News
Beta Reading…
We do have a system where people can list themselves as beta readers in their profiles. However, I've been receiving a lot of e-mail lately from both people looking for a beta and those offering their services as one.

Please post a comment here if either of these applies to you. Hopefully we can match up more willing betas with compatible authors if we have a single post right on the front page for people to express their interest. Feel free to list any information that you feel might be helpful, such as the type of stories you write or are looking for and time commitment required. Thanks!

--Adora on 07/09/08 - 10:25 am 86 Comments
Comments
I'm new here, but I have been on other Fanfiction sites before, but I don't really understand what a Beta does...don't Betas proofread? If someone can explain Betaing to me, I'd be happy to Beta, though!!!!
- Andweth_Elf_of_Lindon on 07/09/08 - 01:32 pm
I am a beta reader! Not terribly into RPS or Hobbitses, but I'm open minded. I don't mind slash or NC-17 at all, but non-con and too much physical violence can bother me. Inquire within!
- Faoiltierna on 08/09/08 - 12:56 am
I would be willing to be a beta-reader. I'm not the best but I'm OK. I would like it if you keep the ones I'm editting PG-13 and under.
- Lady of the Lake on 08/09/08 - 06:34 pm
I'm up to beta for anyone who needs help. I'll warn you all though, i only read/write stories about elves, not into dwarves, humans and hobbits. I'd prefer to be beta-ing PG-13 and down, not so much R and NC-17. Hope I can help - Breia (Lira got boring)
- Lira_of_Imladris on 10/09/08 - 06:17 am

I proofread anything, correct grammar and English usage (I used to beta for people who's second language was English). Rating and content is open-book, any race/species is fine by me. I also correct many improperly used words of the Sindarin (Elvish) language.

Time is limited for access to the net, but I do my best to be online at least every other day.

- TiraSil on 11/09/08 - 03:12 pm
RE: Andweth_Elf_of_Lindon - A beta is essentially an editor for fanficiton, someone who corrects grammer, punctutaion, spelling, helps you with half-developed plot lines etc.

I'm up for betaing anything, including N-17's, it takes something SERIOUSLY squicky to freak me out, so I'm cool with just about anything
- Gemini_Elf on 12/09/08 - 09:05 pm
I'm totally willing to be a beta-reader! I'm a Music/English major; it's my weakness. :-) Anything goes.
- Ithildin on 13/09/08 - 01:15 pm
I'm up for betaing anything, I'm open minded and don't mind slash or NC-17 at all.

The only thing would be limited time for access to the net... Though I would be able to check if there is anything everyday if I did it at school...

Other than that, anything goes!
- Grimmy-chan on 14/09/08 - 10:51 am
I would be happy to beta.
- Roci on 23/09/08 - 10:34 am
We're both happy to beta but we'll only beta naughty stuff ;) Sorry, that was just something we agreed on. Anyway, yeah, we're happy to beta for you if you need help. I think it would actually be a good idea to have a page in the Authors section where people who are looking for betas can find someone. That could be really good and really helpful not to mention, it could save a lot of time - taeliwren
- arulia34z_taeliwrenz_darkside on 23/09/08 - 10:38 pm
I am a beta reader. I have only recently joined the website but have been reading fanfiction on here for a long while.

I'm willing to beta anything. Rating or pairing is no issue, although my personal preference is for hobbit slash. Even so, I'm happy to help with a wide range of fanfiction. I am open minded to everything from non-con to fluff.

I correct spelling, grammar, structure and am willing to offer my help with characterisation and plot.

I am usually readily available to chat, so there so should be no problem with getting in contact with me. I will also usually have your fic back to you within a day or two and will be online to discuss any changes.

:)
- Aiwendil01 on 30/09/08 - 08:00 am
In need of a beta reader! But how do I get one? Need info plz.
- LegolasLoverLimwen on 30/09/08 - 10:14 pm
Response to LegolasLoverLimwen: I'm happy to beta for you, just use the contact link on my author's page. Hope to hear from you soon - Breia
- Lira_of_Imladris on 01/10/08 - 09:08 pm
Is anyone interested in helping me to finish developing a story plot? I've got a few ideas but really need to bounce them off someone.
- Elven_Fforestydd on 03/10/08 - 11:02 pm
Really desperatly need a beta for my story. Is there anyone out there who can help.
Thanx

-Valadhiel-
- Valadhielofimladris on 04/10/08 - 02:09 am
Elven_Fforestydd and Valadhielofimladris, use the contact link on my author's page, I'd be happy to help!
- Faoiltierna on 05/10/08 - 05:49 am
I am willing to be a beta reader if someone needs me.

I will beta: Slash or Gen fiction, no Het (sorry, girls are yucky), All ratings from G-NC17. I reserve the right to refuse betaing your story if it contains a pairing or kink I cannot stomach.

Contact info on my author's page.
- Erandir on 05/10/08 - 06:28 pm
Unfortunately, writing and proofing my own stories takes up nearly all of my free time. However, and I really hope this will be accepted as constructive, I'd like to see betas looking at summaries, warnings, and chapter notes. Some of my friends (I'm an older lady, btw) really enjoy LOTR fanfiction and this site in particular, but they keep telling me about stories they start, because they are well-written and have good ideas, but two or three chapters in (without warning) they find themselves in the middle of some heavy sexual content. All I'm suggesting is that betas and authors take a good look at the warnings Adora has provided, understand them, and use them appropriately. Again, I hope this will be taken in the spirit it was intended. I'm not judging, just asking for a little courtesy on behalf of those who are more sensitive to subject matter.
- Elaura on 08/10/08 - 11:31 am
Re: the above comment. I believe it states that if in doubt, over-rate ones story, rather than under-rate it, which is good advice.

I am willing to have ideas bounced off me regarding plot or canon, being a Tolkien nerd, although not a purist in the case of AU. ( I can usually weave canon into AU, thanks to Tolkien creating such a massive myth and often contradicting himself in HoMe ) I can look at sentence construction, dialogue, characterization and check canon facts if the author has no time, or is unsure where to look. If I don't know, I know people who do d;-)

Stories I will not look at, sorry,are Legomances, Girl-falls-into-Middle-earth, self-inserts, Mortal-Elf pairings, ( unless some-one writes Aegnor and Andreth, or Túrin and Beleg ) Anything Elf-centric, dark or slash is more than fine by me, since that's my choice of reading. I'll likewise be interested in anything involving lands and peoples little mentioned in the books such as Khand, the Harad, Rhun, etc, or Ages other than the Third, since I am a First Age fan primarily.

I must stress I am not a true beta, since I go to others to check my own work, but I can more easily * see * other authors work than my own. I do enjoy people discussing their ideas and brainstorming most of all.
- Spiced Wine on 09/10/08 - 04:50 pm
I'd be willing to beta. I'll help with grammar, plot and character development or just someone to bounce ideas off of. Anything R or lower. I don't mind violence or torture ether.
- Elven_Fforestydd on 09/10/08 - 07:48 pm