Why betas are a great thing to have
During Minicon, Nellas showed us how she creates her artworks, step by step. From egg-shaped thingy on paper to lovely Glorfindel. Sounds simple, but it isn't (hell, no! When I draw egg-shaped thingies, they stay egg-shaped thingies!) What we get to see on the internet is not even the finished artwork, it's a scan of it, and many details get lost, which is a shame.
Needless to say, I was impressed. And I thought: hey, that could work with a story, too. "How I write a fic." So I came up with the following idea, which might be of interest for writers as well as readers. Below, you will find one of my stories just the way I wrote it, then the version with all of Eveiya's corrections and comments visible, plus the link to the "finished product" as you can find it on my website. I think this gives a pretty good insight into the writing process from draft to "official" version. You can find Eveiya's comments at the end of the text, or by clicking on the "[JMW]" links.
These are links to urls, no need to download anything, you can read it online.
ASH - original version
ASH - beta-read version
ASH - the finished product
I have three beta-readers, and they are all fantastic: Eveiya, Enismirdal and Kara. Eveiya contacted me, way back in the time of A.C.O.T.E.R. when I still published unbeta'd fics, to suggest some changes and the usage of a spell-checker. I can't tell you how grateful I am that she mailed me and offered her help. I have learned so much from her, and every time she returns a fic to me, I find a new comment that widens my horizon and improves me as a writer. There are not enough words to thank her, and won't she just absolutely hate reading that. :-) Close your eyes and think of the Joyful Molly, my dear *har har har*
You can't learn without having your mistakes pointed out. Just a thought.
Erestor
Needless to say, I was impressed. And I thought: hey, that could work with a story, too. "How I write a fic." So I came up with the following idea, which might be of interest for writers as well as readers. Below, you will find one of my stories just the way I wrote it, then the version with all of Eveiya's corrections and comments visible, plus the link to the "finished product" as you can find it on my website. I think this gives a pretty good insight into the writing process from draft to "official" version. You can find Eveiya's comments at the end of the text, or by clicking on the "[JMW]" links.
These are links to urls, no need to download anything, you can read it online.
ASH - original version
ASH - beta-read version
ASH - the finished product
I have three beta-readers, and they are all fantastic: Eveiya, Enismirdal and Kara. Eveiya contacted me, way back in the time of A.C.O.T.E.R. when I still published unbeta'd fics, to suggest some changes and the usage of a spell-checker. I can't tell you how grateful I am that she mailed me and offered her help. I have learned so much from her, and every time she returns a fic to me, I find a new comment that widens my horizon and improves me as a writer. There are not enough words to thank her, and won't she just absolutely hate reading that. :-) Close your eyes and think of the Joyful Molly, my dear *har har har*
You can't learn without having your mistakes pointed out. Just a thought.
Erestor