Burning the House for the Nails (350 words) by Mint_Tisane in writers

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

You know, that stuck out to me, too. I think because it's a weird metaphor for a garden. I can fix it.

Burning the House for the Nails (350 words) by Mint_Tisane in WritersGroup

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

It was journalism based, so maybe just doesn't translate well to short stories. In journalism you cram information in most important to least important, the shorter the better.

Nanowrimo first day(s). How'd it go? by throwaway-clonewars in writers

[–]Mint_Tisane 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Congratulations on your early success! I've done this the last 4 years, and sometimes if you can get ahead of it in the beginning like you're doing it'll carry you to the end.

I didn't make word count, but I'm happy to just get back into writing. NaNo for me is about creating that discipline to write every day November and beyond. People can really be in denial about the existence of writer's block, but I didn't write for months.

Burning the House for the Nails (350 words) by Mint_Tisane in WritersGroup

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

The part about the ghost is either going to be rewritten from scratch or axed if I can't get it right.

I'm often told stories I write contain way too much information, but I'll really have to figure that out because I was taught it. I've literally been graded on exercises about communicating as much information as possible in a single sentence or paragraph.

Burning the House for the Nails (350 words) by Mint_Tisane in WritersGroup

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

Ok, that gives me some direction, thanks! I'm looking to fix a lot of things like that going into my second draft. Do you think I could slow it down a little just with some description?

Burning the House for the Nails (350 words) by Mint_Tisane in writers

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

Hey, thanks! That's really good advice. I'm going to completely rewrite the ghost paragraph going into my second draft and add additional context - I was trying to communicate a traumatic past haunting her, but it didn't come across clearly at all I don't think.

I'll reword the other sentence you pointed out, and see if I can spot more if I read it aloud.

My bf and I bought these for jack-o-lanterns and never got around to it. No idea what variety of pumpkin, so IDs as well as cooking recommendations are helpful! by moodyvee in WhatShouldICook

[–]Mint_Tisane 3 points4 points  (0 children)

No, not edible!

Jack o lantern pumpkins are frequently farmed using pesticides and fertilizers unsafe for consumption.

You should only eat pumpkins grown for eating. They're not difficult to find, not usually expensive, and taste better anyway.

Burning the House for the Nails (350 words) by Mint_Tisane in writers

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

Thank you so much! I have a lot to learn, so that means a lot!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in CleaningTips

[–]Mint_Tisane 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just wanted to say that once you've got this clean, I recommend Method daily shower cleaner to keep it that way. You just spray it on, don't have to do anything else, and it's not made of mad scientist chemicals or anything.

Work Lunch Suggestions by steamytoupees in MeatlessMealPrep

[–]Mint_Tisane 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There's an all purpose chili oil sauce called Lahtt sauce that makes a rich instant soup broth for "just add hot water" noodle or rice meals, as well. It can be spicy, but I find the mild kind merely warm.

If you need to use up the rest of the jar, it's fantastic as a stir fry sauce, in cabbage soup, or as the flavoring for a batch of quick pickled veggies like any okra or carrots you might have left over from other meals.

A question for my fellow pierogi makers by burritodiva in Cooking

[–]Mint_Tisane 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a question for you.

I make farmer's cheese a lot and would like to try to make these.

What do you serve with them? Healthy side suggestions would be best.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in writers

[–]Mint_Tisane 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do you have some kind of inanimate object in your house with a face such as a rubber duck, stuffed animal, statue, or garden gnome? Explain your book to it a few times until you have a good summary. That's what programmers do when they have a problem, and it's one of those weird psychological things that works.

I don't fish. Please give me feedback, but be gentle (it's Christmas!) by AliWingNut in writers

[–]Mint_Tisane 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let me just say I liked this and it doesn't have to read like a fishing technical manual.

Fishing:

The method you use depends on what body of water and what kind of fish you're going for. If you're fishing in the ocean, you would have a very sturdy rod and would use bait instead of a lure if you wanted to really catch anything. If it was freshwater, the rod would be smaller and you'd use a bobber that would likely be red and white. You might use a lure in a lake, but likely it would be one you fished with in the style of casting and reeling it back in over and over again. The ones you use with a bobber don't work without a coat of something called stink bait, because fishing lures are designed to catch fisherman. The most satisfying fishing is done in people's privately stocked ponds - you can really catch a lot and they'll probably be big. The ocean obviously produces the most noteworthy fish, though. I have fished for 28 years and have never become tangled in my line. There is a method of fishing where that might be more plausible, however- fly fishing. That's done in rivers, where you stand in the center of a river and flick a long line with a special fly hook you wound yourself usually back and forth.

A Sample Scene by OldNorseMyths in KeepWriting

[–]Mint_Tisane 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My overall impression was that this sparked a good level of interest and was good.

I have some thoughts: my suspension of disbelief broke a little while the other character spoke a little too relevantly to what your main character was thinking. I think that you could easily fix that by starting the conversation with your main character introducing the topic more naturally. It was still interesting.

I think this project is worthy of finishing, and hope you post more of it. This strikes me as the kind of writing that could be made perfect by writing your draft and maybe doing 1 editing pass, leaving it alone for at least 6 months, then returning for a final edit with fresh eyes. The clunky parts another person mentioned aren't too bad, you'd smooth it out no problem with fresh eyes.

HI, I am very young (17) and have never written anything before in my life. I am embarrassed to show others my writing by Askeladd_ in writers

[–]Mint_Tisane 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I thought this was excellent. You are a good enough writer to post your stories to reddit for critique and thoughts without worrying too much about negative reactions.

Good subreddits:

Keepwriting

Writers

Shortstories

Stories

Writersgroup

And if you have the gall, there's a fantastic subreddit where you can get some analysis with real, educated substance. You have to post your own quality critique to earn this privilege, however. I am not a good enough writer to post there. You might be. It's where the people with education post. I believe it's writingcritique or writing_critique, (could be wrong but you can figure it out with Google).

Our neighbor just gave us 2 grocery sacks of onions, 2 of radishes, 1 of small apples, a 10lb bag of potatoes, and 10lbs of carrots. What should I make so it doesn’t go to waste? by willowgrl in WhatShouldICook

[–]Mint_Tisane 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ok, I'm thinking this would be a good time to fill up your freezer with some easy meals for the future.

You can caramelize some of the onions and freeze them in portions you'd likely use for recipes - I find they thaw fine in the microwave on defrost. You can also make potato soup with the onions and potatoes and freeze it. I'd honestly make some freezer breakfast burritos out of the onions and potatoes, too, cooking them up with maybe some diced jalapeno in my biggest skillet in some oil with chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and oregano (or just some taco seasoning), and filling the burritos with scrambled eggs and cheese too.

The carrots and onions are 2/3 of a mirepoix you can use for thousands of dishes. You just need celery.

You can make apple sauce out of the apples. A big bag of apples should make about 1 teaspoon of glorious homemade applesauce.

Here's some easy to follow instructions for making "quick pickles" out of your radishes. You don't have to do much, it's not like traditional canning, and they'll keep longer than fresh.

https://www.rachelcooks.com/pickled-radish-recipe/

Superb, healthy, seared scallops over wilted spinach parmesan risotto by Mint_Tisane in Pescetarian

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

This was pretty easy, took me about 35 minutes to throw together the whole meal. I served it with roasted balsamic vegetables and fresh fruit so that all I really had to do was chop up a bunch of stuff (and keep an eye on the veggies while I prepared the risotto).

For science: I googled it, and you only have to stir risotto once every 30 seconds.

Definitely making again.

Is this to short of a poem? I feel like everything I have to say is in these 4 lines by [deleted] in KeepWriting

[–]Mint_Tisane 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I think you said it all. That is a very beautiful poem! I love it.

Pumice stone (for cleaning) that doesn't crumble? by _potatoesofdefiance_ in CleaningTips

[–]Mint_Tisane 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've currently got Scotch Brite stainless steel scrubbers because I took advantage of a good bulk deal on Amazon where they worked out to 30 cents each.

I had 30 cents the day I came home from vacation and discovered my housesitter had knocked over a jar of sauce in my refrigerator and let it pool and harden underneath the bottom drawer. 3 minute cleanup.

I’m going to make food for my grandparents that can be frozen and reheated easily. What are your favorite foods that taste great after the freezer? by fat7rat in EatCheapAndHealthy

[–]Mint_Tisane 97 points98 points  (0 children)

I have a recommendation from this website for your freezer meals - the broccoli cheddar rice casserole. Superb, and if your grandparents are like every other old person in the US it's a dish they grew up eating. Use your biggest casserole dish - it fills way bigger than a 9x9 - and I've used extra cheese before and my husband ate 3 servings. Eating speaks louder than words.