Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
I am a student in her final year of high school. Successfully completed the writer's craft course and co-leader of the Avid Readers club in my high school.
My beta reading style pretty much involves reading through a fic one time and finding any glaring spelling, grammar, punctuation, or plot flow errors.
I DISPISE Mary Sues and Gary Stus, and this is not just own characters. I will refuse to read a Fanfiction where someone had warped an existing character into some kind of perfect god with a near perfect life. I also have a slight pet peeve for OCs.
I do not enjoy reading stories with OCs in them, but it's mostly for the following reasons: an author usually ends up spending a chapter meticulously describing their OC. Real authors don't do this. You will never find a good novel where you get a detailed description of a character's clothes every single time. A person's characteristics should not be found in their outfit. EVER.
That being said I will not refuse a story with an OC in it.
ROMANCE: This is important if you are a romance writer. I DON'T CARE IF IT'S BOYXBOY! I have no problems with your character's orientation regardless of whether or not I read the coupling. I don't mind sap, fluff, waff, or any other abbreviation. (Though I do mind Mary Sues)
HUMOR: Please spare me if you wrote humor. I like the genre, and would hope you don't plan to butcher it by just having random events with no plot. If you wish to write/ have me beta a humor fiction, please read up on the definition of humor.
I prefer satire, though a good parody is always nice if I know the reference.
CONTACTING: My e-mail has a wicked evil e-mail filter. If you wish me to beta read, please either give me the DOMAIN NAME in a PM (the part after the 'at' sign) or tell me before you mail it so I can continuously check my junk folder.
Thank you. |
My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
I'm pretty good at spelling and plot flow. I feel I understand the aspects necessary for a story to fit comfortably within its predetermined genre. |
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
Time management has never been one of my skills (It would be nice if you'd give me a deadline). I'm not very sure about my grammar skills, though I will work hard to find the elusive passive verb, and sentence fragment. Also not very good at finding changes in tenses.
I have little patience and might get a little cranky and vindictive if one of my pet peeves shows up. |
Preferred: types of entries I prefer over others
Parody (If I know the reference), Angst with a happy ending, oneshots, novel fics, drabbles.
(If the you're not sure whether or not I'd beta your story, please contact me and we'll clear it up) |
Would Rather Not: types of entries I do not want to beta for
Script styled, Songfics, really short chapters bunched up into a single paragraph (You know who you are), stories with author's notes located in the middle, and Angst with a sad ending.
I also wouldn't really appreciate it if your need for a beta pretty much means retouching your 'first ever story that you know in your heart is unfix-able, but you still want to get someone to try for you'. If you need some one to edit, or look at something you think feels kind of off, then sure I'll help. If you need someone to basically rewrite your story for you because you suddenly hate it, no. (Though I am not adverse to giving advice or ideas if you're stuck somewhere and need the help)
(If you're not sure whether or not I'd beta your story, please contact me and we'll clear it up) |