Beta Readers Wanted

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Way back in 2007 we put together a list of people available to beta-read Pros fic, but as hagsrus reminded me recently, 2007 was really quite some time ago... *g* People have moved on, either in fandom or in life or both, and there are new Pros-y people around too. So...

We're looking for people to include on a list of volunteers prepared to "beta" - edit, proof-read, Brit-check etc - Pros fic!

As before, people can volunteer in comments to this post, and we will put it up as a link in ci5hq's User Info page (and perhaps at the_safehouse as well, if they'd like it!), so that future writers can check the post and perhaps find someone to help them out. That way it's fully update-able too - if you change your mind, or find that you've no time after all, anyone who volunteers can simply add in information to that effect, or delete their original post, etc. Cos we're all about flexibility. *g*

There are, of course, all sorts of different ways that people "beta" a story, and just as many different "requirements" from authors. Some writers are perfectly happy about their language skills, but would like someone to double-check for plot holes, other writers might adore their plot but be less confident about grammar, or spelling. "Brit-checkers" who can peruse stories for non-UK spellings or grammar, and help out with slang or customs are often helpful for non-UK writers. Don't feel that you have to do everything in order to volunteer - a writer might even like to use one person to spell-check, another to plot-check, and another to Brit-check, so every little bit is helpful!

Think you might be prepared to help out every once in a while? If so, please write a brief description of what you'd be happy to do below! Some ideas:

- Any particular focus you prefer, or what your strengths might be (eg., spelling, grammar, Brit-check etc)

- Level of detail - whether you like to be extra pick-y about things, or more general

- Timing - whether you think you'd be quite quick, are prepared to work at the last-minute, or if you'd prefer a more relaxed pace

- Are you happy for writers to come back to you a second, third, fourth time?

- Are you happy to beta things like death, dismemberment, BDSM, sexual abuse, etc, or is there anything that squicks you so much you'd rather not go near it, even at the safe end of a keyboard..? *g*

- Include a link to examples of your own writing, if you do write yourself (common of course, but by no means compulsory or necessary!)

- Most importantly - how do people get in touch with you (via some means other than commenting to this post, please, otherwise it could all get very messy! *g*)?

- Examples from volunteers to our last post can be found here

Feel free to edit/delete and/or re-post your offer whenever you like - and writers, do check back for changes and additions to the list if you're ever looking for a beta (proofreader/editor/call-it-what-you-will)! Oh, and any suggestions about this are welcome too, of course - I'll add them to this original post!

Finally, feel free to recommend or comment on betas you've had from volunteers below as well - it's all helpful when you're looking for someone to give a story the once-over.

I won't thank people individually below, to keep the list as "clean" and easy to read as possible, but - thank you to all those who do volunteer!

Comments

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I shall put my offer where my mouth is... or summat... *g*

I'm generally very happy to "beta" for people - language, structure, plot, characterisation, Brit-check, modernisms, whatever you can think of, really. I tend to make lots of comments/suggestions (based on the idea that I like my beta readers to be picky with me, and make me think about things!), but I'm perfectly happy for people to ignore anything I say - I figure it's all up to the writer at the end of the day, right? I'd prefer to beta slash (B/D, because I can't quite believe in other Pros pairings), though gen is fine too - but not het please. *g* Otherwise I'm happy with anything - death, bdsm, elves if you really must... *g* And feel free to send things back to me as many times as you like, I'm happy to chat about it all too. Timing depends on many things - I can be very quick, though I probably won't be if it's a long story - but it's always worth asking! Contact me at slantedlight at gmail dot com. Examples of my writing are over here at my lj (http://byslantedlight.livejournal.com/237287.html) if you want to see the way I do it myself...

Up to date as of 10th February 2013

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

I'm basically just updating my previous entry:
I'm a good nit-picker generally - I'll often pick up typos and other minor problems that have been missed on the first go-round. And I have a reasonable feel for pov, characterisation and plot. Get someone else to check the colons and semi-colons, though - not a strong point.

I'm a Kiwi with Scottish cultural influences who migrated to Australia at the end of the 70's, so my language is close to Brit but with many variations: we have 'fridges, car boots, cheques, biscuits; southern NZers have airing cupboards because of the climate (insular); most of our boys aren't circumcised.... On the other hand, whether we have toilets, lavs or bathrooms seems a North/South Island rather than a class thing - I've used all the terms depending on who/where I was visiting. I've been caught with my pantstrousers down occasionally as well.

On that note, I have this bookmarked (http://legionseagle.dreamwidth.org/79441.html) *g*

I can do sports in period - rugby definitely, cricket pretty good, soccer (sadly) not really.

I'm good on historical research - mostly 17th century and prior - if you're thinking about an AU. If I don't know something, I know who to ask. Also medical stuff, although it's a minefield, and we all assume the Lads have amazing recuperative powers anyway.

Genres: slash or gen by preference.

Squicks: not many as a reader, fewer as a beta. Won't read explicit underage stuff for legal reasons. Period authentic prejudices (sex, race, age, gender, class, culture...) we can talk about. I'm not perfect by any means.

I don't bite *g*. miranda731[at] yahoo[dot] com[dot] au.

And where is everybody else? *taps foot*

[runriggers.livejournal.com]

I'm interested in helping out with this. You can private message me through LJ, or send the request to bardicfaerie@yahoo.ca

Spelling and grammar are probably my strongest; I can tell you what I don't like in a story, or what is confusing

I'd like a time frame, because I do have a number of authors I beta and they can gang up on me at times (grin); or because I have to bring work home with me. If someone needs just a quick look over, I'm usually available on short notice, but a heads up would be nice so that I would be expecting the e-mail and not keep you waiting.

I'm always happy to have authors come back with questions or requests to look something over again

Only thing that I really do not like is MPREG - I think I can handle just about anything else, but if it is a kink story, let me know what the kinks are.

http://www.fanfiction.net/u/923015/bardicfaerie

[robeau.livejournal.com]

I am very good at finding typos as I spent years proofing memos, speeches, press releases and letters. And I am decent at catching plot holes and sequence problems. Colons and semi colons not so much. I'm not a Brit so if you want a Brit check I'm not the one to ask.

I can generally do a quick turn around and don't mind the second or third or fourth look if that is what you want.

Don't have any real nonstarters. You can see my stories here Ice Bear

And you can find me at jqwebdog@aol.com (http://hatstandfic.net/viewuser.php?action=storiesby&uid=30&offset=20-/) ()

[joey112.livejournal.com]

- Any particular focus you prefer, or what your strengths might be: Grammar, continuity, canon.

- Level of detail - Very thorogh, make a lot of recommendations when needed. And I like to talk on email or even IM about stories.

- Timing - no last minute work, I actually have a life, that said I do turn around about 1000 words a day.

- Are you happy for writers to come back to you a second, third, fourth time? Well depends on how we work together.

- Are you happy to beta things like death, dismemberment, BDSM, sexual abuse, etc, or is there anything that squicks you so much you'd rather not go near it, even at the safe end of a keyboard..? I don't do underage and I don't take Cowley seriously as a sexual partner. Not really happy with D/s.

- Include a link to examples of your own writing, if you do write yourself
I'll edit this in future if I can find any of my writings online. I used to write in paper zines as Jeroen Richards.

- Most importantly - how do people get in touch with you joey112@aol.com

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Good idea to update this list, byslantedlight! I'm happy to volunteer too.

I work full time as an editor and proofreader (tho' not of fiction), so obviously I want to do more of it in my spare time!

I'm a native English person. Spent the crucial 1970s-80s growing up in Australia, but having lived in the UK since 1992 I think I'm passable as a Brit-checker and spotter of anachronism. I often check with my English OH who does remember that era here.

I'm a historian, too, and love the historical background to Pro's plots, and fic.

I can be contacted at judithe92 at googlemail.com.

[dawnebeth.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to edit a story--I go through for spelling errors, punctuation, awkward sentences, plot holes, etc. I do not simply read a story for flow because I generally 'see' all of the above, so why not point them out. I can do some Brit checking since I lived there, but it was only for a six months, so I am not the expert.

I am a nurse and am always happy to help with medical accuracy, medical info for a story.

I try to be quick, but am generally writing my own stories, too, and as an editor, I've sometimes had a queue of other people's stories.

I love 'talking' story and will be happy to go over a fic a second or third time.

I'll edit just about everything, I prefer not het or mpreg, but heck, I write BDSM and death stories, so yep, I'll edit them.

I write in numerous fandoms, mostly Pros and Starsky and Hutch. Here's my Pros stuff: http://hatstandfic.net/viewuser.php?uid=82

my email is--dawnebeth@comcast.net

[inlovewithboth.livejournal.com]

Nice idea! I'm happy to proof read for anybody. I come from West London so am good at Brit checking and usually have a good feel for whether the lads sound like the lads, if you know what I mean. My Dad was a London copper in the 60s, 70s and early 80s so I can ask him for technical help if needed. I'm probably not the best at punctuation or spelling though *blush*. I'll try to be quick, usually replying within 2 or 3 days. Sorry, but I just can't handle death stories and I don't really 'get' AU, but I'm happy with any other subject. And I won't take offence if my suggestions aren't taken on board. Contact me at shirleycurly@wurly66.freeserve.co.uk and my stories are on AO3, the Hatstand or Tea and Swiss Roll all under the name of ILWB, if you want to see how I write. Oh, and I'm happy to Beta slash or gen equally - it's the other reason I'm called Inlovewithboth *grins*

[liriel1810.livejournal.com]

I can do spelling, moderate grammar, am good at spotting missing words, and I can point out when there are confusions in the story. I'm probably not the best person for a Brit-check, though. Being a Canadian-Australian, I get a bit confused about what's Canadian, what's Australian, and what's strictly British. *g* I am also very good at dialogue.

Squicks - no death fic, no het, no incest, no underage, and most definitely no threesomes(or more) - don't like vampires or werewolves, but I don't hate them to the point where I wouldn't be able to beta. I can't think of anything else that'd put me off.

I write primarily in the LOTR fandom, but I have written several stories in Pros that are posted to the_safehouse and I wrote a story for last year's Big Bang which can be found at ci5_boxoftricks. I write under the name Liriel.

My turnaround time is usually very good as I only work part-time. For a story that is 10K words or under, you can expect it back the next day, for anything longer it might take a day or two, (depending on homework assistance required by my elflings). If I'm going to be later than that, I will let you know and give you the option of getting someone else to do it if you're in a hurry.

I can be contact either by LJ pm, or on liriel1810 at gmail dot com.

[tango65.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to beta anything. Very good at grammar and spelling. Not bad at the Brit check (although I'm pure Aussie). Am a quick worker, but last minute doesn't always work for me due to other constraints. Happy to look things over again as I like to see how a story develops and don't mind the genre. My own writing is at http://tango65.livejournal.com/ and I can be contacted at tango65 at gmail dot com.

Beta Reader Offer

[anna060957.livejournal.com]

Updated February 2013

• Any particular focus you prefer, or what your strengths – I was a teenager/twenty-something during the 70s and 80s although never lived in London. Brit check is a speciality although there are regional differences with some words. I can proof-read and spot discrepancies in plot, timings, etc. I can spell and my grammar is reasonable.
• Level of detail – I am very pedantic and will make lots of comments. Hopefully most will be positive and if I can make a suggestion I will.
• Timing – everything depends on real life. I can turn a short story around in an afternoon, or need days for a longer or more involved story.
• Are you happy for writers to come back to you a second, third, fourth time? Yes, very definitely. I like to have a good dialogue with authors and am more than happy to read more than once, particularly if lots of changes have been made. For a new author, I tend to have a prowl around their work to get to know their style so that I have an idea of how they write.
• Are you happy to beta things like death, dismemberment, BDSM, sexual abuse, etc – Sorry, not really. I like a happy ending, but am OK with either gen or slash.
• I’m not a writer (I leave that to those much more talented than me) but I have helped a number of authors who have been happy with my contribution and acknowledged my help.
• Whatever suggestions and comments I make, I am adamant that the story belongs to the author and I’m not precious about anything I suggest. So if it's ignored, I won't have a hissy fit. Obviously, if it’s a spelling or typo, I would expect that to be accepted – and I’m very hot on British spelling!

I'm not very good with LJ, so if you're interested, my e-mail address is - fallgirl@mail.com.

beta reading

[knghtmar44.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind helping out with as detailed a coverage as the author wishes to use. I try to offer suggestions when an error or soft spot is noted within the story. I'm moderately fast with my response time, though my strengths are more grammar, spelling, and sentence structure rather than Brit slang.

I can give as much detail with my suggestions as the author is comfortable with. I don't tear and rip with any suggestions offered, preferring some care until we have established an understanding of the depth of details wanted.

I don't mind noncon, violence, slash, gen, a/u or bdsm within the story. I don't enjoy het, nor Bodie/Doyle death stories, though there have been exceptions to reading that last one.

I'm American, living on the west coast, so the time split will be a good bit. You can contact me through my email listed below.

April
knghtmar44@sbcglobal.net

[piskiedust.livejournal.com]

I am probably better suited to beta-ing than to writing.

- Any particular focus you prefer, or what your strengths might be (eg., spelling, grammar, Brit-check etc) - All of the above, also happy to check for ep accuracy (if you need that) - and ask for other things - I may not be able to help, but it is worth asking!

- Level of detail - whether you like to be extra pick-y about things, or more general - am often very picky - but let me know what you need, and I'll try to go with it - am happy to be entirely ignored too!

- Timing - whether you think you'd be quite quick, are prepared to work at the last-minute, or if you'd prefer a more relaxed pace - probably not 'overnight' quick - but mostly should be able to turn things around in 1-2 days (but this will also depend on length of fic, and amount of pickiness required!)

- Are you happy for writers to come back to you a second, third, fourth time? - yup

- Are you happy to beta things like death, dismemberment, BDSM, sexual abuse, etc, or is there anything that squicks you so much you'd rather not go near it, even at the safe end of a keyboard..? *g* - I don't really have squicks, and read (and would happily beta) almost everything, but like the majority (all?) here, would not get involved in detailed graphical ua sex (au sex, on the other hand, is fine!)

- Include a link to examples of your own writing, if you do write yourself (common of course, but by no means compulsory or necessary!) - only one item up, and very recent, available on dialj challenge about beginnings (I think)

- Most importantly - how do people get in touch with you (via some means other than commenting to this post, please, otherwise it could all get very messy! *g*)? - I'll put a posting on my (otherwise empty, there is no point in friending me!) journal, which will be screened, and happily go via e-mail after that!

[carbonel]

I'm happy to help, but unless it's quite short (under 2,000 words, say), I'll usually need a few days to turn things around.

I'm better than your average American as a Brit-checker, but obviously a real Brit is still better. On the other hand, I'm very good at grammar, spelling, usage, and the like.

I'm also very sound on structure -- whether the plot is believable and hangs together well.

I'm fine with multiple go-rounds as long as I think things are actually being accomplished.

Feel free to contact me at carbonel@livejournal.com.

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

I have been trying to work out how to get involved since working my way through the Proslib CD and zines. So finally, I have taken the plunge and made a Google account and an LJ account, just so I can reply to this. I would love to get started writing, too, but for now, beta reading sounds my thing.

I'm British and grew up in the 70s and 80s (but was underage to drink for the seventies..) My grammar and spelling are irredeemably British, and I like to think they're good. Pretty good on slang of the period and can supply silly details like what it was like to have a phone on a party line and the amazement factor of shops devoted to - gasp - frozen goods. If you want to take Bodie and Doyle out of their comfort zone into the north of England, the West Country, or practically anywhere in Wales, I can help with all of those, from geography to common surnames. If you're not sure about Welsh names, ask me: they're not the same as Irish and Scottish. Can even supply Welsh if you feel a desperate need to confuse readers. Alas, I am useless on London: like many non-Londoners, I was 12 before I went there even on a day trip. Good on history generally and (strange but true) on placenames and what sounds like a place in which part of the country.

Detail: I don't know what's expected in the way of detail. Looking at the quality of pros fic generally, it's superb, so I presume authors are either amazingly gifted, or there is quite a bit of productive feedback going on. No chance of a brave author and beta reader providing an example of first draft, beta suggestions and final version, I suppose?

I can be reasonably quick if I have advance notice; but would need the advance notice to make the time. However, until universities return in October, my time is my own to organise and I shall be at your disposal.

Very very happy for writers to come back several times. I don't think I'd expect anyone to simply accept any suggestions without saying "uh, what's this one about?"

No problem with death fic, enjoy BDSM fic, don't think there is anything I would automatically refuse to read. My input would be limited in crossovers, though: I don't watch the shows that seem to crop up most often and would only be able to say whether it makes sense without knowing the other one.

No relevant writing online as yet. It may yet happen.

Contact at moonlightmead@gmail.com or on here. Gmail definitely preferred until I figure out the livejournal interface.

[tinturtle]

I could help with some types of beta reading, mostly to do with polishing the fic's writing mechanics.

Skills and Weaknesses:
I'm good at spotting errors in grammar, word usage, and punctuation. I am not a very good speller, but I am likely to notice if an author has chosen the wrong word from a spellchecker menu. I can also offer comments on the structure of sentences and paragraphs. I am happy to give general feedback on the substance of a work, but I've never written a fic of any length myself, so I may not have much insight into how to fix problems with the storytelling. I cannot do Brit-checking, and my ability to check for period-accurate language is very limited.

Detail:
I could adjust the level of detail in my comments according to the writer's preference, but my default behavior would be to make them quite detailed.

Timing:
I have very limited experience, so I'm not sure what my turn-around time might be. Conservatively, I think I could commit to at least 2000 words per 24 hours, except when I have extraordinary demands on my time.

Drafts:
I would be happy to read multiple drafts of the same work.

Excluded Fic Types:
I am not willing to read RPF (not that there seems to be much in this fandom). Nor can I commit to reading fics in which disabling injury, addiction, or mental illness are major themes. In general, I'd like to be warned about difficult content in advance.

My Work:
My few fics can be found on AO3. There are things about some of them that I'm not entirely happy with, but I expect that is par for the course.

Contact:
The best way to contact me initially is through a LiveJournal message. Thereafter, I prefer to communicate by email.