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

[pixxers.livejournal.com]

My beta is the anti-christ. When I send something to him for a run-through, he doesn't pull any punches and that's the way it should be. About every nine months, I go back and re-read things I've written previously and I can see changes for the better. In the moment, it's too easy to get caught up in the story and the creativity to really notice little things you're doing wrong that have become habit. I am incredibly grateful for his time and his input (and I have two close friends who beta for my fanfiction, too, and they've absolutely had a positive influence on my writing.) I'm very choosy about who I'll accept criticism from, but when it's coming from people I trust, I'm always happy to get it.