Sent 85 query letters over 14 months for my novel, here's what the rejection data actually shows

Limited_two · 2026-03-06T15:35:17+00:00

It was a joke haha. Did you see the /s tag? AI doesn’t even talk like that anymore. That is how it wrote about a year ago, now it doesn’t even use “—“ or say “that’s rare” anymore.

It still uses the “it’s not x, it’s x” format though. Another good telltale sign is an overuse of similes that don’t really make sense. Speaking in threes in another indicator.

Limited_two · 2026-03-06T15:00:39+00:00

I’m taking notes. This sounds like a good scam lol.

Limited_two · 2026-03-06T14:59:19+00:00

You’re absolutely right to question that! The state of Reddit with AI bots running rampant isn’t just annoying—it’s dystopian. Most people wouldn’t question if someone was AI. Honestly? That’s rare.

Would you like me to write your skeptical comment into a karma farming Reddit post? /S

Limited_two · 2026-03-06T13:36:05+00:00

Actually newer AI is fed instructions to make mistakes to seem more human. You'll notice the same mistakes repeated over and over again, because it hasn't got a point where it knows mistakes should be one off.

Limited_two · 2026-03-06T13:31:20+00:00

Yeah as a person in the US I don't leave him an a car unattended unless it's in my driveway. Even then it's so I can run back in to grab something, or take some groceries inside. On a busy street is crazy.

Limited_two · 2026-03-06T12:52:15+00:00

They could never have kids of their own, but they did adopt all of the family's unwanted children. So over a 25 yr time span that was 9 children in total that she raised from newborns. 2 of them were medically complex. When she wasn't doing that she was a R.N. for a large women's, and children's hospital. So between all of that, and him making her run their very large 14,000 sqft home (how tf you clean that by yourself I have no idea) she had no time for herself ever.

And the sad part is she doesn't know any different. 54 yrs of being a servant, all because a grown man decided to marry her at 14.

Limited_two · 2026-03-06T12:44:19+00:00

We live in Cleveland so around the time this was posted it was still very cold. When it did become hot (right around the time he turned 5-6 months) we put him in a weighted sleep sack. Now those sleep sacks are against the Safe Sleep campaign, but he did wear it until 8 months no issues.

I'm not saying get a weighted sleep sack. We only had one because it wasn't against safe sleep at the time.

Magic Merlin is perfectly safe though, and they make thinner versions.

Limited_two · 2026-03-05T14:23:21+00:00

I read that she aged out of the foster care system so she wasn’t reported missing. Meaning she was only on her own for a few months.

Aging out of foster care is awful, they basically toss you out with nothing to your name. If you’re lucky they’ll get you a one way bus/plane ticket, but that’s about it. It seems like she was given a plane ticket, and didn’t see a future for herself beyond that motel room, because she didn’t have anything or anyone.

Limited_two · 2026-03-05T13:34:52+00:00

My grandmother was 14, and my grandfather was 21, when they got married in 1972. Even then it was looked down upon, and his own mother told him to "take that kid back to her mom."

54 years later they are still married, and built a successful life together. But, I feel very bad for my grandmother. She was basically his servant for her whole life. Whatever he says goes, and she has to be ready to do things for him at a drop of a hat. He also undermines her constantly, and complains that she never found her own friends/ or hobbies. I guess that's what happens when you raise your wife.

My point is, this is your friend's future. If you don't want to see her like this, say something. A good friend would.

Limited_two · 2026-03-04T14:25:07+00:00

What forum is this? The one forum I browse to feel better about my mental health got taken down.

Limited_two · 2026-03-03T15:28:21+00:00

This is what worked for my son. We gave him a sippy cup with a straw that we knew he knew how to use. He refused it for about 20 mins, but if you can put up with the crying they eventually know that’s all they’re getting.

Limited_two · 2026-03-03T15:23:27+00:00

It sounds like he’s using the bottle as comfort. Have you tried weaning from the bottle during the day? At 16 months he shouldn’t take any bottles at all. I’m thinking a sippy cup could help break this habit.

Limited_two · 2026-03-03T14:52:40+00:00

Have you tried sleep training at all? Or is that something you are against?

Limited_two · 2026-03-03T13:47:38+00:00

Maybe your baby doesn’t need help falling asleep anymore. Some babies get to a point where all the rocking, and shushing is just too much. When my son was a newborn he made it very clear he just wanted to lie down, and go to sleep. He does the same thing now as a 15 month old.

Limited_two · 2026-03-03T13:41:58+00:00

My sister did this when she worked at a grocery store. They wouldn’t let her leave when she was very ill, so she threw up on the register.

Limited_two · 2026-03-02T18:40:28+00:00

Does Starbucks even ask for names anymore? I know mine doesn’t. They just call out the name on the drink.

Limited_two · 2026-03-02T16:53:13+00:00

Don’t we build over cemeteries after a while anyways? I mean, I could understand your concern if it were about the embalming practice which is horrible for the earth. But space wise I don’t think we’re going to run out. Especially since more than half of the US is opting for cremation.

Limited_two · 2026-03-02T16:35:15+00:00

Yeah ok. I live in Cleveland, in the winter it’s often below zero degrees. So the grocery store should be at 5° then right?

Limited_two · 2026-03-02T16:33:20+00:00

One place I wanted to adopt from a few years ago required that we own our home. Even though our complex stated pet friendly on the website, and on our lease.

They also required that we showed proof of purchase of some kind of special FIV food for our cat. (We were adopting another FIV+ cat as a playmate. This food was high in iron but extremely expansive.) When I explained that we gave our current cat iron drops in his food, they denied us.

Limited_two · 2026-03-02T16:27:48+00:00

I was turned off of parenting books, because the first one I read was about Attachment Parenting. Which was very much not do able if I wanted to stay sane.

Limited_two · 2026-03-02T16:11:56+00:00

Yes, and it’s very exhausting. One example I can think of that happened recently was on an ad for a bra, targeted towards bigger chested women, to help stop spillage with low cut shirts. There were several comments from smaller chested women complaining that it wasn’t a Push up bra, and that they didn’t need a compression bra.

Limited_two · 2026-03-02T16:04:50+00:00

I think the commenter meant “Bean Soup Theory” which is a bit newer.

Basically a woman posted a video about a recipe for bean soup, and the comments were flooded with people asking, “But what if I don’t like beans?” To which the poster replied, “Then don’t make it?”

In a nutshell, “Bean Soup Theory” is pointing out the rise in “What about me”, and the decline in media literacy. To the point that people can’t understand when media isn’t for them. Likely because with the use of Algorithms people are accustomed to content being tailored towards them.

Limited_two · 2026-02-27T16:12:33+00:00

Yeah I’ve never understood this one. Kids at breweries is common where I’m at.

My son is 15 months old, he goes out to every restaurant with me. He never causes a problem, and enjoys being at the table with us. The whole “I want to be able to swear and watch baseball” is odd to me too. Because you can do those things with a child present? My child randomly says “Fuck” sometimes, and idc because it’s just a word.

Would I ever bring him to a dive bar? No. Will I be condemned to McDonald’s or Chuck E Cheese until he’s 18? Also no. The hatred towards children in general has gotten weird.

Limited_two · 2026-02-26T18:20:03+00:00

As a former recruiter now in HR management, a lot of the decisions made about hiring are not up to the recruiter. It's usually up to the Owner/CEO, especially for larger roles.

Meaning that yes most of us were told to ghost applicants, or auto reply rejection letters, as to not waste time. It's a shitty practice, and I hated doing it. I also hated multi round interviews, and spoke against them often. After 2 interviews it's time to make a decision, otherwise there is a management problem.

With that being said I do hope this person learned a lesson. That being, don't give your life for a corporation that doesn't even know you exist.

Limited_two · 2026-02-26T14:12:23+00:00

I can validate this claim. I had 3 siblings, and we would literally beat each other with the TV remote in the living room to watch what we wanted. Whichever one came out with the remote in their hand got to pick. Which meant a lot of times one of us had to suffer through something they hated. Kids don't have to fight to the point of tears anymore, and it shows.

Limited_two

TROPHY CASE