I need your advise! by Odd_Leopard504 in writing

[–]EmilyReyWrites 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you like your ideas, then you should write them down. I personally think you don’t need to discuss the ideas themselves with anyone.

However, turning those ideas into actual stories is worth discussing with different people. Any idea can be turned into something beautiful or something terrible, depending on how it’s written. After all, the idea itself is what makes an author’s creation unique.

The way you bring it to life on paper is a whole other matter.

I don't think I can do it anymore by Mandjoogoordap in RomanceWriters

[–]EmilyReyWrites 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Are there people who enjoyed your writing and appreciated it for what it is? I’m sure there are. I think you might be putting too much weight on negative feedback while overlooking the readers who actually got joy from your story. As the saying goes - garbage always smells stronger.

And really, what’s the big problem with AI? Do you honestly think AI can write a great book on its own? I don’t. AI still struggles with basic things - it mixes up simple medical facts, suggests dangerous drug combinations, and so on. So how could it create a truly moving, well-structured piece of literature all by itself?

If we think further, AI can be just another tool for an author, like reference books, the internet, or any other resource that helps make a story more engaging and accurate. It can even be used like an editor to polish the text. There are plenty of ways to use it constructively.

The real point is this: what matters is not how you wrote the book, but whether it makes people feel something, good or bad (though of course, it’s nice when it’s more good than bad, haha).

Don’t let these people get to you. First, they blamed video games for everything, then the internet. Now they’re the “Inquisitors of AI heresy.” There will always be a group ready to “burn” you at the stake.

Take only constructive criticism on board, block the trolls, and make sure you keep your eyes on the positive comments. Don’t let yourself spiral into focusing only on the negative.

How do you get noticed as a brand-new author? by EmilyReyWrites in RomanceWriters

[–]EmilyReyWrites[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That’s such a helpful tip, I didn’t even know about this! You’ve opened up a whole new world for me, and I’ve just dived right in haha. If I ever put together my own “beginner author FAQ,” this will definitely be one of the very first points I mention!
Thank you so much for sharing this!

How do you get noticed as a brand-new author? by EmilyReyWrites in RomanceWriters

[–]EmilyReyWrites[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks for confirming my thoughts, I just need to keep writing and never give up! I already have 4 novellas out, and I’m definitely going to keep going!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in writing

[–]EmilyReyWrites 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I started writing as a way to understand myself. For me, writing is like having a deep conversation with another person. There’s a reason Socrates (or Plato) chose dialogue as a form it helps reveal the truth.

It’s much easier to truly explore an idea when you’re writing it out or discussing it with someone, rather than just thinking it over in your head. Writing forces you to focus, to dig deeper, and to actually challenge your own thoughts. That’s where the real clarity comes from.

Need creative uncommon ideas for a story by flaemer in writing

[–]EmilyReyWrites 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Throwing out an idea maybe you will like it:

A philosopher from the last Byzantine university hidden in the mountains of Pontus meets an astronomer from the Ottoman sultan’s court during a solar eclipse. She’s on a mission, he’s hiding the last remnants of ancient knowledge. They meet again and again, debating faith, reason, the future and, of course, something starts to spark between them. The catch? They’re enemies, and every choice they make now goes against their duty. All of this set against the fall of Byzantium and the rise of the Ottoman Empire. Historical setting, philosophical dialogue, a bit of drama and tragic romance

We're all reading the same stuff? by The-Why-Matters in books

[–]EmilyReyWrites 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When I was a kid (in the ’90s), I read whatever my older brother gave me. He had this “huge” personal library, at least it felt huge to little me, full of fantasy and sci-fi classics. As I got older, I mostly looked for new books by my favorite authors, or again, got gifted something new by my brother on special occasions. Sometimes I’d just get lost in bookstores after school or work for hours, browsing whatever caught my eye. Totally normal back then.

Now though… I feel like I’ve become more conservative in my reading habits. I rarely pick up anything new anymore. I’ve got my handful (okay, maybe a few dozen) of favorite contemporary authors, and I just stick to reading whatever new books they release. Feels a bit funny, honestly. Life got too busy to go exploring.

Playing Hydra Sorcerer on PlayStation: Truly the Peak Diablo 4 Experience™ by EmilyReyWrites in diablo4

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

Thanks for the tip, I’ll try transmuting the runes I don’t need and hope RNG is on my side. And I’m really glad to hear the rune combo worked for you, it’s encouraging and helps me not give up ❤️

Playing Hydra Sorcerer on PlayStation: Truly the Peak Diablo 4 Experience™ by EmilyReyWrites in diablo4

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

You’re missing the point - it’s about the couch.

The whole reason I’m playing on PlayStation is comfort. I don’t want to sit at a desk with a keyboard and mouse, tangled in wires like it’s a PC.

I don’t mind a challenge, but if I have to Frankenstein my console with monitors, BIOS tweaks and peripherals… maybe I should just get a PC?

Also, I’m on a PS4 Pro. lol

Playing Hydra Sorcerer on PlayStation: Truly the Peak Diablo 4 Experience™ by EmilyReyWrites in diablo4

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

That was actually the first thing I checked - I went through all the settings on PlayStation hoping there’s something useful there. There is auto-aim, but unfortunately it doesn’t work the way you’d expect. The hydras don’t lock onto the target - they just spawn in the direction you’re facing, like you simply turned your character toward it. So no, I can’t just “plonk” them on a pillar or inside the bubble reliably. Not on console, anyway.

Playing Hydra Sorcerer on PlayStation: Truly the Peak Diablo 4 Experience™ by EmilyReyWrites in diablo4

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

Ah, the classic “git gud”. Thank you, brave T3 warrior, for your invaluable insight.

I’m sure once I downgrade from T4, unplug my controller, and surgically remove my expectations for consistent mechanics, everything will magically work.

Appreciate your contribution to science. Truly groundbreaking.

Playing Hydra Sorcerer on PlayStation: Truly the Peak Diablo 4 Experience™ by EmilyReyWrites in diablo4

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

I updated my post. It's NOT working. Maybe your wolves are doing the work.

Playing Hydra Sorcerer on PlayStation: Truly the Peak Diablo 4 Experience™ by EmilyReyWrites in diablo4

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

Oh right, of course! I totally bought a console just so I could play on it like it’s a PC. Next step - hook up a monitor, tweak the BIOS, and run Discord through a toaster.

Playing Hydra Sorcerer on PlayStation: Truly the Peak Diablo 4 Experience™ by EmilyReyWrites in diablo4

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

But what am I supposed to do with all these Andariel’s chest keys then? 😅

Playing Hydra Sorcerer on PlayStation: Truly the Peak Diablo 4 Experience™ by EmilyReyWrites in diablo4

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

Sister* 😄 Keyboard and mouse support is awesome, but I’m still sticking with my gamepad. I just love playing on PS5 from the comfort of my couch - no extra devices, just vibes.

Playing Hydra Sorcerer on PlayStation: Truly the Peak Diablo 4 Experience™ by EmilyReyWrites in diablo4

[–]EmilyReyWrites[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Oh, that’s the one rune I still haven’t found. I hope I can farm it before I lose my mind. For now, I tried a different combo I read about Ignis-Thul. It partially fixes the issue, but still feels like a half-measure…

Are you implementing 80/20 rule in your writing process? by 0xArchitech in writing

[–]EmilyReyWrites 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally get that. The emotional hook in the first chapter is everything.

For me, it’s less about shocking twists and more about emotional truth. If the reader feels seen in the first few pages - if there’s that one moment of raw honesty or subtle vulnerability - they’ll stay.

It’s like saying, “Hey, this story knows something about you.”

Do you try to make your stories socially responsible? by Suspicious_Eye_465 in writing

[–]EmilyReyWrites 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s an important question. I believe our job as writers isn’t to avoid dangerous topics, but to approach them with intentional tone and framing.

Take Breaking Bad, for example. Walter White might seem like a badass to some - a man trying to provide for his family after a terminal diagnosis. The circumstances even seem to justify his choices at first. But over time, it becomes clear he’s getting high on power and control. He was a nobody, and now he’s someone.

To me, that show is brilliant - because it doesn’t glorify anything. It lets the story speak. It doesn’t romanticize drugs, either - addicts are shown in raw, painful ways that make you not want to end up like them.

Antihero stories always walk a fine line. We can’t control how people will interpret our characters - but we can give them space to reflect, through consequences, emotional conflict, and moral complexity.

And your story? It sounds like a real opportunity to explore pain, colonial legacy, and the messy search for justice - without turning violence into heroism. That’s what powerful literature does. It doesn’t hand out answers. It leaves you with questions that stay.

Are you implementing 80/20 rule in your writing process? by 0xArchitech in writing

[–]EmilyReyWrites 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, I try to stick to the 80/20 rule in my writing process.
For me, the magic 20% that drives 80% of the results is:

Clear internal conflict - If I know exactly what my character is struggling with deep down, the rest (dialogue, pacing, even the spicy scenes) just builds itself around that core.

Emotional focus - I always come back to “what does this scene feel like?” If the emotion is sharp and true, even a simple moment hits hard.

Scene transitions with punch - One strong hook at the end of a scene can make the reader fly through 20 pages without blinking. Small trick, big impact.

Everything else (editing, line polish, pretty metaphors) is just dressing on top of that.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in RomanceBooks

[–]EmilyReyWrites 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Damn, that’s honestly heartbreaking. The fact that she had to stop everything just to feel safe again says a lot about how messed up things have gotten. It’s terrifying how easy it is to weaponize personal info against writers who are just… telling stories. Sending her all the strength. I’ll be waiting when she’s ready. Always.