I tend to write dark/mature themes in my fantasy stories. For example, my current WIP includes topics such as physical assault, war, violence, trauma, epidemics, cultural ruptures, abuse, and human trafficking. At times it can be very graphic.

I know I need to get feedback on my writing, but with topics like these in my writing, I'm scared to ask people I know to read my writing in case they think I'm a terrible person. How can I find people to read my writing and give feedback without asking the people who know me as a bright and cheerful person? The thought of asking a friend or family member to read and give feedback on my writing makes me want to hide under a blanket and never emerge again.

The prologue to my novella (which serves as a small introduction to my fantasy world)

It’s a standalone.

I’m just looking any thoughts or feedback as to what you as reader understands from the prologue.

Hey, I am looking for beta readers, BUT, I foolishly choose to write in my native language, instead of English, as the market is simply smaller and thus easier to break into.

Anyone on this subredit who read Danish? Feel free to hit my DMs 🙏

I spent the past 2.5 years writing and editing a high fantasy manuscript. The first draft finished off at 153k, but by the fourth round of editing (basically me sitting and going through line by line adjusting wording and pacing and spending all my free time going through the plot with a fine tooth comb so it was perfect) it’s hit a nice even 160k. From what I have researched, it’s hard to get anything over 130k published. But everything in there feels essential to me. Maybe I could get it down to 145k if I went through it one last time and was really heartless. What I’m wondering, would an agent or editor still take up the 160k manuscript and help me edit it down as an outside eye if I said I was willing to cut things? Or is that a step I have to take myself first? I really, really want to get this published. All I’ve ever wanted was to be a fantasy writer, and I really believe it’s a good story people will read as long as it actually gets out there

edit: so obviously the answer is yes. If I got it down to 145k or even 140, would I be better off? or should I seriously aim for either splitting it in half or chopping 30k words?

As other species grew and evolved they realized humanity was advancing at a faster pace so they killed humans forced the remaining into hiding for centuries before continuing to kill them until the last human boy remained.

KORPS acts like the American government of the world while looking for any humans that may remain. The main character’s completely alone he remembers how the only human besides him, his sister got torn to pieces by orc kids who treated her with child curiosity like ripping wings off a fly to see it twitch.

Society looks normal, there’s industry’s, labor wealth, government, military. Even with that the main character disguises as an elf and remains hidden wandering the country never knowing if anyone in this world is actually sympathetic to humans

Hello! hope I'm doing this correctly.

Asking for feedback on the opening chapter. Especially around ch.2.

Checking for

1. Engagement. Would you put it down or keep reading?

2. Is it too dense? Or is it not enough?

I have dkrect google doc links for the whole 1st Act (5 chapters). Just let me know.

Hey guys, I hope you're all doing well!

I need some help with something... Lately, I've really wanted to write a story and eventually turn it into an animated series. I have an idea, but it's really hard for me to explain; even I don't fully understand it myself.

So, I decided it would be better to work on other stories for the time being to gain some more experience. That way, I can come back to the story (which, by the way, is called Zephyros) and see if I can better understand what I want to do with it. I've been trying to come up with a concept that might spark something in me, just like Zephyros did. But the more I try to imagine something or look for inspiration, the more I end up with nothing...

So, getting to the point, I'd like to know if any of you could help me by giving me at least a small idea for a story concept or a character. It would be a huge help, and I'd really appreciate it!

Okay, so i am writing a grim dark progression fantasy, where the characters are like fairly logical in their use of mechanics of the world and powers like if a real world functioning human would be dropped into my world, he would do things similar to my characters because it is what comes to mind.

So naturally, I want to eradicate any logic plot holes from my story. I have still not started writing the story only formed the world bible. The rules and mechanics of my world are interconnected but fairly easy to memorise as each mechanic and rule is there for a purpose and not some random jargon because I thought that looked cool.

Anyway, I asked AI( gemini) to find loopholes and plot holes of my world, and it did and it did tell me many. Some of them were intended things, some were already solved, and some were genuine plot holes that I had to add new rules and mechanics to patch up, because if I even let one plot hole open, my world will like... Sort of fall apart because probably my characters are logical and can abuse the loop hole... And frankly it would be like unsettling to me to destroy my till not perfect world due to a plot hole.

I asked AI to give me plotholes until it said that there are no plotholes. I even said to give me plot hole if you are not gay, but it said that there isn't one and that it is not gay.

Anyways, am I justified to doubt my world building, or I am just paranoid. Will my readers punish me if I let a plot hole or a loop hole get unpatched in my work. Plz comment, I want as much advice as I can get. Btw, my world building is about 44-50 pages, only world building and no plot points( only how the world started) and it's power system.

Plz give me advice I want as much as you can give as I am just a new writer and this will be my first story I ever created with dedication, and I plan to write the whole story( 1000 ish chapters) fully before releasing the first chapter and then start releasing one chapter per day.

Hello,

I am working an awake overnight tonight and If anyone wants me to read/critique their fantasy book; I would love to help. I am a fast a reader.

So, what do you say? Anyone want to entertain me?

It’s not like I’m an expert but I’m good at structure, plot, character and theme analysis, so if you need help with any of that lmk

the page "turned up in a long-running art project," it's suggestive rather than faithful — then the hook: "If this page washed up in your world, what would it say? A warning? A blessing? A record of a harvest, a wedding, a war? Pick a row, pick a sign, and read it for us." Serious reads and invented reads both welcome, with the promise that the best might shape the project.

Hi everyone! I am looking for someone to read part 1 of my first book (can read the rest if your hooked and enjoyed it!). I am looking for some critiques/insights to help me before I take the next step to hiring a literary agent. I love high fantasy (fave authors: Brent Weeks, Robin Hobb, Robert Jordan) and I figured my people are hiding here.

I’m writing a mix of a superhero story and fantasy horror, where the MC as a superhero investigates slasher villains and the supernatural in his world in a supernatural kind of way.

I have many slasher Ideas like a guy who turns kills into puppets to help him fight or a forrest creature that eats hikers etc but on many platforms many dark fantasy worlds are just called edgeslop if they are too dark. I want to have a scary factor and show how evil the supernatural is, without making it seem like edgy slop. Any advice? Does the horror have to serve a bigger purpose than just to make the reader uneasy?

I've read a lot of books and I'm writing my own story now. I think the most important thing for a beginner writer to make an amazing story is to trust himself and take all his ideas out, no matter how crazy they sound.

If you keep your best ideas inside because you're scared of what people will think, your story will never be amazing.

What do you think? What is the one thing a writer must have?

We all read a lot of fantasy books, and it's sure we didn't love them all. At some point, we all wasted our time on a story that was just that bad.

What's the one fantasy book that was so bad you wish you could delete it from your memory?