Unavailable until July

Winner of the Best Beta FQSQ 2012!

Hello, new prospective client! (I like how professional that sounds…) I’m Sophie, and I may soon be your beta reader. I think that I am fairly flexible as a beta, but there are certain things that I might not be able to help you with, so please read the information below before you request my services. In general, I prefer things that could be canon (i.e. they don't have to have been mentioned in canon, but they don't contradict canon either) so please bear that in mind. Also, there is a nice little form at the bottom of this post. Please do use it for your requests. I will respond to all requests in this thread and, if I accept, PM you my email address afterwards.


Turn Around Time: In normal circumstances, under a week, usually under four days, and less for drabbles. If I have a backlog or a lot going on IRL which will slow me down, then I'll make sure to let you know. If you have a deadline, then I can probably accommodate you. (Incidentally, I would appreciate it if you would also keep me up to date, especially if I'm working with you on a chaptered fic. I don’t mind having to wait a while before receiving your story/next chapter, but I'd prefer to know what’s going on so that I don’t have to worry about you.)

Permanent? I'll do as many stories/chapters as you like, providing I have the time. I am willing to pick up chaptered stories part way through if necessary.

Style: I use track changes in OpenOffice, which is effectively a free verison of MS word, and I can save documents in the .doc format to make them work with MS word. I am willing to send a story back and forth as many times as you like to get it perfect. In fact, I would prefer to see a story multiple times if I have suggested you make any big changes. I tend to pick apart every little thing and leave a lot of comments for you. This isn’t because I dislike your story; I just want to make sure that you’ve thought everything through and that the story is as good as it possibly can be. Also, if you ever have a question about my comments, please ask. I like to help (Hufflepuff to the core, and all )

Strengths: I think my SPaG is pretty strong. I am the type who cares about the Oxford Comma, and who can give a detailed explanation of the correct usage of “whom”. I will give you explanations on any grammar point you’re struggling with too, rather than just correcting you. I am an obsessive Brit-picker. It’s something I can never resist doing, so if you want me to leave American spellings as they are, you had better warn me. I can’t claim to know every little canon detail by a long way, but if I read something in your work that I am unsure of, I will always go and look it up. If there is anything I am unsure about when I'm editing your story, I will tell you so that you can decide for yourself whether or not to change it/trust me. I wouldn’t want to write the story for you.

Weaknesses: I highly doubt that my comma usage is perfect, but I think it’s acceptable, and it’s certainly getting better. I have been known to forget to check canon capitalisations, but I am working on that. I’m currently without copies of QTA and FB, so if you need facts checked from either of them that aren’t available on the internet, then there’s not a lot I can do. I don’t read or write OCs that often myself, so I’m probably not the best person to help you out with them, although I’ll give it my best shot.

Categories: I am not fond of AU, but if you have a particularly interesting premise I would be willing to take a look on a case by case basis. Other than that, I will take on anything. I will even do poetry if required. I don’t often write it myself, but I think I have enough knowledge of form, structure, imagery etc. to be able to make a suggestion here or there.

Ships: I dislike Snape/most people (except unrequited Lily), Dramione and Drinny, but I would be willing to take a look if you are desperate for help. I will do just about anything else without a problem, though. Slash, rarepairs - anything goes.

Ratings: There shouldn’t be a problem with any.

Warnings: Here goes…

Abuse: Yes, but only if you treat the subject with respect. I may have to withdraw my services if I feel that you are mistreating any sensitive issues.
Alternate Universe: I’m not a fan, but I will take it on if it is an interesting premise. You would probably be better off asking someone else, though.
Book 7 Disregarded: Preferably not, unless it’s just for incredibly minor details. I like canon, and I don’t really want to read a rewrite of DH. Sorry!
Character death: Yes
Dubious Consent: Yes, but see abuse for my reservations
Epilogue? What Epilogue?: Yes (this is the one part of canon that I don’t mind you disregarding so much.)
Mental Disorders: Yes – see abuse
Mild Profanity: Yes
Non-Consensual Sex: Yes – see abuse
Self Injury: Yes – see abuse
Sexual Situations: Yes, although I don't have much experience of writing smut myself.
Slash: Yes
Strong Profanity: Yes
Student/Teacher Romance: Yes, as long as it’s not Snape related
Substance Abuse: Yes
Suicide:Yes – see abuse
Violence: Yes

A selection of stories I have beta’d (available on the archives):
Deceptions by Equinox Chick
Rest in the Bed by welshdevondragon
Scorpius Malfoy and The Missing Girl by Hotrav
Taken by Aida Luthien
Butterbeer Bottles by xxbabewithbrainsxx
Human Debris by iLuna17
Eastern Dawn Stars by Ginny Weasley Potter


The form for you to use is as follows:

Username & Preferred Name: (Please specify if your username is different on the archives)
Story title: (If you know it)
Genre: (Which archive category your story will most likely fall into)
Ships: (If applicable)
Rating and Warnings:
Estimated Length: (Is it a drabble/one-shot/short chaptered/long chaptered, and what is your estimated word count?)
Permanent Y/N: (Would you like me to beta the whole of a chaptered fic, or work with you on future projects?)
Preferred Return Time? (How long are you prepared to wait, and are you on a deadline?)
Summary: (Just give me a rough outline of the plot if you haven't finalised your summary yet.)
Anything you particularly need help with? (iIf you're unsure, I'll easily figure it out myself on receipt of the story)
Anything else I should know about? (Previous rejections? Other betas involved? A prompt you're using? Specific file format you'd like me to save in?)

And I think that's everything! If there’s anything else you want to know then go ahead and ask when you request me, or drop me a PM.