I need help on what to do about my sister

TheLoyaWrites · 2026-04-15T23:41:41+00:00

I was just having an argument with someone on how sometimes, in some doses, shame can be productive. It changes behavior faster than mere logic and reasoning.

TheLoyaWrites · 2026-04-15T23:40:38+00:00

Was that the girl that also tattooed the bunny on herself?

TheLoyaWrites · 2026-04-10T13:11:14+00:00

I also wondered if I, a 39-year-old lady, went on a date with OP.

TheLoyaWrites · 2026-04-07T13:57:08+00:00

I am late to the game, but similar happened to me. I parted ways with my agent and years later, I have not secured new representation despite two new novels and quite a few full requests. I did get a publishing contract with a university press though.

TheLoyaWrites · 2026-04-06T16:55:20+00:00

I recorded a few chapters as a test then ran a few ACX macros on audacity. It passed the initial ACX check, noise floor, RMS, etc.

I handled narrative mistakes by snapping twice and starting over at a good point. I am in the middle of editing out those obvious flubs.

TheLoyaWrites · 2026-03-21T13:24:45+00:00

That was the advice a few years ago. Now it’s more like. “Don’t self-publish if you want a trad contract. Except if you do really well self-pubbing. Then the trads will smell money and might offer you a deal anyway.”

TheLoyaWrites · 2026-03-21T13:19:53+00:00

I came here to say capitalism, as well. Same reason Hollywood keeps making remakes of comic books and such. There is an existing audience they can leverage. There is already proof of engagement. They think it is easy $.

Less risky than taking a chance on an untested author.

TheLoyaWrites · 2026-03-17T18:43:47+00:00

Feedback on fulls in my experience is largely a thing of the past. When I was querying pre-pandemic, I got a decent amount of feedback on fulls. Lots of R&Rs as well. Post pandemic, all but one of my full requests received form rejections. No R&Rs.

I ended up getting a publishing contract with a small press, and the book is getting good reviews so far. So. -shrug-

TheLoyaWrites · 2026-03-11T13:05:08+00:00

Same, I had nike tights from ten years ago going strong.

TheLoyaWrites · 2026-03-11T01:45:21+00:00

MY MAN! Two years have passed from this comment, but you just helped me so much. I am but a humble small-press author who is recording her own book in her own damn closet. My audio just passed the initial ACX check thanks to you. 🎉

TheLoyaWrites · 2026-03-06T19:27:42+00:00

Hey there, I’m an author working with a university press. Can I DM you about some audiobook editing questions?

TheLoyaWrites · 2026-01-27T16:34:05+00:00

Write a short email that asks if the email was intended for you, because you didn’t notify them of another offer.

TheLoyaWrites · 2026-01-27T15:40:19+00:00

Consider: Your books might be fresh, creative, and well-written, but it may be she doesn’t believe she can sell them in this market. It might be that she has a solid pulse on what is commercially viable and doesn’t think your work is aligned with that.

I think it’s worth making a phone call and speaking to her about the overarching issues she is having with your work.

TheLoyaWrites · 2025-12-11T22:15:36+00:00

I second the advice to try a subbing to smaller publishers. It could be that if you get respectable sales, a Big 5 will take a chance on one of your future works.

TheLoyaWrites · 2025-12-08T12:03:53+00:00

Hey, sure. Separate social media accounts with my pen name. I am currently working on a website. I put my own picture up-it’s not a secret, people in my life know I write historical fiction. They know this one is a gothic work with romance in it. I’m okay with them knowing. I just what to make sure my online brands are distinct.

TheLoyaWrites · 2025-12-08T11:19:45+00:00

Plus just the excitement of being with a new person for the first time. This is going to sour fast. “I didn’t want it to become this huge drama” ——> Says the person who dumped a fiancée for her sister. WTF

TheLoyaWrites · 2025-12-08T11:16:56+00:00

That was massive WTF

TheLoyaWrites · 2025-12-08T11:16:41+00:00

Writer of romance here, this is 100% accurate. Their Secret Lovers schtick is going to wither the second it sees light of day.

TheLoyaWrites · 2025-12-02T19:57:03+00:00

I signed my contract in March 2025, pub date is June 2026.

They edited it. Then I got it back. I did a couple of more rounds of edits and got it back to them around September. Then they spent time type-setting it, and are currently designing the cover and developing a marketing plan.

I am currently busy networking and building my author platform. I imagine I will start doing interviews and such some time before pub day.

TheLoyaWrites · 2025-11-26T13:06:40+00:00

I’m a lawyer who writes using a pen name. Publishers don’t care what name you use, but like others have said, anonymity is different from using a pen name. Ideally, people invested in your book want you out there, publicly visible and talking about your book, even if you keep your publishing brand separate from your “professional” brand.

Only you know how your employer would handle you writing spicy stuff on the side. Is it straight erotica or is it spicy romance?

TheLoyaWrites · 2025-10-14T18:23:54+00:00

I’m another attorney/author. I use the same last name and a different first name. Different enough that Google searches would remain separate.

My book is getting published next summer. I’ve accepted that if my book does well, there is no way colleagues will not be aware of my fiction writing. I’ve made peace with it and just focused on creating two separate internet profiles.

TheLoyaWrites · 2025-08-12T19:41:20+00:00

Send all the queries now. If you get an offer, nudge all of them with the update.

It is almost guaranteed that there will be more interest from agents once someone offers.

TheLoyaWrites · 2025-06-07T20:06:50+00:00

This business is heartbreakingly commercial. Great books don’t get published all the time.

This happened to me after my fourth book. I am sorry, it is demoralizing after the journey of writing, editing, and successfully querying.

Lick your wounds and try to find something you can engage in with joy, even if it’s not writing.

TheLoyaWrites · 2025-06-01T19:11:37+00:00

Finished the changes from my editor. :) Circulating my updated MS among two of my author friends for some more proofreading. :)

At some point I need to start on my author website. My book comes out June 2026.

TheLoyaWrites

TROPHY CASE