Betas

Part 1: Being A Beta

As a beta, I would say I am qualified to cover this topic. When you are beta there are so many things you have to pay attention to. First of all there is the grammar. You need to fix every missed period, misplaced comma, and mispelled word. Nobody wants to read anything where there are constant errors.

Another thing betas have to look out for is awkward phrasing and dialouge. Is the author's writing going to make the reader trip? The story should flow smoothly. The best way to edit dialouge is to read it aloud. Does it sound like something they would say?

Once all of the techincal stuff is done you still have more work to do. Does the author have good chacterization? Does the author's plot make sense? Do the pairings work with the story? Does it follow the book if the story is supposed to be canon? As a beta, you need to make sure the story isn't crap. Nobody is going to care what the grammar is like if the story itself sucks.

Also, when you are done tearing the author's work to bits and pieces (which will most likely happen) try to find something positive to say. Don't lie, but if there was something you liked let them know.

You need to be reliable. The readers want the chapters as fast as possible, so try not to keep an author's story for too long. Also, the author needs time to deal with your suggestions and fix her chapter accordingly. You should return the chapter to the author within 48 hours of recieving it.



Part 2: Finding A Beta

As an author, you should have a beta for every story, even it's just a one-shot. Just because you beta for other people doesn't mean you won't miss something in your own work.

When you are looking for a beta you need to pick someone who is going to be brutally honest. You need to make sure they are totally honest, so that way you know your story is the best it can be. You don't want someone who is going to lie to make you feel better.

That brings me to the topic as using as a friend as a beta. This could go one of two ways. It could work out really well because you are such good friends that you can be honest without eachother and nobody will have any hard feelings or you will both be walking on eggshells and your story won't be the best it could be.

One thing a lot of authors do is have their work checked over by two or three people. Any more than three people is just ridiculous because your work shouldn't have that many mistakes in it. Having mulitple betas also helps if one or two are busy whenever you need a chapter edited.

Part 3: Beta and Author Interaction

This is probably the most difficult part. A beta doens't want to step on an author's toes by trying to write her story for her. There is a thin line between helping write the story and trying to write the story yourself.

While a beta should be available and reliable they don't have to jump through hoops for the author. They have volunteered their help, the beta's don't work for the author's. So all you author's out there that demand they have their chapter back in the next four hours because you promised you would post need to shove it. It's not the beta's fault that you just got it the way you wanted and just sent it to them.

While an author and their beta don't have to be best friends they do need to communicate with eachother. They need to be comfortable talking about where the story is going. And of course smaller things too. Like if the beta is going to get wasted for her 21st birthday and won't be available for a few days then the author should know not to send her chapters. The last thing a beta wants is for an author to chew her out for not returning the chapter she never knew was in her inbox.

An important thing to remember is to be honest. If a beta (or author) isn't working for you let them know. Not every beta is going to work for every author and vise versa. If you think that it isn't working let the other person know. My most important message goes out to the betas out there. If the shit sucks, it sucks. Don't keep betaing something that is horrible, let the author know that you don't think the story is working and try to re-write it with her.

Here's a question and answer from the Ask WTVOC collumn over at TLYDF (The Lazy, Yet Discerning Ficster).

Dear...You,

I am betaing for a girl and I want to tell her that her shit sucks and to go re-write it, but I never do. I just fix the grammatical errors and send it back to her. If I was friends with her I would say exactly how i felt, but I don't know her. How do I word it in a nice way?

Peace & Cookies, Confused Beta

Dear MastaBeta:

You had me at cookies.

Look, here’s the thing. Constructive criticism means both good and bad, said in a way that isn’t all OMG YOU SUCK HARD GET OUTTA MAH FANDOM.

Lemme ask you this-

Why do you beta something that sucks?

I already know the answer. You’re too nice.

You can either keep being nice, saying nothing, and letting a piece of your spirit die every time you get that email in your box-

Or… you can say, “Look, I like you and your writing, but I feel like your work is taking a direction that isn’t working for me. Can we rework this part?” Always couple with something positive, else she feels horrible.

The thing is this- do you want to subject everyone else to schlock just because you’re too nice to say anything?

Don’t be a pushover. I know, I know. Easier said than done. But if she’s worth anything, she’ll appreciate some help. She might even suspect that you’re pandering to keep her happy.

And if she gets mad, offended, snaps back, defensive… well, you’ve just unsaddled a burden, no?

And hope she isn’t a fan of your dirty uncle.

Just… honesty is great, but be kind. Betalings have feelings, too.

-wtvoc

Betas are an important part to the writing world. Readers would have to suffer some major errors if it wasn't for them. Author's are obviously important. The betas would have nothing to do if the authors weren't writing. The whole process works better if everyone stays honest and nice.

If you don't feel like dealing with all the drama that comes with betas and betaing go on over to Project Team Beta (link somewhere to your right).

~Alyssa~