Time Enough For Love: SNEAK PREVIEW (and request) · 1:58am Jun 7th, 2019
31,665 words! Twenty-one editing tasks left on my checklist -- most small, some new scenes to write -- almost all of which are infilling to flesh out the heart of the story.
And as a teaser for all of you who have been waiting so, so patiently as this story flowers out into a full novella, I'd like to share with you the 250 words I just wrote! 
The rock-dragon exploded.
Clover would later replay the encounter in his head, and that was the only word that did her strike justice. One moment, the hammer was arcing toward the rock-dragon's chest. The next, there was a mighty flash of light and heat, and the world went weightless, and then he was spitting out a fresh mouthful of meltwater and staggering out of the pool while hoof-sized chunks of stone fell like hail around him. One glanced off his side, making him yelp in pain, before he recovered enough sense to fling a shield overhead. The falling rocks slowed, then shrank, and Clover reassessed the scene as the stonefall dwindled away to the patter of occasional pebbles.
Celestia staggered to her hooves to one side of him, breathing heavily, lips curled back in a wild snarl. The pack of rock-dragons stared at her with wide eyes, then at where their leader had just stood — now a wide field of rubble and a few collapsed pillars of detached limbs.
Celestia panted a few times, straightening up. Then she picked Mister Smashy back up, hornglow taking a second or two to flare back to full brightness. «Who's next?» she bellowed.
The plateau itself began to shift. In the middle of the nearby cliff, one enormous, yellow eye cracked open.
Celestia froze.
"Okay," she said to Clover, the surprise on her face matching his own, "we're running now."
Technically, they flew. But Clover wasn't about to sweat the details.
(eeeeeeeeeee it is going to be so good to have this done)
.... by the way, y'all. If you like what you see -- and if you want to get a chance to see the rest of the story before anyone else -- and if you're willing to do me a solid on a tight schedule, have I got a deal for you!
I am looking for prereaders! The story is, as we speak, still in a somewhat ripped-apart state in the back half -- but with the Bronycon bookstore deadline closing in, I'm going into full crunch mode on TEFL, and that won't be the case much longer. The catch is, I need every minute I can squeeze out, and even setting aside time specifically for prereading and edits based on prereader feedback, I'll need a fairly tight turnaround (a few days max).
Alternatively, if you're REALLY willing to do me a solid, I would love a pre-prereader who's willing to wade through the as-is version and give me feedback on what I've already done and what I've got outlined. If that's the case, I can throw you what I currently have, as soon as tomorrow, and have you start going through it while I continue to add the last bits I need.
When I say prereader, btw, I'm not talking primarily about line edits. I'm a former copy editor; I write tight drafts. What I need is big-picture stuff: how readers are reacting, what they like and what they don't, and suggestions on ways to fix dialogue and structure if it seems like any particular parts lose the thread. Things I'm overlooking, or ways that the characterization strays from consistency or falls short.
Drop me a comment or DM if you're interested! Depending on response, I may or may not take everyone up on their offer (I'd rather have one or two voices I trust to dig in deeply than a number of shallow reads), but know that I appreciate it regardless.
I've got time enough for pre-reading
I can help pre-read, if you can put up with my rabid eccentricities.
Gah, I’d love to help but I’m worried I won’t be able to meet the deadline you’re facing
Dangit, I'd love to help but I'm kinda booked up for the period you describe.
Fully booked, but I'm eagerly looking forward to seeing the finished product.
I will put in a plug for my man 5070494. Eccentric or not, many times I have seen him stride into the breach of incomplete/big-picture stuff and emerge with it all making more sense.
A question about your word count, though: is TEFL being sold on its own, or as part of a collection? I ask because I’ve just been thumped by Aquaman’s stated minimum 40k word count myself, and I’m having to write a new short for the collection I’m doing to get it up to 40k. (Which is fine, just a bit more work.)
It’s been far too long since I’ve read a medium length story. I have nothing going on
tomorrowthis evening. I’m good at big picture. I’m in.5070629
Where does he talk about a 40k minimum word count?
5070636
Back here. I’ve also been in touch with him through PM this week to confirm the minimum is still a thing.
5070647
Thanks. This just means for me I do a longer compilation rather than a shorter compilation (assuming I managed to get my shit together in time), but I feel like this would rule out a lot of great medium length stories that otherwise could be published by themselves.
5070629
TEFL will be the centerpiece of a short-story collection about three times the length.
5070692
Well then, twist my arm.
Damn! I'd love to help out, but I am being hammered from every direction right now! I'm really looking forward to reading it, though!
5070562 5070620 5070625 5070732
I totally get it; I'd be in the same boat myself this month if the positions were reversed. Thank you for the good thoughts regardless!
5070482 5070494 5070635
And thank you for being willing to step up! Just to be clear, would you prefer to pre-read (once the story is complete), or pre-pre-read (the version I've got now with gaps in)? I'll need both.
If anyone else wants to volunteer, please also let me know which of those two you're up for.
5070761
Whichever you need more urgently. Helping one of the best authors on this site would be an honor.
Also, I know I don't have as much reach as you do, but I'd be happy to signal boost your call for pre-readers and pre-pre-readers if you'd like. I'd also recommend asking Present Perfect to do so as well. I'm sure your aware he always posts these sorts of announcements at the start of his review blogs. I asked him to signal boost my call for editors for my feghoot contest, and it got me three or four more editors!
5070769
Thanks for asking, but I just need enough response to get the work done - no need for signal boosts. And it does get a little more awkward trying to work with strangers than with people who already know how I write and/or what the story is about.
5070761
I can do both.
5070797
Considering how many of your writeoff stories I’ve read, I’m not sure why I wasn’t following before...
5070761
I can pre-pre-read (ante-pre-read?) today
5070816
Cool. I'll shoot you the link in an hour or two; I got another scene and a half in, and I'm trying to outline the missing bits a bit rather than just have gaps.
5070805 5070769
Thanks. If you set aside some time in ... about 1-2 weeks? ... I'll shoot you the finished version then. Poke me via PM if you want status updates.