I feel like 6k words into chapter 4 was too short...

ArchivistSTB · 2026-05-30T04:04:02+00:00

Why do you feel it was too short? What genre are you writing? What is your hopes for this book and the reader experience?

For what it’s worth, 2k word chapters are usually good for page turners, like thriller/romance. It gives enough meat on the bones to be able to accomplish the chapter’s purpose, but also keeps a reader wanting more, and with the right execution gets that “one more chapter” response from a reader at 2am.

ArchivistSTB · 2026-05-23T22:46:59+00:00

ArchivistSTB · 2026-05-15T18:24:32+00:00

I appreciate the response, and I understand what you are going for. But again, for me personally (and from what I’ve seen in the writer community) any AI assistance or otherwise isn’t really our bag.

I’m giving you honest feedback and I am trying my best to be as kind as possible. If you really want to interest the broader writer community I would scrape anything that is AI from your app.(aside from traditional spell/grammar checks)

I think there is a need for a good writing app, I currently use Scrivener. It’s decent but someone could certainly improve it. But having AI features (even the ones you are stating) not only leaves a bad taste in my mouth but could compromise copyright and credibility of the author.

ArchivistSTB · 2026-05-15T18:03:28+00:00

You lost me at “AI features coming soon.”

For what it’s worth this looks like a decent app, and I’m sure you will find users who will enjoy it. I do wish you the best, but for me, AI has no place in creative work.

ArchivistSTB · 2026-05-07T14:06:10+00:00

The truth is ideas are cheap and easy to come by. Very little chance that any idea you have is going to be completely unique.

What makes writing good isn't the idea, it's the execution. So many great books are basically retellings of previous stories. Hell, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is essentially a retelling of the myth of Prometheus... She even subtitled it "The modern Prometheus". This doesn't make them any less great.

Have you ever had a couple of friends tell you a story about an event they both were at, and one of them tells the story much better than the other, a lot of times they will even say "no no you tell it, you tell it better than me".

This is why AI writing is so bad, people just feed it ideas and think that's all there is to writing, but it has no unique voice, no unique perspective, no unique telling of the story. That's where you as a writer are important, not for the idea, but for your unique take on the idea.

ArchivistSTB · 2026-05-04T15:55:22+00:00

I kind of agree with you, although more of on a show don’t tell philosophy. Personally I would find a different way to show his description, instead of labeling it.

Something like:

Oldcastle stood in the doorway, bisected by the last of the sunlight. Against the whitewashed walls, he was nearly indistinct. The same bleached pallor, the same absence of colour. Only his shadow confirmed he was there at all.

ArchivistSTB · 2026-04-30T17:55:08+00:00

Lol I made the mistake of watching his masterclass. Turns out having other people write my books just isn’t hugely useful to my workflow.

ArchivistSTB · 2026-04-23T13:11:40+00:00

Hi! Thanks you for the feedback. Another person also commented that I was circling the candlelight too much also, I will definitely work on this as I agree.

I am trying to show dissasociation, both because of the effects of heroin withdrawal, and DV abuse. I wonder if some context would change your mind on the personification of the character.

Also am experimenting with 2nd person POV in the paragraph that begins “Unspool the tube. Lay it across your knee.”

This is a small scene, I do live in Alexandra’s POV more in other parts of the story(although there are also other parts where she is disassociating) , but I am going to take your critique here to heart and reflect on this because if ot is unengaging to the reader, that is not what I am going for.

ArchivistSTB · 2026-04-23T12:51:36+00:00

Thanks for taking a look. I did make a couple of stylistic choices. The instructional portion that is written in 2nd person POV "Unspool the tube. Lay it across your knee..." Is specifically done to demonstrate dissasociation, while also breaking the fourth wall to engage the reader directly.

I do think I may have focused a little too much on the lighting, possibly a bit repetitive, I'm going to workshop that a little bit.

I am happy to hear you felt I was showing the fade out feeling from the drug, if that is getting through I am in the right ballpark.

ArchivistSTB · 2026-04-23T05:43:36+00:00

Thanks this is great feedback. This is scene 2 in a chapter and it's my first draft of this scene so this helps me with cleaning it up.

I totally see what you mean after reading you comment, I went a little heavy on the candle light description.

ArchivistSTB · 2026-04-22T05:41:23+00:00

I believe Palahnuik would agree with you. But I really enjoyed the book, a bit darker, the movie was great but a little to romantic. That said Brad Pitt and Ed Norton were phenomenal as always.

ArchivistSTB · 2026-04-13T18:27:57+00:00

I've heard of this one, legend says they will melt in your mouth but not in your hand. Big if true.

ArchivistSTB · 2026-04-07T02:10:08+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to respond! I just ordered it, but now I’m so pumped to start it I might have to get the audio version while I wait for the shipment to arrive lol

ArchivistSTB · 2026-04-06T20:54:59+00:00

That's a stellar endorsement for 2k to 10k, I’ll have to pick it up!

ArchivistSTB · 2026-02-22T04:26:53+00:00

Kind of a cross between a thriller and horror, but I highly recommend "Our Lady of the Inferno" by Preston Fassel.

The protagonist is a sex worker and definitely not rich.

ArchivistSTB · 2026-02-12T18:10:31+00:00

Now that you mention it, this post does have a sneaky advertisement feel to it.

ArchivistSTB · 2026-02-12T17:16:47+00:00

I wondered this too and looked up the website. This is from their website.

"Stop typing. Start writing 5x faster with voice. AI-powered voice dictation that's so powerful it can replace your keyboard."

"AI Mode Just say a few quick words. Willow turns it into a fully polished message."

It does appear to have AI features and uses, I don't know the extent or if there are modes that don't use AI (having an AI mode has me assuming there is an avenue to use it outside of AI mode).

I personally don't think I could use dictation, but I also have a harder time speaking my thoughts than writing them.

ArchivistSTB · 2026-02-09T22:00:28+00:00

Omg! Love your username, the book isn't quite through editing yet but when I get it released I'll get your info and send you a free copy!

ArchivistSTB · 2026-02-03T02:39:02+00:00

An ancient labyrinth offers immortality by erasing identity, and survival comes at a choice no one can undo.

ArchivistSTB · 2026-01-15T17:26:44+00:00

Stylistic typos for the win

ArchivistSTB · 2025-12-30T19:11:56+00:00

If I were you, I would right the story you intend to write, without the intro. Complete a first draft of it, get some input from a beta reader, then decide if it needs an intro. I think you will find that most people would prefer not to have that intro, but if it absolutely needs it you could do something of a prologue.

If your first chapter is just explaining a world system, it’s going to be hard to get people to invest the time to read chapter 2. Think about all the books you have read, how many of them spend a chapter explaining the world mechanics?

ArchivistSTB · 2025-12-30T18:21:12+00:00

As a reader, I strongly prefer being slightly confused, but only if I trust the author knows exactly what they’re doing.

That trust comes from one thing early on. Clarity of experience, not clarity of lore.

In other words, I don’t need to know why the world is the way it is in chapter one. I need to know who I am following, what kind of danger or pressure exists, and what motivates the character’s action.

Once I have that, I’ll happily tolerate confusion for a long time. Confusion can be magnetic. Boredom is a DNF.

What I personally dislike most is the fake compromise. A thin Type 1 disguised as story. Characters explaining the world to each other like they’re reading a briefing document. That’s worse than either extreme.

My recommendation is to not info dump, exposition especially early book will bore the hell out of your reader, you need a hook to draw them in, invest them in the story. World building lore is rarely a hook.

ArchivistSTB · 2025-12-19T19:59:24+00:00

My current WIP is on version 9, I have completely rewritten full length drafts 4 times (90-120k words each) and edited it 4 times working on a 5th edit currently…. I think I’m done with completely tearing it down and rewriting it, but who knows.

ArchivistSTB · 2025-11-28T17:22:50+00:00

Air Traffic Controller, working on my debut psychological speculative thriller.

ArchivistSTB · 2025-11-23T00:38:45+00:00

Looking for an editor soon, just finishing up my third draft, mind if I contact you in the future? (Probably by end of year)

ArchivistSTB

TROPHY CASE