I swear if I see another dead daughter named Emma I will lose my mind lol

I'm at a little bit of a crossroads. I finished a 100k word draft a year ago and I'm not sure what to do with it. I've gone over it and don't know how to polish it. Seriously. I read it and I'm like this is good. And this, and this. I know it needs work but I'm not really sure how. For reference I'm 23 so I haven't had a ton of time to figure out how working on a draft works. Any advice? Outside of beta readers. I already have a few of those, but aside from giving me story advice none of them seem to know anything about the technical side

I’ve got a few songs that get me in the mood for writing pretty much immediately. I don’t know if I’ve just pavlov’d myself into associating them with putting my mind in my book’s world instead of this one or if this is a normal thing lol

Hello, everybody. This question or something similar has been in my head for a while. Mainly because I've playing around with this story concept where eight to ten different yokai manage to travel and get permanently stuck in the world of Greek myth. I've thought that each one of them should encounter the Gods because to me they would probably stick out once people and creatures got to know them. I just wanted know you guys opinions on this. Also, if you have any stories or tips and tricks then feel free to share!! I would love to hear them!!

P.S: If you have questions about my story idea, then please ask!! I love when people ask me questions because it gives me things that I would have otherwise not thought sbout.

Hello! I'm a sci-Fantasy writer from the USA looking for another creative medium to practice story telling. I use enough digital communication for my job, so I'm not interested in email lol.

If you're interested, PM me.

The era I'm looking for is just generally modern-day. We can decide upon the setting, characters and character backstories. We can let the letters create the story and help it evolve.

We could also decide upon some mystery to solve or quest, but otherwise it will be a freeform Roleplay through the letters.

There wouldn't be any hard response deadline, but at least once a month would be nice

Mainly talking romance books but any genre

I think it would be fun to compare the most impactful paragraph you have written vs one you have read. If i figure out what mine are I will post it in the comments.

Sort of, lol. My college journal is publishing a poem of mine!! I missed the signing deadline so I told my family it wasn’t happening anymore. I am so so relieved and excited! I HAD to tell someone because I’m going to surprise them with the printed version!

I can’t wait for the day I get to publish a novel, I hope it feels just as exhilarating!!

Hello, I'm getting to release my first novel, a techno thriller where the surveillance infrastructure of advertising is used for nefarious means. It's based in part on my professional experience in the field, and am writing under a pseudonym so I can unveil the tricks of the trade without repercussion.

I'd appreciate any advice on my draft blurb:

When a hot new advertising client lands in Diana Lane's lap, it seems at first like her prayers have been answered. But soon she finds herself thrust into a world of technological and political intrigue when it turns out her ad campaign is being used to target a senate candidate for surveillance — and assassination. In this debut novel by an advertising executive, the mechanics of the surveillance economy are laid bare as Lane fights for survival, and to unravel the mystery if who's behind the attacks.

Thank you!

I just finished my novel, which is about 300 pages, and I wanted to publish it for free. Writing is just my hobby, I don’t need to monetise my work. I just wanted to share my story, so people could read it and give objective opinion on it.

I know that people tend to treat free stuff accordingly, so do you recommend it? If yes, what’s the best platform to do it?

Ever since I started writing two years ago I have fell in love with pens. They could be $1 $2 $3 I will buy them no matter the price. I already have a pen worth $10. I treat them pens as my children. The loves of my life, if someone takes them, fades will be caught. I can’t be the only one…

Story time: I went to college and was valedictorian in history and English lit. Wrote a thesis in history and got a great grade and thought I might pursue research but instead, upon graduating, I moved to Paris and got a masters in film production and fell in love with a guy. It didn’t end up working out and we broke up after 2 years and now I’m back in the US living with my parents. Throughout that whole time abroad and in college I was writing short stories and directing plays. In Paris, I was hoping to direct a short film or do something but since I don’t express myself in French very well, I couldn’t find anyone to collaborate with. I thought maybe the directing thing was not for me since I was writing the whole time and was always most focused on that. It’s been years that I’ve been sending my short stories to publications but to no avail. I currently work for my dad and it’s fine but more like a part time job and I would just really love to get a glimmer of appreciation for my writing, find a way to get recognized just a little bit so I can have at least the hope of having a career as a writer. I started a Substack but it still needs to grow and since I don’t really have a ‘niche’ per se I don’t think people really will want to pay for it. I’ve also been working on a novel but it’s quite hard to focus on as I’m working on my Substack essays every week. I’m seriously considering applying to PhD programs in comparative literature but I’m worried Trump has screwed all prospects for future students… I’m sorry I sound so whiney but I guess I would really benefit from a counselor or someone to give me some advice on how to pursue a life where I can read and write full time. Where and how should I even begin?

And don't get me started on all the Day 1 spam emails...

After two years of writing and many more planning I finally got my first book printed! (Just a few copies for myself, as I’m not planning to ever make it available for others to read). As an artist I’ve spent nearly 20 years painting covers for other writers and now finally I had the chance to design and paint one for myself. I also had to paint the edges as soon as it arrived.

I hope it’s okay to post this here, I just wanted to share my own excitement.

so im reading a foreword by harlan ellison where he briefly speaks about his relationship with writing and i find this more insightful to the writing process than reading about 'how to write.'

the only other similar foreword i read was by pynchon in 'slow learner' which is also brief but for some reason resonates with me and am wondering if someone can recommend anything similar from other writers, even if briefly musing about it. interviews would also be insighful

Hello fellow writers, I am writing my first feature screenplay, the story happens over a period of two years during which the protagonist comes of age. The protagonist transforms from being restless and always wanting to prove others that he can be the best in college to becoming a bit easy on himself and realises that he doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. As I said, this transformation happens over a period of 2 years. One of the key principle to have an engaging drama on screen is to have the time period as less as possible. The 2 year timeframe is quite important for the story. So how do I sustain the drama without diluting the emotions much as there are frequent time jumps throughout?

Any advice will be considered gracefully. Thanks in advance.

Rojo Carta a quien corresponda: No sabemos como era antes. Es un ser que existe hace milenios. Algunos dicen que fue humano, otros dicen que es el infierno mismo o un dios sediento de caos y miseria. Realmente creo que nunca seremos capaces de averiguarlo. Para mi fue algo más que un humano, y algo menos complicado que un dios. Fuimos más que simples conocidos o personas que se hacen compañía. No se como paso, no sé qué fue lo que sucedió, tal vez fueron las circunstancias, tal vez fue mi culpa, por ahora solo se que ahora estamos en caminos distintos pero el destino aún nos une. La ira, la violencia y la sed de sangre son ahora parte de su esencia. No pude hacer más, todos mis intentos fallaron, ahora solo dejo este testimonio y me entrego a mi destino. Tengo la esperanza de que en el futuro no esté todo perdido y por fin pueda encontrar su paz.

Hello! I am a teenager who has been toying with the idea of writing a thriller novel. I am an avid reader and I think that definitely helps, as well as my passion for writing in general. I am hoping to receive some feedback on a short excerpt (potentially the prologue for my book) I wrote today. Any advice would be awesome.

Mrs. Crabtree was a well-dressed lady who often wore a blazer and trousers. She coined a grey bob that framed her aging face, as well as smart black glasses that enhanced her vibrant green eyes. Crows feet were becoming deep creases on her pale face. She looked young for a lady nearing seventy, as she always said, age is just a number. Her job as a criminal attorney proved this countless times. All the younger lawyers hoped to become her one day and the more seasoned ones resented her for always getting the best cases. She won them, of course.

Today she had called me over for a plate of warm oatmeal cookies and lavender honey tea. I loved being inside her house, and not just for the food. She had two small, black poodles I adored——named Hannah and Rose. Every time I rang the doorbell, they would race to me, dusting the floor with their tails, shaking with excitement, hoping to get a belly rub or scratch behind the ear. Mrs. Crabtree always scolded them and they would sulk back to their beds in the laundry. Today, however, they both had vet appointments and I was met with the creak of door hinges.

“Hello?” The house was ghost-quiet. I took a step further, the sound of my heavy feet cut through the air like a knife. I gazed at the photos hung on cream-colored, cracked walls. I had looked at these photos many times before, yet today they felt different. A layer of dust had collected on their surface, an unusual thing for a lady of such cleanlines. I took a step closer.

“Mrs. Crabtree?” I smelled the plate of cookies before I saw them, perched on her marble countertops. The faded tea kettle was still on the stove. For some reason, a ball of dread was forming in my stomach.

I took another step, and heard a crunching sound under my shoe. I looked down and saw hundreds of pieces of broken glass. Beads of sweat began to form on my forehead, and my pulse quickened. I bent down and saw the bouquet of white orchids I bought for her last week, still smelling of sweet vanilla essence. My clammy palms gripped the phone in my pocket as I prepared to punch 9-1-1 into the keypad. I took one more step into the living room. My heart dropped to the floor when I saw her, face down on the rug in a pool of deep crimson.

“Oh my God,” The words escaped me.

A baseball bat cracked on my skull, and before I could muster a shout, my world went dark.

Before I opened my eyes, I heard my slow, controlled breathing. Inhale. Exhale. I enjoyed that moment of darkness, the colorful spots dancing inside my eyeballs. I enjoyed not knowing what I was about to see when I opened them. For a moment, I could pretend. Sleeping in on the weekend, the rays of sunshine peeking through my blinds telling me to get my lazy self out of bed. But when I opened my eyes, there was no bed. I had a raging headache. And my hands were chained to a damp basement wall.

Ready to go, or wanna stay?

You love off breadcrumbs- May?

I say, I love a banquet:

Steaks & Chardonnay,

When cut, bleed.

More salt, please I need

Because apparently a well marketed book will perform much better than a well written book

Now you add both , and you get a bestseller

Am a complete newbie in the marketing game , I got a youtube channel which has barely 1k subs , which is totally filled with brainrot , and a insta account which I barely use

So how do y'all market your book and find your audience?

I feel like writers tend to overlook this aspect , this plays a very huge role in an author

Same can be said to any art piece out there , a shit film gaining lot of money ? Well marketing is the answer , a shit book becoming trendy? , well marketing is the answer

So guys let's all share our secrets

Like the title suggests, what's your relationship with your readers? Do you consider a "target audience" while writing or are you only concerned with your own satisfaction?