Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
I am quick, punctual and efficient as a beta reader, if you give me a deadline I'll do my best to meet it. My style is to read through before making three edits: the initial edit, a skim read that reveals surface mistakes in spelling/grammar, the main edit, a read in depth that reveals to me characterisation flaws, plot holes, unnecessary aspects and more obscure grammatical errors, followed by the final edit, which is another read through to clean up spelling and grammar. Any small issues I'll fix myself, but anything big I'd prefer to discuss with you so you can fix it yourself. I've got my own work to do, after all.I have three requirements for a work to be beta-read: that the work already be self-edited to the best of your ability, that you read my own work and analyse my own style so as to be sure they are not irreconcilable, and above all else, that the work is interesting. If I don't find it interesting, I won't even read it, never mind beta it. If you meet the first two requirements, then feel free to get in touch and I'll be the judge of whether or not I find it interesting, because, you know, you're not in my head. If you're gonna request me beta your story, give me at least some summary of the plot and characters. Hell, even just the basic premise is okay; it's just that having that information makes it easier to spot plot holes. But I need to know at least what it's about and what the main characters are like, how they interact with each other, stuff like that. I have, at all times, 3 beta reading slots. I will be considered to be on hiatus whilst I have 3 works. Currently beta reading: 1 work. |
My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
I excel at writing action and fights in a realistic fashion, getting down to gritty, literal combat. Another skill of mine is in dark writing; I am a cynical writer who tends to do best when writing dark, cynical works. I also work best with a mixture of planning and flying by the seat of my pants, so at least some planning is required. I prefer quick pacing and dense content, as few words as possible with as much content as possible, if you catch my drift. That's just for writing, however; I can beta different things, but that's what I'm best with. As long as it's correctly planned with explicit character arcs and conflict laid out before writing, I can do psychological very, very well. |
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
My writing of romance isn't quite up to scratch, I'm not very knowledgeable about relationships, how they start and how they develop. I have difficulty developing characters without a lot of pre-planning, as well, and I have been known to ignore characters when I can't easily work them into the plot. Also, creating new character dynamics is difficult for me, and I have just straight up thrown out an aspect of a character's personality that was never hinted at before, which can seriously impact the character's relateability. |
Preferred: types of stories I prefer over others
I would prefer darker stories with a slightly more cynical tone, with the main protagonists as anti-heroes. |
Would Rather Not: I do not beta for these stories
Romance stories. Stories of a different genre with a romance element are fine, but stories heavy on the romance are not for me, thanks. |
