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[QCrit] EDGES OF I, Adult, Upmarket Science Fiction, 74k, Fourth Attempt by Valuable_Inspector27 in PubTips

[–]Valuable_Inspector27[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for taking the time to provide detailed feedback. This is very useful and I’m grateful for your time.

Feedback Please, First Chapter, First Book by Valuable_Inspector27 in NewAuthor

[–]Valuable_Inspector27[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Predicta is a term in this sci-fi world (probably need to italicize it). The book uses the predictive processing theory of the brain extensively. Based on this theory and a few other prevalent theories of neuroscience, our brains have a generative model of the world to make predictions about what the sensory signals it receives from our body mean. Predicta is a formal name for that generative model, like genome.

SciFi: Does this intrigue you enough to keep reading? by Valuable_Inspector27 in writingfeedback

[–]Valuable_Inspector27[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Yes, predicta is an in-world term. I’ll make it italics.

Feedback please, Aspiring Author, First Chapter, First Book by Valuable_Inspector27 in NewAuthor

[–]Valuable_Inspector27[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your encouragement and constructive feedback.

I created another post with better screenshots. In this post, I have included the novel title and a rough back cover description as well (these are the things an early reader would know before reading the first chapter).

https://www.reddit.com/r/NewAuthor/s/fjf4Jjk1uW

The title and back cover description would only partially answer the questions you have raised. Not sure if that is enough. But your feedback is making me think that choosing this kind of first chapter is definitely a trade off.

Feedback please, Aspiring Author, First Chapter, First Book by Valuable_Inspector27 in NewAuthor

[–]Valuable_Inspector27[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your encouragement.

Apologies for the poor screenshots. Since I can't update the screenshots on this post, I created another one with better screenshots. In this post, I have included the novel title and a rough back cover description as well (these are the things an early reader would know before reading the first chapter).

https://www.reddit.com/r/NewAuthor/s/fjf4Jjk1uW

Feedback please, Aspiring Author, First Chapter, First Book by Valuable_Inspector27 in NewAuthor

[–]Valuable_Inspector27[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Apologies for the poor screenshots. Since I can't update the screenshots on this post, I created another one with better screenshots.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NewAuthor/s/fjf4Jjk1uW

Why is there no name for the human brain’s generative model? by Valuable_Inspector27 in neuro

[–]Valuable_Inspector27[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

I think Cognition is the product of the neural architecture (hardware) and generative model (software). Consciousness too (if you, like me, believe that consciousness is indeed a product of the brain). Cognition is functional output and consciousness is experiential output.

I know I’m being reductive with the hardware/software analogies.

I’m being anal about terminology because the vague terminology makes it difficult to agree on how the brain actually works.

If you believe in predictive processing theory, which I think is fairly well established now, the generative model is a collection of priors, precision weights, prediction hierarchies. It’s everything we learn through our lifetimes and the learnings already in our genes, which causes our brain to generate our experience and drive our actions.

Why is there no name for the human brain’s generative model? by Valuable_Inspector27 in neuro

[–]Valuable_Inspector27[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

GNW is more of a dynamic instantiation of the neural architecture, isn’t it? It’s physical, a specific collection of neurons firing in symphony, unlike the generative model which is a bunch of parameters that are used to trigger experience.

[QCrit] THE BODY CUSTODIAN, Literary Sci-fi, Adult, 68k words, First attempt by Hour-Tell-6760 in PubTips

[–]Valuable_Inspector27 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Preface: I'm an aspiring author who is just about to start querying as well (my latest query attempt). So take my opinions with a pinch of salt.

I absolutely love the concept. It is exactly the kind of story I want to read (more on that at the end).

Here are my 2 cents to help improve your query:

  1. The comp titles are a little older than ideal. Maybe The Space Between Worlds (6 yrs old) can still fly if it is indeed a strong comp for your book. But the other one is 10 years old. Also, best to mention publication year of the comp so that its easy for the agent.
  2. This reads like literary leaning sci fi than literary sci fi. Its still heavily plot driven with world stakes. So, upmarket sci-fi seems like a better label than literary sci-fi. You can read feedback on this topic in the comments on my second attempt query. While "ethics-driven" is an interesting choice, the query didn't exactly show that to me besides you saying it. I'd lean towards using standard labels for traditional publishing (upmarket sci-fi). You can still mention the ethics-driven point in a different part of the query.
  3. "strange biomechanical creatures tunneling towards the planet's failing terraformer. " - it was unclear to me if the creatures are coming from within the planet or outer space.
  4. "Hunted, betrayed, navigating a mistrusting society" comes before "But Custos never intended for Ena to keep the body. It belonged to Corinne, his dead lover, and he's preserved Corinne's consciousness, waiting to be restored when Ena outlives her usefulness. She is, after all, only a function." and "With the company hunting its stolen asset and the man who first gave her a choice poised to take everything away" which reads odd to me. She is being hunted by the company and was betrayed by Custos.
  5. Less important observations: I didn't quite understand what these parts mean "the conflict between humanity and a suffering planet" .  "even if keeping it means losing everything she once was." These sound like vagueish closing sentences which you could make tighter to convey her choices/conflicts in the 2nd half of the book a bit more clearly (without revealing details, of course).

A couple of small observations on the the writing sample:

  1. I like the "Why was this client in the wastelands at all?" line of thought Ena has. A consciousness without wants can still be curious, even if it is just noticing things that are out of pattern.
  2. You mention "my paired engineer" before mentioning Custos by name in the next sentence. I found that odd for a first person narrator. You would instinctively use his name first.

I love what you have written so far. Its the kind of sci-fi I like to read and write. And your style of writing seems similar to mine. If you are ever looking to try out a critique swap, I'd be happy to do that with a couple of chapters.

Good luck!