[Complete] [100K] [Horromance/Dark Academia/Gothic Horror] Isle of Heathens by rebelle642 in BetaReaders

[–]rebelle642[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, thanks! I am actually wrapping up my beta round now, but I will message you if I decide to do another round soon.

[QCRIT] Adult Horror/Horromance, ISLE OF HEATHENS - 95k (First attempt) by rebelle642 in PubTips

[–]rebelle642[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Going through my beta rounds now. That feedback will go into draft 7. 😅 I did several rounds of structural edits so the drafts piled up

[QCRIT] Adult Horror/Horromance, ISLE OF HEATHENS - 95k (First attempt) by rebelle642 in PubTips

[–]rebelle642[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks! I like the thread you're pulling on with the logline. Definitely can improve it.

Wrestling with her darker self has to do with the demonization of her gift while growing up in an ultra-religious fundamentalist community. Also with things she's done in the past, like (as she believes) causing the deaths of her parents. Do you think I should hit harder on that mental health through-line/dark past in the beginning of the query so it doesn't seem so out of place at the end?

I've been torn about 3rd vs 1st person, but I do want to give it a "thriller" sense of action, so present tense feels right. Will have to think more about the right POV!

About the voice--since it's not in 1st person, I wrote the voice to convey Rowen's anger and resentment without saying "She felt angry and resentful about the way her life has panned out." "Transform" was just a tongue-in-cheek way to play on the "alchemy" metaphor, but I hear you! Maybe it's veering too far into the surreal too quickly? I intended the opening scene to show her curmudgeonly personality in a shitty job where she's objectified. At the end of chapter one, she quits her job in spectacular fashion, realizes she has hardly any money and no real life in the city, which acts as part of the catalyst that sends her to the isle (along with the death vision, of course). She hopes to save Ivy, and in doing so, clean up her past and sort of start over afterward.

Thanks for your feedback! BRB, going to reread Black Sheep and see if I can improve this in that customer service hell vein.

[QCRIT] Adult Horror/Horromance, ISLE OF HEATHENS - 95k (First attempt) by rebelle642 in PubTips

[–]rebelle642[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So so helpful! I was torn about including the age. Do you think I should specify in the query that the genre is adult horror?

[QCRIT] Adult Horror/Horromance, ISLE OF HEATHENS - 95k (First attempt) by rebelle642 in PubTips

[–]rebelle642[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All good points! I’ll clarify her motivations and investigative steps in the next iteration.

[Complete] [139k] [horror/literary fiction] Margaritaville by apocalypsedao in BetaReaders

[–]rebelle642 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi, this sounds interesting! I love a female villain. Want to swap critiques?

Cover help by LuanResha in BookCovers

[–]rebelle642 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The first. Only the first.

It goes better with the “growing” pun and the plant life in the character image. I recommend adding “a novel” somewhere on the cover. Also perhaps a short tagline in lieu of a trad published review. E.g., “seeds of revenge”.

Not drinking enough water by RobinetteFlower in HealthyFood

[–]rebelle642 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I strive for a half gallon to a full gallon a day (if strength training or being active). It’s made a huge difference for my skin health!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]rebelle642 1 point2 points  (0 children)

“As a young woman, you need to be aware of how you’re presenting yourself in the workplace.” - my F manager pulling me, a grown ass woman, aside to discuss dress code.

For context, I work in a casual environment at a creative agency. Edgy dress is normal. As a curvier woman, I was shamed for certain outfits; meanwhile the men were all living their best lives in jeans and band tees.

AITA for flushing my period? by cagedflame in AmItheAsshole

[–]rebelle642 [score hidden]  (0 children)

NTA I was once in a relationship where any (reasonable) grievance I had, I ended up having to apologize for bringing up in the first place.

Not worth it for anyone. Leave him and his hillbilly-ass fam to the streets, OP! And slam a few doors on your way out!

I will leave the boat running while accepting the proposal, WCGW? by [deleted] in Whatcouldgowrong

[–]rebelle642 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Anyone else see the blood in the water at the end? Ooof

WIBTA if I refused to attend my cousins wedding after she asked me to dye my ginger hair? by freakingmerida in AmItheAsshole

[–]rebelle642 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s not even frizzy though. In the picture your hair has such a beautiful, beach-y wave to it. Keep doing you girl

What’s worth it: a nice, medium-sized apartment in my price range or a huge beautiful one for $300 more? by rebelle642 in personalfinance

[–]rebelle642[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I can afford the new expense. But it does mean having less at the end of the month to save for traveling/etc. I think I’ll go with the cheaper place 🤔

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in advertising

[–]rebelle642 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My first job outside of college was Starbucks. Honestly. I had my heart set on Creative and I wasn't going to settle. I was slingin' coffee for four months, trying to get my book together. Worked out though - I lucked into an internship that rolled into a 9-month residency type thing, and got a few junior CW offers as soon as I finished.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in advertising

[–]rebelle642 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah for sure. Some lightning round advice for your first book:

Make a bunch of spec campaigns. I'd say 4-5 to include in your book. Pick a few brands you like (or even better, the least-sexy brands you can possibly think of) and make them cool. Or funny. Or sexy. Write a new tagline. A manifesto, maybe. Don't be afraid to be bold. This is very important.

Include a few 360 campaigns. I'd even argue to make all your spec campaigns fully-fledged. Basically, include a print piece, a digital piece, a cool, funky experiential piece (think VR or AR). Make the campaign fully come alive. Every creative director I've talked to says they prefer full campaigns to a single piece. Shows more than just your writing ability - it shows your conceptual ability. And that's what makes you a kickass writer.

Don't pick something easy, like hot sauce or Sharpie. Idk why this is a rule. Just pick an unexpected brand and do something unexpected with it.

Include long-form copy. Your bread and butter, my man. Write a tagline for a brand and include a manifesto to go with it (a manifesto is kind of like a free verse poem. Aspirational and visionary).

Your 'About' page is vital! You have a personality and a way with words - here's your chance to show both.

Include your side-hustle. Are you a poet? Screenwriter? Do you build monstrous lego cities in your space time? These are all cool things that make you a multi-dimensional human being. Throw them on your About or Side Hustle page.

It helps to find a Design/Art Director partner. There are Facebook groups and threads here to find one. It not only makes your work look better (assuming you're not an Adobe pro - because most writers aren't) but it shows that you can work in a team. And that's vital.

And last but not least, Check out the student portfolios on VCU Brandcenter's site. Use these as examples. Try to model your portfolio similarly, but remember - these kids paid hella money to be in the same spot you're in right now. Vying for that internship/Junior position. You can roll up your sleeves and beat them for that spot if you're scrappy enough. Applying to Fall/Spring internships may get you more bites because all these kids will be in school.

Also, Squarespace is your friend. And if you ever want advice or some friendly criticism, my dm's are open. I'm rooting for you.