As a beta-reader, I generally try to keep the work as original to the author as possible. For me to beta-read a story, the author must:

-have (at least) moderately good English;
-not be too sensitive to criticism;
-be flexible with deadlines (if applicable), and;
-not be upset with me if I say something that they do not agree with. By asking me to beta, you are asking me for my opinon, and I will give it.

I know a speedy beta is a good beta, so I try to get editing done within three days of receiving the document. It all depends on how life is going and how much of a workload I get. But, I try to find time.

The fic itself also needs to;

-be reasonably interesting (see 'Preferred');
-be written in a propper narrative format (no script or roleplay format, please), and;
-not have any shorthand words (no chatspeak, please).

I can be harsh in critcism, and am known to be brutally honest. If I don't think something fits, I'll point it out. If I think something needs to be added, I'll give an example. If I know something is wrong (ie. punctuation and/or wording), I'll correct it.

I hope that doesn't sound too mean. *sweatdrop* I'm not a horrible person, despite what this Bio might make you think. I wont bite your head off the first few times I spot similar mistakes, but I will bring it to light if you keep doing so. If, after a reasonable amount of time, these errors are still coming, I'll... I don't know... beat you over the head with a rusty shovel? XD

If possible, I would also like to be able to communicate with authors via IM (MSN or Yahoo! Messenger), for faster responses and so that I can get to know the context in which the fic is written.

I'm practically a walking dictionary/thesaurus. I know a lot of words, and, if I don't know one, I am particularly good at finding them. I'm good (but picky) with punctuation, as well.

I'm a good speller, but I sometimes miss a few little things; like spelling errors here or there. Everyone does.

Also, I may take a while. I work full-time now, so I don't have a lot of free time in the evenings.

I also have very set ideas of what the characters' personalities are. Sometimes OOC just doesn't sit well with me (being a little more mature or a little sillier doesn't really bother me, but making a character an angsty cutter when they are a happy person in canon does NOT work).

General:

I prefer romance stories, with minimal to no Japanese phrases, as well as a touch of drama and/or adventure. Minimal fighting is actually preferred, though, since I think the best stories are more plot, less action. That being said, I wont say 'no' to a good fight scene here and there.

Shorter stories, like one/twoshots are preferable, since I can't guarantee that I'll be able to keep up with long epics. I just don't have the time or dedication to stick to epics.

I like the characters being a little more mature than normal, so minimal sitting of Inuyasha and slapping/malleting of Ranma is preferred (though a few times for comic relief will not be frowned upon).

I also like to deal with stories that focus on the canon characters. When I read OCs, I never quite know what to make of them, much less keep them 'in character' when I beta them.


Inuyasha Fics:

I'm picky. InuKag is my favourite pairing, followed by MirSan and, more recently, SessKagu. I can read KouAya, buuuut, I don't make a habit of it. I will beta InuKag stories that have hints of InuKik (I'm trying to start writing that myself, so the experience of beta-ing them might actually help), but the InuKag must win out in the end.

Please give Miroku some character-depth; he is not a butt-grabbing machine (no matter how much they would like to convince us otherwise).


Ranma Fics:

I prefer the Ranma/Akane pairing. I like Kuno-bashing, Ryouga-bashing, and Shampoo-bashing. I also like Akane as more of a tomboy; she does not strike me as the 'girly' type.


Zelda:

I am a Zelda/Link fan. I'll look at Saria/Link friendship fics, though I wont do romance. I like Zelda fics with mystery as well. I pefer stories where Link stays in Hyrule, since that is the land that I am most familliar with (Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess versions are preferable, if possible, though I know A Link to the Past pretty well).


Cardcaptor Sakura Fics:

If there's no SxS, I wont work with it. I generally try to stick to the canon couples (I've recently read the manga, so now I'm an ExK fan). I like any kind of SxS story, except the ones with death in them (grevious bodily injury, I can work with), rape, or anything obviously dark. I enjoy ExT stories, since I started writing with them (even though ExK is canon).


Luminous Arc:

A new fandom that I'm interested in. I prefer AlphxLucia pairings, with LeonxCecille hints. The same as the others; romance, adventure.


Kingdom Hearts:

I've just stepped into this fandom after reading a few fics in the last few weeks. I work with SoKai, RoXion and possibly NamiXas and ONESIDED RiKai (on Riku's part). I like stories based on the Destiny Islands, buuuut so long as I know the world, I can work with it (except Wonderland. That place screws me up something shocking).

General:

Poetry.

Songfics.

Crossovers.

I'm not good with horror stories. I absolutely loathe alternate pairings; basically, any pairing that I don't like, I wont work with. I'm picky. I also don't like fics with 'temporary alternate parings' (where there is one pairing, and then it switches to the one I like) -- I tend not to read them. I have nothing against homosexual pairings, but I'd prefer not to work with them (excepting Touya/Yukito as a sidepairing in CCS - they are so darned cute together!).

I also don't particularly like stories with character death (unless its a bad guy [discluding Kagura or Kikyou {when they are portrayed well and close to their true character}], or someone that I don't particularly like) or other tragedies.

I do NOT do stories with religious undertones, unless the religion is that of the fandom (such as Buddhist references in Inuyasha, or references to the three Goddesses in Zelda). I will not touch stories with obvious religious themes.

Anything where OCs drive the main story. If you're gonna have Mika drive a Card Captor Sakura plot (for instance), then I'm not the beta for you.

Anything over three chapters in length. I mean, I can DO it, but don't expect me to be really speedy about it. On average, I get a fourth chapter and just go 'here we go again...' when I open it. So, if you're planning a long epic, please don't ask me to beta it. I'll just get bored halfway through and just not do it and you wont hear from me again.


Inuyasha Fics:

I'm also moving into stories where Kikyou is not the big, bad villain out to get Inuyasha and/or Kagome (the woman is not evil, people!), so having Kikyou as the main villain is also out.


Ranma:

Stories where Akane is klutzy and stupid may be funny to read every once and a while, but I'm not a huge fan. Every now and again is good for laughs, but not every five seconds.


Zelda:

I wont do fics where Link dies, or loses to the big evil. I don't really like apocolypse stories, either.


Cardcaptor Sakura Fics:

No death of SxS (I know... hypocrite [I've done it before]). Um... I'll do fics where someone is trying to come between them, but not where the 'competition' wins out (even temporarily).


Luminous Arc:

No AlphxCecille. No character death or overly-angsty, please.

Kingdom Hearts:

No Roxiri or mutual RiKai. No Roxas/Axel (what's the abbreviation for that, anyway? AkuRoku?). If it's funny, I COULD beta a crack pairing, but on the whole, I'd prefer not to work with alternate pairings. I also don't like fics that world-hop. Two or three worlds I can deal with, but five in a single chapter? No. Thanks. I also don't really like made-up worlds (although I may end up doing that myself one day).

Anime » Card Captor Sakura Anime » Inuyasha

Game » Kingdom Hearts Game » Legend of Zelda

Game » Luminous Arc Anime » Ranma

General Romance

Drama Adventure

Mystery Fantasy

Crime Friendship