Searching beta-readers

[Earniel]

Would anyone be willing to read and correct one of my short stories on spelling and grammar?

Since English isn't my mothertongue, I tend to make avoidable mistakes. And I feel better if someone who has a better grip on English could take a look at it and point out my mistakes first before I post it somewhere.

The story is fantasy-themed, a little over 6000 words and spans 12 pages in a word document.

[Jonathan]

Absolutely! Although it's not my native tongue, I'm good at spotting spelling mistakes and I think I have a pretty good grip of the grammar too.

But you might also want a native speaker to help you out.

[Rosie Gamgee]

I'll do it, if you like. I'm a native English speaker, and pretty good at spotting mistakes. (In fact it bugs my sister to death whenever I read something she's written.) Yeah--PM me, if you'd like..

[Earniel]

Thank you both very much! :)

The story is too long for sending it through one PM but I'll break it up in parts. Please feel free to point out anything that's off in the spelling, grammar, syntax, and even plot if I've done something silly there. Oh, and take your time, no need to rush.

Thanks again!

[Tessar]

YES I WILL READ YOUR STORY.

o.o

If you want.... *cough* If not it's cool. I don't care. You know. Whatever.


....

(send me the story!)

[Earniel]

Very well, Tessar, you too will get the sneak-preview. ;)

[Earniel]

Hm, looks like I'll have to send you over six PM's if I want to send the story by PM. That may be a bit unworkable to read and correct. Would it be alright if I sent you the story via email? If so, please drop me a PM with your email address.

[Tessar]

Okay! *pants* I've sent you my e-mail.

Five times.

Uhhhh... still haven't heard back from you. So... I guess I'll PM you again. It's been, like, 90 seconds since I sent the last one. Gosh, that's like.... over a minute. Hope you're okay.

Yeah. I'll just send it again.


....

[Earniel]

You're cute, Tony. *smooch* ;)

It's underway.

[Tessar]

I read the story. :D

Much like a Latin Lover.... it was good. :evil:

[Tessar]

....


WELLLLLLLLLLLLLL?!?!!? >.<


:p

[Earniel]

Well, what? :p I'm still waiting for one more revision before I start correcting my text since it's quicker that way. After that I'll post it here, I promise.

[Mari]

Yay! Finally! I loved the other stories I've read, so I was excited when I read this thread and disappointed because I'm not a native speaker and thus not eligible as beta-reader. :D

(What can I say? Patience is not one of my strong points ;))

[Earniel]

*Bumpidy*

May I request again a beta-reader for a short story? :)

It's fantasy-themed and a little less than 1500 words, so pretty short. The down-part is that I need it done before the 30th, it's for a Fantasy e-zine and it needs to be sent in by the end of the month.

[Willow Oran]

I'd be willing. You still have my e-mail, right?

[Earniel]

Yeay! :D Yes, I think I still got a working email for you. We'll know for sure if the file hasn't arrived by tonight. Thanks!

[Butterbeer]

1500 words i can handle :)

Ill try and clean out that pig sty of a PM box and mail you an email address :)

Best BB :)

[Rían]

What's a beta-reader, preciousss?

[Earniel]

What's a beta-reader, preciousss?
A beta-version of a computer programme is usually a test-version that people can try out and report what doesn't work and needs to be fixed or what goes wrong. Similarly, a beta-reader is someone who reads your story before it is put up on the web or otherwise published, and who points out the mistakes you have made, or which parts are unclear. (I doubt whether beta-reader is an actual English word, but I've seen it used a lot on the internet in relation with stories.)

(Willow has already finished and sent me the corrections, so at the moment I don't need any more beta-readers. But I'm sure I will ask here again in the future. Thanks all. :))

[Willow Oran]

If it wasn't a word, it is now.:)

[Butterbeer]

Proof reader would be more apt, likely :)

[Varnafindë]

I think a beta-reader is supposed to do more than just proof-reading - at least the way I've seen the word used at fanfiction.net .

[Rían]

A beta-version of a computer programme is usually a test-version that people can try out and report what doesn't work and needs to be fixed or what goes wrong. Similarly, a beta-reader is someone who reads your story before it is put up on the web or otherwise published, and who points out the mistakes you have made, or which parts are unclear. (I doubt whether beta-reader is an actual English word, but I've seen it used a lot on the internet in relation with stories.)

I know what a beta-version is, so I was thinking it was probably a proof-reader, but it just sounded so funny, I had to ask :D Like if the reader didn't work out, he/she would blow up or something :D :D (IOW, the beta should modify the story, not the reader! :D )

*waves to BB*

[Earniel]

Proof-reader sounds so professional, far too serious to be bothered with an amateur's short stories. :)

I'd probably have to pay for the use of their language skills too...

[Varnafindë]

Proof-readers are probably what publishers hire when a book is supposed to be published.
Professional indeed ...

[Butterbeer]

£24 an hr i think .... *winks at Willow* and waves back.

Hope willow didn't explode. Mind you... i just assumed beta reada was a typo for "better" - ROFL.

j/k :p

[Willow Oran]

A little story critiquing won't make me explode. It's the bulk of what I'm doing for this degree, the extra practice is a good thing.:D

[Jonathan]

Eärniel, will you post the short story here on Entmoot as well?

[Earniel]

If it gets accepted in the e-zine I intend to link to it on its publication, if it doesn't get accepted I'll likely post it in full here or on Elfwood.

[Earniel]

Could I possibly bug someone again to be beta-reader for another short story? Just 2000 words long.

The trouble is that I should have it back before next Saturday (it's the deadline for it to be sent in for the e-zine). I know it is very little time, and it's all because I'm a lazy bum but would anyone be willing to look at it in that timeframe? :o

[Jonathan]

I'm here :)

[Earniel]

Great! It's underway. :)

[Count Comfect]

I'd be willing to as well, if you still need people.

[Earniel]

I've finally managed to finish something in time for it to be beta-read, hooray! So could I trouble someone to read and correct another short story of mine, humourous and less than 1400 words? :) I would need it back around the 25th, to have some time to implement changes before it is sent in.

[Tessar]

MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! O_o

Ooh! Oooh! Me! Me! Mememememememe!

Me!

I'll do it!

o_o

[Earniel]

Always such enthusiasm. :D Makes me feel loved.

The story's underway! :) (I've sent it to the burlytone address, I hope that one still is in use.)

Thanks!

[Tessar]

*moving brass music plays in the background, the american flag waving behind Tessar's head as the camera focuses in on him*

Hi!

My name is Tessar, and this story is totally awesome!

Thank you for your time.

[Jonathan]

Does the short story by any chance include any wizards? :p

Wizards or not, I'd as interested as Tessar in beta-reading too! :)

(I haven't gotten around to read that spider story yet, but I've printed it so I can read it on the metro, hah!)

[Earniel]

Gee, whatever gave you that peculiar idea? :p Tessar has already given me a couple of good comments to go on, but two pair see more than one. I'll be sending one your way. :)

(It may also interest you, Jonathan, that one of the next stories I'm writing will be drawing on Chinese mythology.)

[Jonathan]

(I thought the September issue of EMG-Zine was to deal with Indian mythology?
In any case, ME WANTS A CHINESE STORY‼)

[Earniel]

I'm skipping the Indian mythology-theme, I'm drawing a complete blank on inspiration to write it.

(You'll probably find a lot of errors in the Chinese-themed story, since you're likely to know more about China than me.)

[Jonathan]

*Pops in - not impatient, but curious*

So... Is all still quiet on the Eastern front, so to speak?
(It may also interest you, Jonathan, that one of the next stories I'm writing will be drawing on Chinese mythology.)

[Earniel]

Ah, I tarried too long on the Chinese mythology-story (it was harder to write than I thought) so I had to send it in before getting it corrected by my invaluable beta-readers. ;) I haven't heard back whether it was accepted. If so, it'll appear in EMG-zine on the 1st of November.

But as I'm not entirely satisfied with the result, I intend to work it out a wee bit more before getting it checked out and put on Elfwood. (I erronously thought it had to be 2000 words max, instead of 2500, so I cut some material that I now want to re-include to make the story more polished.)

However, the jungle-themed December story is practically finished, and will darken yours and Tessar's inbox soon. It will feature characters that you may find... familiar.

[Jonathan]

Oh, that soon? November isn't far away and still, it leaves me plenty of time to beg and/or threaten EMG-zine to accept the story ;)

However, the jungle-themed December story is practically finished, and will darken yours and Tessar's inbox soon. It will feature characters that you may find... familiar.I bet the story's featuring my hero Spider-Man taking on Tessar's role model the Green Lantern!

Either that, or the familiar characters are just the characters from the story "Familiar" :p

Anyway, looking forward to finding Jumanji in my inbox!

[Earniel]

Oh, that soon? November isn't far away and still, it leaves me plenty of time to beg and/or threaten EMG-zine to accept the story ;)
It won't matter too much if it doesn't get accepted in EMG-zine, as it will appear on Elfwood nevertheless. It all depends on whether other people have send stories in before me. Familiar was declined for August, I reckon because they already had two other stories lined up. And with my habit of sending my entry in, mere hours before the dead-line passes, that should come as no surprise. :rolleyes: Still, one declined out of six, that's not too bad a track record. I'm very pleased with my story-output this year.

I bet the story's featuring my hero Spider-Man taking on Tessar's role model the Green Lantern!
Alas, no fan-fic allowed. (And while I have a decent grasp on Spider-Man history up until last year, I confess I have not read a single Green Lantern comic.)

[Tessar]

Alas, no fan-fic allowed. (And while I have a decent grasp on Spider-Man history up until last year, I confess I have not read a single Green Lantern comic.)

.... Hi, my name is Tessar, and I officially DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE ANY MORE!!!! *shun*


:mad:


:p

[Earniel]

*mopes* :(



I'll guess that means I'll have to find somebody else for story sneak-previews, then, eh? ;)

[Varnafindë]

.... Hi, my name is Tessar, and I officially DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE ANY MORE!!!! *shun*

And now you don't know who I am any more either ... :(

[Tessar]

OMG. O_o This has gone too far, you guys! I can't handle shunning either of you, much less both.

But seriously. >.< Get thee the heck to thine local comic book store and get some Green Lantern cuz it's awesome.

You can tell I'm really pouring my heart out in this post because I used italics AND bold lettering along with lots of capitalized words. :p And by lots I mean one, and an abbreviation.

[Voronwen]

You can tell I'm really pouring my heart out in this post because I used italics AND bold lettering along with lots of capitalized words. :p
Haha! :p I do the same exact thing in my posts - you know i am really pouring my heart out when i use larger text, Italics, and lots of pastel colors! :p

[Voronwen]

Pardon my ignorance, but is "beta-reader" the same thing as editor/proofreader? I am looking for such a one. It's for a short work of fan fiction taking place in the Second Age with all original characters. Please PM me if interested. :)

ETA - Some familiarity with Numenorean 'history' and a little working knowledge of Adunaic is prefered. ;)