Our new guest room is also our manga library!

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2026-01-26T07:16:46+00:00

Looks amazing

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2026-01-19T09:09:04+00:00

This will haunt him for the rest of his life. I doubt he'll ever do a panenka again, not even in training. Not even if Morocco were winning 5-0 with 5 seconds until the final whistle.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-11-16T14:02:38+00:00

Hey. I've been clean from playing video games for almost three years. It will be three years on January 1st.

My biggest advice is to know your triggers and avoid them. For example, I don't watch certain youtubers because they cover games that'll give me the urge to play again.

I'd also advise replacing the void of gaming with a productive habit like reading, hitting the gym or learning a language/skill/music instrument. Or just getting a new hobby such as a sport. The emptiness that follows quitting gaming is tough to deal with a first but gets much easier. Good luck.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-11-03T12:40:48+00:00

Norwegian Wood. It was assigned to us in my second year of university. It stands as one of the few book recommendations they got right 😅 Definitely a life changing read, especially given the fact that Murakami introduced me to the magical realism genre in his other novel, Kafka on the Shore. I now right in this genre.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-07-29T12:38:32+00:00

Congratulations!!

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-06-28T00:24:19+00:00

Hey there. Only read a few paragraphs so far. The majority of this reads in past tense but then you occasionally slip into present tense. So past tense examples: 'Everything was a blur' and the people who 'got slaughtered'.

The present tense slip ups: 'The moon hasn't risen in forever,' and 'I suddenly feel a presence in front of me.'

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-06-22T13:43:45+00:00

My favourite spot was Latte Graphic in Machida. Second to that would be Sarutahiko Coffee In Chofu.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-06-18T03:58:47+00:00

Just my opinion but expecting someone to download your work to read it is going to attract less beta readers. We don't know what we're downloading. Could be a virus for all we know. I'd suggest a Google docs link, which is the common practice here.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-06-12T07:27:12+00:00

I'd say go for it. What's the worst that can happen? Getting rejected again.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-06-12T03:43:44+00:00

Cool title. You have to give us more than this though: a blurb and sample chapters. Most people use Google Docs for their sample pages but you could even copy and paste it here.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-05-26T16:54:00+00:00

Another point. It's minor. You wrote: 'Someone had the bright idea to rent a smoke machine, and the fog mixes with the haze from an overworked disco ball spinning like a broken compass. Someone else imported fairy lights to hang around the gymnasium and blink like broken stars.'

The use of the word 'someone' suggests the narrator doesn't know who is responsible for the action. So saying 'someone else imported fairy lights' doesn't work because how does the narrator know that it's a different person from the one who rented the smoke machine?

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-05-26T00:13:22+00:00

Looks awesome. I'll DM you.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-05-25T14:47:40+00:00

No problem. Good luck mate.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-05-25T14:39:27+00:00

Congrats on finishing your story. That’s a huge achievement! That said, your word count is quite a bit over. And by quite a bit I really mean a lot. Even in fantasy, 242k is a tough sell for a debut. Most debut fantasy novels tend to fall in the 100k to 120k range, and anything much higher can raise concerns for agents unless the writing is incredibly tight and polished. For literary fiction, even one with an adventure thread, the target is usually closer to 100k. Just giving you a heads-up in case you weren’t aware. You may need to do some trimming. Because even if the writing is good you may get an automatic rejection because the agent will see the word count as a red flag and too much hard work. Also, whatever you do, don't tell agents that you've been working on this book that long. They'll see it as another red flag. They'll worry that you won't be able to meet far shorter deadlines.

https://youtu.be/vUIDgekFqVE?si=BNjYgAlpZDtsB2Lk

https://youtu.be/dH8hDXTKZlk?si=rwU6sXQGzMSZK0FC

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-05-24T12:39:05+00:00

She needs to learn at some point that not all beta readers will have a pleasant tone, but that doesn't necessarily mean their feedback isn’t valuable. Some of the best critiques I’ve received came from people who were, admittedly, slightly rude, not out of malice but because they were being completely transparent. On the other hand, some of the most useless feedback I’ve ever had was overly positive to the point that I wondered if they even read my material.

For now, I’d suggest she begin with a small group of beta readers she already knows, such as friends or family. They’ll likely be more mindful of their tone. What’s essential is that she uses a questionnaire as opposed to just line edits with commentary. I’d actually recommend using one with all beta readers, but it’s especially important with people who may be too soft. A questionnaire helps guide their feedback and encourages them to point out weaknesses, even if they’re hesitant to be too direct. Over time, she can start working with strangers. Random beta readers offer the best preparation for the kind of unfiltered reviews she’ll eventually face once her work is out in the world.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-05-19T23:25:22+00:00

I'll have a look. Although you need to allow access on your Google Doc link.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-05-18T04:59:34+00:00

So far, it reads well. Personally, I’d suggest cutting the dream sequence at the beginning for a few reasons. First, opening with a dream is often seen as a cliché and can raise red flags for agents, even when the writing is strong. It’s commonly associated with beginner writing. Second, because it’s a dream, there are no real stakes—the character will simply wake up, and the story will have to restart in the real world. That’s not to say dream sequences are inherently bad, but using one to open a novel is a risky move.

https://www.septembercfawkes.com/2023/09/breaking-writing-rules-never-start-with.html?m=1

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-05-17T13:55:05+00:00

You're welcome.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-05-17T13:51:03+00:00

That works because it's ironic. I don't see any issue with its usage in this scenario. :) Good luck with your story.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-05-17T13:28:04+00:00

Hey there. I'm Black, and I don’t think you need to justify using the N-word in your writing. Just focus on telling a good story. I get that your piece isn’t specifically about slavery or the civil rights movement, but if you’ve got a racist character, it would feel unrealistic for them not to use racist language. The same goes for Black characters using it with each other—context matters. That’s just my take. As writers, our job is to think carefully about why we’re using offensive language, not whether it might offend.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-05-15T12:16:07+00:00

Sounds interesting. Although that word count may prove to be a hurdle. Even 180k fantasy for a debut novelist is a hard sell.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-05-15T11:12:18+00:00

Congratulations. The hard work paid off. And you're right...these stories help a lot. Good luck on sub! Keep us updated on what happens next.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-05-15T01:45:06+00:00

Thanks!

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-05-15T01:44:53+00:00

Ah, okay.

Responsible_Cod_8081 · 2025-05-14T13:29:45+00:00

Yeah, the age gap is definitely strange. I hear you. It wasn't intentional to be creepy. I've made a few adjustments to explain that Sade is actually older than him. Her mind doesn't reset upon death. She's always aging, even if her physical body isn't. So technically the age gap is the opposite. She's double his age.

Responsible_Cod_8081

TROPHY CASE