Searching beta-readers - Page 2

Butterbeer · 11-25-2008, 01:48 PM

Proof reader would be more apt, likely

***Varnafindë*** · 11-25-2008, 03:32 PM

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*** · 11-25-2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eärniel

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

Like if the reader didn't work out, he/she would blow up or something

(IOW, the beta should modify the story, not the reader!

)

*waves to BB*

***Earniel*** · 11-25-2008, 06:28 PM

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*** · 11-25-2008, 06:39 PM

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

Butterbeer · 11-25-2008, 11:53 PM

£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

Willow Oran · 11-26-2008, 12:49 AM

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.

***Jonathan*** · 11-26-2008, 01:00 PM

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

***Earniel*** · 11-26-2008, 06:19 PM

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*** · 01-25-2009, 08:34 PM

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?

***Jonathan*** · 01-26-2009, 02:43 PM

I'm here

***Earniel*** · 01-27-2009, 08:27 AM

Great! It's underway.

Count Comfect · 01-27-2009, 08:50 AM

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

***Earniel*** · 06-04-2009, 06:09 PM

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*** · 06-04-2009, 06:33 PM

MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! O_o

Ooh! Oooh! Me! Me! Mememememememe!

Me!

I'll do it!

o_o

***Earniel*** · 06-04-2009, 06:41 PM

Always such enthusiasm.

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*** · 06-04-2009, 07:44 PM

*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*** · 06-05-2009, 05:11 PM

Does the short story by any chance include any wizards?

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*** · 06-05-2009, 05:29 PM

Gee, whatever gave you that peculiar idea?

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*** · 06-05-2009, 05:33 PM

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

11-25-2008, 03:32 PM	#22
*Varnafindë* Princess of the Noldor (and Administrative Empress of the Lone Islands) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Imladris (and sometimes Norway) Posts: 3,304	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 . __________________ Signature picture art - Bard the Bowman - by vigshane Avatar art - Footsteps of Spring (a young Luthien) - by Henning Janssen

11-25-2008, 06:28 PM	#24
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	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... __________________ We are not things.

11-25-2008, 06:39 PM	#25
*Varnafindë* Princess of the Noldor (and Administrative Empress of the Lone Islands) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Imladris (and sometimes Norway) Posts: 3,304	Proof-readers are probably what publishers hire when a book is supposed to be published. Professional indeed ... __________________ Signature picture art - Bard the Bowman - by vigshane Avatar art - Footsteps of Spring (a young Luthien) - by Henning Janssen

11-26-2008, 12:49 AM	#27
Willow Oran Deus Ex Machina Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,951	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. __________________ "5. Plain Rings with RUNES on the inside. Avoid these like the PLAGUE. -Diana Wynne Jones Tough Guide To FantasyLand ...it's not much of a show if somebody doesn't suffer, and preferably at length. Suffering is beautiful in any case, and so is anguish; but as for loathing, and bitterness... I don't think they belong on the stage at all. - Isabella, I Gelosi

11-26-2008, 01:00 PM	#28
*Jonathan* Entmoot Attorney-General, Equilibrating the Scales of Justice, Administrator ♎ Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 3,891	Eärniel, will you post the short story here on Entmoot as well? __________________ An unwritten post is a delightful universe of infinite possibilities. Set down one word, however, and it immediately becomes earthbound. Set down one sentence and it’s halfway to being just like every other bloody entry that’s ever been written. ☻

11-25-2008, 01:48 PM	#21
Butterbeer Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: here and there Posts: 3,514	Proof reader would be more apt, likely

11-25-2008, 11:53 PM	#26
Butterbeer Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: here and there Posts: 3,514	£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

11-26-2008, 06:19 PM	#29
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	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. __________________ We are not things.

01-25-2009, 08:34 PM	#30
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	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? __________________ We are not things.

01-26-2009, 02:43 PM	#31
*Jonathan* Entmoot Attorney-General, Equilibrating the Scales of Justice, Administrator ♎ Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 3,891	I'm here __________________ An unwritten post is a delightful universe of infinite possibilities. Set down one word, however, and it immediately becomes earthbound. Set down one sentence and it’s halfway to being just like every other bloody entry that’s ever been written. ☻

01-27-2009, 08:27 AM	#32
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Great! It's underway. __________________ We are not things.

01-27-2009, 08:50 AM	#33
Count Comfect Word Santa Claus Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,922	I'd be willing to as well, if you still need people. __________________ Sufficient to have stood, yet free to fall.

06-04-2009, 06:09 PM	#34
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	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. __________________ We are not things.

06-04-2009, 06:33 PM	#35
*Tessar* Master and Wielder of the Cardboard Harp of Gondor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: IM IN UR POSTZ, EDITIN' UR WURDZ Posts: 6,433	MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! O_o Ooh! Oooh! Me! Me! Mememememememe! Me! I'll do it! o_o

06-04-2009, 06:41 PM	#36
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Always such enthusiasm. 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! __________________ We are not things.

06-04-2009, 07:44 PM	#37
*Tessar* Master and Wielder of the Cardboard Harp of Gondor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: IM IN UR POSTZ, EDITIN' UR WURDZ Posts: 6,433	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.

06-05-2009, 05:11 PM	#38
*Jonathan* Entmoot Attorney-General, Equilibrating the Scales of Justice, Administrator ♎ Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 3,891	Does the short story by any chance include any wizards? 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!) __________________ An unwritten post is a delightful universe of infinite possibilities. Set down one word, however, and it immediately becomes earthbound. Set down one sentence and it’s halfway to being just like every other bloody entry that’s ever been written. ☻

06-05-2009, 05:29 PM	#39
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Gee, whatever gave you that peculiar idea? 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.) __________________ We are not things.

06-05-2009, 05:33 PM	#40
*Jonathan* Entmoot Attorney-General, Equilibrating the Scales of Justice, Administrator ♎ Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 3,891	(I thought the September issue of EMG-Zine was to deal with Indian mythology? In any case, ME WANTS A CHINESE STORY‼) __________________ An unwritten post is a delightful universe of infinite possibilities. Set down one word, however, and it immediately becomes earthbound. Set down one sentence and it’s halfway to being just like every other bloody entry that’s ever been written. ☻

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