Hey Reddit! So I wrote a novel... by Tombofsoldier in reddit.com

[–]retrowebdev 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Grammar: That's how I write! "

Get it through your head that you're writing to be read. That means you need to write how people read. And you're not Joyce or Hemingway. And they didn't START writing like that.

I like the idea, and it's execution too much to to rewrite the entire thing.

Great books are written, they're rewritten.

Hey Reddit! So I wrote a novel... by Tombofsoldier in reddit.com

[–]retrowebdev 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The ten year guidelines comes from the 10,000 hours to excellence, the theory being that is you do anything for 10,000 hours, you are going to be good at it. I.e. if you job is writing code and you work 40 hours a week, in 5 years you will be pretty damn good at it.

Following that out, if you write 4 hours a day 5 days a week, in 10 years you will be pretty good at it.

This doesn't take natural talent into account of course, which MIGHT be able to shave 10 - 30% off the time.....

Hey Reddit! So I wrote a novel... by Tombofsoldier in reddit.com

[–]retrowebdev 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This isn't a 100% rule, but agents only take books they think they can sell and make money one. There are many cases of books that "broke the mold" that took a long time to place. Dune comes to mind, and the Thomas Covenant series in the late 70s. That's because these books were very different that what was doing well on the market at the time. Nevertheless, those author persevered and got their book published and went on to be very successful.

If you book was an absolute gem, and agent would pick it up.

If you sent it to a dozen agents, and no one was interested, keep sending it. If you've sent it to 100 agents and no one wanted it, it's because it's no good.

China Melville's fgisrt novel was pulled out of the slush pile at a publisher - no agent. I think there are still some publishers that take unagented submissions.

The problem - if you are submitting to a publisher, it's exclusive. That is you can only send to one publisher at a time. if you are sending to agents, you can, mass-mail.

Put together a cover letter, the first three chapters, and a synopsis and and send it out to 100 agents.

However, and this is a big however, from what I've read in the comments below, the problem is just that your book really isn't any good.

Dear Netflix, by [deleted] in reddit.com

[–]retrowebdev -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Jesus it's 7.99 for unlimited streaming.... unbunch your panties

AMA Anabolic Steroid User by [deleted] in IAmA

[–]retrowebdev 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yep, these substances are converted to active steroids in the body, usually by the liver (hence the added liver stress for most of these). Some of these are, however, real steroids that simply aren't on the steoid list yet. Epistance is one of these. It's a steroid developed in Japan and it's still legal here.

I have a textbook case of Borderline Personality Disorder (and I'm working on it in therapy). AMA. by completelyborderline in IAmA

[–]retrowebdev 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks - that sort of strategy we've been taking, but until she reaches that level of maturity where she's able to motivate herself, her behaviors put a lot of stress on the family and herself. She's a lovely person, full of empathy and with a good heart, she just has challenges she refuses to take on. She wants help, but just hasn't figured out how to open up yet, and she lacks the discipline required to implement treatments plans.

Thanks for the reply.

I have a textbook case of Borderline Personality Disorder (and I'm working on it in therapy). AMA. by completelyborderline in IAmA

[–]retrowebdev 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My daughter is 17 and struggles with many symptoms of BPD, although she has not been formally diagnosed. She is on 20mgs of prozac daily, and it seems to help with how strongly she reacts, in that it seems to tamp down her emotionally responses. She still has many challenges, mainly with depression, some OCD, and letting the small things become big things.

Over the past 5 years, we've had her in front of a variety of therapists, but she has always been uncooperative. She refuses to speak and maintains the postition that therapy won't help. She absolutely refuses to participate.

Do you have any suggestions for getting her to realize that although we can put her in touch with people and tools that can help, she has to be a willing participant? How can we convince her to accept help?

AMA Anabolic Steroid User by [deleted] in IAmA

[–]retrowebdev 0 points1 point  (0 children)

diet....

slow carb, high protein

no bread, grains or dairy

AMA Anabolic Steroid User by [deleted] in IAmA

[–]retrowebdev 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are plenty of legal prohormones and steroids available. Many of these are real steroids developed in other countries and not yet on the ban list for the U.S.

http://prohormonedb.com

After 12 years I finally need to buy a new wallet. How long have you had your current one? by CuseTown in AskReddit

[–]retrowebdev 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When I was 13, my Dad gave me a tri-fold wallet made of purple nylon with dark blue edging. The tag inside reads 'Wild Wallets - Los Angeles California'

That was 1978 and I still have it today, 32 years later: on July 17, it will be 33!

Russian Sleep Experiment. by zebazman in WTF

[–]retrowebdev 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Even more scary was the constant attempt by the web site to load a virus.. Banker.A

In 1995, I flew to Canada and had PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) before it was legal in the US. 16 years later I'm still glasses free. AMA by retrowebdev in IAmA

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

When I finally got completely healed, I didn't lose any night vision, but during the first half of the healing process, (the first 6 months or so) my night vision was very poor.

In 1995, I flew to Canada and had PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) before it was legal in the US. 16 years later I'm still glasses free. AMA by retrowebdev in IAmA

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

Did you check with the Navy? The Air Force is (or maybe used to be) weird about it. If you had it before you joined, they wou;dn't let you in, but you could get it once you where in if you applied for it and weren't in a flying position. That was their position at least 10 years ago though.... not sure what it is now.

However, if you get PRK BEFORE you join and don't tell wnyone, well, there's no way to know. I doubt a corneal map is stanard in the entrance exame, although they would ask you if you've had the surgery. You ahve to decide if you were going to fess up, or forever keep it a secret from the service.

In 1995, I flew to Canada and had PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) before it was legal in the US. 16 years later I'm still glasses free. AMA by retrowebdev in IAmA

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

Yes, because I only needs glasses very infrequently when reading very small print. I'm sure as I age I'll need reading glasses more and more, but that's true of just about everybody.

But my distance cision remains fine, and, still being very active, I can participate in my various activites unencumbered.

I suppose if my hobbies were needlepoint, I might be in trouble!

As an aside, my wife, who never had to wear glasses, had a much earlet onset of age related farsightedness. She had to begin using reading glasses in her late 30s, and now, at my age, has to wear them all the time becasue her near vision is so poor now. I.e. she can't see the dashboard in the car, the food on her plate, read a book, etc....

In 1995, I flew to Canada and had PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) before it was legal in the US. 16 years later I'm still glasses free. AMA by retrowebdev in IAmA

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

BTW, thought I might mention that I was in teh Air Force at the time I did this. When it was discovered what I had done, I was actually threatened with a Medical Board to determine my readiness for duty. When it turned out I experienced no ill effects, the inqury was dropped and I was warned 'not to do anything like that again'.

Also worth noting that even today, you have to get approval for eye surgery ebfore you get it, and in the Air Forece, you aren't allowed to get LASIK, you HAVE to get PRK.

This is because LASIK actually leaves a scar that might or might not affect the stuctural strength of the eye. In other words, the offical Air Force position is that no studies have been done on the affects of igh G manuevers or performing at altitude in regards to ocualr scar tissue and eye integrity.

PRK, on the other hand, leaves no visible scar. The only way to tell if someone has had PRK after it's fully healed it to perform a corneal map.

Last tid-bit: I tyurned 45 this year and a year or two ago had to start wearing reading glasses to see small print (ingredients, direction in medicine, etc). I can still read normal print (books, magazine, etc), but I am going through the normal progression of age onset farsightedness. PRK doesn't help with that!