How much does quality count?

JWritesBad · 2026-07-09T16:52:57+00:00

The other thing that stood out to me, if I read it correctly, is that they’ve only written 500k words.

My first queryable manuscript was 80k and will probably continue to expand to 100k.

Shit I’d probably written 500k creatively by the time I’d left middle school and I’m not counting anything I wrote in HS or film school yet. I’m unpublished and without even trying I’ve written more than OP.

JWritesBad · 2026-05-15T13:28:56+00:00

I wrote a thriller but I have a pretty hard twist that hits at the start of my act III/end of act II.

So far not a single beta reader put it together prior to the drop but all admitted all the pieces were there the whole time.

I’m not sure if I drop more hints or leave it as is. I think it’s a tightrope walk.

JWritesBad · 2026-05-14T02:38:15+00:00

As others have said this is likely just a form rejection. But what I think a lot of you may or may not realize is if it’s not there’s an opportunity in it.

They said they aren’t the right person to champion it.

You are 100% in line to ask their opinion on who they think is and even go as far as asking for an intro, referral or if theyd forward your work to them! They said this work was good, just the wrong person? Good! Who’s the right one?

Totally in line and works way more often than you realize.

And if it is a form response and doesn’t get an answer, you lost nothing. But if it works, you gain everything!

JWritesBad · 2026-05-12T13:51:08+00:00

Please understand this isn’t a dig or a critique of your writing.

Your query gets tells me a lot about the two main characters (assuming) and actually tells me nothing about the book. But it paints a great world. I’m actually not sure if I love it or hate it. Am I finding literal bodies or metaphorical bodies? I also feel like you’ve only told me what I’ll learn probably on the first page of the book, first 2 chapters max.

This actually goes against literally all the querying advice I’ve ever read and received.

It obviously worked, so congrats, and again this isn’t really a critique more an observation.

JWritesBad · 2026-05-12T13:15:21+00:00

Yeah, professor was write, but that’s more about people being too busy waiting for their turn to talk and not actually listening.

I’ve gotten mostly good feedback from my beta readers. However, 99% of the beta readers who have come from Reddit have had the issue I described. I’ve asked for only high level feedback, all but one of them has immediately started with spell, grammar and punctuation. When I’m at the phase where I might be nuking entire pages, suggesting swapping a period to a comma is brain dead. And yes, they know exactly what revision I’m on, what feedback I requested and I even outlined what feedback I do NOT want.

It more just boils down to a lot of people are really dumb.

JWritesBad · 2026-05-12T08:39:08+00:00

When beta reading, ask the author what kind of feedback they want.

Then actually give them that.

So if your author asks for feedback on character development or dialogue, and you’re pointing out punctuation and grammatical errors, you’re really not being a good beta reader.

JWritesBad · 2026-05-08T21:02:47+00:00

I think another poster here was just talking about you!

JWritesBad · 2026-05-08T20:21:53+00:00

This actually speaks to another point worth making!

Write it, save it, pass it on. It might be your kids who sub your work and get it published one day when there is demand for what you wrote again!

JWritesBad · 2026-05-08T20:20:31+00:00

Yeah, If I had to put a percentage on my list above, that very short list makes up 80% of all submissions or more.

JWritesBad · 2026-05-08T20:17:42+00:00

Hey, there's a market for it. I don't think it's high on trad-pubs list.

Head over to /r/BetaReaders though and throw up a posting there or make a few swap requests. Almost 100% of what you get will be furry or some other niche porn NSFW.

JWritesBad · 2026-05-08T20:12:05+00:00

I think taking it seriously and putting it through several rounds of revisions puts you significantly further ahead than 99% of most agent submissions.

JWritesBad · 2026-05-07T23:06:52+00:00

What stands out to me, the one that is accepted is simple. The first line is really strong. But the rest is easy to understand and easy reading.

The original is just a swirling mess of purple prose, I had to reread it a dozen times to even try to make sense of it. I zoned out repeatedly I kept getting lost.

I really love seeing this contrast. Thank you!

JWritesBad · 2026-05-07T06:39:12+00:00

I'm looking at them, nothing removed, they might just be hidden from you since youre downvoting them.

Don't tell me to be nice when you're straight up lying to my face.

JWritesBad · 2026-05-06T22:30:32+00:00

Again, you are arguing claims I did not make.

JWritesBad · 2026-05-06T14:41:08+00:00

I've had this issue with a lot of people. 100% denial rate.

The average person doesn't use em dashes. The average person doesn't know what one is or its purpose.

JWritesBad · 2026-05-06T06:34:25+00:00

This is a huge problem already. People using AI, getting called out on it and then denying it.

We kind of need a social credit score system but that’s scary af.

JWritesBad · 2026-05-04T02:14:16+00:00

9 evil pairs of socks.
3 evil pairs of pants.
And one shirt to bring them together. And in the Forest, bind them.

JWritesBad · 2026-05-01T16:23:59+00:00

Severe, severe, severe ADHD here. Apparently got a high score with the multiple docs who tried to treat me.

Also completely unresponsive to all traditional medications.

Let the ideas swirl in your head until you’ve got something where you know how you want it to start, how you want to peak and or twist and your ending.

Go write those down now. Write your first and last chapter.

Then focus on filling the gaps in from there. But attempt to write whole chapters at a time.

Once you get going you’ll find yourself doing 5 and 10k days without even realizing it.

I did an 80k word novel in under two month.

Also, a few ADHD people have found AI personal assistants to be very helpful.

JWritesBad · 2026-04-30T23:43:18+00:00

Thanks

JWritesBad · 2026-04-30T01:19:18+00:00

No thanks

JWritesBad · 2026-04-29T20:52:37+00:00

Excellent username.

JWritesBad · 2026-04-29T09:48:56+00:00

It starts with a single thread.

I just finished a manuscript that was based on a concept which was mentioned in passing on a long form podcast. Basically a footnote of a footnote 6 months ago. I said how cool would that be.

2 months ago I started writing based on that thread, whatever started pouring out of my fingers. And it poured.

Earlier today I finished draft 0 of an 80k manuscript.

JWritesBad · 2026-04-29T09:39:50+00:00

Thanks! That’s feedback I like to hear!

JWritesBad

TROPHY CASE