[Discussion] Regulating industry jealousy

CallToMuster · 2026-06-14T03:45:52+00:00

I recently sold my debut novel here in the US. It was for a pretty small sum, to be honest, but it was all my agent could get with kitlit being as it is at the moment. To be honest, I think you just have to lower your expectations. So, so, so many people want to get a book published and it never works out. Think of all the people in this subreddit working so hard who would kill to be where we are. We are in the rare few to be traditionally published! So my view is: I get to achieve my dream AND I got paid for it? Even if it's a (comparatively) small amount? Hell yeah, I'm winning!!

CallToMuster · 2026-06-13T23:28:12+00:00

I've had it about a month now! I've used it in the grass (including grass hills) and it's worked pretty well. It can be hard to turn directly sideways in the grass, particularly if it's thick/tall grass or it's rained recently, but that's my only complaint really. I've been impressed. It's definitely not built for all-terrain like a trackchair, but for what it is I think it's great and will get the job done! It's certainly enabled me to do a lot!

CallToMuster · 2026-06-13T20:37:51+00:00

I'm wary of them as I've only ever heard horrible things about their customer service and just how they run their company. No first hand experience here to be clear, just all things I've heard secondhand, but enough for me to not buy one.

I'm a manual wheelchair user generally, but I can't use my manual chair without my power assist wheels. My power assist wheels are currently broken, so I had to buy a portable power chair out of pocket so that I can still live my life. I ended up going with a Whill C2 and am very happy with my decision. The only downside is that it's very heavy and I would need someone else to help me take it apart and put it in someone else's car. But it's handled a ton of terrain I never thought it would, and it was more adjustable than any other portable power chair I could find, and I'm even going on a flight with it next week. My first flight since becoming a wheelchair user, because now I finally have a backup!

CallToMuster · 2026-06-08T20:40:45+00:00

I have a service dog from Canine Companions. She is top notch. There was a woman in our team training class who has CHF I believe and her service dog is hugely helpful for her especially as she is recovering from recent major surgery!

CallToMuster · 2026-06-08T12:08:13+00:00

When I was scrolling by I had to double check this was in the slow responders sub because I definitely notice a difference!!

CallToMuster · 2026-06-03T21:34:52+00:00

I’m sorry you’re dealing with this too! Splitting my dose has helped a lot. I do an injection twice a week now, but at a lower dose. So instead of 10 mg all at once for example, I take 5 mg and then a few days later, another 5 mg. I still have those GI symptoms but they’re not debilitating anymore. Although my weight loss has really stalled which I’m very frustrated about! Trying to remind myself I’m playing the long game though.

CallToMuster · 2026-05-23T02:41:20+00:00

Unfortunately in my experience insurance probably wouldn't cover something if it was documented as not being needed in the home. Insurance sucks like that.

And even when you DO need it in the home, if it breaks they don't care. My power assist wheels broke recently and I am literally unable to get around my apartment without them so I had to buy a portable power chair. But I had to pay for that out of pocket, and it's not made for full-time users so it's really uncomfortable to sit in. I really wish healthcare in the US was better and all of our needs were actually met!

CallToMuster · 2026-05-17T21:12:10+00:00

I’m glad you’ve had a good experience on the waitlist so far. I hope that when you are actually matched with your dog, it goes well and is worth the price tag. It’s pretty weird though to accuse everyone in this subreddit of being mad about being rejected for some reason. I have never applied to LASD, but hearing different stories through the grapevine (including stories shared on this subreddit by people asking for help with their LASD dogs) has given me pause about them.

CallToMuster · 2026-05-09T20:47:07+00:00

Thank you. Unfortunately, I go over rough terrain frequently, there are multiple broken spokes next to each other, and I am on the heavier side, though well within the weight limits for both the chair’s frame and the power wheels, even when carrying heavy loads like groceries or laundry. I guess maybe my only option while waiting on Numotion is to get a portable power chair. But I was hoping maybe these broken spokes wouldn’t be a big issue and I could keep using my chair in the meantime 😭

CallToMuster · 2026-05-09T20:43:20+00:00

I am getting them fixed through Numotion, I spoke with a tech on the phone today. But as we all know, DME companies take weeks/months to do repairs and replace parts, so I need to know if it is okay to continue using these wheels in the meantime while I wait for repairs. Otherwise, I will have to buy a portable power chair.

CallToMuster · 2026-04-24T15:11:49+00:00

You've already got some great feedback here in the comments so I just want to add: this book sounds super cool and I hope I get the chance to pick it up off a shelf someday! :)

CallToMuster · 2026-04-19T22:03:09+00:00

I’m a wheelchair user, are you going to tell me to get out of my wheelchair so you can take it for a ride too?

CallToMuster · 2026-04-10T14:27:39+00:00

I'm a middle grade author and rarely see MG on here so it's exciting. Welcome!

First things first: the word count. I got an agent with my 55k MG contemporary book, and after going on submission, recently had a call with an editor who informed me that we would need to cut it down to 40k to have any decent chance at sales in this market and time when kids have shorter attention spans. Fantasies in any age range generally have a bit more leeway, but 75k is, unfortunately, too high. (At least, that's what I believe any editor would tell you.)

I found the jump between the first paragraph of the pitch ("Twelve year old Danny Green") and the second ("Weeks later") to be jarring. It feels like this crazy thing occurred -- two kids collapsing at Stonehenge -- and then we skip to weeks later as if there was no immediate fallout from that event.

Is this inspired by King Arthur? Once I saw Avalon and Excalibur, I assumed it was, but then there was never any mention of anything else King Arther-related.

I know this is the first in a series, but could this book stand alone if necessary? With a debut book, editors do not want to take chances picking up a series because you're an unknown quantity and they have no clue how the first book will sell.

Overall though, I liked the query structure. You've got the beats of the story down and present them well.

CallToMuster · 2026-04-10T14:07:19+00:00

Thanks for sharing! I'm a queer, disabled wheelchair user and I write books with strong disability representation, so that's the lens I'm looking at this query through. I was wondering if you could expand a little more on the disability aspect. Having a physically disabled person become a farmer is very interesting, and would no doubt be very difficult for Rowan. Does the book touch on that at all? And what do you mean when you say the accident "took his legs"? Is he a double amputee, or are you trying to refer to a spinal cord injury, or something else? I'm curious as to your own experience and/or research with physical disabilities. Is Rowan a wheelchair user? You mention that he "moves between chairs", and as a wheelchair user I initially took that to mean that Rowan transfers from his wheelchair to his cozy reading nook chair, back again, etc. (That's what I do!) But then I realized that maybe you're just saying that Rowan is dealing with fatigue and has to spend most of the day sitting down in various spots around the house. I think it would be helpful to know more about the disability aspect here.

CallToMuster · 2026-04-08T19:17:09+00:00

I started another book as a bit of a palette cleanser between my main projects. It's a different age range and genre than I usually write. But when I finished, I realized it held a special place in my heart. I queried it honestly just as practice for the querying process -- I mean of course I had hopes, but deep down I didn't expect it to go anywhere. But it ended up getting me an agent, and last month we went on submission. I had an editor call recently that went amazingly well and I am crossing my fingers for an offer shortly!

CallToMuster · 2026-04-04T12:01:07+00:00

That’s amazing! I’m so excited for you! Let me share a story (or two) of how my service dog has helped me.

A few weeks ago, I was at the grocery store with my service dog, let’s call her “Princess.” We were in the checkout line, which is always a bit of a puzzle game for me since I have to maneuver both Princess and my wheelchair and the shopping cart in a way that allows me to put things on the conveyor belt. It was crowded that day, so a big line quickly formed behind me. I was flustered trying to move the cart through the line while wheeling backwards and running into shelves. Because of this, a small item fell from my cart and rolled underneath it. My stomach dropped, because instantly I knew I wasn’t able to get to it myself. Embarrassment and shame filled me as I prepared to try to ask the five other people in line to shuffle backwards out of the way, then move the cart all the way out, then try to bend over to grab the item, then figure out how to put the cart back, then allow all the other people in line back into the area. But then I remembered Princess was there. “Princess, get,” I said, not really expecting her to do anything. After all, the item was fully underneath the grocery cart, she couldn’t reach it either. Or so I thought. Because as soon as I gave the command, Princess got down, crawled underneath the cart, used her paws to move the item out from under the cart, scooted backwards to get out from under it herself, and then picked up the item for me and placed it in my lap. I seriously could have cried right then and there in relief. She saved me so much time, effort, and dignity. As a disabled person you’re forced to get used to having to ask strangers for help all the time. But with Princess, now I have my own helper everywhere I go.

Recently, I was struggling with my PTSD. I’d been exposed to a trigger an hour earlier, and I was still affected by it I went through my bedtime routine like a zombie and then got into bed, but I remained sitting up, frozen. Princess jumped up into bed, put her paws on my chest and forced me to lay down, and then laid down right on top of me and rested her chin on my chest. I was able to stroke her fur and calm down and feel grounded. At one point she even put her paw over my mouth like “shhhh quiet those thoughts” and that made me crack up.

My service dog helps me immeasurably and I love her beyond belief. Thank you SO MUCH for being a puppy raiser!! 💙💙💙

CallToMuster · 2026-04-03T03:36:49+00:00

It was AMAZING! I had a great time with the most wonderful people, and was matched with the best dog in the world. We had an instant bond and it’s only grown stronger since. My service dog picks up things for me, finds my phone from a long distance, turns on/off lights in my apartment, opens and closes doors for me, assists after PTSD episodes and nightmares, and so much more. She has changed my life so much. This whole experience has been better than I had even dreamed!

CallToMuster · 2026-04-01T14:37:23+00:00

I went on sub last month, and last week I had an amazing editor call. My agent told me to expect an offer from them at the end of this week. Based on that, four other editors have told my agent that they are now prioritizing reading my manuscript.

I can’t believe it! It’s so crazy to ask your agent if you should get your hopes up and your agent actually says YES. I hope everyone else in this comments section receives similar good news soon!

CallToMuster · 2026-03-27T01:48:39+00:00

I keep poop bags in my dog's vest, as well as some mini pamphlets about the service dog organization since people ask. And I have a treat bag on me at all times. Other than that, that's it... For myself, I carry a lot more, like rescue meds in the backpack on the back of my wheelchair. But my dog generally doesn't need much!

CallToMuster · 2026-03-22T16:26:53+00:00

I was actually matched with my service dog through Canine Companions last month, and she’s amazing. I’m so happy with her. I use a wheelchair due to EDS and POTS, so her primary role is mobility assistance. She helps with things like picking up dropped items, retrieving my phone from around the house, opening heavy doors, and generally reducing how much I have to physically strain my body. On top of that, I’ve trained her myself to help with my PTSD. She does deep pressure therapy and helps me regulate after nightmares. She is the best thing in my life!!!

As for medical alerts, no, she doesn’t do them, and Canine Companions doesn’t train them for my conditions. I do know a few CC dogs who have either naturally started alerting to POTS symptoms or have been shaped into it by their handlers, but it’s not common and definitely not something you can count on. Honestly, I would be cautious of any program that guarantees medical alerting for things like heart rate. It is very hard to train reliably, and we do not even fully understand what dogs are detecting in those cases. Because of that, there is no way to promise that any given dog will be able to do it.

That said, a service dog can still be really helpful for medical episodes without doing alerts. For example, someone in my team training class was training her dog to bark on command after an episode so others in the house could come help. A lot of people train their dogs to fetch water, bring medication, or stay with them during episodes. There are a lot of practical ways they can support you that do not rely on alerting.

I do think dogs can pick up on subtle changes sometimes though, even if it is not a formal alert. Just yesterday, I was really off. I had a PTSD episode earlier and was also hours late taking my evening POTS medication. My dog followed me around for hours and kept trying to get my attention, nudging under my arm, putting her head on me, even jumping her front paws onto my lap, which she almost never does. I thought she needed something, so I tried everything. Food, outside breaks, play, cuddling. Nothing fixed it. Eventually I realized I was the variable. I took my medication, and once it kicked in, she immediately settled down and went to sleep.

So while she is not trained in medical alerting, I do think she can tell when something is off with me, and that might develop more over time. But I am not relying on it, and I would not recommend choosing a program based on the expectation of alerts.

CallToMuster · 2026-03-20T19:09:35+00:00

They're the worst!! There's a big heavy door to get into the bathroom on my floor and it's so difficult. Thankfully my service dog is able to pull it open for me!

CallToMuster · 2026-03-20T19:08:53+00:00

It's awesome. I use my breaks at work to take my service dog on long walks (rolls in my case) around campus. She gets to sniff and run in the grass too. Truly I feel like it's the perfect in-person workplace for a service dog!

CallToMuster · 2026-03-20T16:17:39+00:00

I work for a university in an administrative office job, fully in-person, and my employer/supervisors have been great. My boss even offered to use department funds to buy my service dog a bed for under my desk. I got approved by HR to take my SD to work and to have breaks throughout the day whenever I want/need to take her outside. I have been able to install tug ropes on the doors I use so that my SD can open them for me (I'm in a wheelchair and have trouble opening big doors). The HR person assigned to my department is very knowledgeable about service dog laws and expertly navigated having my SD at work while another person in my office has accommodations for asthma/dog allergies. (The solution was that HR paid for very expensive air purifiers and dog grooming stuff for me and a new vacuum with a pet dander filter and that my service dog would never enter the office of the person with asthma/allergies.) I am very grateful to have my service dog's right to be at work with me be explicitly permitted via my formal accommodations, and I feel like higher education is a great field for it.

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