This was a very interesting take on some of the pros and cons of beta reading. I love to beta but I'm a lousy speller and, despite my MA in English, I don't have the technical ability to be a good copy editor. What I can offer writers is a good sense of structure, pacing, flow, characterization, etc.
As a result I'm a bit torn about relying on someone who's unfamiliar with the characters to edit your story. On the one hand, they would (as you so rightly point out) be able to check for blind spots and bad internal consistency because they're reading about Fraser and the Rays in isolation from both fanon and canon's perception of the characters. My concern with what you've said is that it seems a bit dismissive of the impact someone who is intimately familiar with the characters and the show can have on a story. If you're relying on a non-fan to beta, some essential information might be overlooked (does your portrait of Fraser contradict some bit of canon? Is Ray's dialogue a bit too cliche?). Even the best non-fan beta will miss some subtleties, some references, some in-jokes, and as both a writer and a reader those are the things I really love to encounter in a story. I'd recommend, if possible, that people find both fans and non-fans to edit their work to achieve some sort of balance, particularly if the story is long and involved.
That said, thanks for highlighting the importance of finding a good beta and explaining the process to people who aren't sure where to begin, or even what a beta does. Good betas really are worth their weight in gold and I think everyone (particularly those who aren't ready to try their hand at writing a story) should give it a shot. I've had amazing experiences with all of my betas, and every single time they have helped me improve my story far beyond what I could have done on my own. I love the sense of collaboration the beta process offers, and I hope more people will toss their hat in the ring and offer their services.
Great feedback :) I think I did touch on the non-fan v fan beta with this wee bit:
If you need someone to read your fic to vet it for characterisation, canon or voice, that is when I would put a shout-out to fandom friends for a quick read-over.
I have all my dS fiction vetted by a fandom friend, but for the beta business, it is all my MRVB!!
As a result I'm a bit torn about relying on someone who's unfamiliar with the characters to edit your story. On the one hand, they would (as you so rightly point out) be able to check for blind spots and bad internal consistency because they're reading about Fraser and the Rays in isolation from both fanon and canon's perception of the characters. My concern with what you've said is that it seems a bit dismissive of the impact someone who is intimately familiar with the characters and the show can have on a story. If you're relying on a non-fan to beta, some essential information might be overlooked (does your portrait of Fraser contradict some bit of canon? Is Ray's dialogue a bit too cliche?). Even the best non-fan beta will miss some subtleties, some references, some in-jokes, and as both a writer and a reader those are the things I really love to encounter in a story. I'd recommend, if possible, that people find both fans and non-fans to edit their work to achieve some sort of balance, particularly if the story is long and involved.
That said, thanks for highlighting the importance of finding a good beta and explaining the process to people who aren't sure where to begin, or even what a beta does. Good betas really are worth their weight in gold and I think everyone (particularly those who aren't ready to try their hand at writing a story) should give it a shot. I've had amazing experiences with all of my betas, and every single time they have helped me improve my story far beyond what I could have done on my own. I love the sense of collaboration the beta process offers, and I hope more people will toss their hat in the ring and offer their services.
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If you need someone to read your fic to vet it for characterisation, canon or voice, that is when I would put a shout-out to fandom friends for a quick read-over.
I have all my dS fiction vetted by a fandom friend, but for the beta business, it is all my MRVB!!
Reply
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