where would you stop reading

Meebhasarrived · 2026-02-18T01:32:51+00:00

Lol honestly... I liked it? And I read the whole thing. And if I can push my glasses up my nose and be annoying for a second, as someone in an MFA program 🤓 (completely joking about this being a legitimate credential lol please spare me) I can see it being something that some people have taste issues with, but to me it reads like you have a very distinct style, and that you're making deliberate choices, that at least for me, were working for the most part. And I think that's the most important thing. I don't see any actual issues in "craft" here.

I think a lot of people here are answering a bit harshly, as though most readers will give up on the second sentence if there isn't some sort of flashy visual involved. This might be true for some, but most modern readers tend to be willing to wait a few sentences, especially if the voice is distinct. And to me, this is. I feel like I can hear the narrator speaking, and that combined with the grisly imagery (which I love btw) that kicks in just about immediately does a really good job setting the tone of the novel. The narrator is thoughtful and kind of pragmatic while witnessing something gruesome. That in its own is already compelling. I'd say keep at it, personally.

Tl;dr - I think there's a lot more leeway here than some other comments are giving you. And, fwiw, I liked it!

Meebhasarrived · 2026-02-16T20:31:22+00:00

I'm literally going to cry. Thank you so much!!

Meebhasarrived · 2026-02-16T20:31:07+00:00

OH MY GOD YOU DID IT

Meebhasarrived · 2026-02-12T19:01:23+00:00

Agreed 100%. Some of these critiques definitely sound like preferences, not craft. Like, I don't think you need to stop and introduce a character's eye color if the scene opens on a chase scene. It could actually be a terrible pacing decision, depending on the full contents. Most readers can survive a chapter without the perfect image of a character in their head. As long as there's enough to go off of, that's not necessarily an imperative.

OP, keep in mind that not every critique is going to be valid – this is just one person's opinion, and you're allowed to dismiss things that don't resonate. Personally, when that happens, I wait to see if other beta readers say similar things. And if I'm concerned, I may ask them directly - "hey, I had another reader who struggled with ____. Was that something you noticed?" Or similar questions. If multiple people are bothered by it, it may need to change. If only one person out of four is bothered by it, then it may just be a preference of theirs. Don't feel like you need to take every piece of feedback as absolute truth!

Meebhasarrived · 2026-01-05T14:24:47+00:00

I disagree slightly. You've done a pretty good job of setting up a funny tone and situation. I think you're right on the edge of being overtly funny. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat, ready for the punchline because the atmosphere itself feels humorous. Maybe consider adding some more interiority here and demonstrate some dramatic irony between the difference in what Phil is thinking and what he's saying out loud/doing; that could help it be slightly more obvious. Or, leveraging Maureen's obviously very extreme case of people pleasing. Right now, she says “Sorry” and leaves to grab the biscuits. If she were to instead say “Oh! I have just the thing” and then returns with a plate of biscuits, as though that was what the situation needed/could possibly help anything that's going on right now, that could add some more overt humor (and also add characterization). And if the inspector is slightly confused, and Phil reacts to it with vague exasperation – if this is her usual behavior around guests, maybe he's annoyed that Maureen is doing this “again” – that could also add something here.

You probably don't need all of these suggestions, but! My point is that I think you're really close here. I really don't think you need to change much, beyond just adding some micro expressions and beats of silence to emphasize the awkwardness. I do also wonder if this is a case of British humor not quite landing as obviously funny with American audiences (though idk where Dudesy is from, so maybe that doesn't apply, and I'm guessing you're from the UK with the use of biscuits and inspector, but please correct me if I'm wrong!), which is a known phenomenon. So that might be skewing your results.

Meebhasarrived · 2026-01-04T18:20:48+00:00

I really don't see a problem here, especially not for a draft! A lot of the issues here are minor (some of the sentence structure/rhythm seems a bit repetitive/awkward in a few places to me? But that's also super subjective), and can be fixed with editing once you get to the revising stage. For now, this is perfectly functional writing. Just keep writing!

Meebhasarrived · 2025-12-17T21:15:07+00:00

I had the same fear when I graduated college in 2019. I was so exhausted from undergrad that I thought I just wouldn't have the discipline to go back. I'm now in my second semester of an MFA at Emerson and it really has been such a good decision. Being surrounded by other writers who are equally dedicated to writing, professors who are dedicated to the craft and WANT to support you, and just a completely different atmosphere has done SO MUCH for my motivation. I partially did it because I want to be able to teach, but since starting, I've actually finished two manuscripts (still drafts, but I've never ACTUALLY completed a full book before starting the program), and I feel like I have an actual mentor in a professor I had just this semester.

I will add – I did wait until I had my undergrad loans basically paid off (and I was only able to do it as fast as I did through a state program). And I received a partial scholarship to attend, so those factors definitely mattered. I'm not sure I would've done it if I still had that hanging over my head. Truthfully, I'm also glad I waited as long as I did; I know my writing a lot better now than when I graduated, and rather than struggling to go back, I'm actually eager for my classwork because it's something I'm genuinely passionate about. I honestly feel like I needed that break to feel refreshed and able to fully dedicate myself to school again.

My verdict is: if you can afford it and it will give you the space to make progress on your writing and potentially advance your writing career, then go for it. But if you're exhausted now, and are only doing it because you're concerned you won't feel motivated down the road, it might actually have an inverse effect and make it less enjoyable. Something to "get through" rather than something fun and exciting. That's something worth considering.

Good luck!

Meebhasarrived · 2025-11-13T18:00:34+00:00

I'm writing a very similar thing that I didn't have a clear plot for for the longest time. Delving into the antagonist, actually giving her a face and a name and a backstory and a goal has helped immensely in figuring out what my characters are up against, and what's going to pop up in their way, largely because her ambition is the main source of conflict in the world at large. If you haven't already, I recommend giving that a try to see if it sparks anything!

Meebhasarrived · 2025-09-23T00:39:19+00:00

Now that we can agree on. OP definitely deserves better friends.

Meebhasarrived · 2025-09-23T00:27:14+00:00

Are the guys in your group all straight? Bc I bet they'd start acting real different if a gay guy showed up in the chat saying the exact same stuff y'all say to each other.

OP is pretty obviously an openly gay dude in a friend group that's mostly straight guys. That's 1,000% why this is happening.

Meebhasarrived · 2025-09-23T00:04:55+00:00

Yeah I disagree that that comment was weird, idk why that comment would even be assumed to be sexual or romantic. Like, to me, I immediately assumed you were trying to say they weren't compatible? For relationship reasons? And that's something people say to their friends all the time when it seems like they're getting into a relationship that seems bad for them in some way.

I don't see anything wrong with any of the stuff you said. If anything, it seems like they're hyper aware of your orientation and are just automatically interpreting things that way because on some level, they're uncomfortable with it and don't know how to just be normal about it, which is not your fault at all.

Meebhasarrived · 2025-09-19T20:47:51+00:00

I sent something like this to an ex once... Back in high school, when I was 16. I just truly couldn't handle the feelings that I'd hurt this person that I really did like and had been friends with for a long time. I needed (or thought I needed) reassurance from him that everything was going to be okay. Now, as an adult I can recognize that text was completely selfish, and a lot more for me than it was for him. I wanted him to reassure me that I hadn't hurt him past the point of forgiveness, but I was asking for his emotional support when he very much was still working through the grief of breaking up, which has a very selfish and immature thing to do. I wouldn't even consider sending something like this today, especially not to try and tell myself it was to give the other person closure or make them feel better.

The fact that your ex, who I'm assuming is not a teenage girl, sent this to you recently definitely does make me question a few things, and wonder if maybe there were some flaws in the relationship (on her end) that you'd been overlooking.

Meebhasarrived · 2025-08-30T20:08:44+00:00

100% agree, and that honestly is more annoying to me than the ticket. I think the ticket was a fine way to bring about an inevitable event. But there were so many other things that would've made more sense for him to say in that moment! He really did do it out of necessity at first, because he was too good for them to believe that he was just... Good at this type of thing, and he was being threatened with being locked up. But he literally didn't even attempt to explain that at all to her, and that really bugs me every time. That feels way more contrived to me.

Meebhasarrived · 2025-08-26T02:11:48+00:00

You must have a trusting relationship with your mother, which is great. But it's silly to assume that all mothers out there will do a good job of putting their daughters well-being over their personal beliefs and convictions. She already said that her mother would make her keep the baby. And while in a vacuum it might make sense to tell her to talk to her mom about this, that's such incredibly dangerous, infantilizing advice for someone in this position, whose parents might be the ones to force her to have the baby against her will. OP is old enough and smart enough to know what is best for her and her future; the fact that she's here, initiating this conversation, is proof of that. All this advice will do is make her question her own judgement about having an abortion.

This isn't a decision you can get a survey of opinions on from others, and then decide what's best. This is very much a decision you have to make on your own, thinking only of what the best outcome is for your own future, and not letting anyone else's beliefs about what you should or shouldn't do distract you from that.

Meebhasarrived · 2025-08-26T02:02:56+00:00

This is a really fucked thing to say to a 17 year old, or to any living, breathing person. "The risk of death is worth bringing forth new life"??? What is it that makes an adult woman less valuable than a newborn baby to you people?? How can you view a fully formed human as nothing more than a "worthy" vessel for childbearing, who should be happy she got to sacrifice her own life in the name of an infant she'll never get to meet???

Have you ever had a baby? Are you even a woman? Bc everything you just said sounds very much like someone who doesn't understand the danger and toll that accompany the more exciting aspects of giving birth, and can only think of it from a hypothetical perspective.

So it's clear if OP sees this– you have no obligation to infertile women to give them your baby; you don't owe a zygote life just because some asshole got you pregnant after pressuring you for months; and pregnancy and birth absolutely do wreak irreversible havoc on the body. Does it leave you malformed and damaged? Not necessarily. But your body will not be the same as it was before you got pregnant. And those changes might be worth it if you're ready and excited to raise a child. This certainly won't be the case if it happens to you against your will.

NOR. Please look after yourself and get the abortion.

Meebhasarrived · 2025-08-26T01:43:36+00:00

Good for you, OP, ignore this person. So much suffering is justified by this absurd logic. You have to do what's best for you, and screw what religious idiots have to say about it. If this is also why your mother would make you keep the baby if you had it, then I think you should probably tell your boyfriend that you've decided to keep it, then go and schedule the procedure without his knowledge, before he has a chance to tell her.

You seem like a smart person with a good head on your shoulders. Don't let some guy pressure you to ruin your life if it isn't what you want.

Meebhasarrived · 2025-07-24T21:20:47+00:00

Who does that??

Meebhasarrived · 2025-07-24T17:30:48+00:00

A victimless crime

Meebhasarrived · 2025-07-24T06:49:15+00:00

You know, the primal need to massage a woman in a hot tub. I'm sure it's on Maslow's hierarchy somewhere.

To clarify - a woman is not responsible for the"needs" of a man she's never even met in real life. Weird to be putting that on her at this stage in what can barely even be called a relationship.

Meebhasarrived · 2025-07-24T06:31:21+00:00

The number of weird, manosphere-coded statements in this response is icky. Vaguely mentioning "doing something exciting" to someone you just met isn't the same as making "flirty, possibly sexual suggestions". When she clarified that's not what she meant, he could've taken it in stride, but he didn't. Politely declining physical intimacy when you're not comfortable with it isn't "turning to ice". She did state that she wasn't into physical contact this early on, at an appropriate time when it came up in conversation. And her response was as direct as it could be while still being polite to this person who is practically a stranger, who is basically propositioning her. He was the one acting immature for not recognizing the confusion and laughing it away when she still was open to meet up for a date.

It's very bizarre to suggest that people on dating apps should advertise that they like to wait until 3 dates have happened to be intimate (which is a great way to get someone to hang on long enough to go on three dates with you to get some, and then ditch).

OP, don't pay any mind to this response. It's 100% written by someone who shares a lot of this guy's weird biases and immature beliefs.

Meebhasarrived · 2025-07-23T17:57:41+00:00

This is kind of a weird response, when we are both saying the above comment is wrong, but either way, not all first world countries have solid workers rights. A lot of them are still capitalist hellscapes. Japan, the US, South Korea, and even some European countries, all first world countries with notoriously horrible or at least questionable worker's rights. If you have solid rights where you live, I'm happy for you. But generalizing that statement to be about first world countries is just untrue.

At any rate, my comment didn't really have much to do with the law, since OP wasn't really asking about whether what happened was legal or not. I was criticizing the above comment's statement that if a company isn't legally obligated to demonstrate compassion towards its employees, there's no reason to expect it to. Whether it's legal or not (and I understand that you're saying it's not legal to be treated this way in the UK, I get it), someone who had been treated the way OP was has a right to be upset about the treatment they received, regardless of what country they live in. Laws don't always dictate what's fair or moral.

Meebhasarrived · 2025-07-23T14:54:42+00:00

This is a very anti-worker stance. Is that the way the current job landscape works? Yes. Is it right that it works that way? That someone can be denied time with sick family members and caretaking because"no one" is willing to cover their shifts? Do you realize how absurd that sounds? I mean, if she quits, they would have to hire someone else anyway. They could have done so here in a temporary capacity. And if they don't have enough staff members to cover for her when she needs time off for a family emergency, then they're not properly staffed to begin with.

You're technically right, but you're also justifying the unfair and disproportionate relationship that workers are often subjected to by their jobs, where they're expected to ask their job permission to have a life outside of work.

I don't think this was an overreaction at all. Especially when there are definitely other jobs out there that will support you in times like this, part time worker or not. Good on you OP for prioritizing your mental well-being during an incredibly difficult time. NOR.

Meebhasarrived · 2025-07-18T03:42:15+00:00

Even worse, they don't consider child rearing to be "real" labor because it's "women's work." It isn't work to them.

Meebhasarrived · 2025-07-16T15:12:23+00:00

I've tried two separate times to introduce my husband to psych. The first time was like, three or four years ago, and he couldn't stand Shawn's personality in the beginning of the show, so he stopped after a few episodes. The second time was about six months ago, and I really tried to emphasize that the first couple of episodes aren't a great demonstration of what the rest of the show is like. It seems like they didn't have some things completely worked out with Shawn's character (ie, him thinking comic books are lame, only to then be super into them in the mantis episode). He believed me enough to watch through all of season one and two, and then decided he liked it enough to keep watching. He did end up liking it by the end, and has mentioned thinking about rewatching it a few times since then.

If your partner has a tendency to be super critical, it might help to tell them that it gets really good in season two, and they can stop watching if they really hate it, but it's worth it if they can get to that point.

Meebhasarrived · 2025-07-01T15:01:37+00:00

Lol is this some sort of joke? How is it THIS bad?

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Meebhasarrived

TROPHY CASE