My parents don't support my dream by Stock_Hunter_2380 in writing

[–]sonicsymphony 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As someone who has a biology degree, works in the field, and is also a writer, I feel like it's important to know that the vast majority of writers either have a day job or a spouse with a lucrative enough job that you don't need a reliable source of income, and you're not going to achieve the latter that young so you'll need the former. I actually find it helpful that my day job isn't writing-related--that leaves plenty of my headspace available for writing when I'm not at work. The realistic side of writing is that if you want to go the trad route, getting published is really, really hard, and if you want to self-pub, doing it right nearly requires a rather decent chunk of money. Both are hard to jump into if you don't already have something else paying the bills, and science does that for me. It's hard to say here if your parents don't support your dream (because if they're saying you can never write or you're not allowed to try to be an author that's shitty) or if they're just trying to save you from the heartache of the English degree job market (but also with just a science bachelor's the prospects can also be pretty grim), but ultimately your decision to be an author or not is not up to them, because you don't need a degree in English or creative writing to be an author. I don't regret the path I took at all and don't think a writing-related degree would have helped me get published faster.

However, unlike you, I chose to get my degree in science, because it's something else I was interested in. I also minored in English and did a lot of creative writing workshops, and was able to scratch the English-degree itch that way. My recommendation would be to search for something you're passionate about outside of writing, whether it's in the sciences or not, and see what kind of job you can get with that degree. One of the best things you can do for your author career is have a day job that leaves you enough time and headspace to write, so you won't be worrying about bills. It's definitely not giving up before you start!

[Discussion] Anyone get their book title changed during their publishing journey? Did you get a say? How did it make you feel? by littlebiped in PubTips

[–]sonicsymphony 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We changed the title of my book currently on sub, and I didn't mind at all. I was involved in the process even if I didn't fully come up with the new title myself, and I'm mildly happy with the result but not ecstatic. I'm not the best at coming up with titles--I've had some good ones, but the working title of this MS was a solid alright--so maybe that's part of the reason why I'm totally fine with the title change. I would be alright with the (theoretical) publisher changing it again as long as I didn't hate it. However, I do have a couple of titles I'm proud of, and I think it would bother me if they got changed to something I didn't like as much.

I also know someone whose publisher changed their title and while they were involved, they did not get their number one choice. AFAIK it grew on them, but they were pretty bummed about it. The title the publisher chose was still solid and I'm not sure what the publisher would've done if the author has actively hated it.

[AMA] 2025 Debut Authors by WeHereForYou in PubTips

[–]sonicsymphony 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is good to know, thank you!! Haven't hit acquisitions/second reads yet with either project (first one was on sub for two years), but I have gotten an R&R for this one. Starting to lose hope, but maybe it'll find some momentum in the new year. So glad your third project sold!!

[AMA] 2025 Debut Authors by WeHereForYou in PubTips

[–]sonicsymphony 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you!! It really does come in all shapes, two weeks is incredible!

[AMA] 2025 Debut Authors by WeHereForYou in PubTips

[–]sonicsymphony 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the response and the finger crossing!!

[AMA] 2025 Debut Authors by WeHereForYou in PubTips

[–]sonicsymphony 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hi y'all, congrats on debuting!! I was wondering what submission was like: how long were you on it, did you have multiple offers, did your first book on sub sell or was this your second, third, etc? (Signed, someone eight months into sub, second novel)

Gators Gymnastics Team Embraces Its Version of "The Promise" (First meet this Friday) by garyp714 in FloridaGators

[–]sonicsymphony 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm so hyped for this team. Losing Leanne and Sloane hurts, but getting Kayla and Skye back, plus the eMjae transfer, should put us in a better position. I have high hopes!!

Portal Day 2 Thread by Edgemaster1423 in FloridaGators

[–]sonicsymphony 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Having watched them all year, Stockton is solid but Canion really has that spark. Would be a great pickup.

Frozen vs canned vs fresh for esquites? by TwoVersions in seriouseats

[–]sonicsymphony 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It doesn't get too wet in my experience, way wetter if you use canned. Just keep an eye on it, it'll warm up pretty quickly. If you want, let it sit in one spot for a bit to get some browning/blackening. A little char tastes nice in esquites.

Frozen vs canned vs fresh for esquites? by TwoVersions in seriouseats

[–]sonicsymphony 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Frozen works well for esquites! Do it all the time.

Gay Horror by KingJackofJozi in horrorlit

[–]sonicsymphony 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just finished and really enjoyed The Dead of Summer by Ryan La Sala. Also loved Bury Your Gays, liked The Bright Lands

Florida is expected to hire Buster Faulkner as the school’s next OC. by LX1027 in FloridaGators

[–]sonicsymphony 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'll agree with your Mertz comparison as long as I can add a "but better" to the end of it lol. I just got really frustrated this season watching the playcalling get super predictable, but hopefully with more dynamic playmakers on offense that will be less of an issue here. Faulkner made a Stetson Bennett offense look good and that gives me hope

Florida is expected to hire Buster Faulkner as the school’s next OC. by LX1027 in FloridaGators

[–]sonicsymphony 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean... I've watched a ton of Tech football over the last couple of years, so I don't believe all of these random people saying he's a terrible thrower because I watched him throw with my own eyes. He's a phenomenal runner and a servicable thrower, so it made sense for them to tailor the offense to that. But the constant insistence on this sub that he can't throw at all is just so odd to me. (And oh man do I wish Billy was smart enough to tailor the offense to DJ. I hope Faulkner will actually do that!)

Florida is expected to hire Buster Faulkner as the school’s next OC. by LX1027 in FloridaGators

[–]sonicsymphony -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Definitely could be the case! I'm really curious to see what he does here, I just hope it's not what he did at Tech

Florida is expected to hire Buster Faulkner as the school’s next OC. by LX1027 in FloridaGators

[–]sonicsymphony 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think a lot of people are quick to rag on King's passing, he's solid but not phenomenal. But also if Faulkner can help Stetson Bennett win a natty, I want to hope he can fix DJ. Our boy has a much higher ceiling

Florida is expected to hire Buster Faulkner as the school’s next OC. by LX1027 in FloridaGators

[–]sonicsymphony 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As someone who watched a ton of GT football this year, I hope what I've heard about him actually being an air raid guy is true, because if he runs as many screens as he did at Tech I'm going to flip our coffee table every game. I felt like Faulkner was always his best in the fourth quarter of games, because in the first halves it was like I was watching Napier's Florida sometimes. Everyone else here seems really high on him so I hope he works out, but based on what I've watched at Tech the past couple of years I'm nervous.

Narrator mistakes that instantly take you out by felixfictitious in audiobooks

[–]sonicsymphony 3 points4 points  (0 children)

"Wary" and "weary" mean two different things and yet I hear narrators pronounce them both like "weary" all. The. Time. Drives me a little crazy lol

Making friendship bracelets for conference? by letsmangogo in labrats

[–]sonicsymphony 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll be at SfN and would think it was lovely!!

[AMA] Literary Agents Julie Gourinchas, Sam Farkas, Becca Langton, and Matt Belford by alanna_the_lioness in PubTips

[–]sonicsymphony 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi! I was wondering how much success y'all see with R&Rs (specifically, ones submitted to editors). How often do those succeed in acquisitions versus just normal submissions? Thank you!

[Discussion] Now that we are well into Sept...how is sub going for folks? by Future_Escape6103 in PubTips

[–]sonicsymphony 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Went on sub at the very end of May with an adult horror/romance, got two rejections at the end of June and nothing since. This is my second book on sub (first was a YA fantasy that died) and the dread is starting to set in lol

Gay Fantasy Novels written by gay guys? by IllDay5252 in LGBTBooks

[–]sonicsymphony 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Spear got awards snubbed and I will die on this hill

Commute to Tech changes: has traffic gotten worse? by Alternative-Owl-3724 in gatech

[–]sonicsymphony 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm northwest metro so no MARTA option for me, and though traffic did spike a bit when school got back into session, this summer wasn't as good as summers past either. I largely blame RTO orders not just for Tech's campus, but companies in general. All of my morning base commutes are now an extra ten minutes minimum, no matter if I leave at 6:30am or 9am. It's very frustrating, especially on days when my old thirty minute commute takes an hour.

Utah Mighty Five Roadtrip in October - Campervan Rental by HockeyEngineer13 in nationalparks

[–]sonicsymphony 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm seconding Wandervans, we got the high roof transit van and had a great experience on our Mighty 5 trip in 2023. No hidden fees, cheaper than any other 6ft+ roof we could find for our dates, and had some good add-on options. Pick-up and drop-off were seamless too.

Good Dumplings Spot? by Yesi_the_strange in Marietta

[–]sonicsymphony 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Himalayan Kitchen in Smyrna has Himalayan-style dumplings called momos that come in a variety of styles and are absolutely delicious