The "Beta Love" Thread

[jesicka309]

I've been reading the forums for a while, and I've noticed that there's a little bit of a lack of 'beta love'.

Everyone seems to be so annoyed/angry/disappointed with the betas who work so hard to make this site the way it is. I know it's because many of us have had chapters rejected, or have noticed 'irks' in stories. I can understand this, but there needs to be some balance!

Totoro made me feel really bad when she mentioned that the VB's get such a bad rap on the forums. So I am going to even this up.

This is a space for people to say nice things about their betas, because people don't know how much they do for us writers! We get reviewers telling us how much they our stories, but betas don't really have that. Here is a place to say 'thank you'. No VB bashing is allowed.

I will start.

My VB Kayla Cullen is awesome. Once I forgot to put her name in parenthesis, and she found the chapter and validated it anyway. She also lets me know when my grammar is not so hot, and I always know that she will validate my extra chapters quickly because she is so reliable. Thanks Kayla.

And even though Totoro isn't my VB, she is still awesome. She is always sticking up for the beta system, and I am a little jealous of the authors who have her as a beta, because she is online ALL THE TIME. Your chapters must fly through!

Thanks to all the other VBs out there too! You all improve our English, and guide our stories, and this site owuld be nothing without you!

[LadyExcalibur]

Ninapolitan is my VB on two stories and I have to tell you that my updates are posted almost the moment I click on the ADD STORY button. Honestly, I think Nina is a vamp or something and never sleeps and can do things at super fast speeds. Kayla Cullen just took on another story and seems to be right there too, updating my stories with far more speed than I have any right to hope for because I know that life must get hectic! So thanks to them both for giving their time and expertise. I know it can be a thankless job.

[sarah___]

This is a good idea and as someone who usually gets her story updated within a day of adding a new chapter I am more than happy to contribute

[LisaDawn75]

Jes, what a great idea! You are so right in that the VB do not get enough love and everyone needs to be appreciated. My first VB was Twilightzoner and she was awesome. She was super fast with validation and she patiently answered all of my endless questions that I had. And she has even recently taken some questions from me, even though I had no story going at the time.

My current VB is Jenny Cullen and she is fantabulous! She is speedy with validations, and when she had a question about a chapter title, she emailed me, instead of assuming or just labeling it Chapter X.

I also see many of the VB here on the boards, posting helpful posts on writing tips, many of which I refer to constantly, and other patrol answering our questions. I feel that they are all awesome, as they volunteer their talents, service, and time.

Thank you, Twilighted Validation Betas for all that you do for us authors and readers. Your contributions are very appreciated.

[Totoro]

Wipes a little teardrop from her eye*

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! This is so damn sweet, you guys! Seriously, thank you so much for this! It's true though, what Jesi said, I am online all the time, lol

Anyway, for my own little thank you notes:

I love all my fellow betas, I enjoy waking up to getting several laughs from them and lots of love....and possibly Jackson porn too.

My first beta was Lion_in_the_Land, and she shocked me to death when she sent an acceptance letter for my first story that was really freakin' weird and I'm still shocked that anyone liked it. And even though it was weird, she always encouraged me and left the loveliest little notes in the letters she sent. It was a very big thing that brightened up my day.

And the other awesome beta I had for the other story I did before becoming a VB was Twilightzoner - I have always thought she had the coolest username. Plus she always helped me with my semi-colon love affair and was extremely patient with me before I was able to get Word and had to use OpenOffice for my writing.

Anyway, this is really really sweet, guys and gals, thanks!!!

[jesicka309]

That's ok Totoro. You made me feel sad about the way the betas are attacked all the time, but they deserve more love!

Keep the beta love coming guys! It doesn't have to be just VBs!

One of my betas from PTB is the best. She beta'ed my second chapter, and practically begged to be my permanent beta. When I was in Twilighted limbo, and my fic wasn't getting much attention on ff.net, Laura was still cheering me on and begging for more chapters, even at chapter 4! And now I'm having trouble with all the uni work I have, and Laura is still sending me funny emails to cheer me up. She's like my American Mum :p

I know she spends very little time on the boards, but LHarkcom, you rock my world. Thanks for putting up with my commas and Aussie spelling! I hope I don't let you down! hehe

[therunaway]

Hey, dudes!

I barely come into the Forums, but I did, and I saw this. What a fuckawesome thing to do, Jess. So...thank you.

When I first started writing I had NO idea what I was doing. I got back my chapters, and I was shocked by the sea of red it contained. I cried... a lot during the process of becoming a better writer. I never knew how much I needed to learn, and I thought I had it all down pat when I started...but I didn't.

Never in a million years would I have thought I'd become a validation beta for Twilighted. I envied them, and I used to think they were so cool and part of the popular crowd. Anyways, with a lot, and I mean a lot of hard work and dedication, I am where I am today. I am now an author of several things, I know my writer's "stuff," I'm a beta and MOD for Project Team Beta, I'm a Twilighted VB, and I'm having amazing fun. I've met fabulous betas throughout my journey, and I will forever be in-debt to them.

I owe a lot to the betas a PTB who had helped me shape up and critique, and my first validation beta was Hopeful Wager, and then there was my Dr_Twilight_PharmD. She honestly rocks my world.

Without PTB and Twilighted, I wouldn't be where I am today. Did I say enough? Did I do it right? I think so...

I'll stop now.

Again, Jess, this is all pretty cool of you to do.

[jesicka309]

No problem Kayla. Just spreading the love.

Lol without twilighted and all you wonderful vbs we would still be stuck on failfiction.net.

One day I'd want to try my hand at being a beta, so it's great to see where you came from.

keep up the awesome work Kayla!!

[lavender sky]

It took about a month for my story to get validated, and I was bordering on irritated when it finally was. My outlook for getting chapters validated in any decent amount of time was grim.

BUT, RedChevy has done AWESOME with getting my chapters validated FAST!

Thanks, RedChevy, for taking the time to validate my chapters so quickly! <3

[lavender sky]

we would still be stuck on failfiction.net.

LMAO!!!