Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
Why register as a beta-reader? Well, I love good writing, and I'd love the chance to help make your writing good-er. I'm far from the best writer out there, so I recommend you take a glance at my own works, as well as the stories/authors I've got favorited, to help you judge if I'm the right person to help you.Beta-reading style: I do my best to point out things diplomatically, but I will call out problems as problems and tell you why. If you have any specific areas you want addressed, like if you ONLY want me to look at spelling, or dialogue, just let me know and I'll be glad to oblige. I will never (or at least don't intend to) judge your story based on content, only how well you pull it off. If you recruit me as a beta, I expect that you want to turn out a story that is as polished as you can make it, with interesting prose, believable character development, and solid pacing. You don't have to change anything in your story (even the typos) based on my suggestions, but you DO have to respond to them with at least a "Yes, I'll fix it" or "No, I won't fix it." I may not be averse to beta-reading for fic categories not listed in my preferences, if only for grammar/spelling/prose, as long as you ask nicely. However, the fandoms listed are the ones I know like the back of my hand. |
My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
Detail-oriented like you wouldn't believe. Did you miss a timeline inconsistency? I'll pick it out for you. Didn't do enough research? I'll point that out too. I'm also a stickler for characterization and if your character(s) start acting bland or off-track, I'm going to mention it. That doesn't mean you can't create your own character interpretation, of course, as long as you have a GOOD REASON and GOOD DEVELOPMENT for it. |
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
I'm absolutely useless at creativity. Don't expect me to be any good at naming ANYTHING, or giving you ideas about what should happen next. You better have a good idea of what you want to do already. |
Preferred: types of stories I prefer over others
I don't even spend enough free time working on my own creative endeavors. :D So I would prefer you give me your story in chunks of, say, no more than 5000 words at a time. (You can stretch your epic tale as long as you want to, just don't dump it all on me at once to work on, 'kay?)I'm sentimental and a total sap, if you couldn't tell from my own writing. But that doesn't mean I don't like a quick-paced, action-packed yarn here and there either. |
Would Rather Not: I do not beta for these stories
Fics with characters OOC, especially if they are intended to act that way, such as in humor/parody stories. Not that I hate reading those or anything, but I don't think I'd be able to give good feedback for them. Also, if your story features original character(s), expect me to be much more critical in evaluating him/her. However, if you're interested in making him/her a well-rounded, interesting character, then you'll have nothing to fear.Oh yeah, no poetry please - I'm not at all qualified to work with those. |
