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[maquisleader]

I was chatting with ralkanalast night and she noticed she'd had a year in the past ten where she hadn't posted any fic. I'm the curious sort, and so I went thru my fic on my website and found that I hadn't posted any fic in 2009 and 2011. That was depressing. Seriously depressing

Comments

[ares132006]

*blinks*

It comes as a huge surprise that a writer such as yourself, one that has produced magnificent fics, has problems finding a beta, and hasn't posted a fic in those designated years. You're one of the best. And been badly missed.

I thought that you had wandered away from the fandom, as one does, eventually.

I, myself, have fallen behind in writing fics for my fandom, RL getting in the way.

I have no skills as a beta - my grammar needs work - otherwise I would offer. I do hope you find someone who is willing and able.

Hang in there, kiddo.

Ares

[maquisleader]

Thanks for the praise, that really makes me feel so much better, even tho that's not completely the reason for the post, but I'll take it. lol

I'm still here, tho I seem to wander from one fandom to another as my plot bunnies lead me so I must follow. Writing does take practice tho, and it's just too easy to get out of the habit if it seems like it's not making any difference.

I'm not much of a beta myself, I'm good with spotting plot holes and stumbling over things that I know don't read right, but I don't always know why. Grammar... eh... that's a hard one.

I've stubbornly decided to plow ahead. Thanks again for cheering me up!

[ares132006]

If I have made you feel better, then my job here is done.

:~))))

You're welcome.

ARes

[eloriealton]

Finding a beta is really, really hard. There has to be a special chemistry between the two, I know I've found it hard to find someone in the past. When the chemistry is right it's like you find a best friend. I am always open to betaing, but I don't really have much knowledge of your other fandoms, I know Trek backward and forward, and would be glad to help there if only it would get you back writing Voyager

[maquisleader]

It really is a relationship as much as just having someone to read over your fic and find the mistakes. Sometimes, it just clicks and sometimes it doesn't. I'm probably way too demanding I guess. lol

I would love to write Voyager, I do miss the characters and the fandom. I need to have a Voyager marathon and plunge back into it.

Part of my problem may be that when I'm writing, I'm very prolific. Looking back at when I was really writing all the time and having the fic edited and ready to post on a steady basis -- I posted a hell of a lot of fic. I do warn potential betas that I write fat, fat stories. But I'm not sure they believe it until they see it.

Thanks for the comment, I feel cheered in knowing I'm not alone, that's probably the hardest part of connecting thru the net is that there's no one right here except me and the laptop.

[eloriealton]

Well you certainly are not alone for sure. You have also been through a lot the last several months. I've found it really hard to write since I had an auto accident last May (I got broadsided by a pickup who just happened to run a red light.) Anyway the offer to help still goes. I am here for you.

[scribesds]

Hey sweetie - haven’t seen you around for a while! I’m so glad to see you back again!

The one thing I can really blame, and it's my own fault, is that I haven't been able to find anyone to beta my fic. ralkana has been my beta for so many years, and she's top notch, that it's hard to find anyone that I think would be able to measure up. And she's had a lot going on, including not having a laptop or way to edit for awhile now, and not been able to beta for me. I understand she has this life she keeps talking about... Oh, yes. This is my problem exactly. I’ve been having trouble with writing lately, just couldn’t find the motivation. Then in the spring I went mad, wrote loads and most of them are still sitting there as I can’t get them betaed. Needless to say, I’ve gone off writing again… My regular beta is fabulous, and she did a couple of them for me. And then she couldn’t do them for a while, so I asked another good friend to beta for me. Which she did, but she got really busy, too, so I decided to let the stories just sit there.

[maquisleader]

I'm still here, just sort of in limbo. Tho I'm going to man up -- metaphorically speaking -- and start believing that my own edits are good enough and post my fic. Poor babies are just languishing away.

I thank you so much for the positive feelings and comments, it's kind of rough feeling all alone. That's part of the thing about not knowing anyone else in RL who writes fanfic. It's always been that way, but with the net it makes it seem sometimes like there's people just out of reach if I could only connect somehow. Ok... yeah... I'm weird. lol

My daughter has read some of my fic but she won't beta any of it. I think it's more of that feeling we both have of "why are you reading what I wrote?". She writes fic as well and won't let me see it. At least it's in another fandom so I can say okay.

We both need to just edit as best we can and post. If someone gets bitchy about a typo or something, then they can be pressed into service as a beta next time.