Being a Better Beta panel write up
Thanks to everyone who attended. As always, if there are things I missed in the write up, feel free to drop them in the comments. Also, don't forget to (if you want to) rec a thing (or two or three) you've beta'd! Fic, vids, podfic... any and all!
Top Tip Takeaways
Top Tip Takeaways
- Define your terms
- What are their expectations as a writer? Full-on hardcore pass? Spelling and grammar only? Plot and continuity? Characterization? Something in between? Make sure you know what they want from the start. (Adjust this as needed for vidding and podfic.)
- What of the above are you willing to offer?
- What are your hard limits? Tropes, tone, ratings, characters, fandoms...
- Define your timeframe. Know your limits, don't underestimate the time it will take, and know what sort of turnaround time they're expecting or want.
- Define the format in which you'll be sharing the file.
- When in doubt, print it out. The red pen is your friend! Also, it's easier for most people to spot errors on the page if they're reading a hard copy.
- For anything, but especially for vidding, wrap critique in encouragement. Timestamps in vidding are your friend: use them. (Hey, [vidder]: at 1.59, the lyric and clip combination is jarring!)
- Specific podfic tips: let the podficcer know when they've mixed up a name, let them know if the reading is unintelligible, if the effects make sense, if an effect is needed, if the volume levels are good. Read along while you're beta listening.