Or what's a beta for? And, is there a beta in your meta?

[red_satin_doll]

ETA 08/02/13: comlodge just re-stated the point in the convo thread below that I was attempting to make re: beta-readers and meta and did so better and far more concisely than I could ever hope to. I bow to her awesomeness.

I just noticed one more empty "pending" slot in the Beta catagory at the Running With Scissors Awards,  which seems odd to me. Thousands of fandom writers (theoretically) = thousands of betas (theoretically) = unable to fill six slots? Granted a good beta is hard to find - or rather, a successful author-beta partnership based on complete trust and respect for the other person may just be harder to find than a good marriage. The author needs to be able to choose someone who can offer objective, constructive criticism, not flames or insults; who can judge the work based upon what the writer is trying to achieve in the piece and how much it fails or succeeds in that goal; and the beta needs to be someone who can offer  help but then detach themselves and always remember it is the author's story, not their own.

On the other side of the page, nothing is more frustrating as a beta (I speak from experience, of course) than dealing with an author who says they want feedback when what they really want is praise. And this is true of 99% percent of the writers I've dealt with, who say they want "feedback" when what they're really after is ego strokes. Of course every writer wants that, but when an author is entering a relationship with a beta partner they need to be clear as to what, exactly they are looking for: an editor? A cheerleader? A teacher or taskmaster? Someone to brainstorm with? Line by line analysis of plot, structure, etc? Hugs and puppies? I'm not a beta for any writers in this fandom currently but I'm a "Muse" for one of my closest friend's novels (we prefer the title "Muse" to "beta"), and I've always been more than willing to give the writers I've working with the feedback they need, if they are willing to listen to what I have to say. (Why ask a beta for their opinion if you don't want to actually hear it?)

One thing I noticed since I've been a part of this fandom: betas are considered essential to fanfiction, to the point that authors actually apologize for not having a beta; why is it then that "meta" (nonfiction writing) posts very rarely mention the feedback of a beta? The exceptions I've seen have tended to be the more intellectual or academic fan essays and analysis. The other day I asked someone to beta a fanfic I'm working on but it's never occured to me to request feedback on a nonfiction fan essay before posting it.  Is it custom? Habit? Lack of interest in nonfiction writing in relation to fiction?

(ETA paragraph breaks, hyperlinks, and screencap. Clearly, this post needed a beta of it's own.)

Comments

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

I would nominate my beta, the nonpareil lilbreck, but she has already won and is therefore ineligible. *sigh* She's exceptional and I cannot begin to express how appreciative I am for her honesty and insight.


Gabrielle

[ruuger]

I think the difference is that a story is generally assumed to be a finished piece when it's posted, and in theory at least as good as it could be, whereas meta is often just a discussion opener where the reaction it inspires is as important as the original text. In a way the relationship between the writer and the people who respond to the meta replaces the beta process.

[darkgoddessgege.livejournal.com]

I have never had any of my fan fiction, or my original fiction for that matter, beta'd. I just haven't found someone that I trust that much I guess. I write differently than most writer's i have come across. Spelling and grammar really doesn't matter to me as much as the character I am writing about. I can always go back and fix that stuff later. Which means my poor Beta would have to be a English giant. :) It's also hard for me to express what i want from a story at an particular time. I will write paragraphs at a time just because I though up a cool line. I am very chaotic when it comes to writing. So my Beta would need to be able to deal with me being all over the place 90% of the time.

[rahirah]

That's a good question. Though in a way, when people comment on meta, especially if they disagree with it, the discussion can turn into a sort of open beta as the author clarifies and defends their thesis.... ETA: And Ruuger already said exactly that. Never mind! /Emily Litella

[chasingdemons.livejournal.com]

I used to beta for spikesfool for a time. I can't say I caught every grammatical error, but I read the chapters thoroughly, and thought about them, and visualized everything. I never tried to steer the plot, but I pointed out when something seemed out of context or if I couldn't picture an action sequence in my mind. We had a really good partnership while it lasted.

I have to be honest, I don't know the exact definition of meta. (And I don't think I really enjoy it) But in my limited knowledge, it seems like it would lose something if it was beta'ed. It seems like it needs to come unfiltered from the writer.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

I feel really blessed to have strong relationships with my betas. I really feel like velvetwhip and snowpuppies have helped me excel as a writer and I'm deeply appreciative to both of them for that.

[comlodge.livejournal.com]

An interesting conversation. I'd never come across the term 'beta' til I came here. Perhaps it is a fanfic thing. For me 'beta' always meant a release eg of software, that was not final - it was past the design stage but needed to be tested further, usually in a live situation, to find and fix the final bugs.
Here I assume the word is used instead of editor. Editors are, apparently the bane of writers. Always changing their work. Except there are different types of editing - for grammar, punctuation, sentence, paragraph construction as well as continuity. It is not an editors job to change the story because the story is the author's job.
So at the very least all of us could do with a beta to fix our spelling errors and basic grammar and construction. But a beta could also perform the task of pointing to a more structured, cohesive plot, pick up charachter portrayals/developments that are incongruous with preceding parts of the stories and or canon charachter traits, time lapses that aren't explained, suggest the correct genre, etc. I'm sure we've all read a story or a meta, loved the basic plot, or idea but the grammar and or spelling mistakes drives us batty and sometimes drive us away.
I think I would be a dreadful beta. I'd be wanting to rewrite the story, I'm sure. Having said that I'm also aware that a beta would save me the countless edits I make to something I've posted just for grammar and sentence construction. A beta could also suggest a different way to say something that would give the story, or at least, that part of it, more impact. Even a very good writer needs the services of a good beta/editor.
A good working relationship between a beta and a writer, or in RL an editor and a writer, should produce a story fiction or non fiction that will have the readers come back for more.