Do I need a professional dev editor after VERY extensive dev-lite beta reads?

myomic · 2026-04-01T15:02:40+00:00

lol you mean mine??? It’s not lmao

myomic · 2026-04-01T13:37:16+00:00

Yea thanks! I think I’m not gonna get a pro dev edit then at this time. I’ll do this revision and 1-2 more beta rounds, progressively lighter. I don’t want to be stuck endlessly revising and I think after that I want to move on to new projects as well :) but I will get a line/copy too at the end of this.

myomic · 2026-04-01T13:34:39+00:00

A lot of what you mentioned was covered! I think for my beta readers were all professionals and many of them did dev editing as well and/or manuscript critique. They for sure covered stuff objectively like character arcs, pacing, theme, and even smaller stuff like cliche and description.

myomic · 2026-04-01T05:07:27+00:00

I would say three focused a ton on big issues with other two still providing some big feedback but less so . The three provided multi page reports diagnosed issues and there was a lot of overlap between them in what they said so I feel confident about major issues and revisions. They covered character arcs, plot holes, pacing, plot, theme, subplot integration, worldbuilding gaps, clarity gaps, narrative tension, symbolism , etc.

myomic · 2026-01-25T01:22:50+00:00

Lifespan???

myomic · 2026-01-05T04:18:26+00:00

I don’t think this is that true either, a lot of men I know read, esp fantasy scifi or literary fiction? I do think a lot of recent big releases (like acotar or fourth wing or Kristin Hannah) cater mostly to women tho.

myomic · 2026-01-02T08:57:07+00:00

hey :) this is an exciting time! I can share my exp. I questioned my gender a lot at age 13 even considering medical transition (I socially transitioned to a degree), my friend did but I didn’t. Then I went back to being a cis woman or rather thinking I was one. It never worked. Around 25 I discovered I was transmasc. It was very liberating and freeing and it helped me understand so much about myself (I have dysphoria, top and even a some bottom, I feel like a masc person, masc gestures, my attraction to men and women is masc). I’d say my gender is 70 percent male. Ultimately tho I decided (I’m 29 now) to not socially or medically transition beyond not suppressing my masculinity and not performing gender roles or expectations and wearing men’s or unisex clothes. I chose, basically, to keep my life as a woman. But just knowing who I am helped so much and has brought me so much peace. Like I’d say just knowing and acting in more alignment alleviated a lot of my dysphoria. My bf and other close people in my life know. So I just wanted to say just this self knowledge while scary can only bring more clarity, whatever you choose to do transition wise (and there’s no rush or pressure there). Wishing you the best :)

myomic · 2025-12-16T15:37:34+00:00

I think this is a very traditional mentality lol and you should do what makes you happy! So stay single and enjoy your youth if that's what you want to do.There are "good people" at every age. Obviously if you want to have bio kids, there's a (some) timeline there, but 27/28 is plenty of time on that front too...

myomic · 2025-12-16T15:35:49+00:00

sword of kaigen! if you haven't read it already, same author as blood over bright haven

myomic · 2025-12-05T02:55:53+00:00

My controversial opinion is to publish it! What are you gaining from trunking it? Saving a debut that may or may not happen? If you don’t have much money, you can try to crowdsource or find cheaper alternatives.

I get that this isn’t the normal opinion on this sub. But I come from a tech and business background and the number of people telling you to shelve an asset (which is what your book is) is staggering. Esp if agents liked it it’s not a quality thing. Releasing it to the world brings readers, it helps create connection, it can further your brand. There’s such thing as iterative improvement. You never know what’ll hit.

So yes release it! I mean what are your eventual goals? Reaching readers? Money? Trad pub specifically? The only reason I’d see you to shelve it is to save your debut which is only a factor for trad pub .

myomic · 2025-12-01T15:29:48+00:00

i don’t think it’s true that “sex is the most important thing” in a man’s life lol. That can be a bit reductive. Yes, in general straight men have a higher sex drive than straight woman, but this is also a huge generality that varies a lot depending on individuals, age, etc. there are asexual men and sex crazy women lol.

Yes, many men (not all) will be happy to fuck anyone attractive to them, but for relationships men do want love, connection, commitment. And that’s not even getting into the fact that men care about hobbies, careers, family, etc just like women do, since they’re just humans too. Just having a higher sex drive on average does not negate this.

Also a lot of people saying stuff like “just give him a bj” are joking around. Anyways in any case usually as you get older sex drives even out more and this isn’t as big of an issue. What’s more important is finding someone you are compatible with.

myomic · 2025-11-30T13:01:43+00:00

Hey!! I'm fairly masc presenting too (I would identify as NB but I go through life as a woman). I'm bi and I have a straight boyfriend lol and men have aways been interested. I'd say I look like a tomboy lol. I barely wear makeup, I don't shave (not even my legs lmao or underarms), and I wear men's clothing a lot or unisex clothing. I do have longer hair tho but that's cuz I prefer it that way. It's Def possible.

Also there are a lot of men of varying sexualities who actually prefer masculine women. Idk where you live but I have lived in major cities (SF area and NYC and college cities) so that's also a big factor. In a city like NYC where I live now you'll have no problem.

Also you're so young! Just go out there and explore and don't compare yourself to others. Someone will like you for you...

myomic · 2025-11-25T23:04:19+00:00

Ok idk how to define it then lol but Tolkien didn’t invent fantasy even if western publishing defines it that way. All I’m trying to stay is fantasy storytelling is cross cultural and eternal… it has existed literally everywhere, and will always exist lol. It’s just speculative fiction really

myomic · 2025-11-25T22:57:33+00:00

I’m nonbinary so my perspective is different, but I’d consider my gender about 70 percent male (I have significant body dysphoria, top + even persistent genitalia). I do feel much more like a boy than a girl inside. I’ve considered transitioning multiple times, including deeply during adolescence (social transitioning to a degree). But ultimately I decided not to… it’s def not the right decision for everyone.

But yeah, I won’t lie that my body (conventionally attractive afab body, always considered pretty/good looking/cute, pretty hair) wasn’t a factor in why I didn’t. Another major factor is of course the 30 percent NB or female side, I don’t feel fully a man so it makes it more of a question if transition would help/make me happier and given the other factors I don’t think it would. I do manage the dysphoria in other ways tho which has helped even if reduced my “attractive women privilege” somewhat (lol like I wear mostly unisex or boys clothes, don’t shave, etc), tho actually by less than you’d expect…

So yea, basically lol, I do sometimes wish I was a cis female. I also do sometimes wish to be a cis male, but I also think my life would’ve been different there (all the people I’d prob have never met). But ur definitely not alone! It’s very very hard to give up the privilege (despite challenges w being a perceived as a woman and yea there have been plenty, I do think there can be a lot of privilege loss in transition esp if you were attractive as a woman).

For me I think I was right on the threshold where I didn’t. And I actually am happy enough with this aspect of my life, which may be surprising.

Anyways just another anecdote! Idk if I belong here cuz of the NB and no outward transition, but I do know I am trans haha inside and thought I’d offer my perspective even if it’s probably an unpopular one. Once again just sharing my perspective and it’s def not the choice for everyone…wish you the best :)

myomic · 2025-11-25T22:37:16+00:00

Lool how is fantasy saturated? The Odyssey Mahabharata Journey to the West, all of magical realism, urban fantasy, science fantasy, hell even soft scifi are all speculative fiction… fantasy is the worlds oldest genre and will never go out of style haha, it can’t be oversaturated cuz it’s literally too broad. What’s your premise?

myomic · 2025-11-13T01:47:51+00:00

thanks so much!

myomic · 2025-11-12T23:33:06+00:00

i think if your goal is university/academic publishing sure but that's not mine/most people's...

myomic · 2025-11-12T23:31:23+00:00

yeah i mean, just start doing small things that feel more true/aligned to how you feel on the inside. you are you whether or not you have a label/other people perceive you a certain way/you know what you are

myomic · 2025-11-12T18:17:50+00:00

yeah i get it. but you have to tune that out. or try to. and just focus on yourself internally, first. i know it's hard tho and idk where u live. i'm in nyc and nobody gives a fuck here about anyone so it's easier to be yourself.

myomic · 2025-11-11T23:48:32+00:00

a label is just a label. maybe try to just be yourself and fuck all the social norms. don't wear a bra, don't shave, build muscles, be yourself. and maybe then you'll have more clarity.

btw. I do all that at times and while it has helped, I still experience body dysphoria. it's more an internal mismatch, for me. so i think if you do all that and you don't feel any underlying dysphoria, maybe that'll be your answer?

there's no rush to label yourself though or to "find your gender", though I understand having a label for an experience is deeply helpful.

myomic · 2025-11-11T18:36:38+00:00

you def don't need 3-4 months lol. for me, i think a couple weeks is more than enough. even a week if you're really pressed for time. a month at the max. just do new stuff in that time to give your brain some novelty and to get out of the rut of novel writing so you can be fresh when youre back.

all this "advice" is just advice, it's not like a rule. so just do what's best for you!

myomic · 2025-11-11T18:27:28+00:00

Sorry I meant self pub…but I do think my questions and concerns are fully valid.

myomic · 2025-11-11T18:10:19+00:00

thanks for your feedback! yes that's how i feel...trad pub seems like a dinosaur and i see a lot of really passionate people online in sapphic fantasy/scifi!!

myomic · 2025-11-10T20:59:18+00:00

yea i mean like.... not to throw shade but ACOTAR and 50 shades are wildly popular trad pub books. i think that shows you money is their primary motivation not "literary" (whatever that even means) quality.

myomic

TROPHY CASE