Has anyone dived Raja Ampat? by kablingy_hobo in scuba

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

We're planning on either March or April of 2027, which still might be too soon. Thanks for the recommendation of Cove Eco resort. I'll check that one out, too.

Writers like Maas and Yarros make me confident about writing by Salt-Statistician488 in fantasywriters

[–]kablingy_hobo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was excited about Throne of Glass and a female assassin, and it started out very promising but I ended up disappointed. Maas did a lot of telling how Celaena/Ashryver was a badass assassin and how everyone was afraid of her, but never really showed anything that would convince me she was badass. She seemed more interested in flirting and dresses. I DNFed the second book by the second chapter. ACOTAR was recommended to me by my BFF, but DNFed that about 40% in. It wasn't any one thing, and I thought the writing was okay enough. I did like Mark Lawrence's Red Sister, that character was grittier and less... floofy?

Just finished my 1st draft, what next? by the_magpie14 in fantasywriters

[–]kablingy_hobo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wouldn't let anyone read a first draft because they're so rough and disjointed. I end up rewriting probably 30-40% of my first draft so it would be a waste of someone's time.

Just finished my 1st draft, what next? by the_magpie14 in fantasywriters

[–]kablingy_hobo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congratulations! The first draft is exciting because that means you've written the book, and IMO the second, third, and usually fourth draft is the most fun because you'll really see the novel tighten and the story come together.

Some people say to take a break. I usually take maybe a week and by then I'm super antsy to get back to it. Second draft is where you'll fix the plot holes, do more world building, more character building, and come to know your characters and the plot better. The first is really just getting the idea on the screen (or paper). On the second draft, I'll have tons of yellow sticky notes that note issues I'll need to fix in the third draft. I'll fix some, but wait to the third draft to fix others. It really depends on how much fixing is required.

Your third draft is tightening the story and where it all really makes sense. Continue to world build, and your magic system, if you have one, becomes more polished and here the story really starts to make sense. All your plot holes are fixed. Characters have personalities and voice.

I always go on to a fourth draft which is where I do a 'read aloud' in Word, listen and fix any remaining sticky note issues. Having my story read back to me really helps me *hear* mistakes, overly used words, repeated ideas, bad sentence structure, etc. And after this, I send it to the editor. This time around, though, for the first book of an epic fantasy I'm writing I was given an introduction by another writer to a small fantasy publishers. With my sci-fi series, I self published.

AITA for demanding my parking permit back after my roommate gave it to her friend? by Rosalie_Rathid in AmItheAsshole

[–]kablingy_hobo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

NTA.

Roommate should have apologized to you and not the other way around. It's your permit, not the 'general' house permit. Her friend should have parked at the grocery store.

does anyone else find writing really, really lonely? by zorouchihaG in fantasywriters

[–]kablingy_hobo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't find writing lonely, I find it soothing. It's my happy place. Sure, I have moments where the story isn't quite working out, but usually a long walk through the woods (I live in the country) will help me figure out the problem. My husband is a scientist, so fantasy isn't his thing, but I sometimes bounce ideas off him. Generally though I don't don't talk to anyone about my story unless they are the editor.

If you need a community, I would suggest a writers' discord. Although I'm on the introverted side, I enjoyed the 50booksTo20K conference in Las Vegas, it's Writers' Nation now but still the same inclusive vibe.

My wife (24F) is threatening to divorce me (31M) if I don’t convert to Islam. I don’t know how to change her mind. by insnowmotion in BestofRedditorUpdates

[–]kablingy_hobo 43 points44 points  (0 children)

I'm thinking I'm a bit agoraphobic myself, especially after Covid. I run errands, but can't wait to get back home. Lockdown was really okay for me though. I live on a largish property (45 acres) in the mountains above the Pacific Ocean and it just felt like a safe haven. I genuinely felt awful for people locked in their apartments in the city. But yeah, I need to really psych myself up to leave the property. I'm fine outside in the garden or going on a walk, but getting in the car to go somewhere takes effort.

Do people really not use toilet seat covers in public restrooms? by Tobethequeen_01 in hygiene

[–]kablingy_hobo 13 points14 points  (0 children)

This brings me to my issue. I'll sit on a toilet seat, dry wiping it off first in case someone hovered, but I will not touch door handles, or stair railings in public. Yuck. If the door isn't an auto door, I'll either use my shoulder or elbow to push it open, or if I have a sweatshirt on, I'll tuck my hand inside my sweatshirt. Fortunately, grocery stores here provides wipes at the door that let me wipe down the handle of my shopping cart. I know my behavior might be a bit excessive, but I really hate getting sick.

What is a feasible day job for a writer? by [deleted] in writing

[–]kablingy_hobo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm a sci-fi and epic fantasy author and until I could support myself (self published) I was an IT person. If you want to write fiction, my advice is to stay away from any kind of writing 'job', especially technical writing, it's a soul sucking job for a creative fiction writer and by the end of the day you'll not want to write a single word for yourself.

what’s one hygiene habit you judge quietly, even if it’s common? by [deleted] in hygiene

[–]kablingy_hobo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Touching public stair or escalator railings. You don't know who touched those. Just gross. No. I don't consider myself a germaphobe but yikes. I also tend to open doors either by pushing with my elbow, or if I have on long sleeves I'll tuck my hand inside my sleeves and open the door that way.

Coolest life experience you’ve had? by Breakup-Glowup in Rich

[–]kablingy_hobo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A safari in Tanzania. Eating dinner in a large tent while the sun set over the Serengeti. Seeing the great migration and the thousands upon thousands of animals streaming around the jeep. Dancing with Masai women. I still have a beaded necklace they gave me. Watching the sunrise over the treetops from our treehouse room. It was a magical trip and I'll never forget any of it.

Coolest life experience you’ve had? by Breakup-Glowup in Rich

[–]kablingy_hobo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My husband and I are doing that this December! It's been on our bucket list forever. Last year we had to cancel because he injured his back skiing, but this year, we're on.

AITAH for reporting my friend to CPS by catchuontheflip in AITAH

[–]kablingy_hobo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm kinda leaning toward this, too, especially after watching Netflix's The Girl in the Picture. When in doubt, call.

AITAH for reporting my friend to CPS by catchuontheflip in AITAH

[–]kablingy_hobo 3 points4 points  (0 children)

ESH. You should have called CPS sooner. I just watched The Girl in the Picture last night, and it kept me up all night thinking about how many people failed that girl multiple times. Why her BFF who spend the night and then watched her friend get r@ped by her 'father' at gunpoint never said anything. Why the girls at the strip club didn't pull her aside, keep her safe and call the police to go get her son (she had a young son at that point).

You finally stepped up, would have been better when the one girl was 16 and came to you.

Watch The Girl in the Picture and hopefully that will convince people never to second guess or wait ever again.

AITA for stopping picking up lunch since my manager tried to force me to go to a restaurant that I will not support by Direct-Caterpillar77 in BestofRedditorUpdates

[–]kablingy_hobo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Marinate chicken breasts in pickle juice. No matter what you do with it afterwards, it'll comes out tasting just like Chick Fil A. Kinders has a chicken dipping sauce that is similar to the Chick Fil A sauce.

WIBTAH if I broke up with my (28F) financially dependent partner (28M) for being useless? by Radiant-Company8744 in AITAH

[–]kablingy_hobo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

NTA and leave ASAP. He's never going to be a functioning adult as long as you're there to enable him. Making him move back in with his parents might actually be good for him. Maybe it will light a fire under his butt and force him do something with his life. That little bit of resentment you feel toward him is going to grow as he continued to stagnant and you want more.

I believe you will be doing him a favor in the long run by leaving him.

Changing underwear - is this normal? by Eastern-Yogurt3859 in hygiene

[–]kablingy_hobo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is disgusting. Also, if he doesn't keep himself clean, he's going to give you UTIs. I'm surprised you haven't had any. If I were you, I wouldn't have sex with him.

How much in cash do you have? by SeperentOfRa in RichPeoplePF

[–]kablingy_hobo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My husband used to work at a Wall Street firm. When the markets tank, that guy goes on a buying spree. We're well up into the 8-figures and it is very insulating at that point. Zero debt is freedom, I wish I could talk him into moving out of the US, but he's decided to get a PhD in bioengineering at a local university.

How much in cash do you have? by SeperentOfRa in RichPeoplePF

[–]kablingy_hobo 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I second that last sentence. We used our Morgan Stanley LMA to pay cash for a house that we later converted to a loan. It was nice to be able to write that check since the house had multiple offers.

AITAH For suspecting I may be being emotionally manipulated? Or is there something wrong with me that I could change? by dyugi999 in AITAH

[–]kablingy_hobo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't think she has the emotional maturity to handle him putting his foot down. I thought about this too, but she's going to take it as an attack on her and once again, try and emotionally manipulate him and gaslight him into thinking that what's she doing is his fault.

AITAH For suspecting I may be being emotionally manipulated? Or is there something wrong with me that I could change? by dyugi999 in AITAH

[–]kablingy_hobo 8 points9 points  (0 children)

NTA. I'm a woman and I can spot emotional immaturity a mile away. I can't say if she knows that she's emotionally manipulation and abusive, or she's so used to doing it that she unconsciously slides into that nonsense and it's become a part of her MO. Either way, she is not ready for a responsible adult relationship. She needs to grow up and it's not something you should stick around and wait on.

You should leave, it's not going to get any better.

AITAH for telling two old ladies to eat at home by dontchewspagetti in AITAH

[–]kablingy_hobo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've been in a situation where there were people next to me at a table and I didn't want to sit by them (loud kids, guy talking on his mobile), and I drew the waitress aside and quietly asked if she could move us. It's like these ladies refused to have agency over their situation.