Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
I just finished graduate school with an MFA in Creative Writing, so I tend to approach betareading the same way I would peer review. My approach is normally to go over a document and "mark it up" with a ton of comments on issues of both conventions (e.g. grammar) and style, and then accompany it with a paragraph or two (or more) about more general issues or suggestions that can't necessarily be pointed out "in line". However, I'm willing to try approaching it differently for someone whose writing I like and who doesn't do well with the kind of feedback I normally give. br /br /br /br / If I'm your beta I will generally try to get back to you on things promptly, but I am busy with work and school and can't always be thorough on short notice. I also firmly believe (thanks in large part to my literature training) that *everything* in a story matters, so if you don't, we may not be a good fit. |
My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
Dialogue is my greatest strength as both a Beta and a writer. I have a good instinct both for how people talk and for how to make things sound better without sounding unrealistic. With fanfiction specifically, I have a good sense for character "voice" and what behaviour is or isn't in character. I have also been told that I'm good at helping writers clarify their ideas and figure out what it is they're actually trying to say. While this skill is less relevant in the context of fanfiction than in some other things, I've got a good instinct for worldbuilding, and nothing makes me happier than helping someone flesh out those weird little details like "how do people dye cloth in post-apocalyptic England". |
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
I'm trained to find the good in a piece, and my input can be too positive for some people's needs. I'm also not great at catching spelling mistakes. |
Preferred: types of stories I prefer over others
I'm going to do better with stories in fandoms with which I'm familiar. This includes The Dresden Files, Burn Notice, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Buffy, Angel, The West Wing, Studio 60, Doctor Who, Star Trek (the older stuff, not so much the reboot. Also I'm not the person to ask about technical details, except of Vulcan culture and physiology), The Aubrey-Maturin books (Master and Commander, etc)., Young Wizards, Animorphs, Tamora Pierce, Lord of the Rings, In Plain Sight, Gilmore Girls, Supernatural, and most dystopian YA, . But I'm willing to try betaing something even if I don't know it well, I might just not do it as well. br /br In terms of content, I like crossovers if they're between universes I like, and I like anything that explores relationships of any kind between characters. |
Would Rather Not: I do not beta for these stories
I am not generally a fan of stories about romantic relationships between characters who are friends in canon, but I'm willing to make exceptions if it's done well. I categorically will not read, let alone beta, anything which ignores the rules of its own universe. If it breaks them, that's fine, as long as it is intentional, and for better reasons than convenience. |
