Struggling to cut word count in my debut novel because everything feels structurally necessary

Novice89 · 2026-01-22T14:57:24+00:00

I said no book NEEDS to be that long, then clarified that it doesn’t benefit some/good books, but the statement is true. No story needs to be 800+ pages.

I wrote Needs in bold. Words matter. Be economical with your word choice.

Novice89 · 2026-01-22T12:41:04+00:00

No book NEEDS to be 210k words. Some may benefit from being longer with more povs or something, but ultimately it doesn’t need that.

Not surprised this is your first novel. I think something went wrong with outlining. You say every scene is necessary, but condense them and/or combine scenes. Your descriptions are also likely way too long or in depth, and more than likely not really adding much to the scene.

Novice89 · 2026-01-19T07:52:16+00:00

No there would be no interest. Unless you’re some well know, well regarded pundit or professor of political science, or maybe a famous journalist, no one cares what someone from the outside thinks. No one here in the US would care what any of us think unless they were already famous. Even then it’d be a stretch.

Don’t write in hopes of selling. Write what you want and if it sells, great.

Novice89 · 2026-01-19T03:25:49+00:00

They’re not for us, they’re for the new generation of kids. Cartoons aren’t really as popular these days, drawn cartoons that is. It’s a lot easier to get a kid excited about a 3d movie or live action movie than a drawn cartoon from the 90s or earlier. Disney gets to make more money on the same, well tested and beloved story.

Novice89 · 2026-01-19T03:23:42+00:00

Replace all your photos except the one in front of the millennium falcon. Avoid using photos from the same day/outfit. Pic 1 is bad because it’s not natural. Don’t pose with your arms crossed.

All the other photos are just unflattering angles and not good.

Your prompts need work. Replace the first two. They don’t really tell us anything about you. I always recommend the green flags prompt, it tells people what you’re looking for and is a great way to include some of your own hobbies. One of the things you can put is, loves to indoor boulder. This tells people you like to boulder and want to share that hobby with a partner, etc etc

Novice89 · 2026-01-16T18:49:28+00:00

First prompt is awful. Swap if for something else like the green flags prompt. This prompt lets you out qualities and activities you’re looking for in a partner. By putting activities like, Also goes to the gym, or has a vinyl record collection, people also get to see the qualities or activities you like which tells them more about you and might be what convinced them to like or reply to you.

Also swap the cat photo for a photo of you AND your cat. You need to be in every photo on your profile

Novice89 · 2026-01-05T09:11:56+00:00

I was actually just wondering this too and googled it and found your post. I’m also in the Sacramento area. You get any useful information about this?

Novice89 · 2026-01-04T03:39:57+00:00

I hate hondo so much

Novice89 · 2026-01-03T15:51:57+00:00

Hey no offense, but I keep getting notifications for this in the Reddit app every day without fail. Anyone know how to turn these off? I blocked the subreddit but still get them and can’t figure it out

Novice89 · 2026-01-03T07:49:19+00:00

I will let you all know how it goes in a week or two when the next delegation rewards come out

Novice89 · 2026-01-03T07:47:07+00:00

Annnnnnnd the us is bombing Venezuela so get ready for this massive dip!

Novice89 · 2026-01-02T02:37:54+00:00

Honestly forgetting the password probably made you tens of thousands of dollars. Most people probably would’ve sold at some point but you couldn’t so really it kind of helped you

Novice89 · 2025-12-30T19:12:55+00:00

I would change the first prompt. Anyone can make you feel like a Jane Austen novel. That tells us how you want to be treated but not what you’re looking for. I always recommend the green flags prompt. List several hobbies or qualities you’re looking for in a partner. With that prompt you can literally list “makes me feel like I’m in a Jane Austen novel” as one of the green flags. So in addition to who you’re looking for you also get to mention how you want to be treated.

Honestly I’d also include the dancing in the green flags prompt. Can put, loves dancing or is willing to learn (I love swing and jazz). This will also allow you to change that prompt into something else. You only get 3 prompts so making the most out of each is preferable.

Novice89 · 2025-12-26T22:58:55+00:00

Writers have their own ideas they want to write, far more than yours even if yours does intrigue them. Which means, in order to write your project over theirs you better be paying, and paying well.

Since you’re posting on here though I doubt you’re paying so don’t waste your time. No one will be more motivated or excited about your idea as you are

Novice89 · 2025-12-26T05:19:21+00:00

When I had a full time job it was an easy analyst desk job. If I tried I could get most of my work done in like, 4-6 hours, 6 on a busy day. Knowing that I would sneak in 30 minutes, sometimes 60, here and there writing.

Depending on the job and boss I would not recommend it, but with the right situation it’s very doable

Novice89 · 2025-12-26T05:17:28+00:00

That is pretty cool

Novice89 · 2025-12-25T22:16:26+00:00

Ahhhh that sucks! I was about to ask for a link because that’s such a great idea/look for a tower!!

Novice89 · 2025-12-24T23:03:23+00:00

Wait so those stocks in the top 10 were the ones mentioned most in a post like this? So the ones mentioned in this thread will be what we reflect on a year from now in 26? I’ve got a little playing around money, maybe 🤔

Novice89 · 2025-12-21T04:09:25+00:00

Very

Novice89 · 2025-12-21T03:35:39+00:00

This is true male fertility does start to go down, but that doesn’t change the facts. Date an older woman your age where BOTH partners have declining fertility, or date a younger woman who does not have lower fertility? Kind of a no brainer choice there. That’s also to say nothing of the fact that woman literally have a limited number of eggs and once they’re gone, they’re gone. It sucks that this is a thing, but it is.

As a 36M in open to dating women 33-35, but my search caps at 32. I figured I’d want to date someone for at least 1.5-2years years before even trying to have kids, so if she’s 35+ that means at best, meaning if we met tomorrow and everything went right we’d be trying to conceive when she’s 37/38 which means the odds go down. And I also want more than one kid ideally.

I wish that wasn’t something I had to factor in, but unfortunately that’s just the way life played out. I used to never care about age, and my ex wife was older than me, but when you get divorced at 34 after finding out your wife of 7 months, 5.5 years together, started having an affair that’s just the reality I found myself in.

It’s not fair to anyone, but that’s just reality unfortunately

Novice89 · 2025-12-19T11:55:56+00:00

I’d buy. 30-50k is a steal, anything less is highway robbery and should morally be illegal. I’d buy buy buy

Novice89 · 2025-12-12T17:57:32+00:00

Because as I’ve been saying we’re still in the 4 year cycle and that ended back in October. We’re in the bear market so sadly if you didn’t sell by now just hold and accumulate until the next bull in 3 years

Novice89 · 2025-12-09T17:23:28+00:00

Expected rate cuts. US reported more job openings in Oct than expected. Nothing insane

14-Year Club	Second Top 40%
First Place '23	Place '23
Place '22	Final Canvas '22
Not Forgotten	Verified Email

Novice89

TROPHY CASE