Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
I've never officially beta-read for anyone, so I'm up for a new experience.
I'm in my junior year of university working on a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Over the past two or so years, I've been proofing and editing friends' critical papers, unofficially editing fanfiction and original fiction that I enjoy (you know, never showing the author, just running it through a text programme and fixing it). While I mostly run through the aforementioned just checking for superficial errors (spelling, sentence structure, punctuation, usage, etc.), I'm VERY critical of characterisation; while I'm aware that this site is for original characters and stories, that doesn't mean characterisation isn't important. I can tell you if your characters are flat and interchangeable.
What I can do as a beta-reader:
-Fix spelling, usage, and punctuation.
-Help with continuity/consistency.
-Suggest varying sentence structures.
What I cannot and WILL NOT do:
-Salvage crap (laden with spelling errors, raping the English language in general, see-spot-run sentence structures, etc.)
-Entirely rewrite a piece. |
My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
Characterisations, timeline issues, overall consistency and general tiny details are my forte when reading. I also pick up on misused words, inappropriate tense shifts, and general spelling errors.
Under construction. |
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
I often won't catch missing words until about a third re-read and while I can usually spot punctuation problems, it's one of my weaker points... Particularly that blasted comma. I'm also easily distracted.
Under construction. |
Preferred: types of entries I prefer over others
I like genfic, but I'm also game for romance (specifically femslash and slash). Really, I haven't been on here too much until recently, so I'm not sure what I like and dislike. |
Would Rather Not: types of entries I do not want to beta for
I'll be honest, I typically avoid parody and crack ("sugar induced" or "inside joke") because the general stupidity of it all just hurts. I'm also not one to appreciate detailed lemons (with the exception of femslash) in a story... much less PWPs. I haven't really developed an aversion to much just yet. |
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