Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
I enjoy reading stories with a critical eye when it comes to grammar, spelling, and presentation. In most cases, I can still enjoy a story that is lacking in different areas, whether it is the grammar, spelling, or presentation (such as line breaks, etc.). Ironically, when it comes to my own writing, I can be lax at times, but not when it comes to other people's writing. Editing is something that brings me joy, and there is nothing more satisfying than finding errors in professionally edited printed works. However, when it comes to fellow fanfiction writers, my wanting to beta does not stem from a desire to harshly point out flaws in another's writing. Instead, I want to beta in order to help aspiring authors overcome their weaknesses and build confidence in knowing they are publishing quality fanfiction that an audience can enjoy. As well, I want to learn from other authors, to see their reasoning for writing different elements of their literature in different ways, and to see the way they tackle issues such as character development. |
My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
I am generally good at finding simple mistakes in all areas. Many small errors do not escape my attention, and I am usually efficient and prompt at rectifying those errors. One of my main strengths in editing does not lie in simply finding misspelled words, but rather in helping to expand a stories vocabulary to help it avoid repetition. I tend to find frequently used phrases, expressions, and words that an author uses and develop my own creative variant to help keep the writing fresh and exiting. Also, as someone who has a tendency to be superfluous, I also try to find ways to break up complex sentences to make them more understandable while losing none of their depth. I'm still working on that in my own writing, since it can be rather difficult to envision how my own words can be written differently, but I find it fun and challenging to do with the writing of other's. |
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
Occasionally I go beyond simple editing and come out with many of my own suggestions on how a writer should do things differently. While that can be helpful in many cases, if I am not careful I can end up disregarding the creative license of another writer and attempt to make the story fit with my own desires. I have worked on this annoying habit, and have it mostly under reigns, but I do still have a tendency to misjudge when such advice is helpful or not. A person who would benefit from my beta work the most would be someone who is relatively confident in most of their writing decisions, but still open for suggestion. I say this because in such a beta/writer relationship the writer could easily disregard my suggestions without doubt when it truly isn't needed, but still find merit in my more legitimate concerns. |
Preferred: types of stories I prefer over others
I would prefer to beta stories that are written for Harry Potter, Death Note, or Gundam Wing. I prefer these stories because I am familiar with their original stories and would more easily be able to catch inconsistencies than with original works I am not familiar with. I do tend to gravitate towards darker stories, and am not put off by mature subjects at all, considering those are the types of stories I mainly read myself. However, I also do enjoy more humorous stories, and I am not against most any other genre as well. Other works I would be willing to beta for are the Old Kingdom series, and His Dark Materials. While I do not generally read the fanfiction for these series on my own time, I am intimately familiar with the original works having read them a few times a year for several years. Essentially, as long as there has been effort used in the writing, I am willing to beta it. |
Would Rather Not: I do not beta for these stories
The only thing two things I can think of at the moment that I would not enjoy beta reading very much are: 1. Stories that are overly sappy without humorous intentions (and sometimes with). and 2. Stories that are severely AU from the original plot. To explain what I mean by severely AU… I'll use an example from each story category. Harry Potter: an example would be the Harry Potter universe written without out magic in it's entirety. This does not include stories where a character loses their magic, those are fine. Gundam Wing: These stories would be along the lines of the G-boys never having been soldiers. A great example I found recently was one in which Duo was depicted as a fashion designer or something of that sort. It's okay if they never actually controlled the Gundams, as long as they are involved with battle in some form or another, because I feel it's an essential for who they are as characters. Death Note: This one is tricky, because it's so easy to go AU with Death Note in ways that actually work and are engaging. Basically the main thing I would be unhappy with is if the main features of each character changed, such as L being dumb, Misa being smart, or Light not being manipulative in some way (not necessarily evil). L could be an eccentric police officer, anthropologist, or defective school teacher for all I care, as long as he's smart and not well adjusted, if that makes any sense. Of course these rules are not set in stone, and my examples are very narrow, but I hope you get the picture. |
