Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
If there's an area you know you have trouble with (characterization, grammar, pacing, etc.), let me know so that I can pay extra attention to it. I appreciate knowing ahead of time whether you're breaking the rules for stylistic reasons or because you're not quite sure what the rules are; in the former case, I'll let you know whether the effect works for me, and in the latter, I'll be happy to explain, say, how to punctuate dialogue. Please spellcheck your story before sending it to me.
When I beta, I bracket my comments and also color-code them to make them easier to pick out. I use OpenOffice and prefer to work with .rtf or .odt files, but .doc files shouldn't present a problem for me. Let me know if you have any particular technical requirements.
I will not be the least bit offended if you decide to ignore any of my suggestions. After all, it's your story, not mine! However, if you consistently ignore most of what I say, you're probably better off finding a beta who's more in line with what you want. |
My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
I'm good with grammar and very detail-oriented. When I make suggestions, I include my rationale and am always willing to explain myself further if you think I haven't been clear. Mine is a thick and leathery hide, so you don't have to worry about hurting my feelings if you disagree with me on any point. |
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
Sometimes I underestimate how long it will take me to beta something, so I may not be your best bet when you're facing a deadline. I might nitpick more than you like, in which case you should feel free to tell me to tone it down. |
Preferred: types of entries I prefer over others
Genre-wise, I'm especially fond of humor, adventure, and horror, but I'll give almost anything a shot. I'm open to just about any pairing as long as everyone's in-character. |
Would Rather Not: types of entries I do not want to beta for
Fluffy or excessively angsty romance doesn't hold my interest when there's nothing else going on in the plot. If your fic could be summarized as "A and B hook up after a series of contrived misunderstandings," it's not a fic I particularly want to beta.
Stories in which someone is grossly mischaracterized in order to create drama or expedite a relationship irritate me. I will be happy to help you rework your story to avoid this, but I'm not the right beta for you if you insist on making a character wear the villain hat or the weepy victim shoes.
I seldom enjoy AU fics that plunk the characters into a different setting (especially, God forbid, a high school), but I dearly love AU fics that explore the repercussions of changing one event in canon.
If you send me a Yu-Gi-Oh fic in which the spirits have their own bodies for no adequately explained reason, I will probably hate it. |
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