[ SECRET POST #2937 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2937 ⌋

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

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 056 secrets from Secret Submission Post #420.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

My reason for not wanting a beta is that I don't post frequently enough to justify keeping in contact with a dedicated beta. I also tend to sit on the things that I do post for at least six months before finishing and posting them, which gives me time to look over it with a fresh set of eyes twenty times over. I'll usually have a friend look over it quickly for errors before I post, and the friend in question always tells me when something is confusing or my characterization is screwy.

I also happen to be in a couple of very small fandoms where I'm easily the most experienced writer there, and the few times I've asked people in them for opinions on characterization/plot/pacing, I got nothing I hadn't already figured out for myself. It was a waste of time, basically.

Over the years I've just gotten used to self-correcting my bad writing habits. A beta would be nice, but I can cope without one.

[(Anonymous)]

+1 to all of this.

Also, a lot of people are mentioning the fact that sometimes people aren't prepared for concrit, but not one has mentioned the reverse also being common. I've had betas who were flat out wrong on things that were basic grammar or an easy fact check, so forgive me if I don't take one reader's word as gospel.

[(Anonymous)]

It's my understanding that most professional writers use multiple betas, and they have a professional editor looking at it at the end. Do fanfic writers generally only use one?

[(Anonymous)]

It really doesn't make sense to compare what professional writers do to what fanfic writers do. Professional writers have an obligation to their publishers to make sure that their work meets a certain level of quality. Fanfic writers just have to please themselves and fellow fans.

But, to answer the question, most fanfic writers don't use multiple betas.

[(Anonymous)]

I use one beta for my pro work. However when something gets accepted, you're looking at three or four stages of edits (content, line, proofing etc.), and potentially several revisions at each stage.

[(Anonymous)]

Most fanfic writers don't use any beta at all, from what I can tell. I used to use at least one, although now I usually don't use any.

I used to use up to three betas if the fic was for a fest. Each beta would cover a different area as well as give my fic a general once over.

There are still lots of writers who use multiple betas. I recently did beta for someone who had two betas for the same short fic. Again it was for a fest. Fic exchanges tend to make fanfic writers want to get more betas because the fics are meant as gifts.

[(Anonymous)]

I look for betas outside my fandom to avoid this problem.

If I was genuinely the best writer in my own fandom and I knew it, I'd find it lonely.