#beta work

[falterfreundin]

Ask Game: Little Russian Boy 👀🩷

Why hello there friend, so happy that you're asking about this one because I can't wait for it to hit the interwebs. As soon as @justahorsewithnoname fixes their tenses, that is. I am a very exacting beta in that regard... not really, though 😜😜😂😂

Let's get to it, shall we?

Summary: At 12 years old, Shane demanded he be allowed to go in for a week's international exchange for hockey wunderkinder. Whilst Yuna didn't want her baby to go - he'd long outgrown her motherly fretting - so she said yes. And so, that’s how Yuna found herself in the airport being handed a Russian-English dictionary and one Ilya Rozanov.

Snippet: She opened her Filofax to check over her appointments for that week. Yuna was thankful there weren't many there. However, the laundry list of errands she could get done was annoyingly long. There wouldn't be much downtime when her baby was away. Scanning down the checklist, she sighed. She hated those stupid little tasks that always slipped through her day-to-day schedule. Shane was so fixated on his routines she sometimes wondered how he coped with the ever-changing nature of hockey. She said a small prayer that the family he was staying with would cope with his Québécois and view his little quirks with a fond affection. Yuna needed to distract herself. It was always far too easy to worry about Shane. Instead she wondered about the child she’d be taking home with her. It was the first year of ‘The International Under 15s Prospect Exchange’ and the program’s organisation had been diabolical. She would have pulled Shane from the program weeks ago, but he had scrunched his face- just so- and she knew she would have lost that fight before it had even started. Instead, she'd hounded the Centaur’s management until she'd had every cold, hard fact about where and who her son was going to be staying with, down to when the batteries in the smoke alarms were last changed. She wasn't taking any chances.  Yuna hadn't been asked any questions from her guest’s family, a cold gap in due diligence. Yuna had only found out the child was Russian when she’d had an English/Russian dictionary plopped into her hands by one of the team this morning whilst she waved her baby off. Her little boy, whose kit bag was almost the same size as him. He hadn't looked back at her once when he walked through the heavy security doors. She tried to compose herself, blinking back the tears that threatened to creep into her eyes again. Focus.

I will be posting about this fic again as soon as it hits Ao3. So keep your eyes peeled 👀👀😍

[7-percent]

Author self rec Part Two

Thanks for the tag, @jbaillier!

The prompt was for an author to list five of their own works that they like best. I have cheated a bit and give you two lists. In Part One, I covered solo stories and here in Part Two I pick out five co-authored stories I wrote with others.

The challenge for me of writing in someone else's universe is that it requires a deep and abiding love of the other author's work. It means knowing all the twists and turns of their series of stories, their style, their red lines, their aspirations for their work. Sometimes, this has flowed from being a beta; other times I have been such a persistent cheerleader of their work that I can talk them into sharing their world with me.

I learn so much from writing with others! And it has resulted in real-life friendships, consolidated with face-to-face visits, and a deepening of the relationship that goes way beyond the fandom world. I am just so grateful for the willingness of these writers to take the plunge into co-authorship with me!

In @jbaillier's amazing On Pins and Needles series, I blagged my way into co-writing On The Rack where we both grasped the nettle and wrote our first explicit johnlock scene, which remains in my memory forever. But if I'm picking favourites, then it has to be this one when we decided to tackle an episode from Sherlock's past.

2007

Sherlock loses his mind. Mycroft loses control. It's 2007, and the Holmes brothers must come to terms with their demons—and each other. [Warning: This story contains detailed discussions of various psychiatric disorders, involuntary psychiatric treatment and family trauma; some readers may find some of the contents very upsetting and/or triggering.] This is what earned us both the title of Demonic Angst Mechanics. 

Writing together with @jbaillier was so much fun, I couldn't resist talking her into letting me share four stories (and write on my own) in her You Go To My Head series where both Sherlock and John are doctors. So hard to pick a fav out of these, but perhaps

Differential Diagnosis

During his fourth year of studying medicine at Cambridge, Sherlock is certain that nothing could be worse than the gynaecology & obstetrics rotation he’s just managed to muddle through. Little does he know that it will be the following course — psychiatry — that will pose the greatest threat to the secret he’s struggled to keep. Paired with Sebastian Wilkes who’s had it in for our fledgeling doctor on the Spectrum since year one, Sherlock will need to be on his best game to keep his neurosurgical career dreams alive.

The second time I shouldered my way into another author's stories was with @shelleysprometheus, in her wonderful AU series, Forethought and Fire. We wrote Few Escape the Gallows together, which I adored so much I then co-authored Between the Fall and the Creation and it's "mirror story" which I will pick as my favourite:

In Madness Lies Sanity

A tale of life after lies and betrayal, the story of how Sebastian Moran learns the truth about Jim Moriarty, and how that truth changes his life. Part Five of the Forethought and Fire series starts after the events of Few Escape the Gallows ended so dramatically on Hampstead Heath, with Sherlock challenging Jim Moriarty to a duel. When Sherlock lets Moran go, did he know what he was doing? A mirror story of Between The Fall And The Creation, happening simultaneously with it. It will stand alone but the two stories share a common timeline of events and should be read together to maximise the impact. The challenge of making a hated character into someone with whom readers could empathise.

As some of you may have noticed, I barged into another outstanding author's series (do you detect an MO here?). @totallysilvergirl's extraordinary Drawn to Stars series grabbed my attention to the point where I just had to convince her to agree to a reunion in Italy. We've started publishing the results of four years of drafting.

Inferno

A high-stakes case in Italy involving organized crime, stolen art, and Roberto Zanardi. What could possibly go wrong?

As this tag game has to involve FIVE favourites, what I will tell you is that I am now working on another story, a gift to one of the three co-authors who have been generous enough to let me play in their universe and make dear RL friends as a result. I hope to release it in January 2026.

If anyone has ever loved someone else's fic in this fandom, comment profusely, offer your services as a beta, and then (this is the cheeky bit) once you've proven as a beta or commenter you love their stories and characters as if they were your own, pitch a story idea to them and see if they might be open to co-authoring. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

[possibility-left]

Fandom Trumps Hate 2025

I am offering for Fandom Trumps Hate this year for the first time! If you like my work and have some extra money to share with charity this year, please come bid!!

I am doing two auctions! One is for beta work! I don't tend to post about it on Tumblr but I have been doing regular beta work for about 20 years for various folks. I do SPAG, I do suggestions, I do cheerleading, I will sit down and chat back and forth with you to help you figure out a plot hole, I will count limbs in your smut, whatever you need! And I will do it with speed and cheer as needed! I will sign up for or download whatever writing program you need me to use! I truly love helping people edit their work and make it into the best writing it can be!

My other auction is for fanfiction! I am offering Good Omens, Avatar: The Last Airbender, or any of the other 57 fandoms I have written in previously!!! (With the caveat that like, I've never watched the Thirteenth Doctor so I can't write anything for her, etc.) This also includes Severance if I can finish this fic I'm writing this weekend tbd. You can check out my auction to see the specific stuff I like to write if you're not already familiar with my work. I like to write femslash! I like to write Aziraphale/Crowley fluff! I really like found families! But what I like most of all is when someone gives me a plotbunny and lets me run away with it, so if you have one you think I could pull off, please bid!

For both of my auctions, I am encouraging you to donate to several of the listed charities, but also an additional one that I keep in my heart: the Missouri Abortion Fund. This org is semi-local to me and I am a regular donor and supporter of their work. I believe that every person who wants an abortion should be able to have one regardless of cost, and it's a cause that I support with my own dollars. I encourage everyone who is reading this to pick a charity that you might continue to support after FTH2025 is over. The need will still be there, after all.

OK OK thank you for reading this very long post and I hope that you will check out my auctions and participate!!!!! Bidding opens on Tuesday!!!

[bouncyirwin]

A handy guide for Betas

I thought I should make this post in light of a recent experience a friend of mine had. I’m in no way an expert on the art of editing, but I believe these etiquette tips won’t hurt anyone.

Being someone’s beta is perhaps a dubious privilege, but it doesn’t change that it requires a foundation of trust. A writer’s confidence can be very easily crippled; giving an unpolished piece to someone can very nerve-wracking! I think most betas tend to be authors themselves, can you remember your early days as a writer sharing your work? I’d imagine it was pretty scary.

Not to mention, not all writers are veterans of their craft, some are trying their hand at a new hobby. I think to beta someone’s piece, it takes a certain amount delicacy. And if you’re not that type of editor, that’s also fine, as some writers prefer a blunt, direct approach.

The trick is being clear about that from the get-go!

So here are some general tips:

1. Establish what the writer is looking for; grammar? Spelling? Flow? Dialogue tags? Punctuation? Or perhaps they would appreciate a second opinion on things like plot? Maybe they struggle with writing fight scenes or smut, and would prefer suggestions on sentence construction, for example. It doesn’t hurt to know what you’re looking for.

2. Remember that when editing someone’s piece, you’re refining their work, not rewriting it to your taste. It can be a fine line! It’s important to remember you’re fixing errors and occasionally making suggestions, but to each author their writing style!

3. Be sure to word your suggestions as suggestions, not demands. Text doesn’t have a facial expression and can easily come off as rude/demanding.

For Example

Delete this, it doesn’t make sense

Can easily be: consider clarifying this sentence or removing it as it could confuse the reader. Tone is everything.

What does this mean? Say this differently.

Can easily be: consider rewording this sentence for clarity. Give suggestions.

Notice these examples leave it up to the writer to decide.

These are general examples of course, the point is, like writing, the choice of words here changes everything, has a certain impact.

4. Avoid stating a negative opinion like ‘this sounds corny’, ‘this is cliche’, ‘this is cheesy’. Give suggestions on alternatives. Suggest a rewording for the problematic dialogue.

Just like unsolicited critique on a fanfic can cripple an author’s confidence, demanding or curt remarks from a beta can have the same effect.

There are some additional things betas can do that are pretty great but not required:

1. Praise parts you particularly liked: a beautifully constructed sentence, a clever line, a funny bit of dialogue. That kind of confidence boost is invaluable!

2. Give feedback on the overall piece which can include both praise and advice.

3. Offer to take a second look if the author would like after they look over your suggestions.

Generally, the message is to be kind and considerate. Be sure to use gentle words when making suggestions. Make sure to respect the author’s style.

Feel free to add to/contradict this post with suggestions of your own, or to use any personal experience as basis for advice.

Happy editing 🌸

[definitelynotshouting]

TJ Ripley's Editing Carrd

This is an editing porfolio and commissions guide for a freelance editor.

Hello all! Just a reminder that editing commissions are open, and this time I have a carrd!! All information about my commissions can be found inside, so please click the link and check it out!

As always, I reserve the right to refuse any commission I am personally uncomfortable with. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me either via dms or the email found inside my carrd!

[canyoncurl]

hi! we're compiling a beta list for our fic fest and were wondering if you'd be willing to be included? we're a fest geared towards dark/spooky fics. you'd just be added to the list and then authors can reach out to you and you both can chat before actually agreeing to beta anything. lmk if you'd be down! :)

hey, hi, hello! thank you for reaching out to me, i’d absolutely love to be added to your beta list! ✨ what an awesome fic fest concept, i look forward to all the autumnal vibes, blanket clutching and scaredy-cat lizzie moments to follow. 🤍

[rainbow-sides]

Totally hypothetical question here: Would you ever be willing to beta a fic?

Willing? Absolutely, and I have done it in the past for some friends.

Do I have the time? Maybe, if it's a fairly short (<5000 words) fic. And depending on what it's about/any content warnings, I might decline.

But also, in my description, I link to a post about my commissions in which I say I will beta/copy and/or line edit writing for $3 per 1000 words, which would come into effect on a fic longer than 5000 words (it takes a lot of time, and I have other work I'm doing at the moment.)

If by chance this is more than a hypothetical, please come talk to me through DMs and we can figure something out!