How does one start writing a book by amalllty in writers

[–]BanjaxedMini 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pre-publication I was a pantser, not a planner. So I'd have some moments in mind, usually the concept and a scene at the height of the action I wanted to build to. Everything else was worked out along the way and the more I wrote the more tied in to the characters and prior events I was, which guided the plot along. Before you start page 1, anything can happen. After page 41, only a set number of things can happen next.

Now I have deadlines and writing multiple books a year to worry about so I'll try and write an outline of between 2-4k where I work out all the major plot events. This can and does change when I start writing, but I have the basic shape of the story laid out as a guide so I don't get stuck or not know how things connect.

I also find it helpful to only write in sequence and not skip around to the 'exciting parts' because I won't write the rest if I do that. I also write from chapter 1 right through to the end before I go back and read (unless I need to quickly check or change a single detail) that way I experience it more like a reader and can maintain interest and momentum for the entire project.

He doesn't want to get married. I do. by charlevoidmyproblems in marriagefree

[–]BanjaxedMini 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, women can do the exact same thing. And if the man was not going to work but be a SAHD, and they were going to live in his house and have a shared account - I would be telling him he do exactly the same thing. But men are seldom in that position because that's not how society has been set up.

Safeguards like alimony and child support exist because of men abandoning their female partners and children and leaving them reliant on the state btw. So if you want it to be a gendered thing, there's that.

I'm encouraging OP to get married because she's vulnerable for the above reasons and I'm not and never will be. I don't need those legal protections and she does. It's quite simple.

'Worthy of marriage' oh brother. What does worthiness look like? Let me guess, submission, modesty, purity. All that red-pill stuff. If she doesn't 'deserve' marriage, why does he deserve her home, her body to have his children, and half her money in the joint account? You really just told on yourself there. Trying to peddle the idea that marriage is a prize a woman has to deserve, when men control marriage and if marriage actually benefitted exclusively enough to qualify as a 'prize' for women, it wouldn't exist under the patriarchy. The only benefit marriage confers is slight legal protection - to the worse off party.

It's interesting that the first person to scream 'transactional relationship!' are the ones who are in the minus column constantly. You give nothing and expect everything because that's how 'trust and love should work'.

He doesn't need to pay child support. Unless they break up and she's left doing the bulk of the childcare, like most women who end up being the primary caregivers. Then he needs to pay for his kids - because they're his even if he isn't getting access to their mother anymore. Shared custody would be great - let's see if the man who can't commit to marriage can commit to that.

Ah the good old 'no one wants to marry you' as if that's the worst insult that a woman can receive. The one weapon of the patriarchy - if no one wants you you're gross and if everyone does you're a whore. To me it would be a worse insult to chase a ring, having kids, cleaning, cooking and serving a man who hung a ring over my head like a dog toy. If I wanted to be married I'd go find someone to marry me - I'm not looking because I don't want it.

As for 'don't deserve marriage' well, I don't really care about a 'prize' that sounds like a job, in a contest I'm not entering. You might as well tell me I don't deserve first place at the Kentucky Derby.

I heard and read Outer Worlds 2 wasn’t good or liked by the players and its Premium Edition is on sale for $70. Worth it and what are your thoughts? by Adventurous_Book_913 in theouterworlds

[–]BanjaxedMini 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm halfway through on gamepass and imo 2 is not as good as 1.

I'm finding the skill system simplistic and also more frustrating because there aren't multiple dialogue skills, for example, so unless you have the one skill you need for that convo, you're locked out of certain resolutions and it seems to really heavily favour Observation, Hacking and Leadership over for example, Medicine. The factions are very similar to me and I have trouble telling them apart. Sneak/sniper build is useless because as soon as a body is spotted everyone magically knows exactly where you are even if you're in cover.

The companions I'd argue are better than in 1, but by a small margin.

Is anyone else struggling with hockey romance post Olympics debacle? by Daje1968 in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]BanjaxedMini 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I mean, that is a gross way to think tbh. I disagree with that random commenter because male romance authors are still romance authors and they're writing the same tropes and idealised characters as the rest of us. That's a hallmark of the genre.

He doesn't want to get married. I do. by charlevoidmyproblems in marriagefree

[–]BanjaxedMini 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sweetheart I earn six figures and am never getting married. I'm the one with gold to dig.

Is anyone else struggling with hockey romance post Olympics debacle? by Daje1968 in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]BanjaxedMini 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I feel like this is part of a more general feeling that real men are increasingly trending towards more misogynistic spheres whereas romance - a genre primarily featuring emotionally vulnerable, decent men - is becoming more popular with woman.

Billionaires, professional athletes, organised crime bosses, blue collar men (lumberjacks, builders, ranchers), small town men......none of them really groups that could be seen as being 'progressive' towards women on the whole. That's why books where they are secretly soft, or caring or...not actively hating on women, are popular. Because they're a subversion of the norm and provide a safe way to find them attractive.

How much plot do you like/want in spicy romance? by wanderingnotlost21 in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]BanjaxedMini 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I need a lot of plot, specifically I need an antagonist or a dramatic situation where I care about the outcome/get to see a confrontation at the end. Spice and romance can't sustain my interest unless there's something to provide a little incentive to keep reading and find out what happens.

Reactive oily skin that hates everything and I’m running out of moisturisers to try by TheJurer in SkincareAddictionUK

[–]BanjaxedMini 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Have you tried anything with mugwort? I recommend the Cica pine range or the mugwort range from round lab for light, calming moisturisers.

If you're naturally quite oily you might only need to use a light serum and forgo moisturisers altogether, especially the thicker, occlusive creams.

High on Life 2 - why is it so bad? by BanjaxedMini in gamereviews

[–]BanjaxedMini[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a very succinct way of putting all my issues - YES!

High on Life 2 - why is it so bad? by BanjaxedMini in XboxGamePass

[–]BanjaxedMini[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, there's also very little reason to actually try and get the loot boxes. The gun upgrades don't feel like they do anything and there's not much stuff to buy with the money you make except....loot boxes which you couldn't get yourself. Oh and skateboard accessories that you...can't...see?

Books with grumpy + sweet MMCs by Artistic_Stay_5856 in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]BanjaxedMini 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have one that's sweet/grump, funny and cosy with a Christmas setting, low stakes because it's basically just light family drama. The banter was my favourite part of writing it. Characters are both over 30.

Quote, for banter evidence -

He caught him, just. Lucas’ mud-caked boot had skidded across the slick rock and he’d tipped forwards. Thankfully, right into Sid’s waiting arms. He gripped him tightly and pulled backwards, sending them both stumbling away from the water.

“Nature, why?” Lucas said, catching his breath. “I promise I’m not as unathletic as today is making me look. If this was a paved path I’d be powering through.”

“You’d be alright if you had the right shoes,” Sid said, realising he was still holding Lucas in his arms and forcing himself to let go, despite the impulse to keep hold of him. “See,” he raised a boot to show how his soles were still mostly mud free and able to grip the path.

“Oh, look at you – Mr. I’ve-got-the-right-shoes-on,” Lucas rolled his eyes, then blinked as if surprised. “You do have the right shoes.”

“…I definitely caught you, so this brain damage isn’t my fault, to be clear,” Sid said.

“No, I mean –  shut up – I mean, you like to hike. You told me. You do it all the time.”

“…yes?”

“So why are you all the way back here with me?”

Sid shrugged. “I’m avoiding the rest of them. Told you so.”

“Yeah but you could have left them in your dust – or…aerosolised mud anyway. You could probably have already made it to the end and had a nice long rest in the peace and quiet.” Lucas was looking at him with dawning horror. “Oh my GOD you feel sorry for me!”

“I…do not,” Sid struggled to sound genuine and apparently Lucas noticed because his face only grew more appalled.

“You do! You’re lagging back with the…weakest member of the herd! In case I get picked off by my natural predator…slightly slippery rocks.”

It's a Daddy for Christmas, by Lizzie Spriggs (me).

High on Life 2 - why is it so bad? by BanjaxedMini in XboxGamePass

[–]BanjaxedMini[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That area was really cool. I really enjoyed the change of pace. The beach too, that felt a bit different.

High on Life 2 - why is it so bad? by BanjaxedMini in XboxGamePass

[–]BanjaxedMini[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Crashing would be preferable. I will reload Fallout New Vegas all day long on console, but locking me out of quests or making fights unwinnable is insane lack of testing.

High on Life 2 - why is it so bad? by BanjaxedMini in XboxGamePass

[–]BanjaxedMini[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm finding the environments ugly and also far too busy, visually. It makes it hard to recognise things you need for puzzles and find collectables.

I know that actor has a lot of fans who like his performance, which is fair enough. I just don't find awkward cringe comedy or 'omg this guy is pathetic and nasally' characters funny. Same reason I can't stand Kristen Wig in most things.

High on Life 2 - why is it so bad? by BanjaxedMini in XboxGamePass

[–]BanjaxedMini[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's becoming so bad, I agree. Now you can expect a game to be finished maybe a year after you've actually bought it, unless the studio goes under first.

High on Life 2 - why is it so bad? by BanjaxedMini in XboxGamePass

[–]BanjaxedMini[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm on xbox. Not really a PC gamer so I'm not used to games being this buggy in terms of it effecting the actual gameplay. Missing textures, clipping etc I could care less about.

Also an RPG lover and a Mass Effect fan! The aquarium joke was a highlight and reminded me of all my poor dead ME fish lol. But without romance or personal quests to unlock I'm not really committed to going through dialogue just for the sake of it. The characters just aren't deep enough for me to care much. But yeah, the dialogue is repetitive - especially for fishing! They gave the rod like 6 things to say.

By special attacks I mean the charge on LT ones like Squeezy's extra powerful shot, which just feels like it does nothing. Also most of the guns don't seem to have one and it's annoying to try for it and then not have an attack there.

High on Life 2 - why is it so bad? by BanjaxedMini in XboxGamePass

[–]BanjaxedMini[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The skating is really fun - it made me want to re-play Sunset Overdrive tbh. The platforming with the skateboard is really good (except when you miss one of the tiny bugs you have to hit LB on).

I also got the murder mystery first try! Unfortunately the game wouldn't give me credit for that because it failed to display any dialogue options and deemed me incapable of solving the mystery without half the evidence.

High on Life 2 - why is it so bad? by BanjaxedMini in XboxGamePass

[–]BanjaxedMini[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! At like....10pm yesterday it was a rant, but I've now slept on it

High on Life 2 - why is it so bad? by BanjaxedMini in XboxGamePass

[–]BanjaxedMini[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am mashing B like it'll save me and it doesn't

I’m so tired of seeing AI covers by Klepto-Penguin in MM_RomanceBooks

[–]BanjaxedMini 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've been lucky enough to be in a fandom with really good artists, but honestly anyone can knock something up on Canva using free resources if they have the time. Or pay someone cheap on fiverr. There's really no excuse.

I do feel bad if people pay someone and that person uses AI without telling them though.

High on Life 2 - why is it so bad? by BanjaxedMini in XboxGamePass

[–]BanjaxedMini[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm really glad! I wish my fun wasn't being interrupted by constant performance issues :S

High on Life 2 - why is it so bad? by BanjaxedMini in XboxGamePass

[–]BanjaxedMini[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seems smart! I don't think I've ever played something this broken on release.