Beta meta

[aleathiel]

There's a post here (re original fiction, but I think it applies to fanfic too) about beta readers and what you look for when someone is betaing.

This is something I was thinking about the other day, when betaing for abbyleaf101 (and have also raised with fortassetu, back a long time ago).

It made me want to ask what your thoughts are? Especially those of you for whom I have/do beta, or vice versa.

angiepen, for example, I know you don't really like betas at all as a process. Would you care to comment on that?

Personally I think what I want from a beta depends on how emotionally invested I am in a fic. Fics I consider unimportant I just want to iron out errors and often I don't have them betad at all. Fics I care about, fics I want to be good, I would love a beta to discuss and rip apart and make me make them the best I possibly can.

And yet, it's hard for me to admit that. Because in my heart of hearts I think all things I write should be the latter, not the former. But I don't have the energy to pour that much effort and emotion into everything I write. Some of them are just for fun.

So, I guess I wonder what you think about that, too.

Comments

[aleathiel.livejournal.com]

*g* It's great if people enjoy your work!

You can always re-write it another time, if you want to. You are the only person who can decide if it should be done or not.

The fic I was referring to is The Work of Heaven (which is Kingdom of Heaven fanfic) and the beta was Persephone, who isn't on LJ any more :(

[fortassetu.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I don't really want to look at the epic right now. It caused me more harm that good, I think, and by the end I was just so TIRED of it.

Ah, right, I haven't seen the film so I'll bookmark it and come back to it sometime ♥

[aleathiel.livejournal.com]

Fair enough, there's no need to. It's great. It's only if you want to that you should.

That's fine. There's no obligation for you to read everything I've written! :P