::whimpers::

[moonbeamsfanfic]

God! Earlier this afternoon, I finished beta-reading a 46,000 word novel for crimsonquills that I've been working on for the past week. It was long, it was plotty, it had scorchingly hot sex scenes, and it made me squee like a giddy fiend in outrageously happy joy almost all the way through.

Ten minutes ago, I read shade_shifter's new House fic. It isn't even two pages long, has no plot, and the sex is only barely mentioned. But it is so powerfully, intensely, incredibly well written that it swept through me with the terrifying wrath of a flash flood and left me a beaten, shattered carcass by the side of my lacerated, blood-drained heart.

These two fics -- neither of which is yet posted -- could not be more opposite. One carried me to the ultimate heights of pleasure, and the other smashed me down on the lowest of emotional rocks. Yet, each of them is a pinacle of writing ability that left me breathless and aching for more, more, more!

God! I am the LUCKIEST beta-reader on the planet!

......

Of course, if someone wanted to rec me some nice, safe, sweetly comforting little fics right now to soothe my aching heart... I wouldn't object in the least. ;)

EDIT: Shift's angsty House/Wilson fic, The Way It Goes is now posted!

Comments

[reoune.livejournal.com]

Hey there, long time no chat.

Looks like you've been busy as a beta, too. I've been doing the same job, but with Knightsky's "Knight at the Dentist" series.

Speaking of stories, how has Secret Lair fic been coming along?

[moonbeamsfanfic.livejournal.com]

Speaking of stories, how has Secret Lair fic been coming along?

Hasn't. ;P I've come to the realization that I make a much better beta than an author, so for now I'm happy to put my Grammar Nazi skills to use where they'll do what's best.

This doesn't mean I've stopped writing stuff for myself comepletely, mind. Just that's it's no longer my highest priority. I still have stories I'd like to write for myself, the Lair-fics included, but I'm happy for now to stick to working an as editor and sounding board. Besides, I get as much satisfaction from a good thorough beta as I did posting my own stuff, so it's all win-win to me. :)

[reoune.livejournal.com]

I know just what you mean. I enjoy the beta work. Between that, RP on LJ and RL work, fics have gone to the wayside.

[pheral.livejournal.com]

good god, i draw the line at 40 pages for fics i beta! any longer and i lapse into a coma, however good the fic is. i just can't sustain it, you have my respect, crikey.

[moonbeamsfanfic.livejournal.com]

I don't mind beta-ing long fics for other people, since I just can't seem to write any novels of my own. Besides, I've found I'm a much better beta than I am an author anyway, so it all works out for the good. ;)

[pheral.livejournal.com]

God yeah, writing at length doesn't happen for me either. I run out of interest at 20 pages.
S'funny though, i lack the same things in beta'ing that i do in writing. no plot, AT ALL. so these days i beta for foreign writers, because i know i have a strong point with grammar, punctuation and spelling. And i normally nail characterisation when i sense it's wrong. Can't write it so well though, so i guess i'm better at that as a beta. Plus, i don't know about you, but i'm convinced there's a certain sadistic pleasure in returning a fic all covered in red text... >:P