Hello all! I am a new author in need of writing critiques to tighten up my prose. I have had a few friends and family, who aren’t necessarily into the sci-fi genre I like to write. They have all said I am pretty good, with each one of them liking different parts of the short story I sent them. I have already submitted my first short story, but it takes 3-6 months to hear back, and I don’t want to spend that time idling. The dilemma, in order for my short story to be published I can’t post it on a public forum. I can only send it to individuals. Anyone in this community willing to help me with critiques? Thanks all!

I’m J.R. Larriba, an Arizona-based author whose fiction spans cosmic horror, literary historical, and Gothic traditions, unified by themes of human frailty, inherited trauma, moral consequence, and quiet resilience. My horror debut novel, Itsy Bitsy Spyder, launches a planned horror trilogy that begins as a police procedural and mutates into mythic cosmic vengeance—pushing the boundaries of the genre. Other completed works include What the Hands Remember, a vignette and prose-poetry collection tracing survival and covenant across history. In progress are the maritime Gothic horror WrackMaiden: Curse of Cassandra Cove, a transhumanist literary novel The Work of Our Hands, and There Are No Victors, Only Graves—a halfway-completed literary historical novel set on the Somme battlefields in 1925. What sets Victors apart in the crowded WWI field is its elevated, lyrical prose and profound thematic depth: subtle supernatural whispers from the graves guide fractured souls toward communal mercy, transforming a landscape of vengeance into a cradle of reconciliation and grace. My self-published nonfiction Remember the Prisoners: He Came to Set the Captives Free placed third in the Arizona Literary Contest 2016 and is available on Amazon. Having survived substance abuse, the lifestyle that accompanies it, military service, and finally prison, I’ve been afforded a rare glimpse into the heart of a rescued soul subjected to the extremes of humanity—themes that echo through my stories of struggle and redemption.

TIP #1: START WITH WHAT IS PRESSING Sometimes we sit down to write a post and think we have to come up with something clever. A teaching point. A lesson. A perfectly polished thought that proves we know what we’re talking about. But the strongest posts often begin much closer to home. They begin with what is pressing on us right now. What are you wrestling with? What keeps circling back through your thoughts? What are you learning in real time? What are you noticing in yourself, your work, your family, your faith, your creativity, your business, your book? That is not “too ordinary.” That is the anchor. TIP #2: DON’T WORRY ABOUT HOW LONG IT IS “SUPPOSED” TO BE One of the fastest ways to flatten your voice is to make every post match what the experts say “works.” Short posts work. Long posts work. Story posts work. One-line posts work. Teaching posts work. Messy, human, in-the-middle posts work. But not if every post is forced into the same formula. When you’re building a long-term social media strategy, you need rhythm. Some posts should be quick. Some should go deeper. Some should teach. Some should simply tell the truth. The goal is not to make every post the “ideal” length. The goal is to build trust over time. So don’t write to satisfy the data. Write to serve the moment. Say what needs to be said. Use the space it needs. Then move on. TIP #3: ANALYZE AFTER YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO ANALYZE Don’t over-measure too soon. A lot of people post three times, look at the numbers, and decide something “doesn’t work.” That is way too early. First, build a body of work. Write the short posts. Write the long posts. Write the stories. Write the teaching posts. Write the honest, in-the-middle posts. Let your audience respond over time. Then, once you have enough posts to see patterns, look back and ask: - What got people talking? - What made people feel seen? - What led to messages, comments, shares, sign-ups, or sales? - What felt most aligned with your actual voice?

Hello everyone! 👋 I'm Author Cadence Connor, and I'm excited to join this community! I write Epic Fantasy and Fantasy Romance, and I'm passionate about creating immersive worlds, memorable characters, magical adventures, and emotional love stories. So far, I've published 10+ books on Amazon, and I'm always working on new projects to bring more stories to readers. My journey as an author has taught me a lot about writing, self-publishing, book marketing, and connecting with readers. I enjoy learning from other authors and sharing experiences that can help us all grow. I'm here to network with fellow writers, readers, and entrepreneurs, exchange ideas, support one another, and continue improving my craft. I love discussing world-building, character development, publishing strategies, and everything related to the book industry. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone, building meaningful connections, and contributing to the community. Thanks for having me, and I can't wait to learn from all of you! Wishing everyone success on their journey!