[ SECRET POST #5121 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #5121 ⌋

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


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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 20 secrets from Secret Submission Post #732.
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)]

Presumably, she thinks her writing is better.

[(Anonymous)]

Maybe. But let's not pretend like there aren't writers out there who (consciously or subconsciously) avoid constructive criticism even if their writing could use improvement.

[(Anonymous)]

Sure. But equally, are we going to take OP's assessment of their own beta-ing skills and their friend's writing at absolute face value?

[(Anonymous)]

DA - MTE. There's definitely two sides here.

[(Anonymous)]

NAYRT

Yeah this was my thought too. Quality is subjective and I've had people give plenty of pointless "constructive" criticism (SPAG errors excluded obvs). Even when told "no, that's not the direction I want this story to go in," they insist their way is better instead of helping the story be better in the way it's already going. Some betas don't understand that they're supposed to be helping the author make the best version of what the author wants to make, not the best version in their opinion.

Now, OP may be right and the author's new betas are not even catching basic SPAG errors in favor of gushing praise and obviously that's silly. But if the author likes their own fic better now, and authorial intent is being done more, who's to say who was right? Especially in something as hobbyist as fanfic?

[(Anonymous)]

/shrug Personally, I've encountered more writers who couldn't handle minor concrit even though they'd professed to want it vs. power hungry betas. This is not to say that the latter doesn't exist, just that based on my own experiences, I know which way I'd bet.

[(Anonymous)]

This is true. I've been writing and beta-reading for years, and there is kind of an art to the diplomacy of beta notes, like:

"I suggest x here instead of y. You seem to use the same word a bit too frequently and it gets repetitive."

"I'm a little confused about this passage; who is unzipping Joe's pants and when you talk about Edgar moving his leg, is it his leg or Joe's?"

"The ending seems kind of weak. The buildup is so wonderful and so I think the final scene deserves more closure for Joe and Edgar or leave us wanting more, but it just kind of peters out. Suggest a or b."

My notes are really well-received and writing them in this way has immensely improved the way I communicate to junior employees (and touchy senior ones) at work.

[(Anonymous)]

Same anon.

And of course, I point the funny lines or really clever ones and give a lot of positive feedback!

[(Anonymous)]

That sounds a pretty good way to do it.