u/Aggravating-Act-2460

Advice for Novel synopsis!!

I’m considering applying for a novel competition, which requires you to provide a synopsis in addition to the novel. I would really appreciate any advice and feedback you have for the synopsis. What would you change? Does it make enough sense? Does it make you interested in the novel enough you would want to read it?

Synopsis :

Mizuki is a bank employee who spends her days buried in overtime, living a colorless routine. Her life oscillates only between work and home, time flowing in a uniform blur until even the changing seasons begin to feel distant and indistinct. One Friday evening, on her way home, she finds herself pausing in front of a small flower shop called Adabana.

There she meets Kaede, the shop’s owner, who quietly arranges flowers with a gentle, unassuming grace. Something in Kaede’s colors and calm manner stirs a faint tremor in Mizuki’s heart. Before long, Mizuki begins to frequent the shop. Surrounded by seasonal blooms, the conversations she shares with Kaede become a small, quiet refuge.

One day, the two unexpectedly meet again at a café and make a promise to visit a field of nemophila together. Amid the vast blue carpet of flowers, Kaede begins to speak of her past—of a longing she once carried through her university years, and the solitude it left behind.

Flowers, they come to realize, are mirrors that reflect both hope and sorrow. The tragic myth of hyacinth, the language of sunflowers, the fragile transformation of butterfly pea blossoms from blue to violet-red—within their shared world of flowers, Mizuki slowly regains color in her life, while Kaede gradually recovers the courage to trust again.

As the seasons shift, Mizuki and Kaede draw steadily closer in an inevitable way. Each fleeting moment accumulates gently, becoming something tender they begin to share.

Yet within Mizuki, a small cloud of doubt never disappears. Surrounded by the casual mentions of ordinary marriage by her coworker and unspoken social, she begins to question whether there is any place in the world for the two of them. 

Mizuki finds out that Kaede once dated a man and could have chosen a heterosexual future, causing Mizuki to fear that she is depriving Kaede of another possible life she might have had. 

Unable to bear the thought of destroying Kaede’s future happiness, Mizuki withdraws without explanation. In response, Kaede finally reveals her emotions. Kaede emphatically tells Mizuki that Mizuki isn’t scared of society, but the decision to allow herself to be happy.

Choosing to cultivate their happiness with their own hands, the two embark on a quiet yet resolute story of renewal.

reddit.com

Critique for a novel synopsis

I’m considering applying for a novel competition, which requires you to provide a synopsis in addition to the novel. I would really appreciate any advice and feedback you have for the synopsis. What would you change? Does it make enough sense? Does it make you interested in the novel enough you would want to read it?

Synopsis :

Mizuki is a bank employee who spends her days buried in overtime, living a colorless routine. Her life oscillates only between work and home, time flowing in a uniform blur until even the changing seasons begin to feel distant and indistinct. One Friday evening, on her way home, she finds herself pausing in front of a small flower shop called Adabana.

There she meets Kaede, the shop’s owner, who quietly arranges flowers with a gentle, unassuming grace. Something in Kaede’s colors and calm manner stirs a faint tremor in Mizuki’s heart. Before long, Mizuki begins to frequent the shop. Surrounded by seasonal blooms, the conversations she shares with Kaede become a small, quiet refuge.

One day, the two unexpectedly meet again at a café and make a promise to visit a field of nemophila together. Amid the vast blue carpet of flowers, Kaede begins to speak of her past—of a longing she once carried through her university years, and the solitude it left behind.

Flowers, they come to realize, are mirrors that reflect both hope and sorrow. The tragic myth of hyacinth, the language of sunflowers, the fragile transformation of butterfly pea blossoms from blue to violet-red—within their shared world of flowers, Mizuki slowly regains color in her life, while Kaede gradually recovers the courage to trust again.

As the seasons shift, Mizuki and Kaede draw steadily closer in an inevitable way. Each fleeting moment accumulates gently, becoming something tender they begin to share.

Yet within Mizuki, a small cloud of doubt never disappears. Surrounded by the casual mentions of ordinary marriage by her coworker and unspoken social, she begins to question whether there is any place in the world for the two of them. 

Mizuki finds out that Kaede once dated a man and could have chosen a heterosexual future, causing Mizuki to fear that she is depriving Kaede of another possible life she might have had. 

Unable to bear the thought of destroying Kaede’s future happiness, Mizuki withdraws without explanation. In response, Kaede finally reveals her emotions. Kaede emphatically tells Mizuki that Mizuki isn’t scared of society, but the decision to allow herself to be happy.

Choosing to cultivate their happiness with their own hands, the two embark on a quiet yet resolute story of renewal.

reddit.com

Please let me brag about my relationship coz I can’t over talk about it in real life.

I live in a kinda homophobic country (not overt but no legal marriage either). A lot of people I work with are ultra conservative so I can’t talk about anything to do with romantic relationships or my partner. I just want some appreciation for my wonderful relationship! please tell me we look like a cute couple coz I can’t ever post stuff like this on my personal account like instagram that my friends and acquaintances follow from real life. my partner who is more androgynous has a lot of piercings which I find so hot.

u/Aggravating-Act-2460 — 3 days ago

When is a good time to propose?

I’m curious what the general timeline for sapphic relationships is. I know that wlw relationships have the stereotype that they move too fast ie u-haul lesbians, but when is it acceptable and healthy to progress from early relationship, steady dating, moving in, getting engaged, and getting married?
also for context, I’m in a happy 5 month relationship with my gf. it’s her first relationship so I don’t want to move too fast. but at the same time I crave something with more commitment in the long run.

reddit.com
u/Aggravating-Act-2460 — 5 days ago

I wish I could show my care
but I can’t see a future

If we’re not meant to be together forever,
then at least give me something
like a souvenir

Children, I can’t picture
Let’s get married someday
I can’t even say that
in a world like this
love turns into irony

Whenever I’m asked,
Don’t you want to get married?
I don’t know how to answer.
If I could, I would
but I can’t

Every time I talk about you,
they call you my boyfriend,
and correcting it in my head,
again and again,
weighs me down

I just want to feel happy
being with you,
to love you
to think about a future
like anyone else

I want to treasure you more
But I’m afraid
you’ll leave me behind

When you say
you’re not thinking about marriage—
would it be different
if we were allowed to?

comments:

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1t04ccw/the_melatonin_leak/
https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1t0gfxa/like_a_magazine/

reddit.com
u/Aggravating-Act-2460 — 14 days ago

I wish I could preserve my feelings like dried flowers

beautiful before they decay

Save them before they melt into something I can’t hold

I want to be loved so badly it hurts

But the one who loves me least is myself

I don’t even know if this is love or limerence 

I want someone to see all of me

even this tangled, messy self

It’s simple to seduce her

just give her what I wish for

smile and tell her sweet nothings

scatter kisses all over her body

whisper I love you in her ear

But I don’t know

am I doing it because I love her

or because I wish she would do the same?

She’s not a mirror

but when she responds to my kisses

something in me flutters

And I hate myself for it

I want to just throw myself away

like a piece of tissue paper 

So I could dissolve and disappear

When she calls me pretty,

I just want more and more

I’m selfish like that

like a bottomless swamp

I want you to look only at me

I want to keep you all to myself

comments:

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1t0l3d2/illusions/

https://www.reddit.com/r/OCPoetry/comments/1t0lxmg/accessibility_lure/

reddit.com
u/Aggravating-Act-2460 — 14 days ago
▲ 8 r/WLW

I wish I could preserve my feelings like dried flowers

beautiful before they decay

Save them before they melt into something I can’t hold

I want to be loved so badly it hurts

But the one who loves me least is myself

I don’t even know if this is love or limerence 

I want someone to see all of me

even this tangled, messy self

It’s simple to seduce her

just give her what I wish for

smile and tell her sweet nothings

scatter kisses all over her body

whisper I love you in her ear

But I don’t know

am I doing it because I love her

or because I wish she would do the same?

She’s not a mirror

but when she responds to my kisses

something in me flutters

And I hate myself for it

I want to just throw myself away

like a piece of tissue paper 

So I could dissolve and disappear

When she calls me pretty,

I just want more and more

I’m selfish like that

like a bottomless swamp

I want you to look only at me

I want to keep you all to myself

reddit.com
u/Aggravating-Act-2460 — 14 days ago

I’m (23f) in a relationship with my girlfriend (21f), and things are good. We get along easily, conversations flow, we care about each other, make time when we can, etc.

The problem is I’m way more emotional reactive than I want to be. Not outwardly (I’m not blowing up her phone or anything), but internally I’m super happy when I’m with my gf and anxious/lonely when I’m not.

I want more time together than we realistically have. we both work and our days off don’t necessarily align. it’s a good month if we can see each other more than once a twice a month. we call every week for hour long calls but I wish I could see her more.

I can feel myself getting more attached faster than I’d like. I start thinking about moving in together when that’s not possible rn, and my girlfriend said she wants to live alone first before moving in. (rn she lives with her parents. )

She’s more chill. Still caring, still makes effort, but just stable. She shows care in consistent, low-key ways (checking on me, making time, etc.) I like that about her. but my feeling are to heavy, too thick, too intense.

I don’t think she’s doing anything wrong. I think we have different ways of showing care. I’m more verbal, she shows with actions and consistency. Also she said this is her first serious relationship.

So my question is:
How do you stay emotionally steady when you like someone a lot? How to not crave constant contact?

If you’ve gone from “too into them” → “secure and chill,” what actually helped?

reddit.com
u/Aggravating-Act-2460 — 14 days ago