Destroyer of Worlds - Betareader Listings

This is a list of people willing to betaread for you. Please, be considerate of the time and effort they put into their work, and treat them with the hero-worship they deserve. *g*

Seriously, though, it's polite to email the person first and ask if they'd be willing to beta for you - *before* you send them your 31MB masterpiece. Maybe they're in the middle of final exams at the moment, and really can't spare the time - so, go to another betareader. They're plenty here. *g*

If you've found this section useful, please drop me a line, so I know if I should expand it. Many thanks.

BETAREADER LISTINGS:

HEATHER (aka Gunbunny)
PREVIOUS BETAING EXPERIENCE: No
CONTENT/GRAMMAR/SPELLING: I'm a grammar spelling demon. I have an inner editor. It's horrific. But I can point out when someone's being out of character...
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE: Historic events, mostly. and torture methods. I vary depending on subject.
OBJECTIONS TO OTHER PAIRINGS IN A S/B FIC: BA. Never fails. or BR. I can feel the ickiness emanating from them...
GENRE PREFERENCES: Anything, though I'm not big on fluff.
DISLIKES: f/f slash doesn't exactly float my boat, but if it's m/m - well, you know of my campaigning for X/S...
SPEED OF RESPONSE: Same days, two at the most
LEVEL OF HARSHNESS: Blunt *and* gushing.

DENISE
PREVIOUS BETAING EXPERIENCE: No
CONTENT/GRAMMAR/SPELLING: I'm better at grammar.
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE: No.
OBJECTIONS TO OTHER PAIRINGS IN A S/B FIC: None.
GENRE PREFERENCES: Nope, I will read all.
DISLIKES: None.
SPEED OF RESPONSE: Same day.
LEVEL OF HARSHNESS: I'm very blunt.

IOANA UNCU
PREVIOUS BETAING EXPERIENCE: None
CONTENT/GRAMMAR/SPELLING: Definitely spelling/grammar.
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE: Only if you need something from Romania ;-)
OBJECTIONS TO OTHER PAIRINGS IN A S/B FIC: none.
GENRE PREFERENCES: comedy
DISLIKES: f/f or m/m (slash).
SPEED OF RESPONSE: Two days
LEVEL OF HARSHNESS: Middle, I guess.

CORONA (Jay)
PREVIOUS BETAING EXPERIENCE: None.
CONTENT/GRAMMAR/SPELLING: Content ok, spelling ok, grammar I'm not so sure on.
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE: I'm English and have a fairly good knowledge of swords.
OBJECTIONS TO OTHER PAIRINGS IN A S/B FIC: none
GENRE PREFERENCES: angst, comedy, I don't mind.
DISLIKES: none
SPEED OF RESPONSE: same day if necessary.
LEVEL OF HARSHNESS: Somewhere in the middle.

SHARON
PREVIOUS BETAING EXPERIENCE: Three stories.
CONTENT/GRAMMAR/SPELLING: A lot better on characterisation than anything else. Okay on grammar.
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE: American life and customs.
OBJECTIONS TO OTHER PAIRINGS IN A S/B FIC: none
GENRE PREFERENCES: Not bothered, but I'm a sucker for happy endings.
DISLIKES: None.
SPEED OF RESPONSE: I'm pretty fast. Depending on the length, most likely the next day.
LEVEL OF HARSHNESS: I'm gentle but I do say what needs to be said. Just very gently, LOL.

SEAN MCNALLY (aka Zer0 Signal)
PREVIOUS BETAING EXPERIENCE: never beta'd before, but I read a lot of fanfic and feedback most of it. I've taken a lot of writing classes in my 20 years, so I'd like to think I know what's good and what's crap.
CONTENT/GRAMMAR/SPELLING: I pay more attention to characterization and plot than spelling and grammar, but if I catch mistakes I'll let you know.
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE: Born and raised in New York City, so I can do the Americanism thing for ya. I'm also a B/S 'shipper.
OBJECTIONS TO OTHER PAIRINGS IN A S/B FIC: I'll read em all. Beta readers are supposed to be objective no?
GENRE PREFERENCES: Either comedy or angst.
DISLIKES: Short stories that could have been fleshed out, and overly-gratuitious smut, unless that's what you're aiming for.
SPEED OF RESPONSE: 1-4 days, most likely same or next day.
LEVEL OF HARSHNESS: I go looking for negative points if they're not apparent, but I'm not a dick about them, and I always give suggestions.

ANNE HAIGHT (A. Manley Haight)
PREVIOUS BETAING EXPERIENCE: Yes, I have betaed (is that a word?) stories before. I was an English major in college and I have a habit of studying etymology. I am also a writer by nature. That is, I intend to make my living as a novelist and a story writer. Everything else is just window dressing. :)
CONTENT/GRAMMAR/SPELLING: My competency is high in these areas:

LANGUAGE MECHANICS: I am a native English speaker, American, with a Southern background (Tennessee). I consider my knowledge of English grammar, spelling, mechanics, syntax, etc., to be expert level.
TECHNIQUE: I can analyze the "voice" of a narrative and offer suggestions on whether something "works" or not.

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE:

I live in California, in San Jose. I haven't lived in L.A., but I can certainly tell you whether something is true of California culture or not. I pay attention to politics here, which can sometimes have an impact on a story.
I have knowledge of firearms, and some limited knowledge of swords and swordsmanship, and military arms. I can give advice on handling a fight sequence or something larger in scale such as a war or a campaign (ask me how stupid I think Buffy and Giles are being in handling the demon threat in Sunnydale). :)
Since I have a particular interest in language and etymology, I've studied idioms and slang terms, mostly American but some Canadian and British as well.
I know the culture of the American South, and much about the various Southern attitudes towards race and racial differences.
I know about cars, primarily modern ones. Makes, models, features and characteristics. I might be able to tell you what color they're making them in this year, too. :)
I'm Rosicrucian in my belief system and I have a background in Western esoteric mysticism such as Freemasonry and the Great White Brotherhood (not magic or ritual magic), and have studied the Kabala for personal interest.
Don't ask me why, but I know more than a layperson should about the real nature of the Amazon jungle and the Sahara desert.
My philosophy tends toward Objectivism (think Ayn Rand). I am a violent opponent of radical environmentalism, animal rights activists and anyone who espouses socialist or fascist political teachings. I can argue effectively against any of these.

OBJECTIONS TO OTHER PAIRINGS IN A S/B FIC: I'd prefer not to read Willow/anybody unless it's an unusual treatment with a role in the plot, such as a rape, or some other non-romantic situation. No Riley, unless he's the loser is whatever conflict is going on. I can't stand the guy.
GENRE PREFERENCES: No songfic (unless it's satirical). No poetry.
DISLIKES: No real dislikes in terms of subject matter. Male slash is fine with me. I like it. ;) Character death okay but preferred to have meaning, rather than the whole story merely being an "oh god s/he's dead, what ever will I do?" I can read anything, no matter how gross, how taboo, or how graphic. You can't shock me. I dare you. :) Well...maybe I draw the line at coprophagy and coprophilia (look it up and be prepared to gag).
SPEED OF RESPONSE: Depends on how long the story is and how much time I have on any given day. :) Probably 3 days to 2 weeks. I reserve the right to refuse to beta-read a story even after seeing it.
LEVEL OF HARSHNESS: I pull no punches. If you want someone to really tell you if your story sucks, I'm your girl. If you honestly want to improve your writing skills and not just have someone tell you you're good, I can do that. :) I'm not a Spike/Buffy fan at present, but I'm willing to be converted if you can make me believe it. :)
RATING NOTE: All ratings acceptable, although I prefer a story to have adult audiences in mind. It doesn't have to be graphically gory or sexual, just adult in the nature of the story and the character interactions.

LAURE ALEXANDER
PREVIOUS BETAING EXPERIENCE: Yes.
CONTENT/GRAMMAR/SPELLING: Better at grammar and spelling over characterization.
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE: Have a degree in English History with an emphasis on Ireland. Know a lot about architecture and art. Basically 1750-1900 England and Ireland is my thing--history, culture, social structure, art, architecture, royalty, nobility etc. Also have a degree in Classical Antiquity, but my Latin's rusty.
OBJECTIONS TO OTHER PAIRINGS IN A S/B FIC: Willow/Xander, Buffy/Xander
GENRE PREFERENCES: Not picky.
DISLIKES: None outside of the above pairings.
SPEED OF RESPONSE: Usually 2-3 days, maybe up to a week, never longer than that.
LEVEL OF HARSHNESS: I'm not blunt and everything I offer is a suggestion only, outside of spelling errors.

LAURA
PREVIOUS BETAING EXPERIENCE: Never been an official reader but I am a fanfic writer. If you would like to look at my stories and see if you feel I might be qualified, I would be happy to send you something.
CONTENT/GRAMMAR/SPELLING: Better at grammar and spelling, fairly confident about tone of character.
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE: I live in America, and attend and work at a college, so have a fairly decent knowledge of current slang for the Buffy-aged group.
OBJECTIONS TO OTHER PAIRINGS IN A S/B FIC: None.
GENRE PREFERENCES: Prefer angst and comedy, but enjoy all genres.
DISLIKES: Nothing bothers me.
SPEED OF RESPONSE: Usually within 24 hours.
LEVEL OF HARSHNESS: To the point with grammar and spelling, gentle persuasion used when a character seems to be protrayed as "not in type." Never rude, always try to be helpful rather than overly harsh, which is how I would like to have my own stories critiqued.

ELIZ H
PREVIOUS BETAING EXPERIENCE: Lots*G* from the occasional one for Melinda and J.R., to several for whom I am the main beta reader and then there is Darly and I (as twistedsister), where I try to write and beta (cute trick).
CONTENT/GRAMMAR/SPELLING: A little of all. I am not a college grammar prof, but I am better than spellchecker (grammar and spelling) but my typing can be rocky.
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE: no ancient weapons, but horses and I am American (but I read Brit*G*)
OBJECTIONS TO OTHER PAIRINGS IN A S/B FIC: I would rather not read Graham (mostly, because I have no feel for the men of the Initiative other than Riley.)
GENRE PREFERENCES: Read all.
DISLIKES: Not fond of Xander or Oz slash even though I love Angel and Spike slash. And I love character deaths, in adventure story's some death is appropriate.
SPEED OF RESPONSE: Usually in one day but every now and then it can take several days. I do send an acknowledgments that I have received the story, so the writer will know when to look for the copy back. Twice this year there has been an accident under the phone lines (burnt them through) and until the company repaired them I had no access. With luck this is enough for the rest of my life *G*
LEVEL OF HARSHNESS: I will be as blunt as they want me to be. I will not allow to pass, sentences that are redundant, incomprehensible or has too much slang and not enough content (the writer can put it back, after all).