A quick revison-related question...

[rosenskimmer.livejournal.com]

I was wondering what resources people used for their medical information in their fanfiction. For my first draft, I did minimal research and just kinda went with what sounded neat. But now I need to know if what I've chosen for my patients (of which there are several) are viable diseases.

Also, where did everyone find their betas? Is there a certain etiquette in trying to find one?

Any help would be appreciated!

Comments

[nemesishamartia.livejournal.com]

I use webmd, google, and occasionally go pester Ben to help me. Usually the first two do it.

There are lots of ways to find a beta. I ask my friends and one of them is usually glad to do the job. But you can also post a request in "hw_reqs" asking for a beta (only if your fic is a H/W, though). There's also a group called "housefic_beta" (I think), where you can ask for a beta for any kind of housefic. Just remember to give your beta the list of warnings before the fic :D

[rosenskimmer.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your help! I checked out housefic_beta and I'm hoping that will pan out.

[kimbari.livejournal.com]

re: medical resources... I try to have as little medicine as possible in my fics. :) It's not the medicine I'm interested in when I write anyway. But as far as research, anything I need to know, I Google (or Yahoo or Ask).

As for betas, I just asked my flist (you're not on my flist unless you know how to spell and punctuate and have a fair grasp of the English language... I'm just fussy like that). I got several volunteers, much to my delight. Doesn't hurt to ask. You might also try the community(ies) for your pairing, if you're writing one, or the general House communities.

[rosenskimmer.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your help, but I'm pretty new to the fanfiction community here on lj, so my flist is really small. In RL, I'm part of a literary fiction writer's group, so they're not really in to fanfic.

I will try other communities, but my fic has no real pairing, so it's a little unique as far as House goes.

[kimbari.livejournal.com]

re: literary fiction. Well, yeah, but isn't the language the same? If you're looking for confirmation that you got the nuances of the show and the characters right, you need to go to a House MD fan (the more rabid the better!). But if you want someone to check for grammar and punctuation and sense, I don't see why ANY writer wouldn't fit the bill.

Or do these people turn their noses up at fanfiction? I learned to write writing fanfiction, 'tis a valid form of literature! :)

[rosenskimmer.livejournal.com]

Well, the fact that fanfiction does break certain copyright laws kinda turns some of my literary friends off. It's great to learn the basics through fanfiction, but literary fiction has different standards. Not to say that there isn't fanfiction out there which is written to such a higher standard...it's just not the norm for fic.

[kimbari.livejournal.com]

*waves away "copyright laws"*

Have any of your literary friends published anything? And if so, have they caught anyone embellishing their universes (i.e. writing fanfiction)? Until then, THEY don't have a bitch coming. But that's just my opinion... I've got a navel, too. :D

Sorry, it's just that literary posturing chaps my hide. The place their sense of superiority comes from is bogus.

[bell]

Wrong Diagnosis is one of my favorite House-medicine-related researching sites. Lots of info, all understandable.

As for betas, you could post here actually. "My fic has X pairing, I'd like a Y type beta." If that doesn't work, you can also try FF.net, they have a list of people volunteering to beta.

Good luck! :)

[rosenskimmer.livejournal.com]

That diagnosis site is sweet...thanks for sharing! I think I will try here for a beta, once I have a revised draft I can feel comfortable showing to the public.