Active Beta Readers
There are 68 members who are active and currently accepting new stories.
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*Elysian Fields does not screen beta readers. All information below is supplied directly by members and simply hosted by Elysian Fields. Using a beta reader from this list does not guarantee that your story or chapter will be vaildated.*
Ratings I'll beta: •G •PG •PG-13 •R •NC-17 •Adult Only
I can help with: •American English •Canon Elements •Grammar •Plot Suggestions •Punctuation
Turnaround for an average length chapter: 1-3 days
Beta experience: Haven't betad in years but excited to get back to it. I have a BA in English Lit
Story types/topics I will not beta: No All Human AUs
No non-con/dub-con
I'm fine with temporary canon couples that are non-Spuffy (Buffy/Angel, Buffy/Riley or even Buffy/Parker, as well as Spike/Drusilla and Spike/Harmony) but no drawn out non-canon pairings that involve Spike/Buffy. This includes any thrupole or other relationships.
Additional Comments:
Ratings I'll beta: •G •PG •PG-13 •R •NC-17 •Adult Only
I can help with: •American English •Canon Elements •Grammar •Plot Suggestions •Punctuation
Turnaround for an average length chapter: 1-3 days
Beta experience: As an avid Spuffy fiction reader, I find it super fun to help others refine their works! I’ve read hundreds of pieces and can no longer escape the characterizations that are Buffy and Spike. I love to collaborate while figuring out how to best compliment your own creative process.
Story types/topics I will not beta: I'm pretty open to all. I have no limitations at the moment.
Additional Comments: I have a graduate degree and accurate documentation is a regular part of my profession.
Ratings I'll beta: •NC-17 •Adult Only
I can help with: •American English
Turnaround for an average length chapter: 2-3 weeks
Beta experience: None yet.
Story types/topics I will not beta:
Additional Comments:
Ratings I'll beta: •G •PG •PG-13 •R •NC-17
I can help with: •American English •Canon Elements •Grammar •Plot Suggestions
Turnaround for an average length chapter: 4-7 days
Beta experience:
In the world of Buffy fic I have mostly worked with
resignedlybeneaththesky on plotting and timeline details.
I have written for other fandoms and you can see examples of my writing on Ao3 (same username). I have also worked as an academic writing coach.
Story types/topics I will not beta:
Underage sexual content
Tragic endings
Graphic torture
I have not read the comics, so I have no context for any fics taking place in that timeline.
I prefer working with 3rd person writing, but I can help with 1st person if needed.
Completely AU all human. If it’s in canon context, such as a spell that places them in a new setting, that’s fine.
Additional Comments: I have a very strong knowledge of canon elements and timeline details for BtVS.
(I have seen all of Ats, but aside from the crossover episodes, I haven’t retained a huge amount of it. My knowledge of the comics is next to nil.)
I have a really good sense of characterization and character voice. I can help make sure that dialogue feels as authentic and in character as possible.
Ratings I'll beta: •G •PG •PG-13 •R •NC-17
I can help with: •American English •Grammar •Plot Suggestions •Punctuation
Turnaround for an average length chapter: 4-7 days
Beta experience: Beta'ed for Lady Emma (one chapter of Not Back to the Future Rules and her one-shot EF 2022 Secret Santa It's a Wonderful Spike) , CheekyKitten (Hold My Hand Even Though I'm a Sinner, One Thing Right, Rise, Once Upon a Dream, and two other WIPs not yet posted), DeamonQueen (secret santa 2022 one-shot Delusion or Reality), acb6293's Bring Him Home, and Cosmic Tuesdays' one-shot Doubt'll be the Fire of Your Delight).
Story types/topics I will not beta: All Human, Taboo, Comics.
Additional Comments:
Ratings I'll beta: •G •PG •PG-13 •R •NC-17 •Adult Only
I can help with: •British English •Grammar •Plot Suggestions •Punctuation
Turnaround for an average length chapter: 4-7 days
Beta experience: Hi, I haven't been a beta before but I would really like to get into it. I am currently studying English Literature and really love BTVS so this goes together well. The only thing I would defininatly say I would have trouble is the American schooling system as I am British. It does mean I get what Giles and Spike mean all the time though!
Story types/topics I will not beta:
Additional Comments:
Ratings I'll beta: •G •PG •PG-13 •R •NC-17 •Adult Only
I can help with: •American English •Canon Elements •Grammar •Plot Suggestions •Punctuation
Turnaround for an average length chapter: 1-2 weeks
Beta experience:
Currently working with szmattycat and JaneRemmington on longer fics. Have betaed for bramcrackers , happywhenitrains , and Electric Heart . Also betaed a couple short fics, have done a bit for Sigyn and EllieRose101, and have caught typos and wee errors for many authors/stories. I’ve got bachelors and masters degrees and I’m decent with copy reading (except commas, they’re my Achilles heel).
Story types/topics I will not beta: I'm able to be more helpful with character studies, canon-compliant one-shots, and plot-driven stories than smut fic (I enjoy it, but have no skill other than general awareness of what does or doesn’t work for me, personally). I'm not a fan of claim stories, though I’ve read a few that I’d work with. I’m generally not interested in betaing stories with underage sex/statutory rape (outside of canon), incest, or stories that Buffy bash, especially while making Spike the be all end all.
Additional Comments: I’ve read a TON of fic here on EF (and a couple other fandoms) and have been in and out of fandoms for 20+ years. I’m familiar with canon BtVS, some familiarity with AtS, and have pretty much no experience with the comics. I love canon compliant fic, or fic that reweaves canon in recognizable ways, and I’m big on characterization feeling in line with canon (or growing appropriately out of it). Also happy to peek at crossovers, though my experience is limited with other shows.
Right now my life is pretty overwhelmingly busy, but I might be open to taking on some projects, particularly shorter fics. I may be able to have shorter turnaround on some things, but don’t want to promise something I can’t deliver, so I’m sticking with 1-2 weeks right now.
Ratings I'll beta: •G •PG •PG-13 •R •NC-17 •Adult Only
I can help with: •American English •British English •Grammar •Punctuation
Turnaround for an average length chapter: 4-7 days
Beta experience: Proofreading/editing scholarly work for the most part, and I’d like to try something not so boring.
Story types/topics I will not beta:
Ratings I'll beta: •G •PG •PG-13 •R
I can help with: •American English •Grammar •Plot Suggestions •Punctuation
Turnaround for an average length chapter: 4-7 days
Beta experience: I have yet to beta anything, however everyone I know has called me the most amazing writer and or editor they know.
Story types/topics I will not beta: Just pornography. I can't write porn or seduction to save my bloody life.
Additional Comments: I'm in school, so I may not be the best choice. I'm often unable to use this site, so it is likely I will only be of help on the weekends.
Ratings I'll beta: •NC-17
I can help with: •American English •British English •Canon Elements •Plot Suggestions
Turnaround for an average length chapter: 4-7 days
Beta experience: I've done a lot of informal beta reading and commentary for people (mostly on Twisting the Hellmouth) over the last 10 years.
I've beta'd for several writers on EF as well.
I've written over 1.25 million words of fiction that have been well received.
Although I live in the USA, I grew up in the Commonwealth, so I tend to notice linguistic differences in English usage across the diaspora. (There are differences in English usage beyond just the UK/US, though that is most germane to the stories we write). I don't care how you, the author spells words in your narrative, but how characters speak (and the way they think) differs and that matters a lot. I will be very vigilant about that. I don't know all the minutia of Cockney rhyming slang, but I do know the real origin of Berk...
I'm best at: helping people get canon right, helping people avoid internal inconsistencies and plot holes. Also getting small (especially real-world) details right so that the fantasy is grounded in believable reality. I will edit sex scenes... but I'm brutal about them being good, vital to story and NOT sounding like crappy porno.
Though I am not a grammarian, I am very good about words ... Use the right ones. Use them in correct tense and form... I'm very very good at noticing when people use words like pique, peak and peek interchangeably... DON'T!! The spell check is NOT a substitute for editing.
Important note: I do not hate ANY of the characters. Yes, I will work with someone who shows their work and creates a believable villain, or just a Scooby/former hero going off the rails. Sometimes the story is revealed in the ‘ugly’. No, I won’t facilitate someone’s unprocessed rage by helping them with pure character bash fic. If you truly, floridly hate a character, you cannot be objective when writing them. To create a believable villain OR hero, you need a degree of objectivity. Kill or damage your darlings... Those are what the reader will FEEL.
I actually find I can best get into the heads of the characters that I love the most… and see their darkness.
All that said, I like happy endings.
Story types/topics I will not beta: Won’t write and
don’t want to beta :
Pure character bashing. (see above)
Mary Sue-ing. There’s NO perfect character in the verse… if they are perfect, they’re god. Just no.
All human. I don’t hate it, but it has zero interest to me. If I already have an ongoing relationship with a great writer, I will consider it and I have read a couple decent ones, but it’s not my cuppa.
Also not so fond of vampire Buffy, though I have seen it done well a couple times.
On screen rape sex, particularly lovingly described. I’m a rape (child sex abuse) survivor. I don’t get a kick over it. That said, I can read and have written about some awful situations. I think the ‘AR’ in Buffy was necessary to the narrative, though I hate it and it turns my stomach and it should be upsetting. I won't be triggered by ugly. I just think the violation of humans (men, women and children) needs to be shown for what it is. VILE.
All my rape related writing has been from the perspective of and with
full sympathy for the victim. I will get into the head of the bad guy, but I won’t celebrate violation of anyone of
any age for any reason . As a former first responder, I’m not easily squicked, but I have clear feelings that truly non-consensual sex is not ever a good thing.
I will not write, read or beta anything which DESCRIBES sex between an adult and a child (anyone below 17). Brief description of a crime is
not included in this.
Edit 5/21/2021- regarding Blood Play... with clarification. If you have questions about this, please ask and please be specific if you can be.
I am NOT fond of blood play. No, I'm not even slightly squeamish about blood, so writing about situations where there is blood or injury or surgery will not be an issue. Having seen enough of the real thing,
I find bleeding for entertainment not sexy in the slightest. Also, casual biting of the neck is likely to cause a stroke even if it doesn't lead to bleeding to death. Torn carotids bleed out fast. (Yes, I know, i think too much!)
There will (of course) be instances were people are bitten and that's fine - it's part of the genre. I just don't find it romantic.
To be clear: Buffy saving Spike by giving him her blood does NOT bother me.
Buffy as a lovely 'sexy' snack (whether from neck or oral sex ) really really
does b/c
fundamentally, I think it's demeaning and diminishes Buffy as a woman and that is not sexy to me. I don't think menstrual sex is dirty, I just don't see it as a dinner opportunity.
A vampire is a predator. A woman who for fun and giggles gives herself to a vampire as a snack is PREY, not a girlfriend.
By contrast: Being a blood donor (to save or heal someone) whether it's directly from the body, or the more usual way is NOT being prey.
NOTE: While I don't believe that 'claiming' is canon, I
don't have any objection to betaing a mutual 'claim'. (I don't really think of this type of quick exchange as blood play)
Additional Comments: Interest in things medical. Former first responder with a nursing degree.
Good at writing fights. Done a lot of research about the military and law enforcement because I tend to write crossovers that include them.
Have been told I'm good at writing sex. I'm also HUGELY opinionated about writing sex well. You have been warned.
I really, really love crossovers with other fandoms. If you have a crossover idea, run it by me and see if we are fandom compatible.
My thread on writing sex:
https://forum.tthfanfic.org/index.php?topic=9684.0
My thread on not misusing words:
https://forum.tthfanfic.org/index.php?topic=6691.msg52254#msg52254