Muse-ical 's Beta Reader Profile
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profile: p User Profile
since: 03-03-06, id: 1001637
Author has written 5 stories | Kingdom Hearts, Marvel, and Twilight.
β : Muse-ical is a registered beta reader and is currently accepting beta reading requests.
Beta Description
Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
I am the spelling nazi, common sense mistress, gore extraodanaire; I am Muse-ical. Aside from the play on words, I used to be on this site when there wasn't a beta reader section, and when you had to do the good ol' fashioned e-mailing.

As a beta-reader I think that a writer should have some tools already in the arsenal before coming to me. While I will help with grammar and spelling mistakes, the real parts I will be trying to work with a writer on will be settings, plot, development, and telling a story eloquently. You can spell correctly and word your sentences fine but when you come up with a boring idea and use those sentences to bore a reader, it's not going to pan out. Stories that are overdone make me cringe as well; I understand if you want to make something along the same lines but better. Most of the time, though, it's the same thing.

I realize this makes me sound cynical, and I very well may be. That doesn't mean I'll hate every plot that I come across, in fact, if I work with you, it means you have something there. Another thing to think about is that I will not be a crutch for you; if I see the same mistakes coming up chapter after chapter and you're not taking the time to correct it, I will drop you. The idea of a beta-reader is to help you grow as a writer, I'm not a babysitter.

My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
When I beta-read there's a process to it, just like anyone who works on this site. First I'm going to run through the spelling and grammar, simply because if I read a story I need to be able to understand the flow and misspelled words and incorrect sentences will hinder that. Then I do what I call a basic "common sense scan" of the story. Means if there are plot points that are sticking out like sore thumbs because of incredulity or the like, I'm going to call you on it. My heart has been in forum role-playing for years, and as a former administrator of such a site, I will tell you if the characters are unbelievable. Don't be the naive person who thinks it's alright to change a character's personality just to make a story work. It'll most likely turn out to be an unreasonable story anyway and you should focus on the ones that fit so that you can decipher which ideas are worth taking all the way.
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
I may be selective on what I decide to beta-read. If you're unsure about whether or not I'm the person to work with you, send me some information, whether it be that you may be a sensitive writer, or what the story is going to be about. This profile is meant to sound harsh so that when you come to me, you're not surprised by the way I correct works. I'm not outwardly mean, but if parts are irrevocably wrong I will stand my ground on it. Please don't mistake that for trying to take over your story; I want it to make sense to readers, not change your style.
Preferred: types of stories I prefer over others
One shots, or stories just starting. I won't have time to play catch up if there are more than three long chapters. Emailing chapters are easier for me, preferably as attachments. If you don't have open-office, I highly suggest downloading it, or sending me the work in Rich Text Format(RTF). I do not have Microsoft word. I like gore, horror, character driven plots, and some romance. Humor as long as it isn't retarded. Alternate Universe needs to be run by me to be sure I'll be able to assist you.
Would Rather Not: I do not beta for these stories
I never read the Harry Potter series and will not beta-read for it. Nor anything from DC comics, or anime/manga. Throwing characters in high school (if they were not there in the first place) is not appreciated. Outlandish alternate universes don't work for me either.
Beta Preferences
Language: English
Content Rating: Fiction K » M
Categories: categories in black are ones this beta has authored for
Comic Fables
Game Kingdom Hearts
Comic Marvel
Genres: genres in black are ones this beta has authored for
General
Romance
Humor
Drama
Adventure
Mystery
Horror
Parody
Suspense
Sci-Fi
Fantasy
Tragedy
Hurt/Comfort
Friendship