Thanks for ruining it for the rest of the class, slick. Its okay Mynuet!

Glass_Mermaid @ Jun 12, 2006 06:37 am

Yeah, it's fine with us if you punsih the unworthy. Yay punish!!!! :D

secretkeeper @ Jun 12, 2006 11:44 am

Ooops, spelling mistake. You can see why I'm a reader not a writer!

secretkeeper @ Jun 12, 2006 11:44 am

I completely agree with your actions. Now all I need is to find myself a beta...

Angelsea585 @ Jun 12, 2006 07:35 pm

i dno't need a beta i beta 4 uther poepel

*ducks the smack from Mynuet*

As I have found a wonderful beta (even though she's gone to Europe for six weeks - the lucky wench!), I applaud this decision, and say TAKE THAT to the not-so-slick offenders.

KateinVA @ Jun 13, 2006 06:04 am

woohoo! yeehaw myn! you rock as always luv. If they wanna submit garbage, they can do it elsewhere.

arieschica @ Jun 13, 2006 09:01 am

I don't blame you one bit, I'd do the same if I was in your shoes. The way I see it, if you're going to put in the effort to write a story, then put in the effort to do a 100% job. Find a beta, fix your mistakes and stop trying to go halfway. However, I still think it would be hilarious if you posted the downright idiotic submissions you receive...

CharmedLife19 @ Jun 13, 2006 05:15 pm

Actually, your decision does you credit. It confirms to me why I continue to come back to this site to get my D/G fix. I can count on quality in writing here, instead of trying to muddle through something along the lines of, "...nthen he lookt in her eyz n wuz n luuuuuv"

FeehanLaurens @ Jun 14, 2006 02:58 am

I appreciate your efforts as well. While they site was down, I wandered back over to ff.net. After I suffered through a couple of stories, I wondered why I bothered. Thanks for the great work!

Pajama Pants @ Jun 14, 2006 05:30 am

I agree with Pajama Pants. I also wandered over to FF.net and was thoroughly upset with the bad grammar and lack of plot-line.
Thanks for keeping up a top-notch site.
I have a question though; is there anywhere on either this site or others where possible beta readers are listed? Because I've searched high and low for one for a while and all the people who offer never reply when I send them e-mails.
What should people like me do?

flame_kitty @ Jun 15, 2006 04:44 am

Oops, I meant to say plot and/or story-line :- Good ol' mistakes.
See why I need a beta!
:-D

flame_kitty @ Jun 15, 2006 04:45 am

When FIA was down I was lost. I actually resorted to working on my OWN fics!!!! *gasps* As a side note related to that though, the review function is still squiffy - I can't submit reviews and I no longer receive 'favourite story updated' e-mails, even though I have ticked the ticky box.

But back on topic, I can understand the decision, and I think it's a shame that the sins of the few have spoiled it for the rest of us. Shame on them.

Myanceris @ Jun 15, 2006 11:01 am

I have to second Myanceris' comments about the review function. Sometimes I can leave a review, often I can't, and I receive no email notices of any sort except for when my own updates are posted. When I try to call up an archived work (not most recent), I have to go through this incredibly laborious process of scrolling through every page, because the the "page numbers" seem to have vanished. Moreover, when I try to notify the cabal of these glitches, my emails rebound. That's why I'm posting it here, sorry.

Phaedra7veils @ Jun 15, 2006 11:32 am

I am at a few sites that are highly.. restrictive when it comes to grammar and spelling. I think this is a good idea. I also post at Sycophant Hex, and they will not post anything with mistakes. They allow a few but expect the authors to fix them (and let them know) or they take it down. If they're too lazy to check their own mistakes and/or get a beta, then they should be posting at FF.net

RowenaMcKinnon @ Jun 16, 2006 05:23 pm

My question is this: what constitutes correct grammar & spelling? To clarify, I cite the example of American spelling versus British/Canadian spelling. I know I have been penalized for using the British version, which I find to be odd. In addition, some fail to take into consideration the usage of parenthical expressions, appositives, direct address, etc., that some Cabal members may deem to be excessive comma usage. Additionally, when writing dialogue, idiom and syntax plays an important role and often particular expressions can be taken as mistakes when one who is reviewing (beta, writer or Cabal member) is not well-versed in the rules. To sum up, rules are different for different countries. I have noticed that American grammar (in addition with spelling) can be different from British as it allows for more colloquialism and less punctuation. Though competent betas sometimes know of these rules, most don't; sadly enough, neither do some Cabal members. Feel free to flame me on this, but perhaps a proper guideline to let the writers know what format you approve of (British or American), and for the reviewers of the yet-to-be-determined fic to let the writer know what exact type of error s/he made instead of saying "too many commas" or the like.

Incognito @ Jun 19, 2006 11:08 am

If any author feels like they're having issues with a Cabal member rejecting them unfairly, then what the author needs to do is contact me directly and explain to me why they think so. British spellings are fine, but not all of us instantly recognize them, and so that has the potential to cause issues which I need to be aware of. I don't think it would be worthwhile to spend time on a specific grammar guide for this site, however, as there are more than enough grammar guides out there already and I have enough to do. I can handle objections on a case by case basis, and that's why it says the following specifically on the help page: If you think someone is being unfair, you can contact Mynuet, who is pretty much the court of last appeal.

Mynuet @ Jun 19, 2006 04:10 pm

Oh beautious Myunet. The one from whom I can never escape. I tried to quit Draco and Ginny shipping, but I find myself unable to do so. This is because you go to such lenths as these to ensure our total and complete adoration.

archirat @ Jun 19, 2006 07:35 pm

I would publish so much more, if 1. I could be gramatically correct, and two I had a good Beta.

Alas I have neither, so I will be content for now

Nakita @ Jun 21, 2006 06:20 pm

Go Myunet!Bad spelling/grammer is my biggest pet peeve. I'd love to beta for anyone!

dragonprincess @ Jun 25, 2006 05:54 am

Eh... I admit I did that when I first started... a few months back, that is. Firstly, sorry that I was once one, secondly, I have grown and matured... both in writing and in finding really great betas!

I am actually sort of proud of myself. :D

ice_kitten08 @ Jun 25, 2006 10:03 pm

Once we get our house sold and we move (gimme a month or so), I'll be happy to beta as well.

Pajama Pants @ Jun 26, 2006 04:36 pm

Oof, I read a story at the Pit of Voles where the author described orgasmic tremours as tumours. As in, "...tumours raced through her, tumour after tumour after tumour..." If medical conditions were funny, that one would've qualified.

Phaedra7veils @ Jun 27, 2006 11:17 am

Yay for betas! ha ha Stories in general are so much better if people spell things right. I'll just stop reading stories if they have to many errors..but now that point is made, how do I get a beta?

WhiffleBird @ Jun 27, 2006 06:14 pm

Betas at hp-betas.livejournal-dot-com

Phaedra7veils @ Jun 28, 2006 04:54 pm

I think that maybe it's going a little too far to state that we should 'stone' writers of stories with incorrect facts. Lets face it, writers, betas and even cabal members are only human! Shocker! There are typos and incorrect facts in hundreds of best selling novels. That's life. I know that there are always going to be chancers, but they've been warned now, and besides, the cabal are more than cabable of handling them. Also, the majority of us do realise the need for, and brilliance of betas. To CourtneyFaith, I don't know if you were being sarcastic or not, but it's kind of stupid to take such a stance on Ginny's name, and still manage to spell it wrong! You're right, Virgina is NOT her name! Also, had it been you submitting a fic, the cabal may have had to reject you, for poor grammar and spelling most likely. Easy to make mistakes now isn't it? So to all would be 'stoners', step down off your high horses. ~Sorry, venting!

Lorelai Walker @ Jul 01, 2006 02:23 pm