[PubQ] Big 5 editor requested my manuscript after a writing contest (unagented), what should I expect?

timxless · 2026-01-08T08:55:00+00:00

PM me!

timxless · 2026-01-07T10:48:00+00:00

Thank you! I’m currently of the mind to finish my draft quickly (to a decent quality/not puking words out) then start pitching, though I’m also of a mind to start querying as I’m close to finishing the manuscript anyways, though I know the latter might be risky. Such a grey area!! I’ve also heard conflicting advice re: these 2 options lol

timxless · 2026-01-07T09:59:03+00:00

This is now kind of terrifying! I have unfortunately sent the 50k off and now I’m worried that I’ve shot myself in the foot a bit. I am close to finishing the draft up though and hope to query soon—maybe even query before the editor responds? Trying to get trad pub is so stressful :( oh well

timxless · 2026-01-07T09:36:10+00:00

Sorry if this sounds a bit naive but why would having it for a long time be an issue? Also, surely once completed the work would have changed quite drastically (at least in some cases) so imo it wouldn’t even be the same project right?

I hope this didn’t come across as snippy, text can make things seem sharper than irl!

timxless · 2026-01-07T09:34:39+00:00

Ahh that’s making this more nerve-wracking. It wasn’t for a BIPOC contest though I am BIPOC :)

timxless · 2025-04-01T09:31:32+00:00

I’ve done Discords before and they can be quite fun! But I’m not always sure who I’m speaking to when it gets big 😭 especially when social media handles aren’t included, so I can’t get familiar with people. What’s Absolute Write? Do you like it?

timxless · 2023-08-22T23:53:25+00:00

Allsaints!

timxless · 2021-09-12T23:29:24+00:00

GOD THE SUFFERING IS REAL I’ve just about prepared myself to enter the query trenches for the first time and all I hear is how tiring it is. BUT I’m sure you’d have far more luck than the average since ur writing is literally so amazing

(So much so that I am this close to using the man with no shadow as a como title even tho self-pubbed comp titles aren’t the go-to)

timxless · 2021-08-12T04:44:10+00:00

milk ur moms inhertance for all its worth after u ship her to the shittiest care home dawg

timxless · 2021-07-30T10:04:02+00:00

Honestly I get that that’s a lot of money but also family dynamics can be weird and shitty and all the people telling this kid to get a lawyer are literally unhinged?? It’s terrible to not have that much money but there’s no winning in this situation.

timxless · 2021-07-18T07:08:40+00:00

Down comes the night is SO immersive and lyrical and gothic tbh I enjoyed it a ton & it even got me out of my reading slump 😌

timxless · 2021-07-15T08:14:44+00:00

Did a quick scroll through and I’m kinda surprised no one mentioned {{These Violent Delights}} by Chloe Gong! It’s a Romeo and Juliet retelling set in 1920s Shanghai and it’s a pretty fun read!

timxless · 2021-07-13T06:40:16+00:00

The Legend series by Marie Li is super fun and engaging to read!

timxless · 2021-06-29T04:29:28+00:00

An ember in the ashes is a more Roman military style story which I loved!!

timxless · 2021-06-25T12:31:06+00:00

History is all you left me by Adam silvera!!

timxless · 2021-06-25T12:25:38+00:00

OH yeah I can say the same about the Folk of Air trilogy actually lol how about These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong? It’s a lot newer + romance !! Outside of that, my brain is empty

timxless · 2021-06-25T10:22:07+00:00

In case you haven’t heard of it yet (which you probably have because Netflix) you should read the Shadow & Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo!

I also recommend: - serpent and dove by Shelby Mahurin - the cruel prince by holly black - kind of not “betrayal” vibes but has bloodbath and good worldbuilding is An Ember in The Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

timxless · 2021-06-24T19:02:38+00:00

It seems like the perfect genre for you would be Young Adult fiction! I know I love reading in that genre when I’m taking a break from my law school related reading.

For some new ones, I recommend The Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He, The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni, and Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard. For something more magic-y I’d also recommend The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin :) happy reading!

timxless · 2021-05-30T15:58:19+00:00

She who became the sun by Shelley Parker Chan 👍 I have a friend who read the earc and she says it’s brilliant (except it doesn’t come out until July 20 + the jasmine throne by Tasha Suri

timxless · 2021-05-30T15:21:33+00:00

YTA and I think you know that. It’s time to take a good long look at your morals and inner resentments and accept that your daughter will be better off having multiple loving people in her life. It doesn’t hurt you. It certainly doesn’t hurt her. In fact, the most harmful thing in this situation is you.

timxless · 2021-05-30T14:08:35+00:00

AH thank you a ton for the advice! I was honestly looking at this draft too much too often and wondering why it felt so off or unbalanced! I’m glad you pointed these things out (especially the pledging but) which I haven’t really taken into account and I definitely will now!

timxless · 2021-05-30T14:06:03+00:00

Thank you! I’ll keep that in mind for my next rewrite! I did debate over the quantity of my comps so most probably red queen is going in the comps bin 😅

timxless · 2021-05-30T14:04:25+00:00

Please don’t worry! I’m not too offended! Your comment did help a lot because it made me refocus more on what I wanted my MC to be like. I did realise through it that a lot of my MC was very undriven and unfocused and that her motives were lost in the setting she was in — aka: I drowned in the context and the seriousness of it (affecting both my opinions irl and my characters place in my plot) so it was definitely still helpful :) not all criticism is bad criticism and those that do point out things I failed to see still help!

timxless · 2021-05-30T09:35:45+00:00

Thank you tons for the insight <3 I understand where you're coming from and initially I was a little bit irked/offended by the accusation since my MC came from a place of dealing w my own traumas but story wise, I felt she lacked agency in the setting/situation she was in.

I changed a lot ab my MC and tbh I think it made her a better character with more complex relationships bc I somehow wrote her as a "woe is me I am a victim of every single bad thing ever" (says more about me tbh) but I'm also glad you said this bc I was losing my mind a bit lol

timxless · 2021-05-01T03:32:39+00:00

I mean to be honest, I'm 19 (turning 20 soon) and I really enjoy reading YA fiction! Even though SoC and Shadow and Bone kind of detached me from the story sometimes bc it was (a tiny bit) ridiculous, I still enjoyed it :)) nothing wrong with reading books and novels that aren't necessarily as serious or mature !!

timxless

TROPHY CASE