Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
Hey all! I'm a university graduate with a degree in English. In the fall, I will be attending graduate school, also in English. I've had a lot of experience editing both formal and informal papers. Just this year, I was a contributor to my campus newspaper and one of the editing coordinators for my university's literary magazine. I really enjoy the process. Reading works critically gives me a geeky sort of pleasure!
My style is pretty straight forward - I read, reread, consult dictionaries, thesauruses, writing guides, encyclopedias, and online resources, make little notes in red ink, and then get the piece back to the author ASAP so they can finish the final draft. I'm a big believer that the author should be left to their own devices in terms of corrections. As a beta, I correct obvious technical errors but anything I note with regards to style is more of a suggestion. I don't want to overwhelm the author's voice with my own if I can help it. I prefer using e-mail/attachments (I'm in love with my word processor), but I have experience using PMs and DocXs, so I leave it up to the author to decide how to interact.
I am a pop-culture junkie! I'm confident I can work with any number of canons ranging from comic books/graphic novels, movies, video games, books, and everything in between. Send me a message and let me know what you're working with. There are very few subjects that I'm uncomfortable with as a reader, writer, or beta. This includes homosexuality/homoeroticism (both yaoi and yuri). Even if you're just looking for someone to bounce ideas off of, let me know! I'd love to help in any way I can. |
My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
I am well-versed in the technical aspects of writing. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are my holy trinity when it comes to proofing fanfic. My grasp of abstractions - symbols and metaphors - has also greatly improved. Aside for blatant grammatical errors, I try my hardest not to correct or alter the author's voice in a piece; rather, I try to clarify and distil it until it states itself in a style appropriate to the piece. |
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
Characterization is still difficult for me. Sometimes a personality will click for me; other times, I need to do a little more research before I can confidently read them in a fanfic and make sure a character's representation is consistent from canon to fandom.
Because I rely on suggestion when it comes to stylistic elements, my corrections may be unclear/incoherent. I also have the tendency to lapse into stream of consciousness proofing (writing exactly what I think about a piece as I think it, causing me to drop all pretense, all form, and just string a whole bunch of words into drawn out sentences that, while grammatically sound (for the most part), have little merit to the author as anything other than semi-amusing diatribes). Needless to say, I'm working on this. |
Preferred: types of entries I prefer over others
I love hurt/comfort fic. One character gazing over another's unconscious, feverish, horribly mangled form tickles my fannish fancies like nobody's business. |
Would Rather Not: types of entries I do not want to beta for
I'll pass on the MPreg, thanks. |
|
FanFiction.Net - unleash your imagination 
mobile edition
