It has come to my attention that I have never posted anything on my LJ account and by never having done so I may come across as a stalker or something
( Read more... )
I love being a beta to the amazing jjia912, who is an unparralleled author and has become my best friend!! When I first came to LJ, I was much like you. I was reading the great fics here and started my own LJ to comment on those fics. I started to notice that people were betaing fics and was really interested in doing that, but didn't know how to go about finding someone to beta for either. I stumbled upon jjia912's blog at about the same time and d/t a comment in one of the stories saying she could use a beta offered my services. We began to PM from there and I have been her proud beta, and only beta ever since. Quite an accomplishment for a time there, with the amount of work jjia turns out sometimes!! But RL has us both by the balls at the moment, but that's a good thing.
Anyway, I was lucky and found my writer in a very unorthodox way. We also fit very well together because jjia is a big kink writer who has almost no limits, and as a beta, I have no limits either. So one of the first things you need to do is sit down and think about what, if any, limits you have. Would you beta all kinks, bdsm, non-con, underage, bestiality, character death, there are sooooo very many kinks out there, is there anything that you wouldn't read or beta? It is a good idea to have an idea of that before hand and include it in a discription of yourself. But any limits are ok, because not every writer is comfortable writing every kink either.
You also would need to mention that you are not a native english speaker, but your profile, written in english, as well as your blog, shows your proficiency. Not a lot of writers will care, as long as you are a good beta. You can also mention how proficent you are and anything, like your love of grammer and proofreading and how you have done it professionally.
Every beta's job is different and it depends on the writer and what they want, so that will be worked out between you both. Some want to have the changed things marked, some not. Some give their beta the power of an alpha reader and want some help making decisions over the written stuff. Little things like "come" and "cum" are up to the author. Some authors are okay with major changes, but most only like you to fix mistakes or correct something when it's wrong. Changing a sentence so it flows better is okay, but changing the sense or complete paragraphs is a no.
Well, I hope that some of this was helpful, and I wish you luck. Now go ahead and make a post about yourself and your beta skills and why you want to beta, what kind of stories you're looking to beta and don't forget to list any limits you may have. DON'T FORGET TO PROOFREAD IT!! Then post it to the following site.
Wow! Thanks for your prolific answer :-) I didn't know there are so many things to consider! I will take your advise and visit the site you've mentioned.
Haha, prolific, really??? Wow, thanks, but that just means I talked too much doesn't it!!!! I was just trying to sound kind of like I knew what I was doing, but really I just asked jjia and betaed her answers into my own advice to you!! But it's ok, cause I told her I was gonna do that, but I'm too honest to keep the facade up for long!! Jjia really had a hard time finding a beta who could work with the amount of work jjia produces as well as dealing with kink limits and a language barrier, but we lucked out and found each other, so I guess like relationships, there is a writer for every beta, or a beta for every writer!
I am glad I was able to give you some good advice, and the things I mentioned, especially thinking of your limits, are important information for a writer (and really from a writer's POV) But for anyone who comes along after you, I thought it was important that my blog give some good advice. After all, I am the beta for a pretty famous kink writer!! I am nothing but proud of that fact and jjia has worked hard and I've watched her talent get her there and no one deserves it more then jjia does!!
Anyway, I just hope I was able to help and always know I am here to help if you need anything else. If we hear of anyone who needs a beta we'll let you know. <3
Yeah, ok, I can take a hint!!! (After many hints!!) But no chick flick moments here!! LOL! It's been fun chatting, go forth and beta, "silly goose"!!! <3
I love being a beta to the amazing jjia912, who is an unparralleled author and has become my best friend!! When I first came to LJ, I was much like you. I was reading the great fics here and started my own LJ to comment on those fics. I started to notice that people were betaing fics and was really interested in doing that, but didn't know how to go about finding someone to beta for either. I stumbled upon jjia912's blog at about the same time and d/t a comment in one of the stories saying she could use a beta offered my services. We began to PM from there and I have been her proud beta, and only beta ever since. Quite an accomplishment for a time there, with the amount of work jjia turns out sometimes!! But RL has us both by the balls at the moment, but that's a good thing.
Anyway, I was lucky and found my writer in a very unorthodox way. We also fit very well together because jjia is a big kink writer who has almost no limits, and as a beta, I have no limits either. So one of the first things you need to do is sit down and think about what, if any, limits you have. Would you beta all kinks, bdsm, non-con, underage, bestiality, character death, there are sooooo very many kinks out there, is there anything that you wouldn't read or beta? It is a good idea to have an idea of that before hand and include it in a discription of yourself. But any limits are ok, because not every writer is comfortable writing every kink either.
You also would need to mention that you are not a native english speaker, but your profile, written in english, as well as your blog, shows your proficiency. Not a lot of writers will care, as long as you are a good beta. You can also mention how proficent you are and anything, like your love of grammer and proofreading and how you have done it professionally.
Every beta's job is different and it depends on the writer and what they want, so that will be worked out between you both. Some want to have the changed things marked, some not. Some give their beta the power of an alpha reader and want some help making decisions over the written stuff. Little things like "come" and "cum" are up to the author. Some authors are okay with major changes, but most only like you to fix mistakes or correct something when it's wrong. Changing a sentence so it flows better is okay, but changing the sense or complete paragraphs is a no.
Well, I hope that some of this was helpful, and I wish you luck. Now go ahead and make a post about yourself and your beta skills and why you want to beta, what kind of stories you're looking to beta and don't forget to list any limits you may have. DON'T FORGET TO PROOFREAD IT!! Then post it to the following site.
http://spn-betas.livejournal.com/ there are people who search for betas in every genre, especially during Big Bang time.
Good luck to you and I hope it all works out!! Please let me know, or let me know if I can help with anything else!!
Reply
I didn't know there are so many things to consider!
I will take your advise and visit the site you've mentioned.
Reply
I am glad I was able to give you some good advice, and the things I mentioned, especially thinking of your limits, are important information for a writer (and really from a writer's POV) But for anyone who comes along after you, I thought it was important that my blog give some good advice. After all, I am the beta for a pretty famous kink writer!! I am nothing but proud of that fact and jjia has worked hard and I've watched her talent get her there and no one deserves it more then jjia does!!
Anyway, I just hope I was able to help and always know I am here to help if you need anything else. If we hear of anyone who needs a beta we'll let you know. <3
Reply
Thanks again.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment