• Café Life is the Colony's main hangout, watering hole and meeting point.

    This is a place where you'll meet and make writing friends, and indulge in stratospherically-elevated wit or barometrically low humour.

    Some Colonists pop in religiously every day before or after work. Others we see here less regularly, but all are equally welcome. Two important grounds rules…

    • Don't give offence
    • Don't take offence

    We now allow political discussion, but strongly suggest it takes place in the Steam Room, which is a private sub-forum within Café Life. It’s only accessible to Full Members.

    You can dismiss this notice by clicking the "x" box

Welcome… I’m New Here! Joined today

Select this prefix to introduce yourself here!
Invest in You. Get Full Membership now.
Joined
Apr 13, 2025
Location
Darlington
LitBits
2
Hello

I've written a fantasy novel, and I've joined this group because, after making changes based on feedback from a writing group, editing, re-editing, and then editing on Grammarly, I'm seeking more feedback on all aspects of the novel. This could be on the style of writing, the plot, the characters, or anything else that could be improved.
I intend to pitch the novel to publishers, but don't want to do that until I've done everything I can to improve the manuscript.
 
Hi @Afell1

Welcome to Litopia.

You're in the right place to get your novel in good shape for pitching. Lots of fantasy writers here who will be able to help you. (I'm not one of them, but I'll help if I can.)
Our critique system is the best there is. Check it out here.
Any questions, just ask :)
 
Invest in You. Get Full Membership now.
Welcome aboard @Afell1 :) What genre fantasy?
Hello
Good question...
I've just looked up a list of 18 fantasy subgenres, and I'd say that none of them fit my novel.
The novel has no magic or intelligent non-human races. It's set in a quite civilized country, more advanced than medieval, but without the level of technology in Steampunk. The fantasy element comes from the use of substances extracted from bats, and the environment. Strong ocean currents and high mountain ranges restrict people's movement, meaning they have lived in isolation for hundreds of years (up to now). The novel includes many references to the Motherland, which is where these people originated from, but all attempts to return there have failed.
 
Hello
Good question...
I've just looked up a list of 18 fantasy subgenres, and I'd say that none of them fit my novel.
The novel has no magic or intelligent non-human races. It's set in a quite civilized country, more advanced than medieval, but without the level of technology in Steampunk. The fantasy element comes from the use of substances extracted from bats, and the environment. Strong ocean currents and high mountain ranges restrict people's movement, meaning they have lived in isolation for hundreds of years (up to now). The novel includes many references to the Motherland, which is where these people originated from, but all attempts to return there have failed.
That sounds interesting. I'd fancy a read of that.
 
Hello
Good question...
I've just looked up a list of 18 fantasy subgenres, and I'd say that none of them fit my novel.
The novel has no magic or intelligent non-human races. It's set in a quite civilized country, more advanced than medieval, but without the level of technology in Steampunk. The fantasy element comes from the use of substances extracted from bats, and the environment. Strong ocean currents and high mountain ranges restrict people's movement, meaning they have lived in isolation for hundreds of years (up to now). The novel includes many references to the Motherland, which is where these people originated from, but all attempts to return there have failed.

Who is your target reader? Adults, YA, MG? Sounds adult :) Sounds your changed environment could appeal to fans of The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin? An excellent comp.
 
Who is your target reader? Adults, YA, MG? Sounds adult :) Sounds your changed environment could appeal to fans of The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin? An excellent comp.
The novel was written for adults rather than a younger age group, although none of the content would make it unsuitable for a younger audience, within reason.
 
Invest in You. Get Full Membership now.

Further Articles from the Author Platform

Latest Articles By Litopians

  • Anthologising
    Anthologising I’m relatively new to the short story game, having started my middle-aged phase of w ...
  • Gold is a pain in the ass, Part 1
    Gold is a pain in the ass, Part 1 So, your heroes have finally overcome all those incredible odds, c ...
  • The Song of Bert and Harry: Sugar
    Bert and Harry were walking along Main Street on a wet and miserable morning in late November. Both ...
  • Baking day
    Today has been a baking day. Out of necessity, for work, but a baking day nevertheless. A baking day ...
  • Conflict
    What is narrative conflict? Narrative conflict is a fundamental element of storytelling that involve ...
  • Why Is This Your Character’s Story To Tell?
    I watched an interesting webinar recently. Part of it focused on the title question of this post. At ...
  • If Writing Were Choreographed
    In a studio far, far away… There once was a girl. What’s this? That’s not a start. It’s bar ...
What Goes Around
Comes Around!
Back
Top