Beta love - because it needs to be shared

[nursedarry]

I'll preface this post by saying I just had to share the grateful-gleeful-embarrassed feeling I got tonight as I opened my latest PWP ficlet, recently returned from my beta. Her comments were particularly funny and fresh, as this poor girl doesn't know anything about the fandom (except perhaps the contents of the 5-minute video snippet I forced on her. She's lucky I sent her that bit - the beginning, as it were, rather than the end - but we're not going to talk about that.).

I love my betas. I have several, plus all those lovely random people I co-erce into reading and commenting on stuff before it gets posted (I'm looking at you, treacle_tartlet, nicevenn, noeon and sati_lotus). They know what I'm trying to say, rather than what I am saying, usually badly. Let's face it, unless there's an anvil falling on someone's head, I'm not a very convincing fic writer. I can and do like to make people laugh and I enjoy writing fanfic, so I'll keep on doing it. And thanks to my betas, I'll keep inflicting it on you.

Now as I find myself drawn into other fandoms where I want to explore greater romantic or darker themes, I need my betas more than ever. That's not to say I couldn't write those things in HP - I have done - but I preferred my cracky comfort zone, which I'm finding doesn't sit so well in the Iraqi desert or Bon Temps, Louisiana. Maybe it never sat well in HP, either, but I enjoyed reading it as much as writing it, so I reckon there's a place for any genre everywhere, just in differing amounts.

Smut is even more difficult for someone who writes for the Department of Health for a living, or at least, this someone. In my Day Job, not only do I usually write in the passive voice, I often use proper scientific lingo and big words, with simple themes and very little description. This does not ordinarily make for good smut. And never romance: my initial drafts typically sound like Planned Parenthood-meets-Mills & Boon. I pick up something by oldenuf2nb or septemberoses or cjmarlowe and turn green with envy at how effortlessly I find myself happily sandwiched in-between their characters mid-coitus, their narratives brimming with emotion without sounding clinical or clichéd.

I cannot stress how much I value my betas' instructions in this. Tonight, delphipsmith's learned advice and hysterical comments had me feeling so good about the writing experience (as well making me giggle over how she can shoe-horn Lucius Malfoy into anything), I felt compelled to say THANK YOU to her and to cassie_black12, and especially groolover for their years of difficult service to me as betas, and more importantly, as friends.

Please excuse the grammatical errors in this post. I'm sure it also could have been sexier.

Comments

[nenne.livejournal.com]

It's a nice post. :) I'm sure they all appreciate you saying this.

[nursedarry.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I just love how their constructive suggestions often make me feel good about myself as well as giving me advice. And how much I've learned to laugh at myself in the process :D

[capitu]

Beta readers are the hand under the Mona Lisa's skirt. They have my utmost respect. Wait, it doesn't sound right when I put these two sentences together. :O

[nursedarry.livejournal.com]

No, but it's still brilliant. Going to use that more in conversation!

[subtlefire.livejournal.com]

It's wonderful to see someone flail over betas the way most do over artists or writers :)

[nursedarry.livejournal.com]

I'd be lost without mine. And my stuff probably wouldn't get a look-in! I know I wouldn't want to read it!!!

[delphipsmith]

Awwwwww. Thanks, hon -- you're a pleasure to beta for. FWIW, I happen to dearly love your crack!fics, ever since your early days practicing by inventing new Star Wars dialog ("Let's see...I need my jammmies, and my toothbrush, and my teddy bear...") ;)

And yes, I can indeed shoehorn Lucius into absolutely anything. It's my sekrit superpower (shhhhh...)

[nursedarry.livejournal.com]

I need to re-read our Jedi Academy fic. Cause that rocked (the Casbah).

[scarletladyy.livejournal.com]

Betas truly are amazing, and definitely deserve our support ♥

[nursedarry.livejournal.com]

This. And thanks for reading! :D

[teganscrush.livejournal.com]

I love beta-reading, and if I ever post anything of note again, I will be utilizing my beta, who is, like yours, awesome.

I miss the HP fandom.

[nursedarry.livejournal.com]

I enjoy it too. I love leaving comments and encouragement and am always pleased when I can make another writer feel as good as my betas make me feel.

[knowmefirst.livejournal.com]

I love how beautiful you put it, hon.
I think betas are such a great part of any fandom, because of them is why our stories look so beautiful at the end :D

[nursedarry.livejournal.com]

This is so true. I know there are people who don't like/use/need them, but I can't live without mine. Or anyone to give me comments (she says with the intention of asking you to pre-read any new G/E fic:))))

[knowmefirst.livejournal.com]

*g* Send it my way, I love to pre-read it :D

[riverlight.livejournal.com]

This is lovely. :) (And, I would add, well-written! *g*)

[nursedarry.livejournal.com]

*gigglesnort*

You wouldn't believe how many times I had to edit it!!