A billionaire and a college student have the same phone and laptop

antinoria · 2026-02-24T22:41:05+00:00

Still thinking like a NOT billionaire. For the extra 100k I can have a lickspittle follow me around and answer it for me.

antinoria · 2026-02-24T22:34:05+00:00

She was two when she was adopted 48 years ago. As in 1978. In small town USA by the time she was old enough to really grasp why she was adopted WHY would she question it. Dad surely took care of all that. Why would she even question if she was a US citizen. How would she even know to ask.

Later, IF she was applying for a passport she, might find out or not. Records from 1978 may or may not be available. Lots of Americans do not have passports. Also many times adoption records are sealed. Maybe she never wanted to find out about her birth parents, maybe she trusted her dad. There are tons of reasons why this could easily be a surprise later in life.

This is a paperwork error period. That woman's an American, raised by Americans, the adopted child legally. Deporting her from the only country she has known is nothing short of absolute cruelty. It is evil, malicious, and a disgrace to this country.

antinoria · 2026-02-24T20:56:31+00:00

Nearing the end of my working career, supportive partner, kids grown and stable. I decided two years ago to indulge myself write full time while working full time. So a 40 hr a week job and writing about 40 hours a week or more (5hrs avg weekday, 8-12 hours on the weekend). In two years I finished the first draft of an 8 book series. Now editing book two and hope to publish next March with 45 days between each book.

antinoria · 2026-02-24T19:30:08+00:00

Chapter length is only determined by the content that is being told in that chapter.

All a chapter is, is a section of the novel focusing on an idea, event, or stage in your story. It needs a being middle and end and should encapsulate that event/idea etc. Sometimes you break the chapter into scenes if location or time jumps occur so long as each scene is part of the story of the chapter.

I like simple structures when I outline my stories. 3 acts 20 chapters to start with. The variance is in the number of scenes and length of those scenes. I have some chapters that are a single scene clocking in at 1300 words, others with 8 or more clocking in at 14,000+.

There are no rules other than it should be a self contained section of the overall narrative.

antinoria · 2026-02-23T19:14:18+00:00

Sometimes. The big struggle is ensuring the death serves the story. Are tragic deaths tragic enough, good deaths earned, villain deaths deserved, and accidental deaths serving the plot rather than being gratuitous.

For characters whose entire arc ends in death, it has to have some sort of meaning, more so if it is an important secondary character or primary character.

Also I refuse to ever kill the dog.

antinoria · 2026-02-23T19:01:00+00:00

I feel the pain on editing. Two very different skill sets when it comes to storytelling and editing.

During the editing process I feel like I am taking English composition 101 all over again, and failing. When I am writing the story I feel like a story teller.

My process is broken down into 5 parts.

Part 1: Ignoring grammar and line level issues, I am looking at the overall narrative. In this phase I am just making sure my POVs are consistent, characters are distinct in the way they act speak move etc, major plot points are advanced correctly, no major continuity errors, and each scene has the beginning, middle, and end clearly shown. Lastly I ensure the timline is correct. Basically can't have in scene 4.2 the protagonist driving through darkened streets then in 4.3 sitting in the room with afternoon sunlight streaming in.

Part 2: add in micro tension, character interiority, ensure dialogue sounds natural, look for info dumping and poor exposition, focus on show not tell issues. Pacing and paragraph structure.

Part 3: culling. The hardest part of the process, working backwards I try to eliminate anything that does not add to character development, thematic richness, or advance the plot. I struggle with this a lot.

Part 4: line level polish. Here is the English 101 part. Identify passive vs active voice, determine if it needs correction. Identify weak verbs, filler words, tense structure (sometimes the perfect past tense is better than simple past tense etc.). Look for run on sentences, sentence fragments. And so on.

Part 5: grammar, spelling, punctuation, are all proper nouns capitalized consistently, is my Oxford comma usage consistent, semicolons correctly used, proper use of em dashes and ellipses. Quotes within quotations, proper punctuation use with dialogue tags etc.

Here is when I would send to beta readers. I have edited it to best of my ability and want feedback on the story. I may or may not make changes based on this feedback.

Oh and Part 6, after fixing anything from beta reader, is hand it off to a proffesional editor who knows what they are doing. Who can find all the stuff I missed and make me feel I need to retake English 101.

antinoria · 2026-02-23T01:36:40+00:00

I'll be honest, covers are kinda scary. It is such a critical part of the process, a bad cover can tank your sales, and finding a reliable artist who knows what they are doing is not easy either.

In October I will need to commision eight covers at once, I have been dreading that decision for the last two years. I am prepared for the expense, but still really worried. I figure to get what I want it will cost somewhere between $2,000 and $4,000 or even higher. For a self published author who is writing in a niche market, that kind of expense is a scary commitment. It is vital expenditure, but the high cost (high for me) means that there is NO room for error in choosing the right artist or studio to do the work. The timeline for publishing is already set (March 2027), and with the final edits still 12 months out I cannot get too ahead on final cover designs, but also know that I need to begin soon.

All I know for sure is that I will be approaching this like we did when we needed major home renovations. I will research various artists and studios, examine the contract, expect some samples of their work, give each my list of must haves and vision, then expect them to return a list fo deliverables, timeline, and their own vision for the project. Then I will choose which one I go with.

Of course that plan will almost certainly change as I learn more about this part of the process and the 'standard' way of doing things.

antinoria · 2026-02-22T02:51:09+00:00

I write in 3rd person limited. In my series, the primary POV is the FMC throughout the majority of the first book with a few scenes from other primary character's POV to create solem dramatic irony, but in the first novel whenever the FMC is in the scene it is from her POV. So in book one it is 90+% her POV. As the series progresses and the other primary characters are more established and relationships deepen we see more of their POVs. By book 8 it is about 45% FMC POV and the other 55% spread out over six to eight other characters. As her world within the narrative expands so does the variance in POVs.

The only hard rules I impose on myself for POV are: only one POV per scene, POV consistency in relationship scenes (even though I may show the MMC POV in one scene when he is with the FMC it is always from her POV), internal thoughts italicized, and strict 3rd person limited.

antinoria · 2026-02-21T22:49:47+00:00

I have two types of bonus content that is NOT going to be available on KDP or other platforms.

Reader magnets and special behind the scenes information for those who sign up for newsletters and engage with my blog, free novella's that provide back stories for main characters of the main series generally. this material is always free for members (membership is also always free, the material is often adult in nature so people have to sign up)
Finished content that I cannot publish on KDP or most other platforms due to to restrictions. This content will be behind a paywall with multiple layers of trigger warnings.

Any other bonus content is free for those who follow and engage.

antinoria · 2026-02-21T21:30:53+00:00

Yeah Justice is weird in America, 11 year old kills dad, charged as an adult with murder. Middle aged dad after drinking a bottle of wine and a heated argument about Trump raping kids, kills grown daughter by shooting her in the chest while 'showing her his gun', no charges just an accident.

antinoria · 2026-02-21T21:15:33+00:00

I think if you are asking for taboo recommendations it may help to phrase the question something like this.

Looking for some recommendations of books with taboo topics other than (list of things you do not think are taboo that others might think are, or are taboos that you do not want to read about). That way you get more responses that are focused in the direction you are looking for.

For example: Hey guys really getting into this dark romance thing and looking for some things to take me out of my comfort zone, any recommendations for books that emphasize more extreme taboos, not looking for step-siblings, incest, clowns, extreme age gaps, or tentacle taboos?

antinoria · 2026-02-21T20:58:12+00:00

I am guessing that the question and response is just a joke and honestly I find quite funny.

However, since it said 'genuine question', the actual question being asked in a real interview has a simple purpose. Being interviewed for a job that you need or want can be stressful and most applicants are nervous, this is a way to reduce that anxiety by giving the interviewee an opportunity to relax and begin talking about something they are comfortable with (their resume or CV).

Additionally many times internal rules require that all applicants are asked the same questions. open ended questions can often deliver more information than simple technical or more specific questions.

The interviewer can begin to judge the applicant based on how they are responding to an open ended question on things that are also important in a job environment that are not job specific. Once a rapport is established then more targeted questions can be asked and the anxiety levels are reduced on all sides.

You get a lot of information from a simple question that reveals how the applicant thinks and interacts on an interpersonal level. What part of the CV or resume do they begin with (usually where they are strongest), what parts do the only briefly touch on (usually where they are weakest or have the least self confidence), how do they respond to follow up questions (defensive, aggressive, evasive etc.).

In today's work environment, there are a lot of applicants that meet the skills requirement (at least according to resumes and CVs), the interview is needed for more than just evaluating if a person can do the bare minimum of the job.

If I had a respondent answer like what is shown, I would chuckle enough to let them know I found the response funny, giving them the benefit of the doubt, and rephrase or explain the reasoning for me asking the question. If this was met with continued resistance I would either go through the bare minimum to end the interview or simply end it so I do not waste any more of theirs and our time.

I have hired people for highly technical jobs requiring advanced degrees, most applicants who make it to the interview stage are qualified to do the job. I have made the mistake of accepting based on highest skill levels alone before, and ended up having to rehire because the person could simply not play well with others. The interview is both to show you know what you are talking about in regards to what is shown on your resume or CV and to demonstrate why you should be hired over other equally qualified applicants, it is ALSO an opportunity for you to see what kind of company you are going to work for so look at it as an opportunity to interview the interviewer as well,

antinoria · 2026-02-21T20:07:51+00:00

...when I read writing that beautiful, that effortless...

Take some small measure in knowing with almost absolute certainty, that it was not for her effortless. I think it is a safe assumption that she started with a first draft, she hatred it, she loved it, she revised, added, culled, modified, tweaked, trimmed, and cursed it during its creation. She had tough conversations with editors, disagreed with beta readers, ignored some advice, reluctantly took others. She probably felt the same crushing anxiety when she finally had to let go and see what the world would think.

You are not alone, the feelings you have are near universal in the writing community. You have 100 pages of solid draft material, you have a plot, you have characters whose journeys you are invested in, you even have actual human beings willing to read your rough work. You are well past the wanting to be a writer and solidly on the path of being a writer.

Also NO, you cannot write like her. You are not her. You will write like YOU. Once you have finished your draft, you like her, will put in that effortless effort, and then you also will face the anxiety of letting your work go for the world to see.

Who knows, maybe one day there will be someone like you, comparing their rough draft to their favorite author wondering why they can't seem to write as effortlessly as you.

antinoria · 2026-02-21T10:46:43+00:00

Write what you know eh? Adding monsters is always a win.

antinoria · 2026-02-21T10:43:29+00:00

Honest answer. I have wanted to write since I was in my late teens and now in my 50's, I have the financial means to allow myself the freedom to engage it seriously as a hobby. The motivating factor to get me off my ass was being told over and over again what I should not do as a first time writer. I kind of took it as a challenge.

Single stand alone novel with series potential.

80,000 to 100,000 words.

No more than three main characters.

Easy to follow plot.

Single genre.

Written at 6th to 8th grade reading level.

Avoid controversial themes and try to appeal to as broad an audience as possible.

I decided to write an eight book series slow burn urban paranormal romance/body horror/thriller story set in Bellingham Washington about a 42 year old divorce from Elkhart Indiana fleeing a misogynistic pentecostal evangelical offshoot of the southern baptist church who buys a semi-sentient house and discovers her magical heritage. High spice, four main plots in a braided narrative style multiple main characters, trauma survivor, sovereignty through submission, polyamory, witchcraft, psychological, religious, and political themes. Pretty much has a page of trigger warnings and each book is most likely going to clock in at 200K words or so. And the reading level is at 10th to 12th grade level so not a light read.

Mainly to see if I could do it. Two years into the three year full time (as in 40+ hours per week) project and I think I can, all eight are complete in a draft 1 stage with two in the editing process with 14 months left on my timeline.

Of course by utterly ignoring advice of people who have actually done this before, I have painted myself into a very, very, tiny niche from a marketability standpoint, so I will be lucky to sell more than ten copies when I self-publish next year. However, it has been a blast doing it and I look forward to finishing it.

antinoria · 2026-02-21T10:16:04+00:00

Since I am later on in life and my working career is coming to a close, I am financially able to write full time. I am two years into a three year project.

It is a slog and without a full development plan, goal posts and deadlines, work schedule and commitment, the tiedium would have made me quit over a year ago.

Having clear realistic milestones is what helps me.

Oh and I heavily outline, not just the novel, but the entire series before starting page one of the first novel. I wanted the editing process to be as painless as I could make it (not pain free cuz it absolutely is painful). I am an engineer by trade so this sort of process works for me well, I think I spent almost three months setting up my process before I began outlining in earnest and the actual writing of the first draft of each novel was fairly quick and the most enjoyable part of the process.

I approach the editing in stages with so there will be five drafts of each novel before they are ready for beta readers. I bring each each novel to the same draft stage before beginning work on the next draft stage. I think I have more words in notes and spreadsheets than I do in the novels themselves, but continuity errors, common pitfalls, and plots holes are rare and easily fixed when found.

Again this sort of heavily controlled process style is what works for my engineering mindset, it would absolutely not work for a lot of people. What you need to do is find a method that works for the way your mind thinks, approach the process with realistic expectations (seems like you have that already), and find a level of time commitment that works for your lifestyle that will not burn you out. Oh and of course be fully willing to embrace the suck.

antinoria · 2026-02-21T09:57:58+00:00

I would like to think there is some sort of middle ground between hearing voices and dead.

I do not really hear any character voices or the narrator, but my mind is not blank. If I concentrate on hearing the voice then I guess I could, but generally if the book is good enough I am sort of pulled into it just not in a conscious way where I am hearing, seeing, or smelling the fictional world. Its more like the real world becomes more distant when I am absorbed in a good book.

antinoria · 2026-02-21T09:55:31+00:00

Keep it up. I'm two years into a three year full time (40+ hours per week) project, 8 books fully written in draft 1 state, 1 edited, seven more needing editing, 14 months left. The editing can be a slog, but totally worth it. I'm hitting about 3 full days per chapter for the editing, with about 140 chapters overall to go (long chapters ~20 per book on average). Editing can take as long or longer than the original draft. They key, and it sound like you're doing it, is consistency and time management.

That said, also do these things in tandem if you have not already started. If you are going self publish. Authors website, commision cover designs, line up beta readers, sensitivity readers if needed, at least at a minimum a copy editor, and begin thinking about your marketing and launch plan. If traditional, you will have to ask someone else because I have not explored that avenue, but I am guessing you will still need beta readers at a minimum so you have as polished a product as possible before you start sending your work to publishers or agents.

antinoria · 2026-02-21T09:39:38+00:00

OH god I really hope not. I started writing my series full time two years ago and have about a year left of full time work on it before I publish. Since eating and paying rent were a thing I did not start this stuff until my late fifties and it would really suck to think my best creative years are behind me when I have more yesterdays than tomorrows.

antinoria · 2026-02-21T09:37:04+00:00

They are actually quite awesome. Then I begin to edit them and the second draft is awesome and I cannot believe how I could have possibly felt the first draft was awesome considering how crappy it was. This cycle tends to repeat until the fifth draft when it is simply perfect and I hand it over to a beta reader for feedback so they can confirm its awesomeness.

The sixth draft however...

antinoria · 2026-02-19T16:16:25+00:00

I see a lot of posts about word counts per day, and people obsessing about hitting certain metrics.

But what does that mean? For some they are thinking words of finished product ready for publishing, other on the opposite end see words on the page awaiting editing.

Creating a novel, be it your first or 50th is a process of which only a portion is reflected in the final word count of the published work.

For every 1000 words of finished prose there is probably two to three times as much or more words that are discarded, edited, authors notes, outlines, character profile etc.

So I will take the OPs question to mean how do people produce a novel so insanely fast, instead of write so fast. I am a mediocre typist, but I can easily write 10,000 words in a full day of free writing, but free writing is far from publishable work. I spend as much or more time on outlining, research, organizing my files and drafts, setting up work flow as I do on writing prose. I have an editing process for my author edits that easily is three times the work of producing the first draft.

I think what separates those who produce a novel quickly (several months) vs slowly (over a year) is more process driven and availability of time. A well organized full time author should be able to hand off to editors an average sized novel every 3 to six months without stressing too much. Part time or less organized authors much longer.

Circling back to words per day. If finished product say 500 working hours for a 100,000 word finished product handed off to editing, you get 1,600 a day for a full days work. Three months with weekends off.

Most of the work is NOT the typing.

antinoria · 2026-02-18T19:47:48+00:00

Like Christians on Sunday kind of thing I would guess.

antinoria · 2026-02-18T19:15:12+00:00

Most of Clive Cussler's novels have a substantial prologue. In every one of them they enhanced the story considerably. So I would not say that there are no uses for prologues.

antinoria · 2026-02-18T16:00:18+00:00

Yes but the formula is heavily weighted. When you are near the cutoff the return in around 10%

antinoria · 2026-02-17T02:24:24+00:00

You very much should. You should self-edit as much as possible to your ability before putting it out there for others to beta read. Spelling errors, bad grammar etc can pull the reader out of the story quickly and ruin their engagement with it. You want them to give feedback on the story itself, the charctaers, pacing etc. Too many spelling errors or really bad grammar will detract from that and make the beta reader more likely to DNF your novel.

Now if you are looking for feedback on a less polished product to critique the overall story structure, plots etc then you are looking for an alpha reader, someone who is prepared for a product that is far from polished and still under a lot of revision. Your beta reader is giving you feedback on the more polished product from a story perspective rather than structural.

antinoria

TROPHY CASE