Got some harsh feedback on my novel outline from a writing group

I shared my 50-page fantasy outline with my local group, and one member bluntly said the magic system felt like a video game menu, not a real part of the world. I scrapped the whole first act and started over, focusing on how the magic feels instead of its rules. Has anyone else had to restart a big project because of one piece of feedback?

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kellyg145mo ago

My first screenplay had a diner scene that was just people talking. A friend said it felt like watching paint dry, so I added a minor car crash outside the window. Sometimes one blunt note is all you need to see the obvious flaw.

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ward.fiona5mo ago

Used to think my worldbuilding was solid. Then someone said it read like a textbook. Totally get scrapping the first act now.

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