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Date Posted: 15:47:25 05/06/03 Tue
Author: Athena4
Subject: Not everyone (r)
In reply to: O-Bug 's message, "What caught my attention ..." on 12:45:38 05/06/03 Tue

Is experienced at Beta-ing, nor is everyone interested in it beyond it being a learning experience to see what beta-readers do. Beta reading is a challenge, and a trial, it's not everyone's cup of tea.. just like writing isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Personally, I haven't found the time to tackle the other two sections, but I do plan to get back to it.

Plus, a lot of people don't read with a "critical" eye. Sometimes its hard to look beyond the excitment of the story and see the potential problems. A lot of people read just for pleasure, and nothing else. So asking them to beta read is asking them to use a part of their mind that they may prefer not to when reading.

There might also be some fear involved. Shanola is an established writer, who has been writing in LFN for several years (although she's been quiet recently). People might fear they'll insult her, or that their comments will be laughed at because they're not "up to standard".

This might be a good example of the "niceness" of LFN fandom. A lot of people might not be willing to "hurt her feelings.

You're not a "heel", nor do you "look bad" for participating. Shanola asked for honest feedback, well aware that some of it might sting. This was her first story, it wasn't perfect - I'm positive that most of us can say that about our first stories.


Don't feel bad about it.

You're participating - this is what Shanola wanted. You've also started some "critical" feedback of your own in people's responses to your betas. It shows a great deal about the subjectivity of beta-reading. Of particular styles etc.

Looking back at my beta, and at yours.. we grasped onto different things. That's just the way is. That's why sometimes, more than one beta is helpful as well. Some people are simply more focused on grammar, others on plot, others on tone.

It's a learning experience. For all of us.

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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Um...what Athena said.*g* -- Shanola, 17:46:24 05/06/03 Tue

I agree with what Athena said.

The second part of this, naturally, is the rewriting stage. I still debate on that, but I'm leaning toward rewriting. I'd like to have the entire beta process up there. Some of the changes that have been suggested, I'll take, and some I won't. But all of them have made me think and look critically at the story. That's what a beta is about.*g*

But I don't want to start rewriting until the beta is complete. So please continue. =D

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