Official Beta Application

[kokiden]

I am user kokiden. My name is Barbara, and I wish to apply as an official beta.

• How many years have you worked as a beta?
  

I've worked since November 2007 as a beta for two or three members of the on-line community where I have posted my fan-fiction.

• Provide links to some of the work that you have beta'd. Link the titles. Work posted outside of AFF is acceptable as well.
  

I beta'd most chapters of this fiction for grammar and spelling: http://community.livejournal.com/kakairu/1540332.html#cutid1

I beta'd both chapters of the following fiction for spelling, grammar, and general editing and sense:

http://community.livejournal.com/kakairu/1653157.html#cutid1

http://community.livejournal.com/kakairu/1658777.html#cutid1

• In which capacities have you served as a beta? (Spelling/grammar, canon, characterization, etc.)
  

Spelling, grammar, diction, flow and style, characterization, emotional impact

• Which types of potentially objectionable content have you beta'd for? Correspond it to warning tags if possible.
  

yaoi, anal, oral...I think?

• Is there any type of work you haven't beta'd for but are willing to accept?
  

I think I could beta for anything that I could understand (literally understand) except for nonconsensual shouta.

• Are there any specific areas in which you would not be willing to beta?
  

I think I could beta for anything that I could understand (literally understand) except for nonconsensual shouta.

What are your personal boundaries as a beta?

I expect to be treated kindly. I will respect your work and expect you to respect my suggestions, even if you don't take them.

• What are your weaknesses when it comes to beta work?
  

I'm not the best for keeping writers within canon. With Naruto, I'm only up to the current Shippuuden episodes. I also am not passionate about keeping stories in-canon or characters in-character, as long as the writer has an inspiration to take the story or character somewhere else. The banner I write and beta under is: "It's your story. You put what you want in it."

• How do you tend to interact with an author when doing beta work?
  

I like to communicate via e-mail. My preference is to copy their story into Word and send it back to them in that format, but if you have other requirements that I'm able to meet technically speaking, then I'll work with you.

I'm warm and supportive. If you want me to be direct and stern, I will try.

Oh, and I tend to be friendly and chat a little along with my comments.

• Can you determine an average speed when it comes to performing beta work?
  

It usually takes me about an hour to beta a 1000-word chapter, I'd say.

• For which fandoms have you worked? Which fandoms do you frequent? Do you consider yourself well-versed on any specific characters?
  

I have only worked in the Naruto fandom, but I'm very well-versed in the Potterverse and have read lots of Harry Potter fan fictions.

In Naruto, I'd say I'm pretty familiar with Kakashi, Iruka, Sandaime, Tsunade, Shizune, Genma, Hayate, all of the Konoha Genin of Naruto's generation, the Sand Siblings. Orochimaru & Kabuto. For Akatsuki, the only ones I feel comfortable with are Sasori, Deidara, Itachi, and Kisame (because of where I am in the story).

For Harry Potter, you can throw anyone at me. I've read the books several times.

I'm very well-read, so if you have a fiction based on an actual book, try me.

• Have you done any unusual beta work in the past?
  

Well...I have lots of experience proofreading times and numbers. That's kind of unusual in this context, isn't it?

I also would be able to beta relatively small amounts in French, if you need that sort of thing.

• Do you have any quirks when it comes to beta work?
  

Yes. Don't we all? I'm really into spelling, grammar, and style. I try not to be too much of a witch about it, though.

I have a few phrases and expressions I try to beat out of my authors. You'll find out what they are if you use me.

Even though I have strong feelings about the English language, I do my best to respect the writer's style and not to intrude my own style into their work.

• Is there anything else that you'd like to include here?
  

I'm enthusiastic and responsive, and I think I can be a good ally for your stories.

Edited January 10, 2008 by kokiden

[Guest Shirogane]

Hi ill seriously keep you in mind but i was wondering if you could tell me alittle more about yourself, And if you do Original non-fanfics?

[kokiden]

Hi ill seriously keep you in mind but i was wondering if you could tell me alittle more about yourself, And if you do Original non-fanfics?

Yes, sure. I'm fifty. I've been reading since I was five and became an avid reader somewhere between the ages of eleven and thirteen. I've always been a good speller, and my extensive reading has made me somewhat sensitive to the rhythm of the English language.

I was a French literature major in college and took about one third of my classes in English literature, so I had a lot of practice writing essays and reading and analyzing literature.

I always wanted to write , and did write as a teen and young adult, but gave up about fifteen years ago. A year ago November, I started writing fan-fiction in the Narutiverse. Since then, I've written over a hundred chapters and stories, though I've hit a writer's block since September.

At the same time, I started working as a beta reader and found I enjoyed the work. I've reviewed and edited over a hundred pieces. Some of these were original fiction. Right now, I'm working on an original story for one of my fan-fiction-writing authors and am enjoying it a lot.

If you'd like to see a sample of my work, I'd be happy to e-mail something to you. In addition, I'd like to see your story before agreeing to work on it.

You can e-mail me at barbjo@gmail.com