Comments | secretsolitaire: Speak to me of betas

secretsolitaire

Speak to me of betas

Sep 06, 2007 22:54

I have blathered about the writing process in this journal on a few occasions, but today I was thinking about editing (or in fandom terms, beta-ing). Although I've only beta'd a few works of fanfic, I do edit a lot at work and am always looking to improve and to better understand the process ( Read more... )

beta-ing

Comments 24

sonofabiscuit77 September 7 2007, 14:05:15 UTC

I like having my stuff beta-ed and I tend to stick to the same people who are both great. I find it very useful particularly for any non-American words and phrases that sometimes creep in and I really want to get that right. (As a Brit I sometimes find it really jarring in a HP fic when a character puts cream in their tea or uses words like "gotten" or "diapers").

I also really appreciate it when my beta makes suggestions re characterisation, a second opinion is always really welcome for me. However, a lot of stuff I post (particularly WIP's) isn't beta-ed, mainly because I feel embarrassed asking someone to do it so often.

secretsolitaire September 8 2007, 02:07:20 UTC

Ah, yank picking! I have noticed a few British-isms on occasion in QaF fics (not yours though, I don't think), but in general it seems like much less of a problem than the reverse is in HP.

Thanks for weighing in. :-)

the process, a beta's perspective firehead30 September 9 2007, 05:03:25 UTC

I beta primarily for flashfly and occasionally, vlredreign. When someone asks me to beta for them the first question I ask is if they want a proof reader or a beta. The second question I ask is to myself, can I work with this person without creating hurt feelings. I need to be able to be honest with them.

I try and print the story out, and make notes in the margin of what strikes me as I am reading through. I then try and take a bit of a break and read the story again making fresh notes. I then go through for grammatical and sytax issues. I will be honest though, in working with vlredreign and flashfly their mechanics are just about perfect. Then I send the writer my first thoughts and possible areas of concern ( ... )

Re: the process, a beta's perspective secretsolitaire September 9 2007, 15:57:06 UTC

Thanks so much for sharing your process. I also do better when I can print something out to read it -- for some reason it's much easier to take notes and spot any grammar/spelling problems that way.

I am usually a little nervous any time I beta for someone, especially if it's a writer I really respect and/or fangirl. I'm always afraid I'll read it and not be able to think of any useful suggestions. But reading something with the critical eye of a beta is much different than just reading something that comes up on my flist, so I usually do manage to come up with something. :-)

snegurochka_lee September 9 2007, 16:51:34 UTC

I guess it's probably different for everyone. It's important to be clear with your beta what you want from them, I think - ie: just a typo-check, or story-flow suggestions, or whatever. Typo-checks are always good, but I don't generally need a beta for grammar or spelling. I can do that stuff on my own. So, for short ficlets or PWPs where plot-flow is sort of moot, I often don't bother with betas. I sort of hate the word, 'unbeta'ed,' as it indicates a steaming pile of first-draft crap. ;) But I've been known to 'self-beta.' :D

But for longer, plottier stories, or fest stories that need to make sense beyond what my brain thinks makes sense, I have a couple of trusted souls I like to send things to for opinion. One is a Snape beta. *g* No, really. She is a stickler for canon!Snape, and is a wonderful help in tweaking my dialogue, especially, to be more Snape-like. The other is a Brit-picker. I tend to do a lot of my storytelling in dialogue, and that's the first thing to get messed up with non-Britishisms. So for the stories I really ( ... )

secretsolitaire September 11 2007, 06:00:06 UTC

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I agree that there's no magic formula for what makes a good beta -- it's all about matching styles and approaches. Some people need a Brit picker; some people need a Snape picker! (That sounds dirty. *g*)

Interesting point about wanting to rewrite things in your own style. I have that urge sometimes, but I actually think I'm more of an editor -- I can tell an author what isn't working, but I usually have to trust her to rewrite it more effectively than I ever can. :-)