Beta Bio: general description as a beta reader
I'm new to the whole beta-reading thing and I see other doing it, so I figured I'd try my hand at it. I've been told I have a critical eye on other people's work, but am oblivious to the mistakes in my own writings. I'm not one to be mean, but I will be honest in everything I read. I will proofread your work with the regular spelling, grammar punctuation, etc, but I will also be critical if I feel the story is just plain bland. If it's an adventure story, I will edit for days if all I see if a bunch of people running around trying not to get killed, but some get killed anyways and a couple of characters that you choose beforehand managed to survive. I hate that. If there is no depth, then there is no story. |
My Strengths: beta, writing, or reading strengths
I am one-hundred percent, no doubt, bona fide grammar snob. If a sentence is supposed to be grammatically correct, them I will make sure it becomes grammatically correct even if I have to hunt you down to the ends of the earth. I am not one to let things like dangling participles and missing punctuation marks go. They are at the top of my list. Through personal experience, I known how easy it is to fall prey to using the wrong homophone. (They're, their, there, etc)I keep my eyes open for unfortunate mistakes such as this one as well. |
My Weaknesses: beta, writing, or reading weaknesses
Don't expect to help you when it comes to spelling. If your spell check doesn't find it, then chances are that I won't find it. There are those simple mistakes like accidentally forgetting the first "t" in the word "That" and typing "hat". The spell check does not count that as wrong and if you don't proofread your writing well, (like me with my own works), then you're going to miss it. I try my best to spot mistakes like these, but it's the common little words that always get me. |
Preferred: types of entries I prefer over others
I love action and adventure. Stories where death is a factor, but not necessarily around every corner. I love it when characters aren't just running around scared for their lives. They're facing the danger head on. I'm also a sucker for parodies. If done right, they're are best form of comedy, but there is also a wrong way to make a parody and it wind up terrible (ex: Epic Movie, but I digress). I can also enjoy a good science fiction or fantasy story, but it has to have some kind of grounding in reality. |
Would Rather Not: types of entries I do not want to beta for
Romance. Don't get me wrong, a romance story could very well be a great story and I myself have read some fantastic romance fics, but don't tell me to betaread it. I won't do it. I don't do romance very well. I try to avoid romance in my stories unless I can add a layer of adventure to it. Straight up romance is beyond me. I also like reading a good songfic and poem, but I could never write up, let alone beta read it. I'll remain a spectator to those. All other subject I am neutral to. |
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