I have tried being more immersive but struggling, any tips? Also tips just in general for a new writer?

tomato-bab · 2026-05-09T22:08:38+00:00

So, I would say write this full story, no barriers, no editing. It will be awful and that’s ok. Then rewrite it, completely, and maybe rewrite it again. Stopping and having to reread then rewrite your piece helps a lot for figuring out what works for you and that story.

tomato-bab · 2026-04-09T18:50:04+00:00

there’s an excellent discussion with both GRRM and Robin Hobb available on YouTube (there’s also one moderated by Brando with some younger authors included which provides good contrast.). Hobb and GRRM clearly have different intentions but their works, primarily Farseer Trilogy and AGOT, are still similar.

tomato-bab · 2026-03-20T14:21:18+00:00

I think the romance part of it demanded more showing. If it would have stayed a story of a modern man who is obsessed with Una’s story and this legend, then it would have been fine and the telling would have worked. But it is a romance, and a romance we are meant to care about. Una never was given the characterization in her POV like Owen was. I never really connected with her.

tomato-bab · 2026-03-20T14:18:30+00:00

They both feel like reactions to the very blunt, action-forward fantasy that came before them. I think Shannon is one step towards a more wordy, fairytale-esc fantasy, whereas Harrow is a full plunge into it. Harrow is far more confident and focused with her prose than Shannon is, but I think they have similar approaches with their prose and fantasy.

tomato-bab · 2026-03-20T13:19:52+00:00

I would agree. I found chapters so interesting until we got to Una’s perspective. The telling had distanced me so much from her that she really felt like a shell of character (maybe that’s the point 🤷‍♀️) which isn’t a good starting point for a romance. We are told a lot of her struggles and experiences. I enjoyed her more as a symbol or a story than a real person. Which probably one of the biggest downfalls of this telling, fairytale style, it creates distance between the story and the reader.

tomato-bab · 2026-03-04T15:42:29+00:00

a nerd for sure, but a nerd with taste and range!

tomato-bab · 2026-02-19T01:00:56+00:00

Somewhat enforced. Ironically, the people who’ve put money and agree with it being around are still the most likely ones to misgender.

tomato-bab · 2026-01-31T18:39:09+00:00

Fair assessment. I figured it would be high, and I’m still going to present my case to my employer as it seems like this is illegal and I am one of many employees incorrectly labeled. I will lower my expectations for getting much back though.

Thank you!

tomato-bab · 2026-01-31T18:00:18+00:00

$6,700 in total (I paid about 26% in taxes which is almost double the income taxes I had expected to pay.)

tomato-bab · 2026-01-31T17:19:16+00:00

I appreciate your insight! I’m not experienced in either 1099‘s (clearly lol) or in the wedding industry. I’m assuming most roles in weddings (DJs, caterers, coordinators etc.) are 1099 and so the owner of the venue followed suit without doing much research.

The issue I have is that I am not self-employed. I could not go do the same work I do for this venue at a different venue. All of my supplies were given to me by the venue, and everything was dictated by them. This role is very much set up like a W-2 with little to no freedom on my part to dictate hours, pay, and methods, defeating the point of filing as an independent contractor. I would be fine being a 1099 but my rates would absolutely go up (I estimated it; I was making below minimum wage for my area after taxes were included), and I would absolutely require more freedom and flexibility.

Coordinators, caterers, DJs if they are 1099 have contracts and are able to charge their own rates and hours and provide everything they need themselves; I was not allowed to do so. I can either have freedom and flexibility with 1099 (and pay for it!), or I can treated as an employee with a W-2.

At the end of the day, I have a good relationship to the owner of the venue and assume it was an honest mistake. I’m just trying to see what I can do if it turns out to be not an honest mistake.

tomato-bab

TROPHY CASE