Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
To be honest, I've taken a look at the profiles for some of the other beta readers, and it has left me rather disturbed. If a person cannot even attain good grammar and spelling in a biography stating who they are as a beta reader, what does that mean about their skills? Not to be judgemental, but I believe in appearance matching one's skills.
As a beta reader, I tend to focus mainly on grammar and spelling errors. If I catch errors in continuity, I'll point them out as well, and I tend to nit-pick as far as canon goes--you had best know how to spell the main characters names correctly, or you have no place writing fan fiction with them. I am also willing to act as a sounding board for plot points and story ideas, helping the author to develop their stories.
I've been beta reading for four years now, and writing fanfiction for about ten. I've been there and done that quite a few times, and I've read (and written) my fair share of bad stories. |
My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
I have an excellent grasp of the English language, but I understand the need for creative license in some cases. I tend to look at the flow of a story, especially where syntax comes in to play--a sentence might not be 100% "grammatically correct", but if it isn't difficult for the reader to understand, then I don't see a problem with it. |
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
As a full time college student, I don't always have a lot of time to beta. I try to be punctual about it, though. Which means sometimes I rush and miss stupid mistakes--a good reason to always have more than one beta reader! |
Preferred: types of entries I prefer over others
I enjoy AUs, but only if they are well done. I don't like when the characters are skewed vastly out of character. You can only chalk so much up to alternate universes before you might as well just be writing original fiction instead of using the names of the characters in situations they'd never be in, acting in ways they'd never act. Character development is also key--a story grows as the characters in it grow. I enjoy reading stories where the author gets inside a character's head and can really get their voice down. It makes the story so much better, in the long run. |
Would Rather Not: types of entries I do not want to beta for
If it's well written, I'll read slash, but generally speaking, I don't care for it. I don't much care for self-inserts, either. We're all guilty of it (including myself), but it gets tiresome and cliche after a while. Also, incest squicks me out. |
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