Beta Requests

[slybrunette]

I'm posting this here since everyone on Tumblr seems to have figured it out on their own so I figured I would share.

I beta now. A hell of a lot more than I used to. So, some ground rules.

I am of the belief that there are various levels of betas: Level 1 being grammar/spelling/formatting. Level 2 being word choice, characterization, etc. Level 3 being tear this shit apart. I'm not so hot on Level 3 unless we're really good friends. Like I've betaed for you before and I feel comfortable enough to tell you 'this scene in no way works at all, take it out now'.

So.

I will Level 1 beta (i.e., check spelling/grammar) for anyone (even if we're not flisters), in any fandom -- even if I don't know it, and [Bad username or site: @ livejournal.com] can attest that I've looked over her TVD fic before with no problems -- for any pairing, regardless of my feelings on it.

I will Level 2 beta for FLISTERS ONLY, any fandom that I am familiar with (check my userinfo), for any pairing within those fandoms, regardless of my feelings on it.

My email is slybrunette@gmail.com. You can contact me here via PM, on Tumblr via my ask, and on Twitter. My username is always slybrunette, wherever you go. You can also find me on gchat. I take .docx, .doc, and GoogleDocs. I use track changes but if that's not cool with you, we can work around it.

Finals week is coming up but after May 6th, I should be more or less available for the duration of the summer. I am more likely to get back to you in the afternoon/evening. I'm going to try for a 24 hour turnaround but if it's a 10,000+ word fic, that may take a while. This post will be stickied to the top of my journal, for future use.

Anyways, feel free to hit me up :)

Comments

[magisterequitum.livejournal.com]

Last day of class here and then finals! I am so ready to be done and I can imagine that you are ready to be done too. We won't talk about how I have no plans for the summer yet and that freaks me out a little bit, but no talking about that. LOL.

I used to feel really odd sometimes about betaing for someone at a level 3, but after having so many creative writing classes and tearing manuscripts apart, it really doesn't bother me anymore. Both ways. I'm actually happier to have my stuff torn apart because it helps me and the story on a fundamental level and on a reading level for the reader. But yeah, if there's one thing that creative writing has taught me it's how to tear apart things.

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Oh yay! I'm so with you on the ready to be done thing. And hey, a free summer is good, lol.

Re: tearing apart. It just feels awkward for me, sometimes. Like what I say isn't scripture or whatever, so who am I to go and say 'this is horrible' when it might not be to someone else? But, then, if they're asking -- So, yeah, I'm willing to do it, people just need to ask and be, you know, not a stranger.

[magisterequitum.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I feel you. Because it can get a little awkward and I don't want to ever hurt someone's feelings because writing is a personal thing, it's something you make of yourself and then put out there. So, yeah, I wouldn't want to hurt someone. I guess, it's just gotten easier for me to not take it so personal because I've gotten it beaten out of me in my classes.

Also, still plugging away with the Community fic. I stalled for a bit, but I'm back at it today. Hopefully, it will be finished soon!

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Oh, I completely understand what you're saying. I would guess it gets easier with experience.

COMMUNITY FIC. SO EXCITED. I wish you tons of luck with it!

[abvj.livejournal.com]

You mind if I keep this in mind? That was very repetitive, but you know what I mean.

Sometimes I need people to just tell me it makes sense, fix grammar (because I am my own worst editor) but other times I really *need* somebody to say, Ginny, this sucks. Fix it. And I know I wouldn't take it personally coming from you. So, yeah, you opened up a can of worms here.

I did a beta for somebody I never had before -- she's was pretty decent and the bones are usually there, but the flow is a mess. I read it over and gave her my honest opinion -- that it was okay, it has potential, but it needs A LOT of work and I haven't heard back from her. This was a week ago. I now remember why I don't beta for non-friends. You are a better person than I am, miss.

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Hun, it's in a sticky post for a reason. It's a standing offer :)

I really don't mind. Reading your stuff is always a treat for me, no matter what it is.

I would probably never tell someone I didn't know that there stuff needed a lot of work, simply because I'm not that brave. Hence why anything past spelling/grammar is flister only. I trust you guys not to freak out on my ass ;)

[abvj.livejournal.com]

Yeahhhhh. I should have thought twice about that. But it had the chance to be something really, really awesome. It also comes down to the fact (and this sound so incredibly selfish, but whatever) that if she did post it, and she put my name on it as a beta, it kind of looks bad on me, too?

Like, do you ever look at a fic that is really just... awful and has been edited, and wonder how the hell did her beta let that happen? No? I'm the only one that awful? HAHA Oh, well.

I saw that you betad that Stefan/Caroline fic for Crickets and I got all excited thinking maybe you were watching and would help turn this awful fandom around, but alas, not true. :(

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

LOL. I have that thought a lot, about not wanting to be associated with something that isn't exactly A+ quality. But, at the same time, I feel like people can make their decisions based on my own writing and just assume that maybe I was just there to make sure there weren't any spelling errors, lol. But, yeah, we all get that way. You're so not the only one.

Oh no. I am familiar enough with the characters/concept that beta type duties are no problem but that show does nothing for me. Sorry I got your hopes up, bb, lol.

(Oh my god, though, that fandom? Sweet jesus, some of those people scare me.)

[rorylie.livejournal.com]

You're not already sick of hearing me moan about whether Alex sounds like Alex? Cause this is just encouraging that kind of behavior.

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

This is more a finished document/partially finished document kind of deal though. But yes, I suppose this would do that lol ;)

[rorylie.livejournal.com]

So you're counting on inability to finish oh say...anything to save you huh? Smart girl.

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say save, lol.

[rorylie.livejournal.com]

I'm gonna stop while I'm ahead and not ask what you would say.

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

LOL.

[rorylie.livejournal.com]

Also omg I haven't talked to you forever (aside from shoving fix at you). Hi!

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

HI. I'm sorry, I've been buried in homework/my own inability to finish anything. I should be around more when finals are over though :)

[rorylie.livejournal.com]

Yeah expect me to email you so much more after May 6. It's like now I have permission.

Reapply.

[crickets.livejournal.com]

I never thought I'd see the day. Also, Thank you for that!

Re: Reapply.

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

LOL @ the subject line.

Yeah, I'm as shocked as you are.

[sunshineali.livejournal.com]

Hi, I just may do that. I have a "Jellie" fic I'm working on and need a beta. I'm lazy tough and often don't follow through on it. You're awesome for volunteering though. ;)

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Feel free to hit me up whenever hun :)

[lexiesloan.livejournal.com]

lol Honestly, your writing intimidates the hell out of me. I'd be terrified to have you beta something for me. But if I ever write this Ben/Leslie angst fic from Parks & Rec that's in my head, you're definitely going to have to read it ahead of time for me :)

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Aw, stop. There's nothing here that should intimidate you. But seriously, Parks fic? Ready and willing, girl.

[nursebadass.livejournal.com]

So you beta, eh? ;) Happen to scan over that fic I sent you? ;)

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

I have had like no time lately, mea culpa, mea culpa. But I think I'm back in action soon. Hence this post :)

[shutterbug-12.livejournal.com]

Can I just say that the Tear This Up betas are the best ones there are and are INCREDIBLY rare, and I value them highly. Would it be okay to hit you up for that type of beta sometime? I send all my stuff to betas through Googledocs. (Is it wrong I just want to write something so you can beta it? LOL)

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Sorry for the late reply -- LJ failed me in the comment notification department, lol.

You can hit me up for whatever you want, whenever you want. And Googledocs works just fine for me :)

[dulcedeusex.livejournal.com]

You're really awesome for doing this! How timely was my beta request yesterday then!? *g*

[dulcedeusex.livejournal.com]

And in the future if I hit you up for beta work please operate on level 3 as a default setting That is the kind of beta work I'm ready, willing and able to do for people. I keep meaning to put a post about that but I have yet to get round to it.

[schaky.livejournal.com]

Hey
I know, that you don't know me, but I actual adore your fics here and well what I want to ask is:
Would you beta a one-shot (from Grey's Anatomy) for me, please?

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Absolutely! Send it on over :)

(Also, thank you ♥)

[schaky.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much
It's on its way.
would it be ok if I add you?

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Okay, I should have it turned around by midnight at the latest :)

Of course you can! I'll probably add you back.

[ladyofspring.livejournal.com]

Hi! We don't know one another but I read your Cary/Kalinda fic and loved it. I would really like it if you could look over a Breaking Bad fic for me. It's slash, there's sex and it's not quite done yet but it will be soon if you're interested. If not, thanks anyway.

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Sure! I've actually never seen more than half an episode of the show but as long as it's just spelling/grammar/whatever that you're after, that doesn't really matter. I'd love to :)

[ladyofspring.livejournal.com]

Great! I should be done soon!