Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
I love editing as much as I love writing, and writing is one of the joys of my life. As I thoroughly savor anything I read, I'll probably have a great deal of encouragement for you. And a great many suggestions and edits. It a great pleasure, in my opinion, to see a piece of writing rise to its full potential, and if that means ripping it apart and putting it together backwards, I will do that (though such drastic measures probably won't be necessary). Expect some work when you get your chapters back. But I think being harsh is pointless - I am here to help, not ruin your self-esteem, and no story is perfect at first.If you want me to edit your work, send me a brief summary (though don't give away your delicious cliff hangers!) including proposed pairings and, if it is at all possible, your first chapter. Once I have read those, I will let you know if I think I am the beta for you. I expect that you'll have already gone over it a few times yourself and made your own improvements, and used spell-check to catch more elementary mistakes. I am happy to read for grammar and spelling; just don't be careless. (My own stories always get fussed over a lot, so rest assured, I'm not demanding anything I don't do myself.) Sadly, I cannot beta stories where I would have to edit more than 2-3 chapters a week (depending on the length of the chapter). I'm a writer on here as well, and have a life apart from fanfic too. |
My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
I'm extraordinarily detailed. If you want every element of your story scrutinized, I am the beta for you. I have solid knowledge of grammar, and misspelled words cower before me. Two of my passions are study of the human mind/brain and human history, so if you're writing a story that delves deeply into a character's psychology or historical time period, I'm glad to help with research. Characterization and voice are talents of mine. And I care about what I read. |
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
I have a terrible weakness for run-on sentences. They are the bane of my existence. I tend to ramble (one of the reasons I have to edit my own work a great deal). My characters talk all the time, sometimes more than they act. I also have health issues that make it difficult for me to take on more than one major beta'ing project at once, so if I'm editing a longer story, I may have to turn people away. |
Preferred: types of stories I prefer over others
I love Hurt/Comfort. I love Drama and its good friend Angst. I love Action/Adventure. I love Romance. I love Friendship. Alright, I love reading in general, and will read pretty much whatever, as long as it is on my preferences list. Het, slash, and femmeslash are all great, though I reserve the right to reject certain pairings. My favorite fandoms of ALL TIME are Firefly and Shakespeare (I've read/am willing to read most plays) and I beg you to offer up your fics. I also LOVE Sherlock Holmes (books and BBC series), pretty much anything by Tamora Pierce, and Mairelon the Magician/Magician's Ward. |
Would Rather Not: I do not beta for these stories
Stories that are merely sex. Character was never built solely from the bedroom. Sex is fine if it serves the plot. As far as violence goes, I deal with it on a case-by-case basis. Most things do not bother me, but I'd hate to get halfway through your story and run into something that really turns me off. Also, no onstage rape/non-con/sexual abuse, and no throwing it into a story and then continuing as if nothing happened (yes, people do that). And no male pregnancy, please. It gives me a headache, and frankly, there are unloved children in the world who need adopting. |
