Patches
Saturday 19th May 2007 14:24 | More Than Meets the Eye |
| I really like this story. I am sorry you haven't worked on it in a long time. I know what it is like to really want to do something and then kind of have the rug pulled out from under you. HBP did that to a lot of writers. I know writing fan fiction is driven in some ways by the cannon books but you have a really great story here. I think you can continue in your own direction. I would love to see this story finished. You have a great way of getting the thoughts and emotions of the characters accross. I know you can write this story on your own merit. I really like Neville in your story. He is finding out he has friends. He has value in his own right. Snape knows Neville excels in herbology. Neville just needs to be able to see how the plants he grows can apply to potions. He had some ideas in earlier chapters that included potion incredients that could be used to help his parents medical condition. The fact that he and Harry created a successful potion should tell them that they aren't as bad at potions as they thought they were. I hope you take up this story again. p |
| Saturday 19th May 2007 16:49 | More Than Meets the Eye (Author Response) |
Hi, Patches!
First of all, I want to thank you for (1) taking the time to go through everything I have posted and (2) then taking the time to review. I truly appreciate it. I'll go back and respond to all of your other reviews later tonight, after I feed, bathe, and bed the munchkins (it takes a while, when you've got 4! ), but I wanted to comment on this right now.
I have actually considered writing more of this story... Actually, I *have* more written on it. When HBP came out, I was a bit depressed about Snape, and I couldn't work my mind around him. Plus, in general I'm a canon slave when it comes to fanfic (not necessarily in my reading habits, because I like AUs as much as the next girl, but in my writing habits, I have been). That said, with DH looming, I'm beginning to see the possibility of me writing something AU, especially if she does the unthinkable and kills my beloved Neville. Wherever you are, you'll be able to hear the sobs coming from my part of Texas.
So, yes. There is a possibility of me continuing this. It's something I've been thinking about more and more lately. I hate that I've left it unfinished like this. I've thought about making it canon compliant, going back and re-writing parts of it to match what happened in HBP, but one of the major plot points I'd been planning deals with Neville's new wand, and, well, his canon wand doesn't match this one.
Thank you so much for the kind words and encouragement. I think I just might go back and revisit what I have posted...and then what I've got written on my hard drive...and then my outline, to see if I can salvage it. But I have to finish The Honeymooners first.
~Julie |
MrRobertsIII
Monday 21st February 2005 09:01 | More Than Meets the Eye |
| You have a good hold on Luna's fashion sense. Neville is still nicely in character along with his interactions with Harry. I liked how you had Harry get mad on Neville's behalf while Neville just shrugged it off for the most part. |
Kelleypen
Wednesday 10th November 2004 23:28 | More Than Meets the Eye |
Roses and lavendar symbolizing????
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Bring and Fly
Wednesday 10th November 2004 06:00 | More Than Meets the Eye |
Another emotional chapter and all the feelings delicately and accurately portrayed.
favourite lines? See, you do understand!" and "I get on Snape's bad side just by existing." That was a neat echo of what James said about Snape in the Pensieve and made me chuckle!
I thought you did very well with Hagrid as he's not an easy character to write. |
Kinsfire
Monday 8th November 2004 17:21 | More Than Meets the Eye |
When you're done with this story, can you PLEASE kill Snape in a
particularly violent way? Preferably not giving him a heroes
death? He's a vile bag of skin that thinks it's human in
this story. Which, of course, means that you're writing him
absolutely perfectly according to canon!
The Ron/Hermione interaction is such that if I were one of the
Gryffindors, I'd probably look at them and tell them to shag each other
already. I want to strangle them both.
I love the way you're writing this, though.
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| Tuesday 9th November 2004 17:28 | More Than Meets the Eye (Author Response) |
Heh. Somehow I get the feeling that you don't like Snape! I
can't promise that I'll kill him off--at least in this fic, since it's
scheduled to end at the end of Neville's (and therefore Harry's) 6th
year. I think he'll be needed in the 7th year. Of course, JKR may
just very well prove me wrong and kill him off in HPB...
You're right about Ron and Hermione. Hopefully that issue will get somewhat resolved in later chapters.
Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Julie
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Monday 8th November 2004 13:56 | More Than Meets the Eye |
Oh that was just, that last paragraph was so touching! This chapter,
over all was very, very good. The one thing I would say is that the
team semed to arrive at Hagrid's and then be departing only a moment
later. It could be fixed with a sentence saying something about how
they talked for half an hour about the upcoming halloween feast, or the
pumpkins, or something, before they departed. It's just a suggestion
for future use :)
I really like the way that you're binding the group together. It's a
slow and delicate process, but each character plays a key role and I
think you're managing to keep each as a unique yet vital path of the
trio who became six. Keep up the good work :)
Myth xxx
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| Tuesday 9th November 2004 17:21 | More Than Meets the Eye (Author Response) |
The one thing I would say is that the team semed to arrive
at Hagrid's and then be departing only a moment later. It could be
fixed with a sentence saying something about how they talked for half
an hour about the upcoming halloween feast, or the pumpkins, or
something, before they departed. It's just a suggestion for future use
:)
Thanks,
Myth! And thanks for the concrit--I'll definitely keep it in mind
for when I revise this. In my mind, they were there a lot longer,
but y'all couldn't see that the way I have it written, now could you?
Julie
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Jenadamson
Wednesday 7th July 2004 09:34 | More Than Meets the Eye |
Julie, I think this is my favorite chapter as of yet. It was wonderful. Luna was spot on and both kooky and comforting. It makes sense that she has a very optomistic, hopeful attitude. And I love that Neville is starting to be included into the tight friendhip that Harry, Hermione and Ron have (and that Ginny seems to be, as well).
Who was in the dream? His parents?
It's obvious you've done some research on plants (and you're a biologist, so you probably know quite a bit, anyway). Do you use plants that have symbolic meaning? Like with the roses and lavender? That would be quite cool, although the story is great even if you don't.
Great chapter!
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| Wednesday 7th July 2004 09:34 | More Than Meets the Eye (Author Response) |
Gosh, Jen! Thanks for the lovely review.
I really appreciate the comments on Luna; I've said before that she was hard for me to write. Honestly, her part was the part that I was most worried about when I wrote this chapter.
And I love that Neville is starting to be included into the tight friendhip that Harry, Hermione and Ron have (and that Ginny seems to be, as well).
Really, that's the whole point of the story (at least for me). There will be much more friendship building going on in this story, especially between Neville and Harry. Don't worry, though; much as I love Neville, he's not going to replace Ron and Hermione. He will become an important part of the group, though (as will Ginny and Luna). I really think the sextet will be important in the end; all 6 of them will have important roles in the last 2 books (hopefully JKR thinks so, too).
Who was in the dream? His parents?
Not telling! :p
Do you use plants that have symbolic meaning? Like with the roses and lavender?
Occasionally. In this case, I picked the roses and lavender because they both have distinctive smells, and smells can often trigger memories. I have done some research in plant meanings, though. I also work on plants in my job (have some in the greenhouse right now, actually), so a lot of the greenhouse stuff will come from my own experience.
Thanks again, Jen!
Julie |
OHGinnyfan
Friday 2nd July 2004 11:26 | More Than Meets the Eye |
Julie...
You know I love this story -- I really love Neville, and think you have captured him perfectly. It is such an honor and joy to be helping you out with this, and I so thank you for wanting to "be" one of my authors. You are a delight to work with.
I think you have done a good job with Luna too -- she is a hard character -- just because we don't know a lot about her yet, but also because she is a bit on the odd side. But I think you've done a beautiful job in portraying her and the others.
Well done as always, friend!
Susan |
| Friday 2nd July 2004 11:26 | More Than Meets the Eye (Author Response) |
Susan.
I hope you know that I appreciate all your help. Really, this came out much better after all the hard work you (and everyone else) put into it.
And I appreciate your comments on Luna. She really was hard for me to write, I think mostly because what we know of her personality is pretty...flaky, and I don't see myself that way (and I don't really know anyone like that), so I'm having to base her on what little we have from canon and my own imagination. I hope we get to know her better in the last 2 books!
Thanks again! You're the bestest!
Julie
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Anka
Tuesday 29th June 2004 21:52 | More Than Meets the Eye |
Oh, Julie, I'm so happy to see another chapter of this story. Neville is so wonderful, so it's nice to see things from his perspective.
He'd gone to his lessons, but didn't recall much of what had been taught. He vaguely remembered Professor Andrews talking about other spells that were not usually considered defensive in nature, and he thought that Professor Flitwick might have reviewed a few Repairing Charms, but he couldn't give any details about what had been said. Did I eat lunch? he asked himself as he wandered the corridors after leaving the Charms classroom. He really couldn't remember. Oh, poor Neville. I feel so bad for him. Nice that Luna came by to cheer him up. Her outlook on things is just the thing to help Neville out. She has such a unique perspective on life. You've done her well, Julie. She's not just wandering around being vague, which is what I've seen more often than not. I can tell that you've put some personality behind her.
I love that Neville went to Hagrid's with everyone (and that Ginny is included in that as well). Especially after the Department of Mysteries, he belongs there. And the rock cakes? Hee. Made me giggle
The SNape bit--he dealt with Snape quite well. I'm proud of him, offering to research and everything. And he dealt with Harry and Harry's reaction to Snape well. Harry is not his best when around the professor, but Neville was able to negotiate it.
And Neville's worried about Harry! How sweet is that? I'm glad. And I like that he offered to be there for Harry. Cause he would be, he's just that nice. And you know what I like even more? That Neville thinks Ginny can through to Harry. He's a smart one, that Neville is.
You know what I really love about your Neville? He's still himself. Yeah, he's done this great thing and he has all this potential, but he's still nervous and unsure of himself. He hasn't morphed into this super!Neville who's going to save the world. He's just plodding along in his own way, trying to make it. And that's endearing. Ginny hit it right on when she said "Neville, Harry's lucky to have you for a friend. We all are."
Intriguing ending, making me wish there was more to read right now.
Lovely, Julie, just lovely. *happy sigh* |
| Tuesday 29th June 2004 21:52 | More Than Meets the Eye (Author Response) |
*hugs Annika*
Wow. What a wonderful review! You're awesome. I feel all happy now. A long, thought-out review like that requires a long, though-out response.
Thanks for the comment on Luna. She was really tough for me to write, I think becuase I'm a pretty down to earth kind of person and she's...not. I do think that there's more to her than just being vague--she seemd to really have helped Harry out in the end of OotP (even though she did it in an odd sort of way). I think we'll be seeing more of her in my story. Whether or not I'm going to pair her off with Neville remains to be seen--I'm still undecided about that.
Yeah, he's done this great thing and he has all this potential, but he's still nervous and unsure of himself. He hasn't morphed into this super!Neville who's going to save the world. He's just plodding along in his own way, trying to make it.
This is a really good explanation of how I see Neville. He'll be doing a lot of growing, I think (both in my story and in the last 2 books *I hope*), but that's something that doesn't just happen overnight. I do think he'll be instrumental in the final battle, I'm just not sure how.
Julie |
lucyjekyll
Tuesday 29th June 2004 21:32 | More Than Meets the Eye |
| Another stellar chapter, of course. It makes me very happy to see it posted! |
| Tuesday 29th June 2004 21:32 | More Than Meets the Eye (Author Response) |
| Thanks Lucy! And thanks for everything. You're the best! |
Alikona
Tuesday 29th June 2004 21:10 | More Than Meets the Eye |
| I really like that you're going from Neville's point of view. He never gets his time to shine much does he? I personally love Neville, and I'm glad to see that you write him the way I imagine him. Back bone and all. Keep it up! |
| Tuesday 29th June 2004 21:10 | More Than Meets the Eye (Author Response) |
Thanks so much for the review. I hope you can tell that I love Neville too. And what a wonderful compliment, that I write him like you imagine him.
Julie |
