Xelena 's Beta Reader Profile
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profile: p User Profile
since: 04-26-01, id: 63215
Author has written 15 stories | Slayers, Labyrinth, Escaflowne, Fanfiction Poetry, Song of the Lioness, Constantine, and Sailor Moon.
β : Xelena is a registered beta reader and is currently accepting beta reading requests.
Beta Description
Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
I haven't done any beta reading in a decent amount of time - especially because I just got a computer back after not having one for more than a month - but that doesn't mean I've lost my touch. I'm always willing to help but I will be picky only because I'm a student and I'm just under a year away from finishing my degree. To get an idea of how I Beta: I tend to read it through once, to get a feel for the story and then re-read the chapter(s) a few more times. The second read through helps me establish areas of plots and get a feel for the characters. I'll also sometimes break it into parts so I can see if there are continuity issues or problems with flow. Then I'll read it through a third time to make sure I haven't missed anything and add any other suggestions.br /

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Please note the following: If you're sending me a medium-long to long chapter, ie in excess of 5000 words, please consider that I go to school full time and I also write on my own time so I'll be working around my homework schedule and other additional events. Though all things considered, I am an insomniac when allowed, so that shouldn't be a major issue. I do do my utmost to send chapters back in a timely fashion with my best constructive criticism and I really detest flames so I'll never criticize without reasons.

My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
1) Geography - this may seem strange to comment on, but if it's set in the real world, then I can probably help out. And in some cases with certain worlds, I know the geography of those worlds so well that I can help with those too. 2) Grammar/Spelling - I'm really rather proficient at finding minor and major grammatical problems including common and not-so-common mistakes and I'm usually almost 100% accurate with spelling. 3) Continuity - For the most part, once I get past chapter 1 or the prologue or whatever it happens to be in your story, I can keep the structure of your story going forward pretty well as long as you give me something to work with. I don't like plot holes any more than the next person. br /

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4) Character Development & 5)midstream plotting - even if you don't necessarily have a destination for your end in mind right away, I can probably give some good feedback for where stuff can be added/improved upon or removed. I'm not as strong with character introductions but character development is something I think I excel at and in terms of the former, I'm still pretty understanding of the process and heart that goes into it.

My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
1) introduction plotting - I tend to want to plunge headfirst into the deep end so if there's a slow windup i might get a little overzealous in terms of pace 2)continuity - I know I have it listed up there in strengths but I'm talking about a different type of continuity here. Straight event continuity. I can jump around sometimes in my own work so I don't always see a problem with it in others' work. However, in both cases, this does not necessarily apply in the form of action. -I also sometimes have trouble keeping tangential information out of the characters backgrounds and/or the side plots. Nothing like a complicated story to make you think is what i say but not everybody feels that way.
Preferred: types of stories I prefer over others
I actually write mainly fantasy/supernatural so I tend to read and stick to those genres without really realizing it. I really enjoy reading mystery/suspense and sometimes horror I've been getting more into SciFi so that gets me involved as well. Realistically, I'm super picky when it comes to the last ones so... In order of preference I'd say supernatural/fantasy, (even though supernatural tends to be a subgenre of fantasy) mystery/suspense/thriller, scifi, and then horror. However, if you think you just have a killer idea that's out of this world, give it a try. I might agree. Violence isn't normally going to be an issue nor is gore as long as it's not gratuitous, regardless of the nature of the act. (non-con, torture, fighting) Since this is ff.net, I tend to like certain things beyond my normal realm depending on the series. You'll have to try to see.br /

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Please note this for all fanfiction.net applicants, I'm not against humor as a genre but you have to make it believable. I honestly believe that humor can be used in a story but that it is normally better off used in the plot rather than mentioned as one of the genres unless it's just a crack fic in which case than humor is fine because it's not supposed to be serious at all. In terms of actual subjects, I have two of three Sherlock Holmes sections listed but I can beta the movie version too it's just I felt it was excessive to list it as well when I had the book and the TV series already listed. I'm also a huge fan of the latest Star Trek movie and almost all the Star Trek seasons so almost anything Trekkie is good. As far as movies are concerned, with Peter Pan, it includes all incarnations so if you see Hook as he was in the movie Hook that's fine. Constantine is listed both as itself and in lieu of there being no Hellblazer category - it being an adaptation from the comics so I can beta either the Hellblazer comics or the movie. I love Phantom of the Opera as well - it's a great musical and the Phantom is a great character. As for the anime/manga, it's really not all, it's just there are too many for me to list individually. I will tell you that major ones are Godchild, BSSM, Gunsmith Cats, Bleach, Black Cat, Yami no Matsuei (even if i can't get my hands on the manga past a certain volume and are therefore a little biased), Death Note, and Slayers. Slayers is huge for me.

Would Rather Not: I do not beta for these stories
The biggest thing that irks me right now is seeing male characters turned female just so people don't have to write slash or yaoi. If you don't want to write it, don't write the pairing. But quit turning Allen, Ichigo, Harry, and Teito female! Or for that matter, Pein and other male dominants. They're male characters for a reason. Also, personally, I tend to stay away from main genre femslash - ie if it's the core ship of the story just because I don't personally understand the romanticism behind that and so I don't like it. I won't read bestiality unless there's a magnificent excuse for it - so 95 to 98% of the pieces that involve bestiality are no go. I'm not really a fan of females taking on the male role in the bedroom either. (trust me, I've seen it and it's just not my thing.) There's not much beyond that that squicks me. If it bothers me, you'll be the first to know, I assure you and I'll be polite too.
Beta Preferences
Language: English
Content Rating: Fiction K » M
Categories: categories in black are ones this beta has authored for
Movie Constantine
Cartoon Danny Phantom
Tv Doctor Who
Game Final Fantasy VII
Book Harry Potter
Book Immortals, Tamora Pierce
Movie Labyrinth
Movie Peter Pan
Tv Sherlock
Book Sherlock Holmes
Book Song of the Lioness
Movie Star Wars
Tv Stargate: Atlantis
Cartoon W.I.T.C.H.
Genres: genres in black are ones this beta has authored for
General
Romance
Drama
Poetry
Adventure
Mystery
Horror
Angst
Supernatural
Suspense
Sci-Fi
Fantasy
Crime
Hurt/Comfort