I’m a beta – that’s an unpaid editor for those who can’t be bothered to click the ‘about’ button on the site. But hey, I’m human. I like a bit of music.

For my first big beta job (by which I mean ‘not for fanfiction’ – the soundtrack for those was typically the weekly top 40 with Ryan Seacrest, simulcast to New Zealand FTW!), I literally hid off in my room for a long weekend and put in various CDs. I think that time it was the ‘Telecom Animals Collection’ (a CD which iTunes has only started to recognise the tracklist of in the last three months), then current radio (top 40 again, another simulcast of Top of the Pops I think…), a little bit of Star Wars soundtrack, and… no, that was my ‘not touching the Spice Girls’ phase.

My second job (oddly, for the same person; you can buy the book in question from here), I buried myself for another long weekend, slipped on the Japanese Pop and classical music. I staggered out after 36 hours, several refills of my waterbottle and about eight (no, sorry, nine, but four of them were mochas and one was instant) cups of espresso. Oh, and the top 40. Again. This is just before I changed the radio stations I listened to.

Third job, nonfiction this time. This was dad’s book, and he didn’t want to listen to any music while we were going through it. Also the only time I have ever done anything by hand, the only nonfiction job, and the only time I’ve ever done an index, and the only time I’ve ever actually been paid for doing this. $40, since you’re wondering.

All of those – except for In the face of the Enemy – were done to music, and they were all done quickly, compared to my current jobs.

Fourth on the list, and it’s actually been a good few years. I’m almost done with the second readthrough of Blood Bound, and I’m glad I’m doing this, but I think I’ve finally realised what’s been missing: Music! I’ve been doing these to nothing but the sound of a computer humming and the occasional youtube video (this week we have A Very Potter Musical, and OMG I really <3 Voldemort)! This must cease.

And all it took was listening to the Top 40 at work to realise what was missing.

In an effort to avoid the same songs over and over again, however, I’m using the iPod, and my ‘vaguely freaky’ playlist for Blood Bound. Betaing Vampire stories to Rob Zombie. Hrm.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got three chapters of Blood Bound and another thirty of Cat’s Quill to get through.

(P.S.: Catherine mentioned that I call a certain vampire ‘Callum’. I feel it only fair to provide pictures here…)

for those who don’t follow my LJ, I graduated recently, with Honours, in Police Foundations. So, yeah.

I think I just got signed up for fictional beta work by three more people. Okay, I take it back, I know I signed up for it.

Catherine’s mind has been at it again, resulting in now one wizard, one ghost, two fairies on the backburner, the occasional prodding of a mermaid, a superhero, and an entire string of vampires.
I, of course, would simply like her to write a Star Wars novel.

Have been rediscovering my intense love for Star Trek. I’m a babyfen!Trekkie, as it happens, and I continue to collect the books (want to buy the series. Will do so at some point. Probably around the time I buy that nice giant TV to watch them on). That’ll be harder over the next few booksales, as more and more people discoverk Trek for the first time. Instead of leaving me and my little table alone, the booksellers will be on the scavenge, so I’ll have to wake up early to be closer to the front of the line. Hope whoever’s hosting the sales has the sense to print maps!
(Something I really miss about NZ: The Palmerston North Red Cross Booksale. The parents take two days off work and then there are books.)

I just bought Pride and Prejudice and Zombies! This is a Big Thing, as I hate Jane Austen and her contemporaries with a passion. However. Zombies. I’m willing to give it a chance. Possibly while listening to the Shaun of the dead soundtrack.

And the doggie is making with the eyes. Off we go…

17,296 / 80,723 (21.4%)

Cat’s Quill

0 / 146,835 (0.0%)

-groan- This is what tomorrow is for. I have it all set aside. 7-10 work tomorrow, get home, 11-12 walk the dog, and then the rest of the day it’s all about the editing – and maybe, maybe, maybe finishing off that new book that I have to review.
I have GOT to up these numbers.