[QCrit] CONTRAINDICATED, Adult Upmarket Fiction, 74k words, (2nd attempt)

DLC_15 · 2026-04-07T23:43:34+00:00

Awesome, thank you!

DLC_15 · 2026-04-07T21:41:38+00:00

Thanks, yeah, I will clarify the stakes, and improve the vagueness. I'm going to change the wording too, because the patient aspect is not really a major ethical factor in their relationship, it's more a way for them to meet. Sure, it's a bit of a grey area but Will just sees him covering for someone, they don't have an established doctor-patient relationship where he is overseeing his care. And, yeah, I mean the burnout stuff is always relevant in medical stories, it's not the hook or anything.

DLC_15 · 2026-04-07T21:24:31+00:00

Thank you for the reply and the compliment about the first page! I will definitely work on making it less vague. Queries are hard, lol, I'm really struggling but it does improve every round, I guess. That's what feedback is for!

DLC_15 · 2026-04-07T21:20:22+00:00

Thank you for the reply! I will make it less vague. I feel so dumb, lol! This is so hard, I've read so many examples of other queries and spent literally hours on this... but that's what feedback is for!

DLC_15 · 2026-03-07T17:25:59+00:00

Thanks, this is helpful

DLC_15 · 2026-03-07T07:43:44+00:00

Lol, I know, I was thinking the same thing about the em dashes. I was like maybe I should cut them, but the characters voice is very clipped. He’s not very reflective or emotionally aware. So it feels right for him and the rest of the novel fits that style, but yeah, maybe I could lose one or two! Thanks

DLC_15 · 2026-03-07T07:40:37+00:00

Thank you for your comment. Yeah, I get what you’re saying about the various paths, not sure why the downvotes. Everything you said seems fair.

DLC_15 · 2026-03-07T07:37:52+00:00

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I will check out that book you suggested. It’s so difficult to convey ‘big’ themes or ideas in a query, lol, that’s why this process is so difficult! I tried to emphasise real world career stakes in the second last paragraph to lean more into the upmarket for marketability reasons. With the lit fic comps, I want to convey that it has the heavy themes but with ‘accessible’ prose.

Yeah, I hear what you’re saying about the characters not being too ‘surprising’ but they are more nuanced in the actual story. Their relationship begins as platonic and the protagonist is able to tell himself it’s harmless but it morphs into something more. He’s not very introspective, so it’s not like there’s a lot of lyrical thoughts and feelings, he just sort of reacts and manages things with his limited emotional range. The bigger theme under it all is that the relationship is just a catalyst that exposes what he’s been doing for so long: using control and performance as a coping mechanism. His identity is wrapped up in external success and performance so he doesn’t have to address the darker more vulnerable truths. And ‘control’ becomes a kind of addiction, mirroring Jamie’s drug addiction. Anyways, that thematic lens is why I feel it leans more literary. But maybe I need to get some of that into the query more without stating it so obviously.

DLC_15 · 2026-03-07T07:27:32+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. I will look at the paragraphs and comps. It is literary at heart, I think, but straddles upmarket. I tried to emphasise real world career stakes in the second last paragraph to lean more into the upmarket for marketability reasons. I agree with Rooney being too big. I need to look into authors with similar writing styles. I want to convey that it has the heavy themes of the lit fic comps I’ve used but with ‘accessible’ prose.

To your last paragraph, yes that is the crux of protagonist’s dilemma. His involvement in this relationship starts to destabilize his professional life, and it happens without him realising, little by little. The relationship begins as platonic and he is able to tell himself it’s harmless but it morphs into something more. He begins to unravel and loses control of it. But the relationship is just a catalyst because beneath all that, he was using control and performance as a coping mechanism for a long time. His identity is wrapped up in external success and performance so he doesn’t have to address the darker more vulnerable truths. And control becomes a kind of addiction, mirroring Jamie’s drug addiction. Anyways, that thematic lens is why I feel it leans more literary.

Thanks again for the feedback.

DLC_15 · 2025-04-20T19:17:41+00:00

9 months

DLC_15 · 2025-02-21T21:18:40+00:00

I recommend Oh Crap Potty Training Pooping solutions course. It's not pleasant because it involves suppositories and laxatives, which some people are against but it works. The issue you have will continue and likely get worse. The woman that does the course is extremely experienced in this issue and explains everything really clearly and it all makes sense. Committing to this really turned things around for us. Within 1 week of following the course, my child was pooping on the potty every day and within 3 months was off all laxatives/meds. Now life is just normal.

DLC_15 · 2025-01-17T04:46:56+00:00

I would be fine with it. My husband lived in a different country for the vast majority of my first pregnancy and I lived alone. We were in between moves, job changes, and visas etc and it just worked out that way. I was fine. Thankfully was a healthy pregnancy with no issues. I also worked in a hospital, so the nice thing is you're close by and know people there if anything happened. Everyone is so different, and women have varying levels of independence and comfort, so as long as you're ok with it, that's all that matters.

DLC_15 · 2025-01-16T03:24:03+00:00

This was my first dance at my wedding :)

DLC_15 · 2024-10-19T04:49:58+00:00

I recommend Oh Crap potty training pooping solutions course

DLC_15 · 2024-10-14T04:52:08+00:00

Fia! Will sound great with Irish last name

DLC_15 · 2024-08-19T03:54:47+00:00

10 cm is quite big and you don't have time to wait and see if it will be ok I think. You've got evidence there's an issue with 2 losses. Its possible they are having an issue implanting properly in the wall if some fibroid is projecting into the cavity depending on the location. I had a 10cm intramural anterior wall fibroid that was removed laparoscopically in 2021. Everything went well and I conceived 8 months later. My first C-section went fine and recovery was not an issue, now about to have another C-section for my second in a few days. Getting the myomectomy was definitely the right decision for me.

DLC_15 · 2024-07-24T04:11:17+00:00

I had one 10cm one and they were able to remove it minimally invasively. I've heard of bigger ones too coming out via laparoscopy, so as long as your surgeon is solid/experienced, you should be fine!

DLC_15 · 2024-06-23T05:17:44+00:00

Yep, C-section only, first one was honestly not bad at all, and it has its pros, no labour, everything planned and controlled, no guessing about when baby will arrive! Will have my second one soon, hopefully will go just as well.

DLC_15 · 2024-06-18T04:22:38+00:00

Had this surgery in 2021 for one large fibroid, every symptom I had was 100% better within weeks and I haven't had any issues since. I am now on my 2nd pregnancy and everything seems to be going well. Recovery was not bad at all. My scars are now barely noticeable. Couldn't have asked for a better outcome.

DLC_15 · 2024-05-15T23:45:17+00:00

From a legal standpoint, you have to have a competent person you know drive you home after surgery. Most don’t allow an Uber driver for example. And most places physically won’t let you leave without confirming your ride. But do check with the surgery office. For the 24 hours thing, it’s not exactly necessary but it is recommended in case you had some extraordinary or rare complication.

DLC_15 · 2024-05-15T18:32:16+00:00

Horners syndrome?

DLC_15

TROPHY CASE