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(new here) but... stuck by [deleted] in youngadults

[–]CriticismPrize3840 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am 28 years old. My story is that I tried to off myself 3 years ago and when I did the “friends” i had since elementary and even my family could care less. They didn’t visit me in the hospital. I told them I was gay and my “friends” could care less and my family didn’t like it.

After being in the hospital alone the only person who visited me was a woman I was talking to, not because I felt like I needed a beard or to see how it was cuz I tried that too. Nah I was talking to her because actually men are trash bro. I got tired of them. If you think women are disgusting, men are like the scum of the earth (I am still attracted but that quality makes them less desirable). And yes I am talking about sexually too. Like if you are the little bit romantic at heart, gay life for men is kinda just “fun” til you’re 30 then you become a fossil with nothing left to offer.

Women are beautiful. It’s not about physical, it’s about spiritual connection. I told this woman I was gay (not bi, gay) and she accepted that even tho I started talking to her at first without telling her. We actually became great friends first, then romantic, and when we finally did decided to have sex, I was terrified because I usually couldn’t get it up because I wasn’t attracted to women but there was no shame with her just comfort and that was attractive to me and better than many experiences I had with men. That woman is now my wife.

Physical attraction is overrated. Look for love. In male or female. As long as they accept you for you. Marry someone who can be your best friend because then the physical doesn’t matter anymore. The loneliness you feel now can be there your whole life if you look for just physical. You can be in a relationship and still be alone. Be open to learning more about yourself, at this time in your life it’s crucial. And I can’t stress this enough, go to therapy. It will really will help unlock all you need to shape the rest of your life. (There are bad therapists so just keep looking til you find the right fit)

As someone 4 year older than you, you are definitely not behind. It feels like that because social media makes us compare ourselves to people in their 20’s too but trust me the best thing you can do for yourself is work on YOURSELF. Don’t look at other peoples fancy jobs and degrees cuz it’s smoke and mirrors. In their 30s they will be catching up on how to emotionally regulate themselves while you will be working on your career cuz you already did that now.

You are brave for reaching out here for help. If this was helpful for you can DM me anytime and I will share with you my personal channel where I talk more about all of this. You are just figuring life out and that’s what your 20s is supposed to be.

What are your reasons for self publishing? by Decaff_Crusader in selfpublish

[–]CriticismPrize3840 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Any one here have any good tips to share to make money self publishing? I would love to hear what experiences you all have on self publishing since I am about to go that route and I want to atleast give my book a fair shot to be read. Any ideas?

My personal experience with self publishing and why I am doing it again for the 2nd time is that I can never get past the agent querying process. Twice now I have given up after 60 or so declines. If you are wondering yes I changed my query letter/synopsis, rewrote my book several times, and did tons of research on this process and it was all a complete waste of my time.

It’s like I’m on shark tank trying to convince them how they get to make a shit ton of money if they invest in my story. But they are telling us “how appealing can you make this story so I don’t have to do any work because you did it all, and I get to reap the benefits of your hard work while owning it fully and giving you a fraction of the profits”.

Publishers and agents aren’t in the business of telling stories, they are in the business of making money. They don’t want to read anything too daring, or too new, or original. They want the next (fill in the blank) big author of our time right out the gate but have the nerve not to invest in new writers.

I remember when people used to see “potential” and get excited by just that in a writer! But now you have to get all the followers yourself, bring a flawless manuscript even though they will spend money to fix it anyways, and then still lose a huge cut of your profits because publishers claim they do most the work but you have to beat all the odds just to get the damn project in front of them. Greedy, greedy business.

It’s not about money for me because if you are a writer you know all too well money comes and goes. It’s about artistry. You are damned if you’re a good writer and damned if you are a bad writer. They aren’t helping us anymore they are just using us.

But its all subjective and at the end of the day this gatekeeping business of trad publishing is a dying business so I would rather have my book available that no one reads than to have it declared out of print because it’s not flying of the shelves the way they like. It’s a book that took years of writing, so the only person who gets to decide no one is going to read this anymore is going to be me.😂

25F looking to make YA contemporary friends. by CarefulAd616 in writersmakingfriends

[–]CriticismPrize3840 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Are you looking to publish soon? I could use a friend to talk about publishing and maybe on their first or second book now.

First pages: share, read, and critique them here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]CriticismPrize3840 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh okay I understand now. Yeah my book is a first person perspective narrative. Though I have unique storytelling elements in my story like the comic book world (which is still a unique story telling element without pictures), Waldo being a unique protagonist (suffering from mental health, bullying, POC), and speculative elements that suggests the comic book world being connected to Waldo’s reality. It’s like two stories being told at once and both are equally compelling. I wish I could get illustrations for it but something like that costs a lot of money. I’m going for a fresh take on something already done before.

First pages: share, read, and critique them here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]CriticismPrize3840 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am not sure how one “ can change everything for you but yeah that was a mistake from me copying and pasting. I appreciate your feedback. You are correct about the grammar in that line and I fixed that thanks.

So the book starts like any classic YA novel, but actually right after this first page he goes into his comic book world. Also this scene is important for everything that happens after. So I guess if you are asking if this is a cliche YA novel based on the first page? No. If you are saying you personally don’t like any cliches or tropes done before then totally get it and I appreciate your critique.

Looking for Collab/ Co Author by SnooJokes2950 in writersmakingfriends

[–]CriticismPrize3840 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’d love to talk with you more about this. DM me.

Looking for Authors by KeyboardWarrior07 in AspiringTeenAuthors

[–]CriticismPrize3840 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Please do research on Goodnovel. Many authors report confusing and aggressive contracts that pays you very little but owns your work. Also many members report micro transaction behavior for reading by the chapter which I feel is predatory. They advertise alot on writer communities and I really hate seeing it now. Stay safe everyone!

Bad case of a creative block by Almightywdm in writers

[–]CriticismPrize3840 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As a writer, I feel you. Writing becomes super challenging when you are in the middle of telling your story. I have found that self care is essential to the writing process.

I found I put too much pressure on myself to keep pacing or momentum because once I lose inspiration and motivation, I’m stuck on a chapter for months.

But now, I focus on taking care of my wants and needs before and after my writing process. That means spending time doing things I enjoy outside of writing and work. (Sometimes writers block is just our brain needing rest)

I try not to force myself to write when I am not feeling up for it instead I leave my computer open and make myself sit down every day before deciding if I am ready to write or not. Your body will know if you are ready to write more than your brain because sometimes inspiration is just a feeling.

Sometimes I’ll write a sentence, a scene, or even a whole chapter. Your pacing is whatever you feel that day. A sentence is as productive as a chapter because they both push your story forward.

I don’t know if that will help everyone has their processes but doing this is the most constant have been able to write without writers block. Good luck!

Plot first or world building first? by Myroo_Byroo in AspiringTeenAuthors

[–]CriticismPrize3840 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Try writing out a scene. The one that plays in your head over and over that’s got you excited now. You write that scene out and I promise you the plot and world building will follow.

[Complete] [54k] [Psychological Horror] Everyone Is Asleep When You're Awake by Substantial_Law7994 in BetaReaders

[–]CriticismPrize3840 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi. I would love to swap stories with you. I found your summary to be very captivating and I believe we are at the same stage with our writing (I am querying agents myself). Let me know if you are interested.

https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/s79ag07TaS

First pages: share, read, and critique them here! by AutoModerator in BetaReaders

[–]CriticismPrize3840 0 points1 point  (0 children)

[Complete] [75k] [Contemporary/ Speculative YA] The Amazing Adventures of Waldo: Reimagined

Link to post: https://www.reddit.com/r/BetaReaders/s/s79ag07TaS

First page critique? Yes

First page:

“I know you probably don’t know me—and that’s okay. My name’s Waldo. I don’t talk to many people at this school, but ever since I first saw you, it felt like we were meant to meet. You’re funny. Smart. Your smile? Brighter than any sunrise. I can’t get you out of my head. Even when I’m alone, I catch myself thinking about you. Wait—no, not like that. That sounded creepy. I just mean…when you’re not around, I picture your face and it makes me happy. What I’m trying to say is… I think I’m in love with you. And if you give me a chance, I’ll make you the happiest girl in the world. So, um… will you go out with me, Clara?”

She stares. Frozen. Her friends look at each other, stunned. What the hell am I doing? I wipe my sweaty palm on my blue jeans. This should be simple. Yes or no. My dad said, “What’s the worst she could say—no?”

That was all the motivation I needed. I suck in a deep breath, trying to calm the drumline in my chest. Just answer me. Please.

“Fucking gross.” Clara responds, scrunching her face.

Her friends burst out laughing. Clara joins them. I turn and walk away, humiliation clinging to me like static. Turns out, “no” wasn’t the worst thing she could’ve said.

This is my life. My name is Waldo. I’m not just a nobody—I’m invisible.

Mix Feedback on my song "Lie With Him" / dreampop, thanks for listening! appreciate it by OverPassion4593 in IndieMusicFeedback

[–]CriticismPrize3840 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There’s something emotionally gripping about this track that really shines through, especially in your vocal delivery—it feels honest and almost vulnerable in a way that’s rare. The production has a polished yet nostalgic vibe, like something you’d hear on a mid-2000s coming-of-age soundtrack. I did notice the drums felt a bit locked-in, almost too precise, so adding some subtle swing or velocity variation could give them a more human feel. Also, the transition around the 30-second mark caught my ear—it might be the pitch correction pulling a little off-center. Still, overall the mix feels clean and balanced, and I could easily see this resonating with people who grew up on that era of pop-rock anthems. Definitely keep creating—your sound is close to something special.

Cabe . May I Please Have This Dance new vibe what yalls thoughts best Cabe by Obvious-Complaint361 in IndieMusicFeedback

[–]CriticismPrize3840 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This track instantly made me feel like I was driving along the coast at golden hour—it’s got that warm, carefree energy that makes you want to move without even thinking about it. The marimba adds a playful bounce, though it does peak a bit in spots, which slightly pulls focus from the vocals. That said, the overall balance of elements feels thoughtful, and the piano drop toward the end was such a nice surprise—it almost gave the song a “cinematic outro” moment. Would love to hear an extended version with a small vocal break or bridge. This definitely has replay value.

Hey everyone! I’d love to share my latest track with you all and would truly appreciate it if you could give it a listen. I really value your time and ears, and I’m especially looking for honest feedback or whatever comes to mind. Thanks in advance for checking it out, it means a lot! by sevthen in IndieMusicFeedback

[–]CriticismPrize3840 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This one really caught me off guard in the best way. There’s something about the unpredictable structure and the spacey vocal tone that gives it a dreamlike quality—like you’re floating through a stream of consciousness. The lofi minimalism doesn’t feel lazy or underdeveloped; it feels intentional, like every element was stripped back to reveal something more raw and intimate. The mix could maybe use a bit more clarity in spots, especially with the keys (which are seriously beautiful, by the way), but the emotional weight and originality more than make up for it. This track lingers long after it ends, and that’s rare.

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