Betas - any of you do that?

Subject: Betas - any of you do that? Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:10 pm

I was just thinking, because I've just started my first fanfic story and since this forum has got Mandoheads who really know what they like to read (and know proper English), if any of you guys could beta read stories? That is being sent a story personally and reading it over and give a little bit critique and/or checking for spelling and grammar errors. In the continuation of that, wouldn't it be nice to have a list of people who'd like to beta read stories in the stickies?

What do you think? Completely out of me mind or what? tongue

Subject: Re: Betas - any of you do that? Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:22 pm

ME! I will be a beta! I read Tenna's drafts a lot (she reads mine too, but I won't volunteer her unless she wants to :p). I love editing (I'm also a grammar Nazi) and I can hopefully give some good feedback, if you want it.

I'm not sure how much I can read before the end of April (when the semester ends), but I can read things in May!

Subject: Re: Betas - any of you do that? Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:43 pm

Catika wrote:

ME! I will be a beta! I read Tenna's drafts a lot (she reads mine too, but I won't volunteer her unless she wants to :p). I love editing (I'm also a grammar Nazi) and I can hopefully give some good feedback, if you want it.

I'm not sure how much I can read before the end of April (when the semester ends), but I can read things in May!

Hey that's great! I'm a grammar nazi (such a bad word) as well but do have mixed spelling due to not being a native, so probably will have to ignore some of that. I'd appriciate it if you could indeed give feedback. Feedback and critique all the way so we won't have to be ashamed of letting others have a read. Wink

Oh and about the time - no worries. I've just outlined it and written notes about the characters. Won't be ready by the end of April anyway, just thought it could be good to have someone to lean on when the time comes. It would be awesome to have someone to beta read it by mid-May.

study

Subject: Re: Betas - any of you do that? Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:01 pm

I would love to help out another author, but I have to admit that time isn't always my own with a family...especially a toddler running about.

If you'd like to send me your work, I will do what I can. It would probably be best to piece-meal it out to me, one chapter at a time. This way if things get too overwhelming, I could let you know before I get too deep in it.

I like to think I'm over analytical on grammar and spelling so if that's not a bother for you, I'll do what I can. Very Happy

Subject: Re: Betas - any of you do that? Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:41 pm

Ms.MaraJade wrote:

I would love to help out another author, but I have to admit that time isn't always my own with a family...especially a toddler running about.

If you'd like to send me your work, I will do what I can. It would probably be best to piece-meal it out to me, one chapter at a time. This way if things get too overwhelming, I could let you know before I get too deep in it.

I like to think I'm over analytical on grammar and spelling so if that's not a bother for you, I'll do what I can. Very Happy

That would be great, thanks a lot! Just so you know, it's a short story - so it's probably goind to be under 4 chapters, since time isn't on my good side either. Laughing

Well, being a person who always wants to improve his English I think it's going to be great to get some insight from persons native to the tongue... since writing English is a bit harder than everyday English. But again, I tend to mix up some spellings since I was originally taught English English but am influcenced by it all... so it's probably a bit mixed.

Subject: Re: Betas - any of you do that? Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:06 pm

I've been submitting stories for over 3 months and thanks to constructive critiques my writing style has really improved thanks to Ms.MJ in particular!

Beta-reading is something I should've asked for since the beginning, but if there is someone to edit my stuff I wouldn't feel like I learned anything so I just correct everything according to feedback.

Though I am not great at grammar and don't have the confidence to beta read for others, I do think I have a mind for plots, intrigue and suspense. So if you ever need ideas I'd be excited to work with those things if you guys need that.

Subject: Re: Betas - any of you do that? Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:26 pm

Quote:

I've been submitting stories for over 3 months and thanks to constructive critiques my writing style has really improved thanks to Ms.MJ in particular!

Hi Daennika!

Thanks for the acknowledgement. I'm so very glad I was constructive enough to provide the necessary feedback you sought. Very Happy

I sometimes feel like an old school grammar teacher when I try to be helpful and provide constructive criticism. You've been an especially great sport about me helping to explain the English language. Maybe I missed my calling! Laughing

Quote:

That would be great, thanks a lot! Just so you know, it's a short story - so it's probably goind to be under 4 chapters, since time isn't on my good side either.

Hi Gratulor's body!

Four chapters or less is actually quite doable!! Very Happy

I can usually spare about one night a week, sometimes two, for reading. What's the average chapter length currently? I know I usually run approximately 5000-6000 words in some my chapters, depending on what part of the story needs to be told in that chapter. But, if your word counts are considerably less, that could speed up the pace a bit for me, especially if I can print out the chapter and read through it on my lunch break.

Subject: Re: Betas - any of you do that? Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:20 am

I always send my stuff to Catika so she can find all the typos, grammatical errors, and the little things that don't make sense. I get nervous about posting things that aren't read over by another person. I always miss something.

Work is slow right now so I have lots of time. I'm not very good with grammar, but I'll help by giving constructive criticism.

Subject: Re: Betas - any of you do that? Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:40 am

Ms.MaraJade wrote:

Hi Gratulor's body!

Four chapters or less is actually quite doable!! Very Happy

I can usually spare about one night a week, sometimes two, for reading. What's the average chapter length currently? I know I usually run approximately 5000-6000 words in some my chapters, depending on what part of the story needs to be told in that chapter. But, if your word counts are considerably less, that could speed up the pace a bit for me, especially if I can print out the chapter and read through it on my lunch break.

I think chapter length depends greatly on where the break is made, for the usual short story a chapter is more of a line break than an actual chapter, but it depends on the format.

By the way, is there a fast method for counting words? tongue

Subject: Re: Betas - any of you do that? Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:16 am

Gratulor's body wrote:

By the way, is there a fast method for counting words? tongue

Microsoft Word or Open Office Writer have a word counter, it's in the Tools menu. Very Happy

Subject: Re: Betas - any of you do that? Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:11 am

Daennika wrote:

Gratulor's body wrote:

By the way, is there a fast method for counting words? tongue

Microsoft Word or Open Office Writer have a word counter, it's in the Tools menu. Very Happy

Awesome, thank ye! Was pretty concerned about counting the words by myself. tongue

Subject: Re: Betas - any of you do that? Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:53 pm

Quote:

Awesome, thank ye! Was pretty concerned about counting the words by myself.

Actually, to calculate a word count, each "word" is classified as 5 characters. (I learned that back in 9th grade...before computers really made it into the public school system as a mainstay.) Yes, back in the day when I rode a dinosaur to school, we actually had to count out every 5 words on a typewritten sheet of paper in order to calculate how many words per minute we typed. (Luckily, the paragraphs that we used in our typing tests weren't very long!!)

Example of how we did it then (each pipe character | separates the 5 words):
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

The q|uick |brown| fox |jumps| over| the |lazy |dog.|

Aren't you glad we have computers and word processors now?? Laughing

Subject: Re: Betas - any of you do that? Sat Apr 11, 2009 12:10 am

I vaguely remember having to do this in school in Icelandic class, but I don't recall it being called word counting. But boy am I glad computers made us all fat and lazy! Laughing

Subject: Re: Betas - any of you do that? Sun Apr 12, 2009 7:23 am

I think I can beta-read, though my English isn't perfect either. Still, I used to be a nearly-propessional corrector, so I have some experience. =)

By the way, I think I'm going to need a beta too. If and when I'm done at least with the first few chapters...

Subject: Re: Betas - any of you do that? Sun May 24, 2009 9:27 pm

I'm currently editing my Clone Wars Story Meat Cans. I'm not really looking for grammar corrections (although bring typos to my attention if you see them). I want feedback on the pace of the story and if it's easy to follow and enjoyable. Would anyone be willing to read and give me feedback?

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Betas - any of you do that?

Betas - any of you do that?

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