[ SECRET POST #3462 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #3462 ⌋

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

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 45 secrets from Secret Submission Post #495.
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

[blitzwing]

I haven't noticed any real difference in quality between beta'd and unbeta'd fics, unless the person has had multiple betas and clearly brainstormed/plot-explored a lot. Basically, has the writer gotten a true edit or just a proofreading?

If you have decent SPAG skills, you can usually do just as good a job proofing your own work if you let it sit for a few weeks, or have Word read it to you to catch typos/mistakes. You only really need a beta if you need a true story editor to give content advice, or if you have lacking SPAG skills.

[(Anonymous)]

It's not just spelling and grammar. I came across a fic that said it had been betaed, but at some point during the story, the character's amputated leg switched from left to right. That's one of the reasons I quit reading a lot of fic, because now you can't leave critical reviews or it's bullying an author.

[blitzwing]

Yeah, having a beta isn't an assurance of quality. One person could easily miss something like that. I know I appreciate it when readers point out inconsistencies in my stories, or question why a character did something, or point out OOCness.

That's one of the reasons I quit reading a lot of fic, because now you can't leave critical reviews or it's bullying an author.

Just leave your critical comments anyway (although pointing out an inconsistency doesn't seem like criticism to me, it seems like a courtesy). If the author doesn't like them, they can delete them. Critique =/= bullying.

[(Anonymous)]

yeah, i've seen more authors say "thanks for pointing that out, i'll change it" then throw a hissy fit.

or if it something that's more a matter of opinion they might not change it, but they still won't throw a fit at the commenter.

[blitzwing]

or if it something that's more a matter of opinion they might not change it, but they still won't throw a fit at the commenter.

I too have seen very few hissy fits thrown directly to commenters, but unfortunately, what I have seen a lot is authors ranting/bitching about critical comments on their public Tumblrs/LJs. I just put them on my mental "Never leave them any feedback, period" list and move on. I'm not going to assume all authors are like that. The worst that can happen is one goes batshit and has to be added to the list.

[(Anonymous)]

Eeeh, had one person who delighted in leaving individual comments for each. and. every. single. typo.

Strangely, when I offered that it might be easier on them to just e-mail them to me in bulk they declined, even though I gave my e-mail. I'm guessing they preferred to call me out publicly.

[blitzwing]

Like, a different comment for each typo in the chapter? That would be really weird...I've had readers that list all the typos, but they usually stick to one comment for each chapter.

I usually ask the author if they want the typos pointed out before I do so. i.e "I noticed a few typos while I was reading this--do want me to let you know where I've spotted some?" and then detail where they're at so they can be CTRL+F'd and fixed.

[(Anonymous)]

It was one comment per typo, waiting until I responded to the comment before giving me the next typo.

"You spelled box as fox."
"Ok, fixed"
"And you spelled red as bed"
"Ok, fixed it."
"And you spelled..."

But as soon as I said to just do them in one batch, nope they weren't interested. I mean if they wanted to typo hunt that would be fine, it was just the weird waiting and stringing them all out that was kinda strange.

[diet_poison]

That is super weird, and does kinda sound like they were doing it to call you out in a weird way...or maybe they just wanted attention...or were really bored.

[mimi-sardinia.livejournal.com]

Was this on AO3? Because I know it's not possible on FFN.