Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
Hi. There's not much you really need to know aside from what language I tend to think best in. (English, in this case. Weird, really.) Now, onto something a bit more relevant.
The styles I like:
dadaist
naturalism
post-modern realism
fantasy
gothic
sensationalism
epic/classical
occasionally romantic
mythological/storytelling prose
I'll help with any or all of the above for the fee of your firstborn. With fava beans.
Expectations (of you):
None. What would be the point of this service if I held some kind of rubric over your head or measured your cranium or whatnot?
That's right. There wouldn't be a purpose.
My only hope is that dialogue can remain diplomatic and you're comfortable having some idiot with a machine somewhere halfway across the world scrutinize your work like a half-baked English professor.
Limit: 1-3 people at a time. Contact to see if I'm available. |
My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
I read very closely and have an unfortunate ability to read into things that the author isn't aware of. It's helpful if, for instance, it means that a theme that has gone unexplored can get a bit of probing. I've been told that I'm good at rendering a scene by people in real life, and decent when it comes to handling point of view.
I'm also very familiar with a lot of global literature. If you're looking for a specific viewpoint or tone to lean toward authenticity, I might be able to help.
I'm also very good at rewording Irish grammar to fit American-based storylines, and vice-versa.
If a story's not hitting the right buttons I tend to know it right away. Over-analyzing things can sometimes make even the blandest block of text intriguing, but the intuition just burns there, silently simmering in protest.
So, theoretically I could analyze the text and tell you where it's failing to hook the reader. |
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
With my own work? I never finish anything completely, often leaving off just before a true conclusion, or tapering the story at the end like some kind of taffy until it just breaks off.
I tend to leave things subtle and understated, and don't really prefer to make my points anvilicious.
I'm prone to typos and bad Anglicisms and also to apathy toward them. At least in my own work, seeing as how it's me and not someone else.
My tastes aren't everyone's. If you're writing for popularity's sake you're going to be stuck with one very odd duck for a beta who won't help you achieve your goal. |
Preferred: types of entries I prefer over others
*There are no conditions placed on any type of story except the ones outlined in the 'dislikes' section.
I'd love to say Death Note, as I'm a fan of the mystery genre, but I haven't really read enough of it.
Batman stories. :) Anything from the 80's-2006.
Mystery, anything, so long as it hasn't been on television. (I'll take anime with a grain of salt--but I'm not reading your 24 story. Sorry.)
No Harry Potter. (Can't really stress this enough.)
Indiana Jones (as long as it's adventure)
Naruto and Naruto Shippuden (Blood and gore are fine. Sexual situations? Not so much.)
On an anime-related note, Read or Die related stories are welcome
American Gods, if people are writing it.
GOD YES! For anything Cadfael.
Bridge Trilogy
Related to works by Anderson, Sturgeon, Heinlein, etc.
Anything set in the Hainish cycle
(Scream of Joy!) Holmes or Poirot (Slavering at the idea of something akin to "A Study in Emerald", which is a brilliant Lovecraft/Holmes crossover...)
Works by Neal Stephenson (if he allows fanfiction...)
if she allows fanfiction, anything set in Susanna Clarke's alternative England
...Pirates of the Caribbean (If it needs must in order to be written with proper nautical references)
Anything Ben Bova or Orson Scott Card
Some things Harlan Ellison
Terry Pratchett (especially Ankh Morpork City Watch related)
Even though it's not really my favorite, Out of the Silent Planet stories (especially parodies) are welcome
Same goes with Lovecraft (Ever had it in your head to create a Lovecraft/Little Shop of Horrors story called "Little Farmhouse of Dreaded Trepidation"? No one?)
Illuminatus! Trilogy stories
Gene Wolfe and Warren Ellis related stuff
Dune (just not the sequels)
X-FILES!!! (If it's still out there.)
Fantasy stories by Neil Gaiman, China Mieville, and steampunk stories
Science fiction novels by Tess Gerritsen and Michael Crighton, if they have to do with space or dreaded plagues |
Would Rather Not: types of entries I do not want to beta for
* Feel free to disregard if you preface your story and state your case first. If you convince me, I'll suck it up and read it.
Smut.
Smut.
More Smut. See smut run.
(Implied smut is okay. Male/Male subtext is okay, too. Just none of the hanky-panky in whatever you send.)
I'm not really head over heels about Ron L. Hubbard or Cherryh (with the former it's basically a given)
As much as I love Philip K. Dick, something about J.M. Straczinsky just rubs me the wrong way. (He's pretty much a pet peeve.)
I really don't know anywhere near enough about the following to be of any help (But how I wish I did):
The Mighty Boosh
Heroes
Lost
Not Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind or RA Salvatore loving much.(Not much of a fantasy person, unless it's modern fantasy. However, fantasy in addition to cyberpunk is going to give me a bladder infection. So, if it's a safe bet I'll probably not want to read some anime-based stories, though you might as well send them if you think I can somehow help.)
Stories where Arnold Judas Rimmer acts warm and gracious and cuddly. Unless something catastrophic is about to occur in response.
Stories that glorify serial killers without content. No slasher movie pieces for this one here. |
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