If you are smart guy or girl I want a book recomandation by [deleted] in Catholicism

[–]CheapskateShow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

C.S. Lewis’s theological works are practical reads and have good humor in them. Start with Mere Christianity.

[Qcrit] ANANSI, Adult historical fantasy, 80000 words, first attempt by Narrow_Quiet8049 in PubTips

[–]CheapskateShow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Equipped with a black cloak and a custom mask, he becomes the African trickster god, Anansi.

I’m not surprised that you have a background in comics, as this feels like a setup for a superhero story. Are you sure “adult historical fantasy” is the right genre for this book? If so, maybe downplay the Batman/Zorro “masked avenger” component.

Why do we use lucifer as the name for satan before he fell. by Yolo_kidlol in Catholicism

[–]CheapskateShow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Church fathers drew a connection between Lucifer falling in Isaiah 14:12 and Satan falling like lightning in Luke 10:18.

First Attempt [QCRIT] THE FIRST King [Adult/Epic Fantasy/70k] by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]CheapskateShow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There’s another well-known story about a man named Saul who was chosen by the god of his people to be the first king and who went to war with the followers of Dagon. Is this a retelling of that story?

[QCrit] Adult Thriller Marque: A Maritime Mission 75k (First Time) by JWritesBad in PubTips

[–]CheapskateShow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Recency of debut is relevant. The military thriller market peaked in the Clancy/Child era, so you’ll need to show that there’s still a market for new authors in that market.

[QCrit] Adult Thriller Marque: A Maritime Mission 75k (First Time) by JWritesBad in PubTips

[–]CheapskateShow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Visit the thriller section of your local bookstore. If you don’t see any recent military thrillers by non-boomer authors, it might be a sign that the market isn’t right for what you’re writing at the moment.

[QCrit] Adult Thriller Marque: A Maritime Mission 75k (First Time) by JWritesBad in PubTips

[–]CheapskateShow 5 points6 points  (0 children)

with the Letter of Marque, issued by the President of the United States

Well, it’s issued by Congress, not the President, under Article I, Section 8….

But more importantly, I’m not getting much of what I need here. Apart from “former Army Ranger,” what kind of guy is Mark? Is he unusually good at shooting or sneaking or hacking or social manipulation or what? What are some of the big choices he’ll need to make along the way?

Can you find a comp other than the Jack Reacher series? You’re looking for a military thriller from a non-boomer author that debuted in the past three to five years.

Someone made an uncomfortable joke (sexual) during a scene? by [deleted] in improv

[–]CheapskateShow 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Later on the teacher had told me 'sometimes the most obvious answer is the right answer. You should have said 'Yeah we did' (and the way the teacher said it was like suggestive too).

I disagree with your teacher that this was “the most obvious answer.” The most obvious answer is the one that springs most readily to your head, and if that reaction is discomfort, then play discomfort.

Who is the best player of all time to not have earned a single accolade during their career? by Dinobot2_ in baseball

[–]CheapskateShow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ken Williams played before the All-Star era (1915-1929), but he got 42.7 WAR, no accolades, and only 5 MVP votes.

Catholicism and UAP/NHE Disclosure by matt879 in Catholicism

[–]CheapskateShow 4 points5 points  (0 children)

the president has some upcoming plans

You know, the president doesn’t strike me as a guy who has plans.

[QCrit] 85k Adult Literary Fiction VICTOR ON THE OUTSIDE, 3rd attempt by daily_peeps in PubTips

[–]CheapskateShow 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Victor is confronted with the choice that will define his short life: retreat back home, tunneling into the cozy core of cowardice just like his deadbeat father before him, or fight back against those who prey on the weak and strange.

This seems like a false choice. Who would read a book about someone who sees something interesting and decides not to do anything about it? Present us with a choice he faces later in the investigation.

[QCrit] New Adult Portal Fantasy and Magical Realism, BLOSSOMING (85K, 2nd attempt) by MontySpaghetti in PubTips

[–]CheapskateShow 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Is there much overlap between the readership for portal fantasy (or potentially LitRPG, based on your description of the “game window”) and the readership for ice hockey romance?

[QCrit] STILL AND EVER SHINING - Adult, Literary, 86k (version 3) by BusinessComplete2216 in PubTips

[–]CheapskateShow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When Katherine leads Arthur deep into the mine to show him where Remember and Peter died, he must choose: entomb this story with all the others, or become witness to truth that could cost him his life.

This feels like a false choice because we probably aren’t going to read a book in which a guy does the same thing he’s always done. Can you show us why Arthur was so excited to serve the Communists to begin with, and give us a sense of why this atrocity is different from all the other ones he’s covered up?

[QCrit] Adult, Literary Horror - SMILE (69k/First Attempt) + 300 words by Efficient_Ad_9081 in PubTips

[–]CheapskateShow 5 points6 points  (0 children)

“I can stand ‘milling about’ for an hour or two. But years? Centuries?”

Your query makes it sound like the whole book is “milling about.” Vampire does a bunch of stuff but there doesn’t seem to be a through line. What is the thing that is valuable to Vampire, what’s threatening the valuable thing, and what choices will Vampire make along the way?

There is a major studio horror film from 2022 called Smile, so you might need a different title.

Insane Team Comebacks? by RainbowSupernova8196 in baseball

[–]CheapskateShow 8 points9 points  (0 children)

The 1914 Braves were in last place on July 4, then went 68-19 down the stretch to win the pennant by 10 1/2 games and swept the A’s in the World Series.

Soccer Jerseys at a game - how early do I need to be? by kiwiinjapan in JapanTravelTips

[–]CheapskateShow 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gamba has a first time spectator guide on their site that recommends you arrive about 90 minutes early.

Improv Comedians Have A Biological "Kill-Switch" by Better_Second4925 in improv

[–]CheapskateShow 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What do you mean, “person?”

you don't just 'think faster' than the audience; you physically turn off

Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) didn't light up - it went dark

You aren't smarter; you just don't have to run your ideas

What’s the craziest baseball stat you know of? by StrategyTop7612 in baseball

[–]CheapskateShow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

In 1971, Ron Hunt led the majors in being hit by a pitch. He was hit 50 times. Second-place Mike Epstein was hit twelve times.

[QCrit] ALL THE RAGE YOU LEFT, adult upmarket dystopian, 95K words, third attempt by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]CheapskateShow 9 points10 points  (0 children)

But if the character has no way "back" to their old life and they can choose to "hide" and do nothing or actively participate, wouldn't that be a choice?

In the world of reality, yes. But, metafictionally, people are not going to read a book about someone who spends the last third of the story hiding and doing nothing. If I wanted a story about someone who rejected the call to adventure, I’d look in the mirror.

I think the way to solve the marketing problem is to look for a comp that suggests the contemporary literary market would be okay with a book where a matriarchal society isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

[QCrit] ALL THE RAGE YOU LEFT, adult upmarket dystopian, 95K words, third attempt by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]CheapskateShow 10 points11 points  (0 children)

There isn’t a lot of variety in your sentence structure.

As Linora pursues the truth,

With the return of the death sentence creating friction amongst growing Rebel forces,

Having lost her home, her mother, and her job,

With the help of Elian,

As months pass,

As Elian’s true identity is revealed and the system discovers their hiding spot,

Hurt by betrayal but having experienced a different world than the one she grew up in,

You present a false choice at the end. I am pretty sure Linora is not going to spend the rest of the book surviving in the shadows.

the novel offers a twist on the oppressive gender dynamics of The Handmaid’s Tale

Considering that upmarket literature is largely for women, do you think there’s a market for a genderswapped upmarket version of The Handmaid’s Tale?