Insomniac Nightmares

We all have need of appraisals, evaluations, and feedback. For some of us, that comes from friends and family. For others, writers groups serve that purpose.

For me, my test audience consists of some dear friends: Twilight, Khan, Springtrap, Elvira, Grumpy Cat, Le Mew, and Isaac.

Yes. An array of plushies serves as my initial audience, as they peer over my shoulder while the keys clickity-clack. They endure as I test out my dialogue, often in silly accents, and provide their input.

Khan and Elvira are not always constructive in their criticisms.

But they aren’t the one and only line of defense in the War on Bad Prose. Far from it. If it passes – by a committee majority, which is sometimes difficult to obtain due to Khan and Elvira bullying Isaac to tears, and Springtrap constantly trying to murder the others – then it is presented to the second wave.

Who else can one trust, if not Batman and the Winchesters?

Assuming Bruce, Sam, and Dean are okay with it, it goes to the final authority, to whom all the work is really dedicated to.

My darling daughter and my lost friend pass final judgment. If they feel it is worthy, then the work is saved. If not, it must return to step one until it meets their harsh criteria.

What about you out there? Who serves as your quality control team? Is there a method to your chosen madness, or is each piece evaluated in a different way? Let us know down below!