On Writing Fanfic - Love Your Beta
This is a skip ahead in the scheduled posting. Sorry for any confusion! Next week will cover Shipping, but this week some things came together, and I think that it's important to talk about Beta Reading. (This is hard to put into a Tony/Steve context, so most of this is very general.)
Note: Adult content behind the cuts!
I've said it over and ( Read more... )
I just had a flashback to high school Japanese classes. Sensei, shitsumon ga arimasu!
Asking for a second beta isn't rude, IMO. Part of beta work is providing an outside, objective opinion on a piece, and sometimes that calls for two people. This would especially crop up if you have specific needs, and the one beta isn't equipped to assist. For myself, anyone needing a copy editor would probably do better to have a dedicated spelling/grammar person for that, because I'm horrible at spotting it. Or sometimes a plot is delicate, and you want to be extra sure that it's coming out right. Some people just prefer multiple betas. Whatever works, really.
Beta reading could definitely be a college course, though it would probably be called proofing, or editing or something. But creative writing classes are brilliant, really. The trick to applying them to fanfic is to think of it as writing a sequel, instead of something entirely original.
Also, is that Hero Squad Cap sleeping with a nightcap over his cowl? D'awwwh.
Reply
Yeah. I wouls see as getting a second opinion. But I am mainly afraid of one of the betas going "what, isn't my/his/her feedback good enough for you? Huh? HUH?!"
I stumbled upon beta reading last year in one of my English courses, so I know it exists in some capacity; I was talking about this and every other one of your metas (imagine your professor lecturing you about the importance of OTP's. lawl on a stick).
Also, is that Hero Squad Cap sleeping with a nightcap over his cowl? D'awwwh.
Yes it is! It was so adorable and hilarious that I had to use it. He even sounds slighly patriotic when snoring. SHS Cap is awesome. "Karaoke is oki-doki!" (Then again, all SHS characters are hilarious in one way or another. Three valkyrie maids! \m/)
Reply
That's what we in the field call "a Jerk". They're surprisingly common in the wild, and catching one really isn't worth the trouble it causes. They don't domesticate well.
Well, There's always Henry Jenkins? :D
I need to get the Superhero Squad on DVD. (eyes Amazon) I heard it might be up for preorder... Hm.
Reply
Leave a comment