"They never ask about the language" or A Tribute To My Beta Babes

I was skimming through Stephen King's book "On Writing" for the sixteenth time, when I was struck by the line in my subject heading. King asked a fellow writer what most people FAIL to ask in interviews or at signings...and this writer said "They never ask about the language." King based his book around these words...but I am just going to base a little Tribute on them.

Because I recently went in search of new Beta's...and in so doing learned anew what I love about my historic group of Beta Babes...Sabrina, Carrie, Nauti, Mary, Rilla, Buffonia and Elektra. These woman all have a tremendous amount of talent and being writers themselves to paraphrase Stephen King "They never ask where I get my ideas because they know I don't know." They are supportive without being sycophantic. They are willing to rip me to shreads while at the same time offering me hope. But most importantly...they will ask me about the language.

They will praise a turn of phrase or ask for a simpler tone...they have good ears. And they like my voice. They like my use and arrangement of words. The last being, in my mind, most important...not just because I have an ego the size of the Astrodome and simultaneously as fragile as Anna Nicole Smith's sanity...but also because a writer's voice is all they have in the end. And, for me, a good Beta is my partner in self-expression...existing to nurture the first gasp of inspiration into a full-throated cry.

So, here's to the people who take the times to say "That's story was so hot. I love you and I can't wait to read more. Also there should be two 'R''s in TERRIBLE."

I love you! But let's hope I never confuse praise with assistance. I live for feedback...no matter how short, no matter how rambling...it makes me tingle all over and keeps me on the job. But I don't want to substituted feedback for FEEDBACK. And so for the sake of my development as a writer...here's to My Beta Babes (so sorry I can't represent them all here)...who say things like:

"Good use of sensation to pull the reader along", "Nice use of time", "Is he still staring at the mirror?" and "Give more detail on the sound of his voice, I still hear him male." -Rilla on "Sweet Spot - AU"

"I am wondering whether omniscient narration is the right way to go here...maybe you could write this as Buffy 1st Person?" and "I am wondering about time passing here...maybe expand a bit" -Kes (my newest Beta Babe, the gold dust seperated from the dross of my last Beta search) also on SS-AU

"I'm confused by the Riley line to Spike 'At least, I never her sold her out to the highest bidder.' Is this a reference to Adam or something?" and "This is the line that really points up the demon/human difference...where Spike is still existing in that Grey World...not a total White Hat" - Mary on Facing the Mirrors

"the STAIRS...well if they can't be truthful on the stairs at least they are on the same level in the location sense here in your scenario..." - Sabrina on Still-Life (She's the one who does the metaphors for me and always notices when I use one of Joss Whedon's visual metaphors for my own ends).

"This line could be a lot punchier. As an ending it needs more oomph, more rhythm...something more..." and "Astute use of "stone" for weight" and "I can hear Dru here, crazy but it still makes sense." - NB on Rain on Dust

Muchos Thanks, Ladies!