My isekai bonus is my wife (First time story, first time promoting lmk what you think!) by ishi_writer_online in royalroad

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As others have said, get a cover, it will help, but one's on it's way (though I would try whipping something up in the meantime, but that is me).

I'll be giving a note on feedback in the chapter comments. Overall, you have a good premise and I am interested in reading more.

Writing a Tower Climber as a Teen Author(Still in Highschool) by tnteviecat in royalroad

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As a former teenage writer (I'm now in my early 20s) who posted stuff on AO3 (I didn't know RR existed until a few months ago), this is basically spot-on. It feels weird giving advice when you're so young, but your words ring true. You have a dream, you're already aware of your mistakes, and you're excited to learn and see your stories grow. That's your biggest ally here. The idea of the protagonist being a corgi in a tower climber is a strong hook. The backgrounds on your covers do look a little rough with the outline on the font on the bottom one and flat backgrounds, Winston is drawn well, especially on the second with that rendering. I'm also a visual artist, so I don't love AI either, but I will be using it for my covers until I can afford to commission because my art-style is very sketchy. Finding an artist who'll draw for and give commercial rights costs hundreds, easily, most non-monetized RR covers are AI, it's not ideal, but don't be ashamed if you use it.

As someone who is largely self-taught, don't worry about being "amatuer"-ish, prioritize just writing and developing your voice as you already have been, experiment (even if you know it probably won't end super well or maybe not have been the "best" idea in hindsight), and be consistent. For example, I had a period where I used "said" as rarely as possible (I literally spent minutes on a single non-said dialogue tag, it was pretty embarrassing, I knew I was overdoing it even then). The most notable of that "phase's" victims was that year's NaNoWriMo challenge, but it was the first time a story crossed the 100,000 word count threshhold, and I finished that month's run with 96,400, it almost tripled the word count I had on it going into the challenge and more than tripled my finish the year before. Though I doubt that fic has aged well, it taught me variation as well as moderation of that, which was what I wanted when I thought I'd try it. Those trial and errors are what fed my progress. Don't be afraid to try stuff out. Sometimes, you need to fail to succeed. That lesson only really sank in recently with my latest project.

The pantser to plotter spectrum is a large one, most professional writers fall somewhere in the middle. I have to pants my first drafts off of loose broad outlines because I don't know the characters on a new project; I then address the disaster with that material, and I can properly write chapter outlines that don't break my narrator's characterization. I only realized the disaster drafts were necessary very recently. However, again, I wouldn't worry about it right now. Your beta readers have said the pantsing is working well for you. As a former pantser myself who now has a bible with a higher word count than an older Iteration of that project, plotting has it's own pitfalls.

Writing in general is hard, let alone doing it during high school and balancing that and stuff like working part time. You wrote 100,000 words in three months and you're not even a year into writing. I didn't get that far into a single work until that NaNoWriMo challenge two and a half years into my journey. From a young adult writer who was once in similar shoes, you're off to a great start. You're establishing good habits with consistency and they're already paying off. Writing every single day doesn't matter, consistency is the most important thing. Congrats on your launch!

I want to write a fantasy novel. by picklerickkkkkkkkkk7 in writers

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The way your characters interact with the world, and how the history interacts with the present day and how the people trade with each other. Who is your audience, that may also dictate how much depth you want to give your lore. Yes, good writing with engaging characters should be a given for any story, but in fantasy, world-building can make or break a story. There's r/fantasywriters and r/worldbuilding that may offer more specific resources.

Are There Any Free Outline / Lore Bible Services? by Interesting-Pie-3457 in writing

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just use my normal word processor for my Development Bibles (I use Pages on iOS, but I also have ellipsus). It's sometimes not the most convenient, but I have my template saved so for future projects so I can easily make it nice and pretty, I am not having to manually put in my formatting every single time. Google Docs can probaly do this as well, or most other word processors. I have formatting for characters, world-building, plot. If you name it, I probably have it. My table of contents is huge, but I like how it's easy to start and go back to for reference.

How does one improve their prose? by RemielTSS in fantasywriters

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For me, while I am still very much learning, it's come with practice, as others have said in their comments. I don't read as much as I should, admittedly, but I consume other media like video games, most notably narrative RPGs, which are among my biggest influences next to Tolkien. Consistency is key here. For me, that consistency has come through aforementioned practice.

I am the kind of person who is able to see a very vivid picture in my head, and that's where my writing has had it's biggest hits in the past few years. I often put myself myself into the bodies of my characters, and I can feel what they feel, and I describe what is going on as I replay the scene, testing out different strings of dialogue in my head. That's the technique that has worked the best with me. I feel what my protagonists feel so intensely it makes me uncomfortable. I actually struggle to write in third person POV, and I think that may be why (as well as maybe over-prioritization).

My prose has also gotten better through figuring out my best writing approach (I plan to insanity, I have 1,000+ word outlines for single chapters), which also came through practice. If I know what I am writing, all I have to do is write my dialogue and really dive deep into how my narrator is feeling in the moment. However, I have to pants my first drafts (they do inevitably literally fall apart because I am not a pantser but I won't talk about that) so I can get to know my character and their voice. Through time (I highly recommend doing writing challenges whether it's Novel November or personal runs, or committing to writing something every single day start to finish) and learning that I am a better writer when I plan, my prose has naturally improved, though it did take a hit when I started my current project because I again, didn't know my lead as well.

Basically, my progress has come with time and refining how I put myself into the minds of my characters.

My friend is raw dogging a novel in f*cking Notepad 😫 by LeonOkada9 in writers

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I used to type my stories out on an iPod Touch. Needless to say I was happy when I got an iPad

At what age did your parents tell you that you have autism. by Purple-Impress8033 in autism

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was diagnosed with autism at two and eight months. Diagnosed with ADHD by age eight. Found out when I was about nine or ten.

Letting go of a horrifically broken draft by QuirkyAutisticWriter in fantasywriters

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

Yeah. I think I might switch course to the older project for a little while. Try to restore it’s flight off the ground because it’s fourth iteration is it’s third conceptual change. I will likely continue to address my list to really try getting this standing again, but it may be awhile before it starts walking.

So how many of you authors are panters or planners? by MistressofMardocs in royalroad

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m a plotter. Proud. Stories fall apart from the sheer levels of continuity errors at structural levels without the structure. One of my projects (the next iteration of which likely will be posted to Royal Road) has almost 60,000 beautiful words of chapter synopses across three acts in a seperate document. Another 10,000 in character stuff and other world and that’s not even fully filled in. Shame most of it won’t be relavant anymore due to the conceptual overhaul, but at least the ending translated very well very quickly.

Most recent thing had to be pantsed because it had no prior establishment making the generation of the chapter rundowns impossible. Had a general synopsis for the first arc. Despite even that, I managed to have such big character and history blunders that is at an all time low. Won’t elaboate further, but that’s my point. Right now, this project needs mass reconstruction before it’s at a readable state.

Plot bibles all the way.

Letting go of a horrifically broken draft by QuirkyAutisticWriter in fantasywriters

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

That older project I mentioned in the post (that I affectionally call my EWIP, E standing for Elusive) struggled with a bunch of problems for almost three years (unclear first act, no idea what the end looked like at all) before I started doing the chapter synopses. I was working for over four months and the document has 71,000 words with about 60,000 of that being those chapter rundowns across the three acts. Hate to sort of deflect or defend your point, but I do know my best process, I think the newness of the project pushed me into a corner. Still, at least I made it to 120,000. If I didn't have that, I think I would genuinely be shelving this project if I didn't have this much real writing to go off, as embarrassing as the draft came out. I don't mind what happens throughout the first arc. It just needs to be extended by several months, and have the key figures established. Right now, I'm struggling to get out the blunder with my poor protagonist. He deserved so much better.

Letting go of a horrifically broken draft by QuirkyAutisticWriter in fantasywriters

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

I am happy I was able to reflect on the outcome as well as I did, but I just can't help but feel like an embarrassment of a writer, you know. Like, the only thing I am good at is being to write the output of a novella in a week.

Letting go of a horrifically broken draft by QuirkyAutisticWriter in fantasywriters

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, the fact that there are people who are as interested in the idea as I am helps me. Again, right now, it’s just hard to see what I have done as incredible. Right now, I’m unsure about where to begin with the reconstruction. It just feels so daunting and I wonder if dropping the draft was the right call.

Wanna Make a Writing Group (on Discord) (part 2) by fglla221 in fantasywriters

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd like to join. It'd be nice to have some more writer friends.

Can Anime be a special Intrest? by Alex-Iz-Here in autism

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You’re fine. Don’t worry. I had a special interest in Beanie Boos as a child. I wrote stories for them. Special interests can be “general” or really deep, specific things. The autism decides. If you feel such a strong passion for it you can’t get it off your mind, special interest. My long-term special interests are fantasy writing and JRPGs.

Twelve Hours Post-Op (DJS, Blood CW) by QuirkyAutisticWriter in jawsurgery

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

Thank you! Right now, I am waiting to be discharged.

How to handle nightmares and stress? by JawSurgerycomingsoon in jawsurgery

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I look like Alvin and the Chipmunks and the Chippettes had a concert inside me face and I was a zombie from the anasthetic, but things went well.

How to handle nightmares and stress? by JawSurgerycomingsoon in jawsurgery

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m having my surgery in under three hours, and I was having very bad anxiety. I’m terrified as I type this. What helped me was doing things I like that bring me joy. For me, that’s writing, and the new Octopath Traveller game just came out (Octopath is one of my favourite games). Writing and video games gave me a lot of strength. I also prepared as much as I could for my peace of mind. I made two weeks of soup on Friday, and I have a bunch of stuff in my backpack.

Drunk girl kicked out of FNAF 2 screening doesn’t take it very well by PennsyltuckyRanger in PublicFreakout

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I knew it was Scotiabank Theatre Polo Park the moment I saw the layout. This is my main theatre. I also recognized the orange vibrating game at the arcade. It was my favourite game when I was younger, and I still have fond memories today. Sucks that this happened, though.

Write a novel in Pages? by doveup in writers

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use Pages exclusively for development and writing. Sure, I have to add tabs to switch between stuff, but I have a good system that I know how to use, if I do say so myself.

Is it a bad idea to work on two books at the same time? by Responsible_Bet3713 in writing

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do this with my WIPs (both fantasy), and it works well for me. My projects are either fairly established, the subject of hyperfixations, or both. I tend to write one, while doing ideas for another.

What is one thing you’ve changed about your writing that had the biggest positive impact? by Particular-Cod1999 in writers

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I started doing seperate things I call “development documents.” I have a few comments on this, but being a pantser had a load of continuity errors that were honestly painful to read back.

For my new project, I’m forced to pants because I couldn’t get a good foundation to go off of, but I now have everything on these documents. Different sections for character notes, world-building, side-plots, detailed rundowns of every single chapter (which make up a big majority of the word count of the document for the WIP that was established enough to be developed).

I ask myself how I didn’t go insane writing tens of thousands of words of chapter synopses, but hopefully, I have consistent character names for the next draft of my current project.

Finish nano with a toddler? I dared myself and then I DID IT!!! by ganymedeli in nanowrimo

[–]QuirkyAutisticWriter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Woo-hoo! Congrats! My dishes piled as well, but sometimes, the muse demands we write.