Beta

[pez]

I really, really want betas like the ones Chrissie has: people who would question why something was written in a particular way rather than just put it down to style. The writer doesn't have to take on any of the comments, of course, but she should seriously think about each comment; sometimes a writer can get so immersed in her own style that she forgets the basic techniques of writing, if you know what I mean.

I also think such betas would be useful for many other writers. Sometimes I read something and I know it's because of the style that things are written the way they are but I also know it could be so much better or just less bad if they had someone look at it and question it.

Not many people can accept having their work beta-ed this way, though. Betas like this are hard to find, but writers who don't have the stick up their ass far enough to just say "ha, it's my style, if you don't like then don't read" are probably even harder to find.

It's the difference between the works that lots of people comment and say it's great, and the works that lots of people comment and say it's great, AND still refer fandom n00bs to it a few years later.

Comments

[potter.livejournal.com]

I absolutely agree. Laura betas my work and she's not only got eagle eyes, she knows that she can say to me, "I don't think this sentence makes sense the way you've written it" or "this is too confusing", and that's something I'm really grateful for. There's a lot of things that I do that are my style, but are also REALLY bad when I do them too much, and I do need somebody to tell me to rein it in a bit, haha.

I mean, man, my biggest writing pet peeve is people who say, "Oh, you don't understand my work? It must be beyond you." No, it just doesn't MAKE SENSE. A good beta writer is worth their weight in gold, and I just, absolutely agree with you on this.

[eames.livejournal.com]

A good beta writer is worth their weight in gold, and I just, absolutely agree with you on this.

That's an overused metaphor. You may want to think of a....

Oh, sorry. Force of habit. :P

It helps living with an English teacher, it really does. Nitpicking sod that she is.

[yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com]

XD And if my beta says this, I might say I do like overused metaphors and cliches. Because I do! But of course it depends on the story, maybe something else more creative would be more suitable...

[eames.livejournal.com]

Agreed. (I was just annoying her deliberately, though. Such is my hobby. XD)

Being a beta for Cat is a total joy, because I love her writing, and I want her to get better and better all the time. Not just because she's my best friend, but having seen the leaps and bounds her writing has made since she started her Creative Writing MA, I feel like I'm seeing the work of someone who could be published one day take form, and tighten, and only get more beautiful every time I read something. I can't understand why anyone wouldn't enjoy being a beta, really. I find it really exciting. *is a dork*

I don't think I could beta for someone who was oversensitive, or a total diva about their writing, though. That would drive me crazy. Cat is a perfect writer to beta for, because she takes criticism objectively, and isn't afraid to tell me if she disagrees, nor is she too proud to say that I might be right, and change something accordingly. All in all, I think we're a good combination *refrains from singing Tenimyu songs* and when you find a beta that just clicks with you, it's great.

I just wish I had time to write fic myself at the moment, instead of essays on 19th Century Literature. :/