I'm finally over my writer's block (mostly), and I'm writing again, after two years of near-silence. I've got two main stories going at the moment, an ancient fic that I'm planning to revive and occasional one-shots/challenge entries whenever something strikes my fancy.
I'm quite good at English myself. I grew up speaking it, and majored in English Literature at college, and I make a living as an editor. So, it's not really proofreading that I require. I need a beta with the following qualities:
1. I can spot most errors myself, but I'd like help with other stuff, including the subtler points of grammar. Like comma splices, hanging modifiers, shaky sentence contruction, run-on sentences, wordiness, etc.
2. I have trouble writing smooth dialogue, so I need someone who will be able to guide me there and pull me out of any verbal holes I dig my characters into.
3. I need someone who's got a good grasp of characterisation and will help me keep my characters in line, and shape out OCs properly. I can guarantee that I won't annoy you with stupid, basic mistakes, but the finer points...everytime I do dialogue, characterisation begins zigzagging. ::shrugs::
4. I also need someone who will be able to help me keep a track of where my plot is going, and what I'd had planned for it. Mind you, I rarely work with a full outline. In fact, usually I just have a vague plunnie and I play it by ear. Result: I forgot where the next chappie was supposed to go, or worse, I wrote myself into a corner and can't go in the originally planned direction! The resulting plot holes and ass pulls can be...troublesome.
5. I am not very comfortable with writing lemons. When I do, I put them in a crackfic. So a little help with writing some mature steam..no explicit lemons, just a little steaminess would be HIGHLY appreciated!
That said, I need someone who can work with multiple stories at a time, as that's how I write. They need to be quick, very strict, a grammar nazi, and a good motivator. Don't praise me needlessly. Rip apart my work if you must, but help me improve it and polish it. Most of all, push me to write if it looks like I'm going to be missing a deadline. Oh, and I stink at thinking up chapter titles and such.
I'm a decent, even good writer, I believe, and I'm completely open to criticism and correction. I'm also very tough on myself, being an utter perfectionist. So I expect my beta to be just as tough on me.
To know what you're dealing with, I'd like you to check out my previous work on this site. Specifically: It Broke, Every Gimmick In the Book and Nexus. Especially Nexus. If you wish to take me on, you'll have to give a little test. I shall PM you a little piece of random writing which you'll have to edit for grammar. Then you'll have to go through the three chapters of Nexus that I've posted to this site, and tell me in graphic detail what is wrong with them (not grammar-wise, but with story, plot, narration, characterisation, etc. etc.).
I'm looking forward to finding the perfect beta, for me...so do apply, if you fit the requirements! I'm not as monstrous as I sound. I promise.
