Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
I've been reading and writing fan fiction for over ten years now, though I've been lurking around for a while. Last year, I started Fanhaven, a literary magazine dedicated to fan fiction (check out the link on my user profile if you're interested), and I have recently been working to finish many of the fics I've started in my lifetime. Aside from fan fiction, I do a lot of other creative writing, including novels, poetry, short stories, essays, and screenplays - in short, writing is pretty much my life, and I'd love to offer a pair of eyes to anyone who thinks I can help improve their /br / I do request that anything you ask me to beta be serious - not in the sense that it's not funny, but in the sense that you really want it to be better. I don't have the time to spend on something you've only written as an inside joke for some of your friends. (I'm definitely not degrading those kinds of fics, though, because they can be the best sometimes.) Also, I ask that you be willing to listen to what I have to say, instead of asking for my opinion and ignoring it when you don't like it. You don't have to agree with everything I suggest, but please don't blow it off as the ramblings of a pretentious nitpicker. The last thing I ask is that you spellcheck and read your story over for typos before sending it to me, because fics riddled with confusing errors are not my favorite things to read. |
My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
I'm best at editing for technicalities and conventions, such as spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. I'm also good at picking up on plot holes and continuity errors, and I'm decent at bouncing ideas around to spark inspiration. I'm also very willing to read fics with darker themes that may be hard to find betas for, and there are really no subjects that bother me. (Swearing, slash, mpreg, incest, violence, etc. is all totally fine.) |
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
I take a long time to beta, especially if I'm in a busy period of my life, because when I edit, I take it seriously and comment thoroughly. I also have an (arguably) unfortunate tendency to be brutally honest; if I don't like something, I will not mince words when I tell you, and sometimes it comes across as being a little on the harsh side. |
Preferred: types of stories I prefer over others
I prefer shorter stories/one-shots/drabbles/vignettes, only because my attention span isn't very long. Other than that, I'll do any genre, pairing, etc. |
Would Rather Not: I do not beta for these stories
The sky's the limit, though it might be a bit hard for me to read stories for fandoms I don't know. I also may turn down requests to beta fics for fandoms I'm currently reading/watching for the first time, if they contain spoilers. |
