Giving Thanks for Beta-Readers (2011)

[brightknightie]

A second set of eyes on a story can be invaluable.  Generous beta-readers do not only nudge my spelling, punctuation, grammar and capitalization; fight my malapropisms, homophones and purple prose; flag my plot holes, canon loops and thematic dead-ends: no, not only all those wonderful things!  Great beta-readers with whom I have been privileged to work ask the questions — the aggravating, unimagined, magnificent questions — that make a story grow into itself and become all it can be.

Here at Thanksgiving (US) time, I would like to thank everyone who has been so kind as to beta-read for me in the past year, from 2010's winter fests through the 2011 Femgenficathon: amilyn, batdina, celli, ithildyn, lastscorpion, natmerc, sholio, skieswideopen and wiliqueen.  (I would also like to thank much_madness and leela_cat, who did not happen to beta for me this past year, but are the record-holding beta-readers across all my fanfic, ever.)  Thank you!  In all cases, without you, I could not have done as well.  In some cases, without you, I could not have done at all.  Thank you.

Those of you listed above, if you would enjoy it, I would be pleased to write you a short thank-you story in recognition of your beta-reading. 

If you choose to claim this offer, here are the parameters:

• Eligibility: Only the 9+2 beta-readers listed above are eligible (unless I forgot someone!).


• Timeline: Please submit your prompt to me as a comment on this post no later than 11:59 PM on 12/06/11 (St. Nicholas Day) Pacific Time. I impose no deadline on myself here, but I'll try to finish all by next Thanksgiving.


• Length: Plan on 500 to 2,000 words (though we'll see). You may request a drabble (100 words) or poem (no length commitment) instead, if one of those is the genre you'd most enjoy.


• Fandoms: FK, HL and YB, you know. If you would like a fandom other than one of those three, please make it one that you know we share, and for which I have access to the relevant canon.


• Limitations: I won't write beyond PG-13, nor my own squicks.


• Request Format: Please (a) identify the fandom you wish, (b) name 1 to 3 characters you would like to see, and (c) provide a prompt of no more than 50 words in length.

(Note: If you do not wish to play, I will not be offended in any way!)

Thank you, again, for all your time, effort and insight.  Thank you especially for your questions!

Comments

[sholio]

Oh, what a kind offer! *hmm*

Forever Knight, Nick and Schanke, boring stakeout (or routine police work in general, if that's too limiting)

FK, Nick&Schanke, "boring stakeout"

[brightknightie]

That is a great prompt! Thank you for it, and thank you again for beta-reading.

[lastscorpion]

Thank you for beta-reading for me, too! No need for a thank-you ficlet. Have a happy holiday season!

You're welcome, too!

[brightknightie]

Happy holidays to you, too!

[leela_cat]

That's such a lovely offer, thank you so much.

Perhaps something FK? Janette and Urs (in a relationship or not, as you please) with a prompt of "heart to heart".

FK, Janette&Urs or Janette/Urs, "heart to heart"

[brightknightie]

I'm already pondering the available openings: history, AU, the summer before third season...

Thank you again for all your beta-reading!

[celli]

Ooh, do you feel like there's enough canon for Once Upon a Time to try something?

[brightknightie]

Hit me. :-)

Given that my deadline is "by next Thanksgiving," surely enough canon will accumulate to inspire how I should tackle your prompt, if there's not yet enough. I should note, though, that I've only ever written four pieces in not-yet-canceled shows: two FK (during third season), that one NCIS (many seasons in) for Abby, and one Blood Ties (half its one season in) for Wiliqueen.

[celli]

Hm. What about the thing we talked about, the story of how Henry figured out there was something wrong with the town?

(yes, this is a blatant Write It So I Don't Have To. *g*)

If you don't like that one, let me know, and I'll think of something else.

OUaT, Henry, "how he figured out something's wrong"

[brightknightie]

I do like it, and am happy to take it on.

However, in case of Jossing or Kiki beating me to it, I'm going to give you the option of a back-up OUaT prompt (to be invoked only in case of said being beaten to it).

Thank you again for beta-reading for me! I really appreciate it.

Re: OUaT, Henry, "how he figured out something's wrong"

[celli]

My pleasure! :)

My backup would be - a day in the life of Mary Margaret, before Emma arrived and time moved forward.