Wanted: Beta Reader

[Midnight27]

Hello,

I hope some of you have noticed that I'm a newbie on the board, and have started posting on a couple other threads (in the general forums). I'd like to ask for some help on something that has been nagging at me for about a month now.

That was to start writing again. Last week, while drop-kicking ideas, and watching FS, I got gob-smacked. Now I have this story and I'm lost.
I don't know why, but I had to get this story started before I could watch the seed ep again. I finally got the first draft of the story down on harddrive tonight. I know I have one more draft to do myself, as well as verifying events in the episode (which I've ordered from Netflix--trying to hold out for the box sets!GRRRR). So I have about a week's worth more work on this story.
I'd like to ask for someone to be a beta reader maybe the week after that? It's been like 10+ years since I've written this much (well, actually just fiction--(OT) I've got most of a BoS developed now). I am way past rusty. Try totally creaky. Toto, fetch the oil can for me?
I am looking for someone who likes dialogue ('cause I do so suck at that, though this time seemed better than normal), and to tell me where I should expand more, both inside a section and additional sections. This baby is already far bigger than I thought it was going to be, but I know that it needs more work to bring it together. Oh, and it doesn't help that I'm still on my first round of viewings, so having somebody to fill in gaps would be appreciated.
Thankfully, it's not too shippy, just a touch here and there. It focuses on Aeryn, and is designed to fill in gaps during the show's timeline. Spoilers from S1 and S2 flit through, but not much.

Credit will definitely be given...I like to give kudos to those smarter than me.

Thank you for your time,
Midnight

[RescueFarscape]

Hi Midnight! I would love to help, but am totally unworthy to be a beta:)
However, you might try posting at Kansas here: http://users.boardnation.com/~scapeartist/index.php, either in the Pilot's Den forum or the Fan Fiction forum. There a lot of great writers there; hopefully someone to help you if no one comes forward here.

[Midnight27]

Thanks!! I will keep that in mind.

Midnight

[aeryns_newbe]

Ok, I'm a attempting writer and a full-out reader, so maybe I could help. However, I have no idea what a beta-reader is, so whatever. I also have only watched more or less than half of Farscape, but I have caught up (mostly.. too little.) on most of the eps. You can e-mail me at ScaperRlRd@hotmail.com if you still want me to read it or whatever. Or go to Kansas. (users.boardnation.com/~scapeartist/index.php)

[Midnight27]

Originally posted by aeryns_newbe
Ok, I'm a attempting writer and a full-out reader, so maybe I could help. However, I have no idea what a beta-reader is...

Heyla,

As I understand the term, a beta is like a critique partner. (That's what we called them in my creative writing classes...lo, these many, many years ago). A beta reads what you've written, and then helps to correct grammatical mistakes, punctuation, flow of sentences, and of dialogue. They also make suggestions if you have the characters do something that is atypical, or if the plot is farbot--or just totally untenable. They are not afraid to give constructive criticism, with an eye to making the story the best it can be.
To use a very bad analogy, imagine the writer as Aeryn and the beta as John, pushing the story "to be more." Just like my example should be more. Sorry, lack of caffiene and food this morning.

If you're interested in trying, I'm open to letting you read what I've got. And while I have not performed as a beta reader in recent memory, I still have a bad habit of reading with a pencil in my hand. I might be able to better illustrate my comments by eviewing one of your pieces.



Midnight

[BlackThorn]

That just about sums it up -- at least from my experience. Beta reader, critter, whatever you want to call them, they're a fresh pair of eyes to help the writer make the story its absolute best before it's presented to the harsh world. A good one will point out the good along with the bad....without sugar-coating it.

[Anni D]

Heyla!
E-mail anything you want BETA reading to crazymist@MSN.com and I will get back to you within a week.

[Midnight27]

Anni D,

Thanks for raising your hand also. I have 2 readers currently, and am currently in the middle of a major revision--all good. (Please all the little gods, I'll be able to type it out over the weekend.) Let me get back to you once I'm through them again, just to get another set of fresh eyes on it.

Midnight

[whitewolfwarrior2]

I volunteer! If you want just send it to me @ whitewolfwarrior2@Yahoo.com. Just put a subject like my farscape fic or something like that! I'll gladly help!