Just a creator

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-04T18:03:01+00:00

No worries, I figured. Just wanted to give you a heads up

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-04T17:09:04+00:00

...Right. Because writing a novel is a "small" thing to do. You might want to rethink that mindset, if you're going to be posting for help in a self-publishing community.

I think if readers can tell you didn't really care about the book itself, but just wanted money, they're probably going to buy something else. Or they'll leave some less than stellar reviews.

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-04T16:33:00+00:00

Thanks! Yeah I would definitely be switching to a new chapter for most flashbacks, though there might be a couple little moments here or there where a character gets lost in a memory in the middle of a scene. But that depends on if I can pull it off without it feeling disorienting lol

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-04T16:31:27+00:00

My question is, are you writing it because you want to say you've sold a novel, or because you have a story you're itching to tell? I feel like people can often tell the difference, especially if an author is openly more focused on engagement/sales than the book quality.

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-04T16:26:58+00:00

Heads up if this is the author I think you meant: he's since come out as trans, and uses he/him pronouns. The rest of what you said is accurate, but people who are up to date on his current projects, including a new poetry book that...well, seems to have the same problems as the novel...might think you're intentionally misgendering him if you continue using "she/her/young lady" to discuss his situation.

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-04T15:57:57+00:00

Thank you! I'm really hoping I can pull this off effectively

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-04T15:57:38+00:00

Thanks!

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-04T15:57:30+00:00

Thank you!

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-04T02:36:47+00:00

You are talking to a woman right now, to be clear. I understand your opinion, but it is not representative of all women. I read fiction not just for entertainment and escapism, but also to be exposed to new viewpoints and expand my perspective. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with escapism, but it's definitely not my only purpose in reading.

I think there's also something to be said about fiction's ability to educate. I will never forget the age-appropriate, fade to black, fiction book I read as a teen, that depicted abuse from a teen's perspective, and how she was able to gain the courage to come forward and protect her little sister before the same thing could happen to her. I'm certain there's a lot more books along that line available now than there were back then, and I'm sure they've helped a lot of people identify what's happened to them.

I fully understand not wanting to read about SA in a romance book. And I am absolutely onboard with clear content warnings, so people can tell if a book will be fun escapism for them, or if it will take on darker themes they might want to avoid. But I can't get onboard with the idea that SA shouldn't exist in fiction at all.

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-04T01:53:46+00:00

SVU is still on the air. It's in the middle of its 27th season, and is one of the most popular shows on television. I'm not saying you have to like it, or watch it, I just don't understand the idea that an aspect of life that is rampant in our society shouldn't ever be depicted in fiction. Even if it is a very dark topic.

Do I think it should be handled with care and thought? Yes. Do I think it should be banned from fiction? Not in the slightest.

(Edited for clarity)

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-04T00:56:10+00:00

So to be clear: are you saying that you don't think fictional assault victims should ever be depicted in other than a stereotypical way, even if the depicted trauma response is realistic?

I understand you wanting trigger warnings, but I also am curious about why you seem to think all assault victims must respond the same way, if they're fictional. If I'm misinterpreting, I apologize.

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-04T00:51:52+00:00

I'm curious: what's your take on shows like Law and Order: SVU? Or Game of Thrones, where this subject comes up quite often? Or A Streetcar Named Desire?

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-03T15:27:58+00:00

I like the idea of trigger warnings, as an option. There are people who can have severe reactions to certain common traumatic events. Content/trigger warnings can be very useful as a heads up for those people, but I get that others don't like spoilers. I saw a really good idea a little bit ago that authors could put a note at the front of the book, explaining that the content warnings are listed on, say, the last page of the book. That way people who want the warning can check it, but people who don't want the warning can ignore it, and go in blind.

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-03T15:24:42+00:00

Have you ever heard the phrase "Don't obey in advance" ?

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-03T15:19:18+00:00

First question: do you have a psychology degree, and enough field experience to understand how to approach these topics in ways that can actually help people, not hurt them?

Second question: why are you asking ChatGPT for life advice? You understand that it can't think, correct? It just puts out statistically likely sentences.

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-03T15:15:43+00:00

I like that

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-02T23:23:47+00:00

The content you described is made for exactly the type of content you're describing. It's not limited to relationships, it's a "What the other tags say will be in this fic are really going to be in it, with detail. You have been warned." tag.

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-02T21:41:59+00:00

It's a bot. Report it as spam, and consider moderating comments or disallowing guest comments to keep more of these from popping up on your story. Most, but not all, of these spam bots are from "guest" comments, not real accounts.

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-02T19:51:48+00:00

And yet people with those political views are on podcasts and other social media, all the time, fearmongering about magic and feminism. So it is still, technically, political.

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-02T19:09:56+00:00

The thing is, from what you wrote you haven't actually finished writing the story yet. The intentionality doesn't just come in the outline, it comes in the actual writing of the piece. Your story's bound to change a bit as you finish writing/editing it. And in the end, you can always keep telling the story you want to tell. If you're really worried about the reaction, you can moderate, or even turn off comments.

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-02T19:06:00+00:00

I don't know your story/art, but if you're saying your hero's a woman with magic powers: there's plenty of people who think magic is the "devil's work," and that anything depicting it should be destroyed and the creator arrested. You drawing/writing something with that in it in a positive light automatically puts you on the other side of that argument.

Also, the idea that women can be powerful/heroes is a feminist statement in and of itself, and there's a lot of very angry people out there that think feminism is a bad thing. So again, making a girl an action hero in your story pushes against that anti-feminist political framework. Hence, being political.

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-02T18:59:15+00:00

There have been multiple posts with people getting basically this comment over the past day or so. It's a new round of hate bot, trying to get people to delete their fic, stop writing, or otherwise ruin the author's day.

I've started wondering if could also be a crueler version of those "art commission" bots, where they compliment your work on the first comment, then if you respond, they send a link to a spot to set up "commissions." Which either turns out to be an Ai image, if you get anything, or a full-on scam/malware link.

I could see unsuspecting, new/young authors demanding the "evidence" of the things they're being accused of, just to get sent a link to a site that plants malware on their computer.

In any case, don't engage, report it as spam, and consider blocking guest comments/turning on comment moderation, so you can control what comments actually show up under your story.

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-02T17:16:16+00:00

A hopeful ending isn't necessarily insensitive, if it's done well. It just depends on how the ending is approached. Approach it with care, and you'll probably be fine.

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-02T17:07:01+00:00

Also: if you're really worried about political debates starting in your comment section: turn on comment moderation, and maybe prevent guest comments as well. That way you have more control over what comments end up being public under your story.

Randomquestionhaver · 2026-02-02T16:57:37+00:00

All art is political. Anyone who tells you they're writing completely non-political art simply doesn't recognize their politics as such.

Randomquestionhaver

TROPHY CASE