[ SECRET POST #4517 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #4517 ⌋

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

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 49 secrets from Secret Submission Post #647.
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

Re: Frustrating beta

[(Anonymous)]

Sure. I agree with all that, which is why I questioned your original post.

"Even if she's picking up on this issue correctly, she's not being terribly kind or diplomatic about it..."

That made it sound like authors who just wanted to do one thing, and do it well, had some kind of issue. Or that the issue lay with the author, which it kind of can't because the author is the one that by definition sets the goalposts. Imo, the author wanting to write what they want to write can't be an issue. That's the base you start off with.

If the beta feels like they can't help them get to those goalposts, or thinks the goalposts are terrible, the beta is the one that should be like "yo, I can't do help with this but good luck." Not be identifying what the author wants to do as an issue or telling them they're not being objective about a subjective thing. That's beyond being undiplomatic, that's playing director.

Re: Frustrating beta

[(Anonymous)]

Sorry, but I'm really not seeing how you're getting that from the part of my comment you quoted. My point was that even if - and I emphasize IF - the beta was correct, she shouldn't have spoken that way to OP. There are more helpful ways to give constructive criticism and for that reason alone I'd encourage OP to find a new beta.


"Or that the issue lay with the author, which it kind of can't because the author is the one that by definition sets the goalposts."

Authors do set their own goalposts, yes. That doesn't mean they're always the best judge of whether or not they're hitting the mark. If that were true, no author would ever need a beta. So sometimes yes, the issue can lay with the author. Note that I'm not saying this is definitely the case with the OP, just that it's one thing to keep in mind.


"Not be identifying what the author wants to do as an issue or telling them they're not being objective about a subjective thing."

I think I see where you're misunderstanding. No, it's not the beta's job to decide what the author's goal is. But personally, I always ask the author upfront what they want out of their work, what message they want to send, what reaction they want from the audience, etc. That's part of my job. It's also my job to give feedback on things that don't further those goals, because authors do not and cannot always see this for themselves. It's not because they're dumb or blind, it's because it's very, very difficult to be objective about your own work.