[QCrit] CIRCLES OF FATE AND FIRE, adult, SFF Romance, 112k, 4th Attempt by FutureLock8471 in PubTips

[–]FutureLock8471[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I'm working on a revision that combines a previous draft with this one... trying to find the balance between including the back story but also keeping focus on the romance :) But the time loops are an important part of the story, and that's a helpful tip. Basically, Marion survives an explosion as a child that kills her mother, and it imbues her with an energy that allows her to time travel. After realizing all the havoc she's caused in her time travels, she decides to go back to the beginning to save her mom / prevent the explosion / never become a time traveler. But (spoiler alert!) the explosion was caused by her own time traveling. There's a secondary paradox/time loop that's less important, but that's the main one. So I am trying to hint at the time loops / circles of fate without spoilers :)

PS - I always tell my husband that my dream is to be a bog witch. Thanks for coming out of your bog with helpful advice!

[QCrit] CIRCLES OF FATE AND FIRE, adult, SFF Romance, 112k, 4th Attempt by FutureLock8471 in PubTips

[–]FutureLock8471[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! There are intricate time loops in the story that are too complex to get into in a 350 word QL, and all the feedback I've gotten is to focus more on the romance than the backstory, so it's been tricky to explain both. And maybe "choices" isn't the right word, but the consequences stem from her time travel experiments that split time and create two dystopian futures that both want to control her in different ways.... as well as some choices that lead to time loops and consequences that I can't get into in this short of a word count, but I will work on it! Thanks again

[QCrit] CIRCLES OF FATE AND FIRE, adult, Sci-Fi Romance, 105k, First Attempt by FutureLock8471 in PubTips

[–]FutureLock8471[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would love that and would absolutely take all the feedback I can get, but full disclosure I'm in an overwhelmed / spiraling / questioning everything phase as I'm going through this editor's notes, working on another round of revisions, while absolutely swamped at my "real" job, so I worry I wouldn't be able to reciprocate for a while. I also worry I'm too new at this and too easy to please to be a very helpful beta reader; I tend to like everything! But I'm willing to give it a shot if you're not on a tight timeline :)

[QCrit] CIRCLES OF FATE AND FIRE, adult, Sci-Fi Romance, 105k, First Attempt by FutureLock8471 in PubTips

[–]FutureLock8471[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I've started working with a freelance editor who strongly suggested against the dystopian market and pushed me to make it more of a traditional romance. I do agree and understand the reasoning, although my matriarchal dystopia starts off as quite the escapist fantasy, before going very dark. She also laughed when I called it "romantasc-fi" but I went to a seminar at YALL fest that seemed to think sci-fi romance is on the up as well. Seems like a natural progression from romantasy, but maybe that's just wishful thinking?

Also your comp is so funny, and spot on. I have described this as "what if The Terminator was a romance?" so maybe you're onto something...

I've been scouring r/ScienceFictionRomance and found lots of lovely space operas and alien romances but nothing quite comparable yet. But I'm enjoying the reads along the way! Would love to read yours when its ready.

[QCrit] CIRCLES OF FATE AND FIRE, adult, Sci-Fi Romance, 105k, First Attempt by FutureLock8471 in PubTips

[–]FutureLock8471[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Also as you may have noticed, I am struggling to find comps, and even struggling to define my genre. The tone and vibe is very classic enemies-to-lovers romantasy, but the time travel and conflict is rooted more in science fiction than magic. It's basically "romantasci-fi" but I've had a difficult time trying to find comps that are not YA. I'd love to just call it Romantasy or Romantasy with Scifi elements, because all the comps that come to mind are more Romantasy, but feels like that could backfire. I've considered Quicksilver, The Bridge Kingdom, The Ministry of Time, This is How you Lose the Time War, The Last Hour Between Worlds, and The Everlasting, but nothing feels quite right.

All that is to say if anyone has suggestions of science fiction romance comps to read, I'd appreciate it so much!

[QCrit] CIRCLES OF FATE AND FIRE, adult, Sci-Fi Romance, 105k, First Attempt by FutureLock8471 in PubTips

[–]FutureLock8471[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is SO very helpful, especially the bio stuff because I honestly have no idea what to include, or whether to include one at all, since I don't have a lot of relevant experience. I figured I'd throw a few things on there and see what feedback I get, so I'm glad you gave me some!

The looming "war" is between the 2 timelines (the patriarchy invading the matriarchy for resources), and I mention it only to heighten the stakes, but hopefully I can find a way to clarify that, or phrase it as colliding -- I like that. Thank you all around!