To Writer, With Love–Beta

[aurora_novarum]

This is a sequel to annerb's awesome Ode to the Beta.

Being a lucky beta to a few writers, including annerb, this love deserved a response.



It's the moment of high honor. Someone comes to you excited and hopeful. The fic they've nursed and cursed and they've struggled with so long they can't tell beginning from end anymore has finally reached its tipping point. They need fresh eyes to review their baby and make sure it's ready to go out into the world. It's a brand new, never before seen story dealing with characters you mutually love. So, it's with excitement you utter those fateful words:

"Sure! I'd LOVE to get a sneak peek beta your fic!"

It comes, this little email with the paperclip attached. Sometimes with the writer's questions or doubts listed there. But you avert your eyes so it doesn't color your own judgment. How can you answer the questions posed until you read it yourself?

Of course, you can't look at right when it comes. There's that work report you have to get done and the phone call needing made. But it's waiting, beckoning. You know the writer is waiting with bated (betaed?) breath. But you want to give it the attention it deserves. And when there's the right moment...

You start. Metaphorical red pencil in hand as you make little ticks here and there. After all, they're asking you to play editor. You should make sure to take your responsibility seriously. An extra comma here, a verb tense there. You're finding little things! The writer's trust in you is not misplaced!

So you do this for the first few paragraphs, and then, being reader first and foremost, you begin to get sucked into the tale. Here's the characters being awesome, doing awesome things! It's just you and the story–a story no one but a loved one or two may have ever seen before. A quiet little reader-fic bonding. Swept away, it's a couple of scenes (or paragraphs if the fic is short) before you suddenly remember your job!

"Oh yeah, I'm supposed to be nit-picking and editing this!"

You quickly scan to make sure no horrible typos flew past you as you were enraptured as to whether the characters would discover the widget (or twu wuv) in time. Back on track, you redouble your efforts. This fic is going to be the bestest fic it can be if you have anything to say about it.

Then you hit a moment. A zig where you expected a zag. Was this on purpose? Is it out of character? Is there a payoff to this later? You make a note and keep going. Perhaps it'll resolve. A little bit later, an inconsistency. Suddenly characters are dealing with the widget when before the focus was on the whatsit.

Or you spot the little moment glossed over by the writer (you can tell they're hitting that wall of "omg, please just end, fic, please just end!") and know that if they just tweak this scene or explore that widget a bit more, this fic will go beyond the point of being a pretty good fic to be OMG AWESOMENESS.

The writer is definitely talented enough to pull it off. With confidence in their abilities (after all look how much they've already achieved in this work), you bring up these questions and make these points.

You've finished reading by now. Looking back, you check your questions and points.

What have you done? The writer entrusted their baby to you and you've skewered it! You horrible, horrible person! Is there enough praise amongst the criticism? Did you make sure you pointed out your favorite lines, favorite scenes? What about that section where you were so engrossed with the story you said nothing at all. Saying nothing there means it's good but they need a salve to the salt, and the greatness that's already there should be praised as well.

Double checking their own notes and questions, you answer it as best as you can, make sure you've got everything together and saved correctly, and write back with the major caveat that all this is just your opinion from reading it. They respect your opinion enough to ask you to do this, but after all, the ultimate product is their vision.

So off it goes, back to its author parent. Out of your hands. You wait anxiously. Should you stay around to answer questions the author may have? Should you start packing your bags to enter the witness protection program?

Maybe you were a bit harsh about that whatsit point. Too late to retract, you keep a low profile, avoiding any fast food restaurants that provide sporks.

Eventually, the fic appears. All grown up now, it's up with the fancy fonts and background of the published entry. You eagerly scan through, spotting the whatsit payoff, the tweaks that improved, and the notes they ignored. But it's completed, and it's not the fic you expected it to be when you sent back those questions and comments...

It's more, and a greater story than ever.

Not sure how much you should say or not about the finished product. In some small "comma finding" way, the fic is your baby too, you're too biased at this point. Should you feedback? Should you rec?

Like a proud godparent, you keep track for a few days, vicariously proud of all deserved praise it gets.

So when the writer comes to you again and asks for your honest opinion on their newly finished story, you say: "Sure! I'd LOVE to get a sneak peek beta your fic!"