Friends Query

[salixbabylon]

A question for everyone who reads this LJ:

Why do you read it? Why did you start? Why do you still?

I'm not all trying to discourage this; I feel flattered that you read my babblings. But sometimes the content is just slash stuff, and sometimes it's really personal stuff, and I was beginning to wonder if I should lock some of the personal stuff so the rest of you won't have to read it. I try to remember to use cuts, but sometimes I forget.

Case in point - yesterday my great-aunt died. She's been like another grandmother to me, and I kind of wanted to whine about it, but it seemed a bit too personal.

So now I'm kind of wondering why you all ready this in the first place, and it's cool of I should lock up or just not post the really personal stuff. I do still have a pen and paper journal to wibble in. *g*

Thank you for your responses!

Comments

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Well, you started it. ;) You friended me, sent me praise (that always makes my tail wag) then did a fantastic job in your betas. So you're here, in my friendslist. Sometimes I have something to say in the face of tragedy if it's something I've faced myself. Other times all I can give is quiet sympathy. But I like to have a three-dimensional sense of the people here (or at least two dimensions).

Icarus

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

Well, you started it.
*giggle*

I like the 3-D view, too. Makes slashers seem more like actual -people-, even if I haven't anything to say about their personal lives in particular.

Thank you!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I feel terribly insensitive to ask at this time... but, er, I don't suppose you'd be able to beta-read (re: salvage) my Ron Ficathon story? Ahem.

Icarus

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

Not insensitive at all!

If you'll send me a URL for where the Ron Ficathon is, just so I can get a feel for it, as well as your story, I'm happy to take a look at it tonight or tomorrow. Not sure what's going to happen this weekend, but I'll do my best to be of help!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

If your time's limited, this might not work, because the fic is *Icarus scuffs the dirt with toe* 23 pages long. The Ron Ficathon is here. I should also warn you that I was stuck with given a Het, Ron/Hermione, plot-centric story involving Ron uncovering game fixing in Quidditch. I've really struggled with it, and I came to you because I need a pretty tough beta. This is... salvage work.

So... I'm going wait for a reply to this message before I clog your in-box.

Icarus

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

Wow, it honestly isn't at all clear about it being slash or het, is it? So sorry you got stuck doing het. Yuck! :P

It looks like the deadline is still a month+ away, but if you're aiming to get it done faster, more power to you. I can promise to read it and give you my thoughts, but I probably won't have time over the next few days to do anything like look up Quidditch rules (because, frankly, I always skimmed the Quittich bits - sports bore me to tears).

If thoughts and commentary is all you want, I'll make sure to do that and try to return it within 48 hours of receipt. If you want more detailed help in the same time frame, probably somebody else would be a better beta.

So: if you want me, I'm yours!

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Simple impressions and commentary would be wonderful.

I know if I put off difficult fics I will probably not do them. Best to get it out of the way immediately.

Fortunately I managed to avoid an actual Quidditch game (the only one in the story is played by tiny figures the size of walnuts). The only technical terms I need to look up is the proper name of the Sports Dept. at the Ministry (I know where to find it, I just wanted to get this done fast), and what the equivalent of the 'Commissioner' is called in soccer.

I'm sending it along! I'm having a couple people look at this, just because it's been such a tough on to produce and it's pretty rough around the edges.

Icarus

[salixbabylon.livejournal.com]

Got it! I'll try to do it today/tomorrow. :)