in her head and stomach. It's painful even now to think about that time, and we know now how it finally works out! I think you captured that night perfectly. The "it's a date" night wins for pure fluffy love - you know you should feel free to expand that chapter into a whole 'nother fic. I would certainly not complain. :-D
Author's Response: Don't apologize! With all the great new fic being published, I'm honored when anyone takes the time to read mine, honestly! I'm so glad you enjoyed this. I have missed the 5-things format, too (I like structure to hang stories on). It was a lot of fun to explore the emotional journey of Pam in this way. Thank you very much!
Date: January 15, 2008 04:23 pm Title: Chapter 5: Silence
Ah, but their sleepless nights are only just beginning, lol. I loved 'Light' - how they talked until they were parched (precisely how I think their early days/weeks together went) - and there was actually something quite romantic about him bringing her a glass of water. Then this chapter...well, cozy, intimate, such deep connection...sigh. His voice calming the tyke down was a lovely touch. Enjoyed this start to finish.
Author's Response: Thank you so much. It was a pleasure to write- I don't think I've felt this engaged with my characters for a long time (and I love Pam, I truly do). It's been lovely getting all of your feedback, as well. You give me new insight into my own work, which is so much fun I can hardly stand it. Thank you again!
Date: January 15, 2008 11:53 am Title: Chapter 5: Silence
Sweet Jeebus. Jam!Babies are made of all things awesome. Maybe they can end the writers strike for the Jam!Babies yet to be conceived.
This was a lovely way to wrap up the sleepless nights. Even though we both know Pam's sleepless nights are just beginning. Oy.
Author's Response: JamBabies for the win! Yeah, don't remind me about the upcoming sleeplessness- I'm currently at Pam's "fetal gymnastics" stage here, so I was truly writing from experience. Hee. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing. This one was a pleasure to write from beginning to end.
Date: January 15, 2008 09:14 am Title: Chapter 5: Silence
So lovely, lis! This is one of the best reasons to be sleepless, I guess. :)
My favorite is the paragraph about things changing and staying the same.
It's a nice story. I think it was called "5 things" and now it's not? There are a lot of other nights Pam was probably a bit sleepless. ;)
Author's Response: Thank you! The "Five things" is in the subtitle. I'm definitely done with this one, although I could probably come up with a lot of other nights (including how she got knocked up in the first place and lots of nights with the new baby!). I'm so glad you stuck with all five nights. I liked that idea of changing and staying the same, too. Thanks again!
Date: January 15, 2008 08:19 am Title: Chapter 5: Silence
Even knowing what you had saved for the last chapter, this still brought tears to my eyes! I love that he knows exactly where the feet are thrashing and that Daddy's voice can calm the little buddy down.
I just had to reread the whole thing again before hitting "Submit". This was amazing.
Author's Response: Thank you! Write what you know, right? Heh. I can't remember the last time I was able to fall right to sleep without some fetal gymnastics going on. I have really enjoyed writing this whole piece- thank you for your invaluable help and encouragement along the way.
10 [Report This]Date: January 15, 2008 05:47 am Title: Chapter 5: Silence
Beautiful.
Author's Response: Whoa, that was fast! Thank you so much- I wanted to end on a positive note.
9 [Report This]Date: January 14, 2008 08:34 pm Title: Chapter 3: Tomorrow
I love, love this chapter. Pam's anticipation at Jim's return is just so sweet ... and you know will be short lived. I love the vision of her preparing her apartment for the guest who won't arrive for months.
Author's Response: Thank you! As much as it set her up for a crushing disappointment, I agree that those hours of anticipation must have been very sweet and exciting for her. I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment!
10 [Report This]Date: January 14, 2008 06:48 pm Title: Chapter 1: I can't
These are so well done. Your characterization of Pam is so real-- the emotions of all the different scenarios are spot-on. I'm sure that you have only good things ahead for the remaining night, but I also thoroughly enjoyed the chapters where things were still uncertain
Great job, and I'm looking forward to the conclusion :)
Author's Response: Thank you very much! I always love delving into Pam's emotions- I think between the writing and the acting, she's one of the most fascinating women on TV. She's just so real and insecure and not the sassy bed-hopping career woman, but also not the neurotic but brilliant mess you see so often. Thank you for commenting- hope you enjoy the end!
Date: January 14, 2008 12:56 pm Title: Chapter 4: Light
Oh, so sweeeeet - I'm in love with this story!
Author's Response: And it loves you back! Thank you so much!!
Date: January 14, 2008 12:42 pm Title: Chapter 4: Light
I have this vision of a Jim Talking Head, "Pam and I had a long talk last night..." but of course this would be a good long talk, not a "I'm really glad you're here" talk. ;)
This is a really neat first date 'after' fic; this line says it all: "A simple dinner date has turned into a night of revelations, of confession and apology and proclamation." Hooray for this sort of sleepless night.
Author's Response: Thank you so much! Yes, I don't think Jim will be complaining after this long night of talking. Especially because once they talk through everything, it'll be done. I'm so glad you enjoyed this chapter!
Date: January 14, 2008 12:20 pm Title: Chapter 4: Light
Yay! I was hoping Jim would be responsible for a sleepless night in a good way!
Author's Response: Finally, right? Heh. Yes, I couldn't go on with the angst forever- I have fluff in my soul. One more to go!
Date: January 14, 2008 11:11 am Title: Chapter 4: Light
I'm sitting here at work with tears in my eyes after reading this. What a beautifully crafted chapter, nqllisi! I love the idea of her creating "negative space" for Jim to be - that's just gorgeous. I could quote the whole chapter back to you, every word is so perfectly chosen and placed. Just wonderful.
Author's Response: Oh, thank you! She was doing so well, but she just needed him to complete the picture, didn't she? Thank you for being such a great champion of my little story. One more to go!
Date: January 14, 2008 11:03 am Title: Chapter 4: Light
Hmm. I can't remember how I worded my comments that got eaten.
I love the idea of it being quiet enough for a yawn to echo. That's brilliant. And thank you for letting them have this talk (and cry and confession and revelation) while sober.
Author's Response: Thank you! And it's funny you say that about being sober, because they were drinking wine in my first draft and it just didn't seem right. So, you're very welcome! Hee. One more to go!
9 [Report This]Date: January 14, 2008 10:32 am Title: Chapter 4: Light
Wow. Really nice chapter, nqllisi.
"It is very, very late- but she is immensely relieved to know that it is not too late." Love that line.
Author's Response: Thank you! It was a very satisfying chapter to write!
8 [Report This]Date: January 13, 2008 05:31 pm Title: Chapter 1: I can't
"And he’d kissed her and she’d kissed back, and it was like drowning and like flying."
This is beautifully sad - I love Pam trying to figure out what she means by "I can't."
Author's Response: Thank you so much! I am so glad she figured it out, aren't you? It gets happier, I promise!
Date: January 13, 2008 09:16 am Title: Chapter 3: Tomorrow
Oh, poor Pam! Full of hope, and we know what happened. She probably had cleaned up her apartment, hoping that she'd be able to show Jim everything. And clean sheets, only slept on one night? I'm sure she's thinking "just in case." ;)
It's sad that the next night wouldn't have been as she hoped, but instead was probably a disaster. That would be another night where having your own place would come in handy -- the tears would be flowing, that's for sure.
Her hope here is lovely, though.
Author's Response: Thank you so much- yes, the TH's in that episode just make me ache for Pam; you know she was just so hopeful. But fear not- canon tells us that things get better soon! Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the final two chapters!
Date: January 13, 2008 09:10 am Title: Chapter 2: Alone
Wonderful. I love the different items mentioned that have no "Roy" attached to them, and her thought about being able to watch the sunrise - she's looking toward the future.
She looks at her path, and the path she left, and the path she chose not to take (yet). Wonderful. And yes, one of the best things about your own place is the ability to cry or be happy, nap or dance, without having to explain or justify it.
Just lovely, lis. I love your writing -- it's beautiful and it flows so nicely.
Author's Response: Thank you! I worry about flow...I think that's one of the reasons I write short pieces. It's easier to control. Yes, I like Pam here- still injured but not without hope. Thank you for the insightful comments!
Date: January 13, 2008 09:00 am Title: Chapter 1: I can't
What a wonderful view into how Pam would have felt that night. I love how "yes, of course" segues into "I can't" after looking at "Roy's sleeping bulk," like Roy is some sort of hulkish sleeping dragon. Love, love, love.
And then how she's trying to decide what "I can't" means. This is just wonderful, lis; thanks so much for this.
Author's Response: Oh, thank you! I'm so impressed with Pam's journey, but I think it definitely took a bunch of little steps and sleeples nights- you don't become Fancy or New without struggle. I wanted to show that. I'm so happy you're getting so much out of this, thank you!
Date: January 13, 2008 05:35 am Title: Chapter 3: Tomorrow
I was going to wait for this to be complete before reading, but I couldn't hold out. I'm drawn to fics that use a consistent element/motif to focus on different moments in a character's development (tried it myself recently via haircuts, lol) - and I think you've chosen an especially good one to frame Pam here. That late night/early morning can't sleep zone is so often when the rest of the world fades away and our minds wander - anxieties getting bigger, anticipation more vivid, happy or sad. You've really captured that here - I could vividly feel Pam at every stage. This last one was particularly poignant - we know how disappointed she's about to be. So touching that she cleaned her apt. - bought flowers - her expectation/hope that he'll see it soon (be part of her life soon.) Broke my heart a little...but I have a feeling you're going to put it back together in the next chapter. I always love your brief, yet wonderfully detailed and so-emotional, small moments - and this is no exception. ;-)
Author's Response: I am unbearably pleased with myself that I tempted you to read my WIP, I just have to say. Hee. Thank you so much for your lovely comments. I loved your haircut fic, of course, and I agree that there is something cool about using a strong framework, like the outward structure gives you more freedom for the emotional content. And yes, "brief"- thank goodness I found fanfic, because I can't think of any other venue where such tiny vignettes would ever be read or appreciated! Thank you so much- more to come!