lotr romantic fanfiction need Beta Reader

AragornsTrueLover · May 28, 2009

Hey I'm writing an Aragorn love story and I kinda need help in grammer. :Shrug:

well thats what i've been told. I write storys on http://www.fanfiction.net Well sometimes I get reviews, well one review. That review says, "Your grammer is positively dreadful" If you don't belive me you can look for yourself. http://www.fanfiction.net/r/5012904/0/1/ It really hurts my feelings, That is why I need a Beta Reader. I don't want to keep getting reviews that say my grammer sucks. I'm only a little 6th grader.

Please help me!

Cyia · May 28, 2009

Then you should probably get a beta through the beta search on FFn. This site doesn't do fanfic in general.

Dawno · May 28, 2009

AragornsTrueLover said:
Hey I'm writing an Aragorn love story and I kinda need help in grammer. well thats what i've been told. I write storys on http://www.fanfiction.net Well sometimes I get reviews, well one review. That review says, "Your grammer is positively dreadful" If you don't belive me you can look for yourself. http://www.fanfiction.net/r/5012904/0/1/ It really hurts my feelings, That is why I need a Beta Reader. I don't want to keep getting reviews that say my grammer sucks. I'm only a little 6th grader. Please help me!

There's a basic writing questions forum here, though, where you can learn a lot about the, well, basics! Which include grammar, spelling punctuation, etc.

Hope you'll check it out.

Haggis · May 28, 2009

Yep. What they said.

But I'll add this. Don't let the criticism get to you. If the critic is right, then you can address your problem and make your writing stronger. If your critic is wrong, then what does it really matter?

Frankly, I'm impressed that you're only in sixth grade, but you've already got a story to tell. Pretty neat.

Keep learning and keep writing. You've got lots of time to get it perfect.

EFCollins · May 28, 2009

I'm impressed! And happy you have an interest in writing. As Haggis said, don't let the crits get you down. Right now you write fan fiction, but the next step might just be a novel of your own working. There are no ends to where you can go. Being that you are in sixth grade, I say keep on writing.

My advice would be to write with the tools you already know and just keep learning. You can learn a lot just from reading books, if you pay attention to how it's constructed. You can learn sentence structure, proper dialog set up, plot and progression just from reading books. And read widely. Don't constrain yourself. Read mystery, fantasy, thriller, literary, horror, romance, YA, sci-fi... anything you can get your hands on. Writers use tools from other genres all the time.

Izz · May 28, 2009

How very strange. I, being slightly on the bored side just now, check out the link provided for the review, and then the actual story being reviewed. It's a Harry Potter fanfic, not a LOTR fanfic. Doesn't even look that romantic.

*iz wanders off to watch the pretty leaves flutter on the trees outside*

Matera the Mad · May 28, 2009

Simple explanation for that might be, review is for past story and beta request is for as-yet-unreviewed WIP. Grammar is dreadful, though

But I'll bet I didn't write any better in 6th grade.

EFCollins · May 28, 2009

I didn't go to read it. I just meant that I was impressed that a sixth grader was interested in writing. A lot don't go further than texting. It's great when kids are interested in creativity.

Izz · May 28, 2009

Matera the Mad said:
Simple explanation for that might be, review is for past story and beta request is for as-yet-unreviewed WIP. Grammar is dreadful, though

But I'll bet I didn't write any better in 6th grade.

That makes sense.

*iz looks slightly less confounded*

Fenika · May 28, 2009

Welcome

Your writing in your post is pretty good (much better than many others your age!). I'm sure you can pick up grammar quickly if you really try and work at it.

Betas can HELP with grammar, particular spots where you keep messing up, but the best way to learn it is on your own at first. Doesn't mean you can't ask questions and check with people, but you do need to pick up a book (or a good website) and get studying

Your teachers should also help you.

Gillhoughly · May 28, 2009

If you're going to be an artist you learn to mix paints.

If you're gonna be a writer, you learn to mix words and punctuate them so people can understand what you're saying.

Fortunately it isn't rocket science! Most of the rules are the stuff you learned in 5th Grade English. You just need a refresher. Soon it's going to be 2nd nature to you.

Get this book: Strunk and White's Elements of Style. Used bookstores have them for cheap. It's also at the library.

There's a free version you can download, but get it as a book. It's something you need to be able to flip through at random.

ALL writers--the serious ones who care about their craft--have this book and read it a lot.

Once you get the grammar and spelling down, then people can see your WORDS!

You ever talk to a person who's got a big wad of broccoli trapped in their front teeth? All you can see is this green junk and it's distracting, so you might not be able to listen to them.

Poor spelling and grammar is the literary version of having broccoli-in-the-teeth!

"Oh, no! AragornsTrueLover got Elements of Style!
I'm DOOOOOOMED!!"

Gillhoughly · May 28, 2009

PS-- I started writing in the 6th grade.

I wasn't very good.

But I kept at it.

And my writing got better.

Now I have more than twenty books in print with major publishing houses, sell all over the world, and I'm an editor.

Go forth.

Do likewise.

IT'S FREAKIN' FUN!!!!!

dpaterso · May 29, 2009

Dawno said:
There's a basic writing questions forum here, though, where you can learn a lot about the, well, basics! Which include grammar, spelling punctuation, etc.

In addition to which, there's also Grammar and Syntax forum.

Here's the link to the online version of The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. -- take a peek and if you think it will help, buy the book. It's a slim, handy reference to keep beside your keyboard.

-Derek

EFCollins · May 29, 2009

And let's not forget Learn Writing With Uncle Jim. The man knows what he's talking about. And it's so easy to understand. I spent money on those silly how-to books and the only one I'd bother with is "Elements of Style" as Gillhoughly suggested. I bought more books than I ever would have needed and spent ridiculous amounts of money on them. And you know what? My writing went from decent to sucky in 2.2 seconds. Since coming here, it's improved by leaps and bounds. This site is practically a college education for free. The writers, editors and other people here give good advice. Anyhow, Welcome to Absolute Write Water Cooler. And keep writing. Practice makes perfect.

bettielee · May 29, 2009

Stephen King's On Writing is also an excellent read, and an excellent book about writing, but please make sure its ok with your folks before you read it.

I don't want any more parents on my lawn with signs.

EFCollins · May 29, 2009

Yeah. Might want to have your folks read it first. There's definitely some stuff in King's On Writing Mom or Dad may not want you to see. You're sixth grade, so 12? Yeah, definitely have Moms check it out first (or whoever your guardian is).

lotr romantic fanfiction need Beta Reader

AragornsTrueLover

Cyia

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Dawno

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Haggis

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EFCollins

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Izz

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Matera the Mad

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EFCollins

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Izz

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Gillhoughly

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Gillhoughly

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