Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
I have been an editor for 12 years and am an experienced, published author in my own right. I have a degree in English, and I am a teacher.
My style is to read through the piece, correct and mark corrections in blue and mark addition suggestions or removals in red. For my colour-blind clients I have varied the colours accordingly.
My expectations are simple. A brief readthrough of your work before sending it to me for beta-reading can often highlight typos beforehand. I can pick up what, if anything, is left behind and make suggestions, if needed, to perk a story up or change the content. I'll beta-read anything, as long it's not poetry, songfics, westerns or pwp's, and so far off the beaten track to be non-genre or Mary-Sues. |
My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
I am a firm fan of Doctor Who and Torchwood, but I will look at other TV fanfic. I won't lie and say I'll know much about the background of them, but I will have a go. I am trained in medicine, history and linguistics. So I can help with the technical jargon of historical or medical drama. I can also help with herb lore as I grew up with it. I also have some skill with military speak and legal jargon. |
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
My weaknesses are in sometimes missing a few mistakes, no one is perfect. I would suggest that after looking through the beta edit, that the piece is then read again to make sure it has the feel you originally wanted. Conversation between author and beta readers is always good, so that both can see where the story is going and what tone it needs to have. |
Preferred: types of entries I prefer over others
I prefer Doctor Who and Torchwood, or anything with David Tennant in it. It's easier to beta read a fanfic that is written about something that I have seen, and I've seen most of his work. Medical dramas and historical concepts, even religious material I will tackle. Even those based on or set in Ancient times, preferably Ancient Britain, I will look at. I will look at all ratings, even M's, but seriously they are harder to write convincingly than you might think. |
Would Rather Not: types of entries I do not want to beta for
Don't send me Mary-Sues. I can spot them a mile off. Don't even waste my time. A/U I will look at, but again these can be tricky for a new writer, and can drift very easily into a Mary-Sue before you even notice. Don't send poetry, songfics, westerns or pwp smut. Unless there's a reason for the M rating don't bother. |
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