Everything Left Unsaid

Hello there!
I´m here to talk about something a lot of you might already be familiar with, but also something which everyone should know about:
The cap_ironman  BETA LIST
Especially new members might not know about this (the original post was made almost two years ago), but it is extremely helpful and generally a very awesome thing.

What is that?
Basically, a list of people who have said that they´d want to be beta readers for you.

How is it organized?
First, there is a list of all people who have signed up; then that is followed by a group of readers with experiences with languages other than English, readers with special fields of knowledge and finally a group regarding canon knowledge.

How does it work?
If you need a beta, just go to the list, look for a reader who seems suitable for you, and then contact that person. You can generally contact people via the private message system, but a lot of people have contact information on their profiles (which are also linked to in the list). Then you just write to the reader, explain your situation and then see if it works out.
Example: You have written a fic set in France, then it may be best to look for a beta reader who is good at that langauge and maybe knows something about the culture. You have written a fic dealing with martial arts? You could look for a beta reader who also knows something about that.

Can I still sign up?
Of course; just leave a comment with your qualifications and I´ll add you to the list.
Example: Hello, I´m betareader01, I love correcting grammar, especially punctuation, and I know a lot about American history.

Also, you may find this post discussing the role of the beta interesting.

As always, if you have further questions, suggestions, critic, leave a comment here, ask the mods, etc.


ETA: since this list is admittedly old (at least parts of it), not all readers may be able to beta for you. Real life, time, other commitments, etc. can come in the way. Don´t give up if you don´t immediately get a response or find a reader, we´re all just human. I´ll contact the readers and will update the list accordingly. Just be patient, everything will work out.

ETA2: Also, if you are currently on the list and want to change something or want to be removed from this list, no problem. Leave a coment or write a pm and I´ll handle it.

Since I had to terminate the first try (thanks you html...for adding useless </a><b> signs to the usernames that didn´t show up in RTE and couldn´t be erased from the html-version without messing up the entire post.

BETA List:

( General )I'm a good beta in terms of helping the writer's work to be clear, making the writer sensitive to stylistic inconsistencies. I do prefer to work with googledocs, and if you don't have a gmail account, I'll gladly send you an invite.

Depending on the complexity of the fic, turn around can be from six hours to twenty four (anything over 10k will be, understandably, longer).

I do try to be a thorough beta, and as a result of this, writers' feelings can be bruised. I beta with the understanding that the work is important, not necessarily the writer's ego. I'm willing to go gentle with the concrit, but I won't mess you around, because being a fangirl helps no one.

You can contact me via pm at either LJ or DW.( General ) I'm not here for a beta but for resources!
( General )I know grammar and word use, as well as Shakespearean grammar, so I can grammar-check Thor. Both are primarily from a good organic linguistic sense rather than formal education, so I tend to say 'this sounds wrong; this would be better' rather than citing specific rules
- theaviatorfifi: (Info) i have superexcellent knowledge of spelling (uk and us) and grammar, but though i know what's right and wrong i agree with bending a few rules for the sake of style and flow.
- lovelokest: (Info): but I've beta'd before in other fandoms. I have a good grasp of story flow, picking out plot holes, characterization and what sounds clunky. My schedule is hectic right now, but I generally can get short things (under 2000 words) done in a dayThe best way to get in touch with me is lovelokest at gmail dot com. I'm terrible at checking PMs and I don't check my Yahoo email address often..
- piratewilde: (Info) . I am a English Major, and am prone to edited as I read. I also tend to read a lot
- red_vlvtn: (Info) I am also willing to beta. I'm an English major who always got A's in English in high school, and I got 4's on both AP tests. I also wrote and edited for my high school's literary magazine, so with all those things combined, I'm a notorious grammar Nazi. The best ways to get in touch with me are AIM and e-mail, both of which are listed on my user info. I'll read and edit just about anything, but my schedule sometimes gets crowded, so I may not have time for your epic. Just ask me, and I'll let you know.
- grand_duc (Info)  My knowledge of comics is pretty bare. And I'm probably the last person you want to ask for gramar.. I'm a native french speaker . I've grown up in France and I speak a bit of spanish.
- fancy_galloway (Info) Beta for half a dozen fandoms. Anthropology major, English minor. I color-code my edits!
- mozzarellaroses (Info) Grammar nazi, word usage fairy, slang dragon (I'm running out of silly words for this) , I'm one of only five people who got an A- in our entire batch of over 500 students last quarter, and have been getting A- for every quarter (with only one person in the entire batch getting A) and I've read a grand total of 10,950 books approximately since I was eight years old, which was eight years ago. I have beta'd people for years now, and I hope you won't be put off by my young age. English is not my first language, but I am most proficient in it.  Also, I will squee like a fangirl over your stories afterward, so my professionalism will take its little breaks. :)
- tsimiko (Info):I haven't beta'd in forever but I'd love to start doing it again. My canon knowledge is admittedly a little sparse: films, recent cartoons/anime, Civil War, Post-Civil War, and the recent Stark Resilient line
- guindas (Info) I have never Beta'd before, but my native language is Spanish and I am a grammar nazi in that language. My mail is on my userinfo :)i have the time to beta'd until april, but with the exception of January,.
- shariangel (Info) I've beta'd before, and for a while reviewed and gave concrit on request. I've been noted before to be critical, but fair, ( General )( Language Specific ) I speak some Japanese and a tiny smattering of Spanish.
- grand_duc: I'm a native french speaker though. I've grown up in France and I speak a bit of spanish
- tsimiko: I also have moderate knowledge of Spain, Barcelona specifically, having studied abroad there for a few months
- guindas: my native language is Spanish and I am a grammar nazi in that language.
- shariangel: I am able to understand and spell in Australian English, American English and British English, though some slang in the latter two may catch me (I will ask about it though)..( Language Specific )

( Special Talents )know a fair bit about the Renaissance and the middle ages generally, and more specifically about crafts of the time, the War of the Roses and genealogy of English nobles (and how to find out more, which can be almost as useful), and heraldry.
I do some metalworking, although unfortunately, no forging, just jewelery. It's amazingly difficult to find classes in forging and weaponsmithing.
- theaviatorfifi: good knowledge of the military/us air force, a hell of an interest in military aviation, and a reasonably good but non-technical (as if fanfic needs the actual math :B) knowledge of aerospace engineering and quantum physics.
- lovelokest: Areas of expertise: I've been in a nursing environment for ages, am biology major and have written a lot of kinky porn (hi, SGA!). Kinks I won't do: water sports, scat and age play., also no death fic unless everyone is alive at the end
- red_vlvtn: My areas of expertise include: psychology, civil law, American history, singing, string instruments, cooking (especially baking), English-style horseback riding, dogs, and cats big and small. My knowledge of canon is admittedly not the best you will find on this comm, but my boyfriend can and will answer any questions. He is also very knowledgeable about video games and various scientific disciplines
- fancy_galloway: Anthropology major, English minor.
- mozzarellaroses: I have an extensive knowledge of mythology
- timiko: I've been formally trained and have worked as a college-level writing tutor for three years
- guindas: I'm from Chile (South America) and know pretty well the history of my country..
- shariangel: I'm a second year Maths/Computing major, so I guess I could be helpful with techy questions( Special Talents )( Canon Knowledge: )This is the second try. Forgive me for not using the "Username" option since all my entries get messed up when I have to edit them afterwards. (<lj></a>...and so on).

If you have anything to add, if I have forgotten something worth mentioning, or have gotten something wrong....tell me.
ps: you rock

pps: due to the update-status, I am in the process of contacting our "old" readers who signed up in 2008 if they want to remain on this list. Those who have already replied or signed up in 2010 will be displayed with a blue username (organisational thing, makes it easier for me).

last edit: 4th December 2010