Perfect Imagination

A beta reader has accepted my story. What happens now?

You will receive and email when your project is accepted informing you of the beta reader's email address. You should send your piece, or the first chapter of your story, to that email address. It is then up to you to maintain the flow of communication with your beta reader. If you are having difficulties then please contact our dispute team.

Are the ships listed with dominant/submissive symbolism?

No. However, some beta readers will only beta read some relationships where a particular character in the pairing is dominant. Please check their "ship notes" for this information.

Can I have more than one beta reader from Perfect Imagination simultaneously?

No. If you have multiple projects to be beta read, either within one fandom or across multiple fandoms, then they should be edited one at a time. Perfect Imagination beta readers often have to decline projects because they are working for too many writers. It is because of this shortage of resources that we must enforce the "one beta reader per writer" rule. Once your beta reader has finished your project and marked it as complete you may search for another if you wish.

Can I send a preliminary email to more than one beta reader at a time?

No. You must wait for the first beta reader you have emailed to reply before sending another preliminary.

Do I have to agree to the writer's code of conduct?

Yes. All site users must agree to abide by our terms and conditions, including beta readers and writers alike. The code of conduct you are asked to agree to before sending a preliminary email is protecting the rights and outlining the responsibilities of all parties involved.

Do I need to register to search for and contact a beta reader?

No. You only need to register if you wish to become a beta reader listed on the site.

Do you archive fanfiction or original work here?

No. There are hundreds of wonderful archives on the Internet for both fanfiction and original work, so we concentrate instead on providing an exemplary beta reading service.

How do I search for a beta reader?

Go to the Beta Reader Directory and enter your fandom, followed by your story criteria. You will then be shown a list of compatible beta readers.

How do I use the beta search form?

Please select the options that best fit your story from the fields provided. You will need to know an approximate rating, the genre, an approximate length for the entire work, any relationships that may occur in your piece and the qualities you are looking for in a beta reader. You can select multiple categories where possible by holding down the Ctrl or "apple" key as you select. Once you have entered all the details please hit the "submit" button.

How long do I have to wait for a reply from the beta reader?

Seven days. If the beta reader does not reply in this time they will automatically be placed under investigation and you will be informed.

I have a complaint about the quality of my beta reader's work. Who should I contact?

Please contact our dispute team and we shall try and resolve the issue. If your work has been rejected by an archive after being beta read then please include any issues that archive has raised in your email.

I have emailed my beta reader with my work, but they have not replied. How do I resolve this?

Please contact our dispute team and we shall try and resolve the issue for you.

I have entered my story criteria. Now what should I do?

After pressing "submit" you will be shown a list of beta readers matching your criteria. You can sort the list by name or availability by clicking on the relevant link at the top of the list. Clicking on the beta reader's name will allow you to view their profile.

I have found a beta reader that I want to email, but I do not see their email address. How do I contact them?

At the bottom of the beta reader's profile there is a "send a preliminary email" link. Click this link and fill in the form provided. This will send an email straight to the beta reader of your choice informing them of your story details and inviting them to accept or decline your proposal.

I have more than one project within a fandom to be beta read. Can my beta reader edit them all for me?

This varies from one beta reader to the next. We suggest that you start with one project and ensure that you and the beta reader work well together before mentioning other projects you may have.

I have received my story back from my beta reader, but I do not agree with all the comments they have made. Do I have to make all the changes?

No. The beta reader is there to guide you and make suggestions. Ultimately it is still your piece of work. However, some of the corrections that your beta reader makes may be factual rather than stylistic. Not making these corrections to your story may result in your story being rejected from archives.

I selected my fandom and the site says that there are no beta readers listed. What should I do?

New beta readers are added every day. However, if you are desperate for a beta reader then select "Other Fandom" from the fandom listing. This will list all non-fandom specific beta readers who may be able to help you.

I suggested a fandom but it has not been added. Why?

Fandoms are added to the listing on a case by case basis. If the fandom you suggested is small or generally inactive then it may not be added at this time. If you would like more information then please contact the administrators.

The beta reader I contacted did not reply within seven days. What should I do?

The system automatically informs us of the problem and the beta reader is placed under investigation. Once the seven days have passed you will be able to search for a new beta reader unimpeded.

The fandom I am writing for is not listed. What should I do?

Either select "Other Fandom" from the list, or contact us to suggest a fandom.

What does the length field mean?

The length field is the predicted total length of a piece, not the length of a given chapter or section. Please enter how long you believe your overall piece will be.

What is beta style?

Beta style is the manner in which an individual will beta read a story. Please go to the definitions page for more information.

What is the "Other Fandom" category?

"Other Fandom" is a listing of all the beta readers who are willing to offer technical advice (I.E. grammar and spelling, point of view and flow) on any written piece. A beta reader listed in "Other Fandom" will not have knowledge of the fandom to help with canon or characterisation unless otherwise stated in their profile.

What makes Perfect Imagination different from other beta reader listings?

We do everything in our power to ensure that the beta readers we list are capable of providing grammatical advice and expertise. Additionally, we provide one of the largest listings of tested beta readers available.

When I try to submit a preliminary email the site says I already have a beta reader. Why is this?

There are a few reasons this could be happening. Firstly you may have a preliminary email still pending a decision. Alternatively, a beta reader may still have your project as active on your assignment log. You can use the writer's tools section to find out who your beta reader is and whether there are any preliminary emails pending a decision.

Why do I have to enter my date of birth to agree to the code of conduct?

We ask for your date of birth so that beta readers will know your age when considering your work. This can have an impact on the rating of fiction they will beta read. (For example, some may decline to beta read an NC-17 piece written by a thirteen year old.) Your age is only displayed as a number, rather than a date. Please note that entering an incorrect date of birth counts as a breach in the terms of service and may result in a ban.

Why does the site only serve some fandoms?

Perfect Imagination is always growing and adding more fandoms to its list. If your fandom is not yet on the list then we do index beta readers who are happy to beta read all works. They can be found by selecting "Other Fandom" from the category list.