[ SECRET POST #4796 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #4796 ⌋

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

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 39 secrets from Secret Submission Post #687.
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

[fscom]

03. https://i.imgur.com/bM5HFrq.png

[(Anonymous)]

What if they have dyslexia or the like, are aware that they make mistakes, but can't see and fix them by themselves so they have to rely on a beta for it? are they bad for being disabled and asking for help?

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah, OP, and what if they can't write properly because they're just wee little puppies? Why won't you help them? Do you hate puppies, OP? Do you?

[(Anonymous)]

But, I mean, is that the majority of cases? I don't feel like OP is the one to blame for feeling unappreciated, and nor are dyslexic or disabled people - both parties get kinda screwed

[(Anonymous)]

Even the most rudimentary free writing program has a built-in spell check. That should take care of the worst of it. Dyslexic people are not stupid, they can work a basic spell check program.

[(Anonymous)]

Dyslexia doesn't prevent you from using spellcheck. Don't infantilize people with disabilities.

[(Anonymous)]

In that case it's not hard to be like "hey I'm sorry about all the errors, I'm dyslexic and spelling is a nightmare, thank you for your help!"

[feotakahari]

I’ve betaed for a couple of people whose native language wasn’t English, so I’m willing to accept a certain level of grammatical confusion.

[litalex]

*raise hand*

By now I'm almost okay grammatically (and spellcheckers are quite useful), but word choice/connotation still trips me now and then.

[(Anonymous)]

IME the sorts of errors in non-native speakers are different from errors that just come from being dyslexic OR from just being lazy and not bothering to do a readover yourself. Plus if the author is upfront about what kind of help they're looking for, that's different. If you know you need a beta reader and are respectful of their work, no problemo.

[silverr]

I don't mind -- it's easier to mop up SPAG than it is to articulate other issues.

The only time I get pissy is if the author posts the fic with all the errors intact whilst still crediting me as a beta.

[(Anonymous)]

Fucking hell, ^ this! If you're not going to listen to me, don't say I beta'd your fic. No one beta'd for you if you ignored our edits.

[darkrivertempest]

Jesus, THIS! /\/\/\/\

Don't ask me to beta if you willfully ignore the edits I give you, and don't slap my name on that dumpster fire of a fic saying that I was the one that helped with that mess. I have no problem betaing for someone who is dyslexic (I have before and it was fine) or if English isn't your native language (also have done and it was awesome), but when I, as a beta (and reader), can't understand the concept you are trying to put out into the world because your SPAG errors and continuity issues are too prolific, and you purposefully refuse to take the edits, then yeah, do NOT put my name on that crap.

[(Anonymous)]

These days, I wouldn't send something to a couple of passes for SPAG, but it can be difficult to catch things in your own work.

[(Anonymous)]

Ugh, I think some folks are just too lazy to spell check. I also hate when I can tell you ran spell check, but just picked the first option for every misspelling. This just leaves a bunch of words that are spelled similarly to something that would have made sense.... If you're going to do that, do me a favor and don't bother. These errors are harder to find.


I run into it with reports my coworkers write as much as I do fanfic writers.

[(Anonymous)]

Ugh, I have this one co-worker that screws up so much stuff! Spellcheck is turned on in the company and unable to be turned off in our e-mails which means that she purposely ignores the spellcheck errors and sends them out that way. It's infuriating.

[(Anonymous)]

I think that if you're going to offer beta services, you have to accept that there are people of all different writing abilities. I don't really beta because I don't have the time - I certainly wouldn't offer to beta and then complain because the fic is taking too much work to correct and re-write. I would say that most people confident in their own abilities would not ask for a beta - there are exceptions of course, but why would you offer to beta expecting someone's writing to already be 90% there when that is so rarely the case?

[(Anonymous)]

+1

[(Anonymous)]

I could see that if by beating you actually mean "proof reading".* But honestly, having a beta doesn't mean that the author puts no effort into cleaning up after themselves. Running a basic spell check isn't asking for too much.

* Personally, I interpret it to mean more than just making sure a fic doesn't have too many typos. A good beta should be able to point out flaws in characterization, plot, etc. Even confidant writers need a good editor. Writers who don't think they need one...wrll, they tend to be awful.

[(Anonymous)]

If you can't even be bothered to throw your precious fic into a spellcheck even once first then that's pretty lazy and dumb, no matter your actual writing capabilities.

[(Anonymous)]

I've done both writing and editing and if I'm asking someone to edit my work for me, I'm going to a) do everything I can on my first pass and then b) let them know what my weaknesses are when I hand it over to them for their pass so that they know what to look out for and where I need the most help. Appreciating the work beta readers do isn't an imposition to me as a writer--I'm huuugely grateful.

[(Anonymous)]

I mean you can do what you want, but that's be the first thing I'd expect when becoming a beta. I can see how some common spelling mistakes could get annoying or seem lazy, but when it comes to grammar I'd be a little more lax.
My mom's basically borderline illiterate due to having ADHD and extremely bad dyslexia, she had panic attacks in class when expected to read out loud because of it. She has great ideas and really wants to make a children's book, but there's a lot in the way of her being able to accomplish that. It doesn't really have much to do with what you're talking about I guess, but it's something that always comes to mind whenever I read fics with a lot of errors.

[meadowphoenix]

I mean, I don't think its useful to judge writers like this, but you should be free to advertise this (I don't do extensive SPAG/typo checks) and writers should be free to ask for this (I need extensive SPAG/typo checks), so everyone knows what they're asking for and getting.

+1

[(Anonymous)]

Very well put!

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah, I think OP's problem is the lack of communication about what's being looked for, not an overall judgement on people who have trouble with SPAG for whatever reason. As long as you're open and appreciative, I don't think it's an imposition to correct smaller stuff as it comes up.