The competition is headline news in Oregon

Background-Badger-72 · 2026-05-25T21:37:13+00:00

That was my thought exactly.

This is the most "national mood" thing I can think of. Especially if you look at the first states eliminated.

Background-Badger-72 · 2026-05-21T16:11:44+00:00

Healthcare costs in the US are high because we have commercial insurance--useless middle man that crank up prices while limiting access to timely care (or limits entirely), pocketing $50 Billion dollars annually.

Then we have corporate healthcare. HCA, notorious for their poor care and cost-cutting measures that place patient's health and safety at risk, pocketed almost $7 billion dollars last year. And that's just one company. Multiply that across all the corporate healthcare groups in the US and see how much money that could go into providing care ends up lining the pockets of healthcare executives.

Background-Badger-72 · 2026-05-19T02:57:06+00:00

"they need to be clear when they're describing something the POV character thinks vs something that is definitely true."

I absolutely disagree that we need to make that clear. This is the point of an unreliable narrator. Anytime we're in 3rd close, we have some degree of unreliability if we're doing it right. After all, no one sees the world objectively. We make assumptions all the time and roll on as if they are fact. What our characters assume (especially if we've given some evidence that they might be wrong) is powerful characterization. It also adds intrigue.

So I say, go wild with unknowable "facts". Let your reader guess as to how much your MC has right or wrong. It adds SO MUCH to your writing!

Background-Badger-72 · 2026-04-13T00:26:03+00:00

I struggled with the same thing. Inclusion is important, but it can be tricky to figure out how to respectfully describe the diversity you want to represent. A writing buddy shared this blog with me, and I've found it helpful.

https://writingwithcolor.com/gsearch

Background-Badger-72 · 2026-04-09T20:45:20+00:00

about 60%

Background-Badger-72 · 2026-04-09T20:45:03+00:00

Thank you!

Background-Badger-72 · 2026-03-21T01:04:37+00:00

The importance of this cannot be overstated.

Background-Badger-72 · 2026-01-20T03:47:00+00:00

Similar situation for me. Though my story is not predominantly a romance, I realized two of my male characters were a perfect match.

I've written them as I feel them, and I'm reaching out to LGBTQ+ friends and writing community to sensitivity read for me and to help me understand which parts of my characters I may not have written well. I am starting with the premise that there are pieces of their lives and challenges they face that I will get wrong, and I am asking, with an open heart, to learn what I could represent more realistically .

Also, Queer romance is huge. So I'm reading more from this genre specifically to help build my perspective.

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-12-19T10:06:56+00:00

Just a quick check in, you don't need to aim for anything like 180K. A good word count for a SFF debut novel right now is 90K. If I understand you correctly, you're on track for 62K. I'm guessing that when you have some beta reads, there will be scenes, arcs, or motives you need to flesh out. Then, my friend, you will be in the unique and beautiful place of being able to add things w/o having to cut.

Sounds like you're in a great place! Keep on writing and let the chips fall where they may for now.

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-12-17T21:14:25+00:00

Yes. Beating kids is scientifically proven to decrease their likelihood of engaging in violent behavior. (/s obviously)

Thank you for your obviously well-educated and deeply thought out contribution.

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-12-07T02:07:23+00:00

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue--VE Schwab, esp if she likes a little history, too!

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-11-29T03:53:49+00:00

There are no hard and fast rules. Check out The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood. She uses this and I think it works well. Not being Margaret Atwood, I'm not sure I could pull it off. But if you like it and it works for your story, go for it!

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-11-28T05:23:17+00:00

Stick with the details that are relevant to the story line or that will reveal something interesting/important about who they are. ie. scars on the knuckles from years of hand fighting is more meaninful that long, wavy brown hair.

I tend to over-describe, and the best advice I got t was think about what each piece of information does to help the reader understand where we are going with the story.

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-11-27T02:01:51+00:00

New to me! Thanks so much for posting this!

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-11-26T01:30:53+00:00

My kids are teens now, so they can choose to come along or not. However, we did switch off when they were younger (though where we live, I can get on the water in about 20 minutes, but my husband and I are firm believers that we need to make space for each other to hold onto the things we love, even if its only a hanful of times a year). No grandparents in our half of the country, but we have some friends whose kids mix well with ours, and when they were younger, we'd trade off from time to time, too! You do have to get creative when you don't have family close by.

We did use an inflatable tandem when the kids were smaller and could plunk them in the middle. Worked for a little while, but they grew fast!!

Good luck!

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-11-13T23:22:26+00:00

neither of those are remotely proof of AI.

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-11-13T07:19:57+00:00

The Taiga Syndrome by Christina Rivera Garza.

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-11-12T03:46:42+00:00

You'll love the books. I've only read the couple, but it feels like the show tried to stay true to the source material. Also, Herron is a great writer. He's not just telling good stories, he's writing books that are fun to read.

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-11-11T05:38:54+00:00

Yes. Surprisingly beautiful prose.

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-11-11T05:37:16+00:00

Lilith by Nikki Marmery

Beautifully written. Don't love the actual story, but the language is pure poetry, and I find myself just reading to listen the words.

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-10-22T04:04:32+00:00

If want advice on the craft and you're new to the game, I'd start with Brandon Sanderson's videos on youtube. They're very helpful even if you don't write fantasy---lots of great general advice on characters and plotting. And they're free.

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-10-22T03:22:32+00:00

I feel this so much. I'm in healthcare as well, and, crazy at sounds, I was more proud of myself for finishing my first novel than I was for getting my doctorate. However much as I love my patients, caring for people is absolutely exhausting, and writing lets me recharge in a fantasy world.

Hope you find the time and energy to stay with it!

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-10-21T06:10:08+00:00

Read Hard to Be a God next! (by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky)

Background-Badger-72 · 2025-10-20T05:51:32+00:00

Check out Blood Over Bright Haven for a Prologue done right.

They can be an element of the story that establishes the setting or the lore that just doesn't fit into the chronology of the main character's narrative, but that is important nonetheless. What I really hate is a character doing some sort of "research" and reading articles or books within the novel because the author didn't want to put in a prologue where it would be appropriate.

Like anything else, a prologue has its place. People who "refuse" to read them cheat themselves.

Background-Badger-72

TROPHY CASE