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If you wear these while you browse Tumblr it’ll be just like it was in the old days
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Fanfic and Editing: Beta vs. a Concept That’s No Longer in Use
Over a decade ago when I first started getting into fanfiction, the term Alpha was used more frequently. A writer had the option of finding either an Alpha or a Beta to help them with their writing.
A Beta is for all the basics like grammar, but when it came to an Alpha, they did so much more. Alphas almost co-wrote the story with you, but not quite, and it was such a fun and interactive process.
What an Alpha Does:
- Proofreading (like a beta)
- Bouncing Ideas (email, chat, phone ideas back and forth)
- Discussion (ideas, plots, problem points, or even just a pick-me-up)
- Editor (small and large instances, often marked in red in your document)
- Story Structure (does it flow? does it follow the format writer wanted?)
- Canon vs Fanon Advice (distinguishing and suggesting)
- Consistency (e.g. character has same color hat from beginning to end)
- Major Rewrite Suggestions (an entire chapter doesn’t work? help!)
- Cheerleading Through an Entire Fic (not just chapter by chapter)
- Presentation (help in picking out everything from cover art to the tagline to the finished product structure, maybe even creating the PDF or HTML page for the writer)
- And more that I’m not even thinking of right now
An Alpha would get credit for this (most of the time right underneath the author’s name on the cover art and in the story info), and people looked to alphas like they were special, they were very much appreciated, and if you found one, you would do pretty much anything for them.
I’ve been on both ends of this, and I really miss it being a more widespread thing. I’ve got my own alpha in the form of a friend who has been with me from the beginning of Alpha House, and she’s still a HUGE help. It wouldn’t be the fic it is without her, and I wish more writers could experience this.
How Using an Alpha Works
First you find one, and you get their email/chat ID/phone number. You tell them the ENTIRE idea for your fic (spoiling it all), where you want it to go, how you want it to feel, what the characters’ motivations are, etc. Then you send the alpha what you have so far, which can be part or all of the fic.
Once the alpha reads it, they mark in red any suggestions, but instead of just marking mistakes, the document looks like a professional editor from a book publishing company got a hold of it.
You’d either email back and forth or (more often) chat online or talk on the phone with them while you both went over it, each making different suggestions. It wasn’t just a one-day/one-sitting thing, and from then on there’s emails back and forth with cheerleading and ideas and chunks of fic from both the writer and the alpha, so that by the time the fic is done, anywhere from 1% to sometimes 49% of the writing is from the alpha (with your fic in mind, not their own way they wanted the story to go), and the rest of it was at least helped along by the alpha.
It was very rewarding to do this for other writers. I enjoyed it a lot. And having an alpha myself was such a treat. I can’t even explain it to you. It’s an awesome experience, and one I’d love every writer to experience.
What it Does for Beginners
New writers are vulnerable and don’t know their way around. An alpha would take them under their wing and help them along, helping them find where and how to post, how to use warnings, summaries, tags, etc. If a writer got bad feedback, the alpha was there to listen and encourage. If they got good feedback, an alpha was there to celebrate right along with them.
In my opinion, it made for more confident writers, because they were prepared for some of the shit writers get, and alphas stopped them from ever making newbie mistakes in the first place that get some writers flamed and ridiculed. Not that I’m condoning flaming, but the truth is it happens.
All in all, I’d love for the concept of Alphas to come back.
This this this this this this this!!
We live in a world of grammar and spelling checkers that can do a reasonably good job of proofing your work. But an Alpha reader, someone who understands concrit, who can say whoa, wtf are you doing here? Or holy crap! genius! - those are like diamonds, like gold, like a parking space right in front of the restaurant when you’re already running ten minutes late. I am so, so grateful to @buffyscribbles for all of her help and support for my writing. It has made oceans of difference and, IMO, has led to some of my favorite stories being written.
Bring back the Alphas, please. They mean everything to the writers.
I love my alpha readers, they make me a better writer
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inquisition’s elite
THIS IS TOO ACCURATE!
…can I just
the noble-hearted Mustachio mcBling, everyone
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After some consideration on my part, I have decided to put together a toplock fan book for those who like, enjoy, and create toplock content. This will be a book for fans by fans. The books will be printed and sold and any money made will be donated to a charity that has yet to be decided.
I am looking for fans who would like to be a part and make content such as fanart, comics, and fanfiction for this
If you are interested in being a part of this book please submit a sample of your work to: Toplockfanbook@gmail.com
with your submission please include your name, url, and a sample of your work. It can be an already done piece or pieces.
Deadline for the application is October 30th.
If you are accepted, you will be notified by email
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Chapters: 1/5 Fandom: Sherlock (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: Rape/Non-Con Relationships: Mycroft Holmes/John Watson Characters: John Watson, Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock Holmes, Anthea (Sherlock) Additional Tags: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Omega!John, Alpha!Mycroft, Mpreg, Betrayal, Imprisonment, Human Trafficking, Non-Graphic Rape/Non-Con, Not Between John and Mycroft, heat - Freeform, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Switching, Rimming Summary:
John’s demeanor was getting more questionable by the minute. Perhaps the advanced background checks were not enough. Had John’s records been altered? Who exactly was living with his younger brother? He’d relied on his associates to check into John Watson, and he believed them to have done a thorough job. Perhaps not thorough enough. He needed to get back to the office. Perhaps he needed to have John detained. John concerned him, and his instincts were so rarely wrong.
A fan fiction from the joint account of @phipiohsum475 and @merindab.
Source: archiveofourown.org
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Seattle (Part V of American English)
Chapter 1 (of 11) is up!
In the texts leading up to Eggsy boarding his flight, Dean made it clear that he’d find Eggsy; and that they didn’t need to meet a restaurant or the airport first. And when he’d arrived at the Four Seasons at six in the morning, he was dismayed to find out that while Mr. Unwin had a room reserved, there were no additional addendums made for a guest. Undeterred, Dean went for breakfast, and returned at ten. As he expected, a new staff member was at the desk and with a flash of charming smile and a fake law enforcement badge, he lied his way into Eggsy’s room. The room was huge, rich, and clearly expensive, and Dean worried slightly about what Eggsy would be expecting from him, even though Eggsy’s flight wasn’t due to arrive for a few hours.
Dean took his time, first cleaning up in the luxurious rain shower. He folded his clothes and set out his clean bill of health, set condoms on the bedside table just in case, and found himself, dreaming of Eggsy while opening himself up, first with one finger, then two, on a cushy loveseat beside the window facing the city.
He looked at the clock, Eggsy’s flight had landed an hour ago; he was due at any minute. Dean stood in front of the large balcony windows, watching the city beneath him, the rare sunshine reflecting off the glass of other buildings, and waited for Eggsy to walk in the door. He was already hard, waiting eagerly for Eggsy to arrive, and his ears were on alert for any noise coming from the hallway.
Here are pictures we reference in the chapter; the room Eggsy and Dean are staying in, the bathroom, the hotel, and of course, the city skyline.
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Listen To The Sea (7081 words) by MerHums Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Sherlock (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade Characters: Mycroft Holmes, Anthea (Sherlock), Greg Lestrade, Sherlock Holmes, John Watson Additional Tags: Merlock, Human Mycroft, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Rimming, Mildly Dubious Consent, But everything is consensual, Mermaid Lestrade, Blow Jobs, Happy Ending Summary:
When Mycroft is thrown from his ship in the middle of a vicious storm, he thinks he is done for. But a flash of silver scales and hair proves him wrong, as rescue comes from the most unexpected places.
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Co-written with hums-happily!
Chapters: 1/3 Fandom: Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015), Supernatural Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Gary “Eggsy” Unwin/Dean Winchester Characters: Gary “Eggsy” Unwin, Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Roxy Morton | Lancelot Additional Tags: Pining, Phone Sex, alcohol use, John Winchester’s A+ Parenting, Texting, Fluff, Mentions of homophobia, mention of “conversion camp”, Angst with a Happy Ending Series: Part 4 of American English Summary:
She glared at Eggsy, “You are both fucking pining over each other, thinking the other one doesn’t want something more. Fuck this.” She started to tap out a response. The text read I’m Eggsy’s friend Roxy. He’s over here pining for you, and I don’t even know you, but I can tell you’re pining for him. You both want each other, just fucking call.
Source: archiveofourown.org
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My camboy Eggsy fic is now complete! Please mind the tags and enjoy!
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Jonas & Ezekiel (25586 words) by HumsHappily Chapters: 10/10 Fandom: Supernatural Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Castiel/Dean Winchester, Jody Mills/Bobby Singer, Jessica Moore/Sam Winchester, Benny Lafitte/Dean Winchester Characters: Chuck Shurley, Dean Winchester, Castiel, Jo Harvelle, Benny Lafitte, Bobby Singer, Mary Winchester, John Winchester, Sam Winchester, Charlie Bradbury, Jessica Moore, Rufus Turner Additional Tags: Panic Attacks, Mentions of Cancer, Loss of Virginity, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Priest Castiel, Slow Build, Slow Build Castiel/Dean Winchester, Virgin Castiel, Alternate Universe- No Supernatural, Fix-It, Soldier Dean Winchester, Librarian Castiel, Chuck is God, Alternate Universe - Soulmates, Angst with a Happy Ending, Minor Benny Lafitte/Dean Winchester, First Kiss, Bullying, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Religion, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, First Time Summary:
Second chances don’t come around often, but when the universe is rebooted, war-torn soldier Dean Winchester finds his in a defrocked priest named Castiel Milton.
With no memories of their previous lives, of battling demons or saving the world, Dean and Cas find that sometimes love can transcend the universe itself and sometimes soulmates aren’t that strange an idea after all.
Wow! I can’t believe this is finally done. Thank you so much to everyone who stuck with me through intermittent updates, threemonths and twenty-five thousand words. Thank you to the people who encouraged me to keep writing, and to those who helped look everything over! I know it’s been a heavy fic at sometimes, but I think it was worth it. I hope everyone enjoyed, and thank you all for commenting. My readers are what keeps me going.
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Chapters: 2/? Fandom: Sherlock (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/Greg Lestrade Characters: Sherlock Holmes, Greg Lestrade, Mycroft Holmes Additional Tags: Unilock, Drug Use, Mentions of Prostitution, Hurt/Comfort, Self-Esteem Issues Summary:
Greg couldn’t get Sherlock out of his mind. He knew he should forget him, but he kept thinking of him and those pale eyes. And such a brilliant mind, burning it up on drugs. He wanked off thinking about that thin body and what he’d like to do to him, and at the same time worried and hoped that he’d be okay.
Enjoy this little collaboration of merindab and I. Two more chapters left to post!
Source: archiveofourown.org
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My Alpha (1579 words) by HumsHappily Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Sherlock Holmes & Related Fandoms, Sherlock (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson Characters: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson Additional Tags: Omega Verse, Omega Sherlock, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Alpha John, Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, Bonding, Fluff and Smut, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Established Relationship, Stream of Consciousness, Kitchen Sex, Anal Sex, Possessive Sherlock, Johnlock Fluff Summary:
Sherlock makes a decision on bonding. It has very, very desirable effects.
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Inspired by one of kinklock‘s beautiful anons who said:
I want Sherlock to get a bumblebee tattoo on top of his bullet scar and vines and flowers and other greenery on top of the scars on his back. (x)
I didn’t think Sherlock would get that much work done without prior experience so the idea became that his older tattoos were disrupted by the scars so he got the bee and the Jasmine vines to cover up most of everything.
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thebabyanimals
thebabyanimals
Source: thebabyanimals
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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Sherlock (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade, Original Male Character/Original Male Character Characters: Mycroft Holmes, Greg Lestrade, Original Male Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Sally Donovan Additional Tags: Past Lives, Historical, World War II, Soulmates, Character Death, The Blitz, Period-Typical Homophobia, Period Typical Attitudes, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Sex, Love Confessions, Marriage Proposal, Fear, Fade to Black, Anal Sex, Secret Relationship Summary:
Mycroft Holmes has never been able to break down the walls that encase him. Can Gregory Lestrade offer him the love he needs to finally let go? And will a surprise discovery help him take the final leap? After all, love like this is eternal.
**
This one has lots of feels, just to warn you. But it’s really good, I think.
Source: archiveofourown.org
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An Unforgotten Melody (8221 words) by MerHums Chapters: 2/2 Fandom: Sherlock (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade Characters: Mycroft Holmes, Greg Lestrade, Sherlock Holmes Additional Tags: Genderfluid Character, Mycroft Being Mycroft, Anal Sex, Loss of Virginity, Virgin Mycroft, Missed Connections, Not unilock, Understanding, Blow Jobs, Fluff and Smut, Emotional Sex, Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Baggage, Bottom Mycroft, Top Greg, good guy Greg, Protective Anthea, Mycroft Plays the Piano, Greg plays the guitar, First Meetings, Pronouns are confusing Summary:
Greg and Mycroft meet for the first time in a bar. Fifteen years later, they meet again in a twist of fate. However, Mycroft is hiding a secret and Greg has no idea, doesn’t even recognize who is standing in his office. But when Greg asks Mycroft out, the stakes are raised. Will they be able to make it together, even after memories are sparked and Mycroft’s secret is revealed?
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(7435 words) by MerHums
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Sherlock (TV)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Mycroft Holmes/Greg Lestrade
Characters: Mycroft Holmes, Greg Lestrade, Anthea (Sherlock)
Additional Tags: Omega Verse, Alpha/Omega, Alpha Lestrade, Omega Mycroft, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Mildly Dubious Consent, Virgin Mycroft, Sleep Sex, Knotting, First Time, Anal Sex, Marriage Proposal, Propositions, Oral Sex, Bonding, Rimming, Mycroft Being Mycroft
Summary:
Mycroft had reached the point in his life where he needed to mate. There was only one candidate.
The next RP post from myself and hums-happily