[ SECRET POST #2882 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2882 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 061 secrets from Secret Submission Post #412.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 1 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

In my experience, a lot of people offering to beta either don't have the skills or the stomach for it. Even if you manage to filter through the first set, there's often such a desire not to offend the writer in some way that a lot of betas don't actually edit, they just proofread.

Having done and received professional editing, I make a point of asking anyone who requests work from me to set out the level of editing they want from me/are comfortable with. Do they just want the proofing and the pat on the back, do they want a basic "Does this make sense?" search for plotholes, or do they want a professional level edit where everything is taken apart, from structure to vocabulary to plot to character development? Not a lot of fanfic writers want either the work or the time that goes into that sort of in-depth beta. They want a quick once-over so they can post it ASAP.

If you're not very familiar with your beta, then it's possible you wouldn't have such boundaries set out -- if they don't know what you expect, or where your "Do Not Cross!" line is, it's not going to be very satisfying for anybody. OP sounds like they've tried to do this, which is always a good start.

But yeah, between not wanting to hurt the writer's feelings and not being at a skill level high enough to offer useful concrit (there IS a different between just being a voracious reader who can spot a few spelling mistakes and being a beta, but I feel a lot of people don't think so) a lot of betas turn into ineffectual and lukewarm cheerleaders instead.

[dreemyweird]

This is a very good comment. I bet you were awesome at your job, anon.

[(Anonymous)]

AYRT

Haaaa, clearly not awesome enough at it to catch my phone auto-correcting "difference" to "different."

Gotta love it.

[inevitableentresol]

If a beta doesn't ask the writer exactly what they want from the beta, how are both sides going to know what's expected? It's the very first thing that should happen.

I suspect I'm too harsh a beta. I think I might even put people off posting fics, because the level of revisions I suggest are usually quite extensive, except in really rare occasions.

When the fics I beta end up not being posted, I feel bad, even though I do try to sandwich my criticisms between (honest) praise. Perhaps it's still too much.

I tend to severely edit my own fics, and I forget that a lot of people aren't into that. I've been practicing the rough'n'ready quickly posted fics recently, as that also has its merits. I have the tendency to sit on my fics too long if I indulge myself too much.

Anyway, OP, if you want to PM me to ask for a beta, I can see if we share fandoms.

[(Anonymous)]

Excellent comment, anon. That's what makes finding a good beta even harder: a lot of writers don't actually know what a good beta is. They think a "tough" beta is someone who catches your it's/its/its' mix-ups, and they'd be shocked and angry if a beta pointed out massive errors in characterisation or a weak plot point.

That's why it's important to establish what level of editing is being requested, both for an author and the beta. Most people are only suited to be cheerleaders.

(OP, it might help if you were able to ask your betas very, very specific examples of what works and what doesn't. A lot of people get flustered and shut down when they're asked to tackle a big task like pointing out all the weaknesses in a given story. Focus on one scene or one interaction instead and ask, "In this scene, I'm trying to get across ___________. Is that what you're getting from it?" or "In this scene what I really want the audience to understand is _____________. Is that idea coming through clearly for you?"