Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
My experience has been somewhat varied. Usually I tend to focus more on spelling and grammar, and on diction (that's word choice, for the layman). What I will primarily do is look at the basic grammar structure of your work, and then I will go back over it to check the style. If I see something that I believe can be improved in terms of style, than I will most definitely mention it.
You can expect me to be critical, offering as much constructive criticism as possible. You can expect me to have a fairly long list of improvements that can be made. I will never offer solely criticism, but will offer praise for areas where you have done well. I will never flame you, either.
What I expect of you is a healthy respect for the English language. I expect you to take whatever I can give you with a grain of salt and understand that I went through the same thing when I started writing. I expect you to learn from past mistakes and try to prevent them in the future. I also expect you to not take all of the advice you receive. This is your work, not mine, so be true to yourself.
My history as a writer:
I started writing when I was a freshman in high school, and I was terrible. I started out writing fanfiction, as well. For two years I had a beta who helped me to become a more detailed writer and someone who understands how to manipulate the English language to say what you want to say. Each and every time I submitted something to her for inspection, it would come back stained with the blood of my characters -- red ink. But even as I gawked at the paper I took note of my beta's advice and implemented it as far as I saw fit. Even now I am still improving upon my old works, working and rewriting as much as I can on a constant, never-ending quest for perfection. |
My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
In terms of writing, my strengths include characterization, plot, and diction. My style is improving as well and is taking new turns every time I sit down to plunk out a draft. I also do well with grammar, and I before I ask others to look at my writing, I try to polish it as much as I can by myself. The thesaurus is my best friend for writing, and the dictionary comes in a handy second.
In terms of beta reading, I am a grammar gestapo. I pick, poke, prod, and pinch out every detail. I want to try to help people make what they write clear and concise, so that others can understand it and not have to ponder on what the point is. Writing should be leisure for the reader, not work. With that in mind, I will do the same for style as well. |
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
My weakness is sensory details. I find it difficult to insert very detailed description of the environment into a story and make it flow well with the rest. I despise long-winded authors must take three pages to describe something that can be described well enough in only a few paragraphs. If you can do it, though, good for you and more power.
I am also deficient at writing a good conclusion to a story. I know what I want to do, and I know how to do it, but I can never seem to put theory into practice. But I can point out fallacies and flaws, so submit your endings and I will see what I can do. |
Preferred: types of entries I prefer over others
I prefer science fiction, science fantasy and pure fantasy over everything else. Horror is alright in small amounts, but not the gory kind of crap on television and in the theaters.
In sci-fi and sci-fantasy, I enjoy post apocalyptic stories, or stories that have a extra-solar setting. I like them to be technically accurate as well. Science is important to me, so please keep in mind that I will correct any errors there as well. Stories that focus on adventures in space are also a favorite of mine--a good example would be Heinlein's Have Space Suite, Will Travel. I enjoy alien characters as well.
For fantasy, my preferred reading choice is usually along the lines of C. S. Lewis, or else focuses on mythological creatures. What really strikes my fancy is when someone uses a mythological creature as the main character, dragons in particular. I like them to be adventurous, or thought provoking. I love the epic fantasy novels that you sometimes see on bookstore shelves. Now the biggest problem with fantasy today is that it mostly ends up being too mcuh like Eragon. I don't want that. At all. If you're going to pair up a human with some sort of monster, do it in an original way to keep it from being so boring and unworthy of being published.
A little romance in either genre is good for the heart, but nothing explicit. Bear in mind that I am a Christian and that will influence what I have to say. |
Would Rather Not: types of entries I do not want to beta for
Genres that I will have nothing to do with are westerns, romance, angst, or anything that is rated mature. I will not read any fantasy that includes vampires or lycanthropy for the sole reason that it is entirely overdone. Put simply, there is too much of it.
Secondly, I hate novels that use the concept of dragon-riders. That's overdone as well, especially by amateur authors. So please refrain from that area of "fantasy." |
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