Not quite beta request

[brigdh]

Lately it has occurred to me that I don't actually like these secret ficathons. Which, okay, means that I should probably stop signing up for them, but so many of the most interesting and popular events require the authors to be anonymous, at least for a little while. People who are not me must enjoy the secrecy, because I think Yuletide is the third one I've done this year.

But I find it hard to concentrate on writing without being able to talk about it; I'm sure you all notice my tendency to post word counts or complaints about characters not cooperating whenever I'm working on something. It's the best way I know to motivate myself, and so I don't really like having to keep it a secret.

So. Would anyone like to volunteer to let me babble at them? Obviously I'd have to spoil you for what story I'm writing, which is why I'm asking this as a favor, but I wouldn't require anything else; all I want is someone to send progress reports and whining. I haven't done anything more than make a rough outline yet, so you're not even likely to get an email from me soon. If you're also writing for Yuletide (or anything else), I will totally return the favor, if you'd like.

I feel weirdly guilty about this, because I know seeing someone else's wordcount is really not that interesting; I like making livejournal posts for this very reason- they're so easy to scroll past, and no one is required to comment. But it'd be much easier than being a beta, as you will not actually have to do anything. Except maybe reply with the verbal equivalent of a thumbs up, to keep me from turning shy with the certainty that I'm annoying you. Um. Wow, for some reason this request is making me insanely embarrassed, so I want to stress that no one has to volunteer unless you really want to.

Comments

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

So that would explain why I got, like, 20 replies from you today. (Kidding. I'm actually always very amused to check my mail and see a whole row of your comments. Other people are all sporadic and mean I only get one or two things to read at a time.)

I would certainly feel less embarrassed if you were to babble back, yes. Should I just use your gmail address?

[ranalore.livejournal.com]

This is why I'm very upfront about my lax comment answering policy. Not only will you not hear from me for months, but then you'll get spammed. *G* Nobody's complained so far, or at least not so's I'd listen. ;-)

Congratulations, you've just been suckered into alphaing for me, which means you might get hit with pieces of the SSGSP. Aren't you glad you asked now? *G* Yeah, ranalore at the big G is good.