Calling for Pre-readers Because EQD Actually Listens! (At Least This Time)

So I submitted Humility in for EQD a second time a couple days ago. In the notes toward the pre-readers, I explicitly asked them to tell me what problems were present in the story, whether here or there. Yeah, I pretty much told them what a mess their original reject missive was...in a professional method, of course.

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Earlier today, I got a reply back (from the same pre-reader, no less, and that's actually good since he/she was able to compare earlier notes). Since I was with family at the time, I could only spare a glance, but I was able to catch the words "but unfortunately" in their response. I took a moment to fume.

Then, when I finally got back home, I re-opened the email. Turns out there was a lot more to it. Whoa, hey, turns out there's specific reasons why the "but unfortunately" was there!

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I don't quite agree with these notes, but that's the purpose of having unbiased betas, right? Not entirely sure how I can work them out short of a mass revision, and such a thing may in fact be needed. Still...such a revision goes directly against the direction in which I plan to take Discord's turmoil, so it will need to have its own session of brainstorms. It's quite a conundrum.

Regardless, there's another thing in the email that I wholly support: getting support. Pre-readers and proofers to catch my shortcomings before they make it to print. With my update schedule, it'll likely be after season five when chapter five is out. However, that's my motivation for writing this emotional tour, so it sounds like I need to bump the priority on this.

That's right. I'm gonna pass up DINNER in order to ask this question. Does anyone wish to become a dedicated pre-reader for Humility?

With this in mind, be prepared to answer a few questions of mine should you volunteer. You'll get them privately. The questions will be more specific than my usual interview-ish droll because of...less-than-ideal experiences with past pre-readers. I'm also asking this question here first because, well, who better to step up than those already familiar with Discord's fight against a tree?

Anyone who does wish to sign up should let me know either here or in a private message. I'm not imposing any limit on number of readers (mainly because I'm sure there will only be a couple), but I will only wait so long for your notes before moving forward on chapters. Don't follow my update schedule; tell me what you think as soon as you can! What's more, I'll welcome notes on all chapters of Humilty, not just future ones. So if there's something about Dirt and Straw that's been bugging you, feel free to hound me about it.

And please. If you wish to pre-read, be specific. I'm essentially asking you to become story-surgeons. Take a knife and cut into what you think should be excised. Then let me know so I may do the excising. Be concise, be careful, be cruel if you must; but be honest above all. I have a lot of writer friends, and most wouldn't dare say anything bad about my drivel. That's precisely what I do not want.

*Ahem*

Anywooz...

Yeah. If you wanna pre-read for Humility, let me know. I'll get back to you with interview-y things. If you pass, we can move on to writer-ly things.

Snazzy.

~Leo.