This is draft five of this @#$!! story. I’d forgotten what it was like to not outline first. Blargh. Anyway, I’ve done a heavy rewrite of Ina’s Spark, which involves a new scene and a totally different ending.
IF you were in one of the earlier rounds of readers and are curious, it is at the same link as before. Please don’t comment on it though, because, sadly, you’ll be comparing it to the previous draft and/or have information that’s not on the page.
If you haven’t read it yet, I could use some help seeing if this version is more coherent. It feels better, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.
The teaser.
INA’S SPARK
by Mary Robinette Kowal
If Evina waited much longer it would be full dark, and the tavern would almost certainly have a godforsaken bard by then. As if that weren’t bad enough, by the pricking of the hair along her arms, there had to be at least five other mages in easy walking distance. No surprise, really, given King Redinado’s annual quest. That’s what forced her to the capital, after all.
A pair of drunk men staggered out of the door, golden oil light spilling out onto the rutted city street. They wandered away, singing a ditty about a wench with hair the color of the moon. But not that song, thank the Savior Mother.
She swallowed trying to dislodge the knot in her throat. If she couldn’t even walk into a tavern, how the hell did she think she was going to survive the quest to become a King’s Wizard? Savior Mother and the Multitudes… all she wanted to do was survive. She could give a rotten fig about working for the King.
I’m looking for 5-10 new readers. Just raise your hand in the comments below.
If anyone can beta read one of your stories, I would love to!
Hmm. Reading and commenting on your story is probably an excellent way to procrastinate edits to mine. 🙂
I’d love to volunteer.
Happy to help! What’s the turnaround time?
I usually like people to go through in waves, so when you get to it is fine.
*raising hand*
[Hermione hands] ME ME, PICK ME [/Hermione hands] I might be available 😉
I volunteer as tribute! And same. Beta reading to procrastinate edits. Also, I LOVE writing excuses.
I’m interested! I really loved Ghost Talkers, and I’m definitely intrigued by this. Just let me know what you need.
?? Hand raised!
Me, please!
I’d like to help!
I will!
Me please!
I have opinions, if that’s what’s required!
I would love to!
I would absolutely love to beta read this, if all of the volunteer spots haven’t been filled up.
Am I too late? I’d love to help!
Sounds like a great opportunity. I’d love to be a part of this.
Love to!
I have time to read it too. Fantasy/YA are what I mainly love to read.
It looks like you have plenty of volunteers but if you need another drop me a line. 🙂
totally interested!
I’d be happy to help. I’ve beta read before, and I was a gamma for the writing excuses anthology. (In case it matters to you to have fresh eyeballs rather than experienced betas for reaction purposes.)
I would love to, please!
I’d be honored to help beta read for you!
I’d be delighted to beta read for you!
If you’re in need of any back up folks, I’d love to volunteer. Really love your short fic and just uh-dored Ghost Talkers.
Hi Mary! I’d be happy to help if you still need it.
If you need another set of eyes, I volunteer as well.
If you would like somebody for whom English is a second language (actually fourth (de,fr,es,en) , but that’s another story)… I would really like to read and comment from a non native speakers perspective.
I’d like to help if you are still in need.
Raises hand! ?
Hi Mary! I’d be happy to help if you still need it.
(sorry if this is double posted — I didn’t see the first msg. go through)
I’d be glad to if you still need anybody.
Raises hand!
Raising hand
I volunteer as tribute!
Next on the list, please!
If you’re still in need, I’d love to volunteer too!
If you still need people, consider my hand raised.
I always see these just a tad too late! But one of these days, I’ll be in that top 5-10 number.
I read beta!
Hi Mary, I’m a bit late to the party but I’d love to take a look if you still need readers. I beta for Brandon Sanderson if name-dropping would help my case at all. Thanks!
Volunteering as a willing tribute! Found you through a friend’s fb post, and oh man, that teaser made me fidgety for more. BIG fan of sci-fi, fantasy genre, and any and all combination thereof and inbetween. Please lemme know if there is a way for me to join the beta reader group.
I’d like to be considered. Please and thank you.
Hand
Hand Raised
Me, me, me!
Non native english speaker timidly rising his hand.
I’d love to read it.