Searching for Long Term Beta

[Voidmancer]

Giving this a shot.

Hello and thank you for your interest I'm Xythe and as you already know I'm in need of a long term beta. My writing has been one lonely road for a long time, but it's growing more and more difficult to continue it mostly alone. I've had two wonderful people who are/was helping me, but RL gets in the way of them helping me as often as I'd like or need so I'm searching for another one who can offer me some more help.

What do I mean by long term? I am looking for someone who would be interested to beta more than one work (although not necessarily multiple works at the same time). I'm working on an expansive, more or less interrelated set of works and it would be awesome for someone to give out opinions (both in the work itself and some stuff on the side, like worldbuilding) and generally help me with planning/plotting out stuff as well as generally looking over my works.

What I would require of my betas are the following: presence, honesty, the simple desire to be of help and a lack of a lot squicks. I am aware that you may not be able to be there all the time, although if you're mostly online it would be great help especially since I am in the GMT+8 Timezone. Honesty is important too. I like to believe I take concrit well and see it as a venue of improvement and I do value good solid input. Also, since I am building an expansive fantasy world, I am highly protective of my work. I need to know you can be trusted not to steal any of my ideas/writing. And then I see help in a number of different ways, such as pointing out inconsistencies, suggesting things in order to improve the richness of the plot or to get the narrative moving.

As for the last one, I will say now that I have very little squicks. If I could get away with it, I'd be writing a lot of sex and aside from toilet play, I shy away from very few kinks. I may have incestuous relationships in my stories and I am seriously considering some form of bestiality sometime in the future. I enjoy violence, gore and a lot of blood and there could be a lot of swearing in my works. It would be wonderful if I could have a beta that I wouldn't have to censor myself for.

Traits that are not required, but are a plus: knowledge of worldbuilding, strong grammar skills and generally amiable personality. I worldbuild heavily and inputs and opinions on those matters would be well received. As for grammar, I consider myself good enough but sometimes I fall short while writing so having someone to help with that would be very awesome. And as for generally amiable personality, of course I'm nice when you're nice and I like to talk a lot, so it'd be nice if we could get along outside of writing and business in general.

For any samples of my writing, please refer to my author page. Some of my works are there.

As a last note: I am willing to reciprocate, although editing would be fuzzy because I may not be very good at it. Any inputs or such though, I would be good for... just as long as it's almost the same as what I write... which is M/M Slash Fantasy. XD; Eheh.

Aaand I think that's it. If you're reached until the end of this, thank you again. Please Reply Here/PM/Email/AIM me through my profile here in this forum if you're interested.

If you feel like you might bail on me sometime soon though, thank you for your interest but I wouldn't want to waste your time. All I really do need just someone who I can be friends with, talk to about writing and such.

Edited November 2, 2010 by Voidmancer

[djackgirl]

Wow!

Well I seriously wish I was a damn good beta at the moment, because I would love to help you out but my beta-ing count is at a miserable 1 story and not even one I'm all too eager to keep doing anymore (tweenie on ffnet, never listens when trying to explain something ).

This definitely sounds more down my alley than Twilight haha.

I'm currently building my own world at the moment so if you need someone to talk to I can definitely lend an ear or two should you them.

DJ

[Guest newyorican]

Hello there! I'm interested in becoming a long-term beta. I went to your profile and read the first chapter of The Merchant Prince and the Thief, and I loved it. =) I don't have a lot of experience worldbuilding, sadly, but I've been exposed to some of the process since I helped my friend with his (granted, it was two years ago). I don't have many squicks and, honestly, when reading I don't get super bothered with something. I've read almost every kink out there with no problem, including beastiality. I don't have an issue with it.

Regarding presence, I am online most often than not. I go to school and I work, but even then I manage to sneak in four-five hours of computer time. If I do become your beta, I'm sure we can work something out. I tend to be slightly on the blunt side when beta-ing, but I also throw in comments on what I liked, what I think could be improved, make suggestions, and comment on the characterizations. As for stealing your ideas, I can't write fantasy worth crap. Plus, I believe that stealing someone else's works is disrespecting what it means to be a writer. I have the same fears and for that, I only post my FanFiction online.

I'm better than above average when it comes to grammar. I can't catch my own mistakes, but I can spot someone else's. Honestly speaking, I also just missed the accepted score for beta reading at Perfect Imagination. (I got a 79%; need 80%). If you'd like, here was a break down of my score:

Apostrophes – 7/7

Comma use – 2/7

Consistency – 1/1

Numbers in Prose – 2/2

Punctuation of Dialogue –9/10

Word Choice and Spelling – 7/10

Terminating Punctuation – 3/3

I'm also an overall nice person (I say overall because I know I can be sarcastic most of the time and it tends to rub people the wrong way, despite my not intending to be bitchy) and I'm pretty sure if I do become your beta, I can be your friend and talk outside of your story. =)

As for reciprocating, is the only thing you're willing to read M/M Slash Fantasy? If it is, that's fine. I'm working on my own novel right now and it's on the supernatural side of things, pretty angsty, but there are no pairings. If it's not your cup of tea, totally okay. It won't change my decision or anything. I just need someone to read it and tell me if I'm wasting my time or if I'm actually not that bad. XD

Anywho, if you DO wish for me to become your beta, you can e-mail me at brambleiceweb@hotmail.com. =) It's always open in my browser, though I use a different one to actually IM people. Eh, I digress.

Even if you choose someone else, good luck with your writing!

Have a nice day!=)