McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Beta Questions
meg_evonne:
I completely failed to find my great checklist for crits. I'll keep searching.
As for me, I'm now convinced that I don't want anyone to read my work until I have it as ready as possible. Amazingly, that point gets further along my process line as my writer's proficiency scale increases with every work and every year. The bottom line is that it's not right for me at this point. I'm needing to write more than I feel the need to receive feedback. (And sorry, that is part of the reason that I haven't been around. I'm not sure that is healthy or not, but for now, it feels right.)
I would suggest that before you have someone read your work, ask yourself, 'why do I want to have someone read my work before it is ready?' The honest answer might be revealing. Are you seeking affirmation? (In which case, you don't really want the honest truth.) Are you seeking grammar, plot and character feedback detail before you should be? (Why get caught up on the grammar etc. before you've gotten through your first several drafts? It just detracts from your writing goal and takes you off course.)
On the other hand, a friendly brain to share some basic problems that you run into is an incredible gift. If you have a scene that has you stumped, it's invaluable to talk through it with a friend. Also, a friendly brain with technical expertise (on your science knowledge, for example) is equally invaluable. These I value at this point far more than checklists or input on my characters, for example, when I know they aren't there yet, or the plot hole that I haven't stuffed, or the world that refuses to fall into place.
I look forward to having someone read my pages in the future will happen, but for now, it's not the time.
the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh:
--- Quote from: meg_evonne on July 17, 2012, 01:43:41 AM ---I would suggest that before you have someone read your work, ask yourself, 'why do I want to have someone read my work before it is ready?' The honest answer might be revealing. Are you seeking affirmation? (In which case, you don't really want the honest truth.) Are you seeking grammar, plot and character feedback detail before you should be? (Why get caught up on the grammar etc. before you've gotten through your first several drafts? It just detracts from your writing goal and takes you off course.)
--- End quote ---
How about "because I'm very cognisant that me not being able to see anything wrong with it doesn't mean there aren't any problems" ? I'm not willing to assume that my skills at writing new stuff and at reading it critically will necessarily advance in lockstep.
--- Quote ---On the other hand, a friendly brain to share some basic problems that you run into is an incredible gift. If you have a scene that has you stumped, it's invaluable to talk through it with a friend.
--- End quote ---
Oh, agreed entirely. Ideally someone else who writes and is a bit better than you.
Aminar:
That is a totally valid reason. It sounds like Meg has a fantastic idea of where her writing goes. Truth be told I think shes wrong, an outside perspective can give invaluable advice before the work is done.
the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh:
--- Quote from: Aminar on July 17, 2012, 02:23:49 PM ---Truth be told I think shes wrong, an outside perspective can give invaluable advice before the work is done.
--- End quote ---
No work is ever done, it's just abandoned at a point you can bear to put it down.
Paynesgrey:
I find I've frequently a disconnect between the ideas in my head and the words I've herded into a story. Some concept, key instance or pivotal line of dialogue that I thought about working in there, or that seemed clear and obvious to me, that just isn't there for Joe Reader.
So for me, in addition to pointing out the rough edges on clumsy sentences or paragraphs, my betas serve to give me feedback so I can make sure I've got the flavor and tone I'm shooting for as well as make sure the key story and character points are there.
My betas thus provide "Why does this matter? Why did so-and-so do this and not that?" questions which are what I need to go back and ensure things make sense to Joe Reader and not just me. Their impressions of my characters themselves also let me know when I'm steering a depiction in the direction I want, or if I need to do some adjusting of character consistancy or attitude.
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