The woes of finding a beta

[wiseheart]

I wish I knew how other people do it. Sometimes they seem to have more than one. My betas, assuming I find some at all, tend to flee the horrors that is working on my stuff after two chapters, tops. Not that I'd blame them. I'm sure they have good, acceptable reasons. But understanding that doesn't solve my problem of not having betas.

I know my grammar is less than perfect; I'm writing in a third language, after all, and all I ever had were three years' worth of English lessons. I hate posting my stuff un-betaed, but what can I do? People are so eager to nitpick on grammar errors, but they don't seem half so eager to offer to beta. Surprising - NOT.

In any case, today I broke down and posted a request at the SoA Yahoo Group for my Halabor stories. I'm uncomfortable posting un-betaed Tolkienfic, more so than in the case of any other fandoms, perhaps because I respect the source more than anything else. I'm curious whether it will help. The SoA crowd is the most open and supportive of all fractions of the Tolkien fandom, prehaps I'll get lucky. If not, it won't be any worse than it has been for years by now.

Comments

[the-wild-iris.livejournal.com]

If you only need beta-ing for grammar, I'll do it. I have a bit more free time at the moment :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks, dearest. I'll contact you privately re: The Shoemaker's Daughter.
The main project is just coming up and hasn't even started yet.

[missyvortexdv.livejournal.com]

Well, finding a beta never seemed to hard work for me, usually it's fellow writer friends who take pity on me, but I've got some well established beta relationships mainly and I did alot of betaing for others first so maybe that helped. It's only branching out into another fandom where I'm suddenly flailing and wondering how to go about it.

I just got 3 new betas for 2 new fandoms this week - though it's sort of on they'll beta what I've got now and we'll see how we work with each other deal because finding one is no sure deal they'll work well. Basically just appealed for them in the right place, an active fic community and got people happy to - though one asked if I can return the favour, which I'm happy to, seems only fair.

Think maybe the key to the successful beta relationships I have is that we do it for each other. I'm probably more prolific than all my betareaders for SGA but they don't seem to mind, good natured people that they are and it somehow balances out, we also write each other fics etc. :)

When it works it just works, which isn't too helpful. Obbviously being upfront about what you expect of a betareader might help in your search, though I imagine you already are being so I don't have any more suggestions...

Maybe you just need to find new places to ask? Does Tolkien fandom have any betareader seeking communities for example? SGA and SG1 do but I couldn't find one for Heroes. I doubt every big fandom does, but it's worth a search for. Ah yes, there's a LotR one, not sure if that's quite right for your fic but closest I can find lotr_betas. Hope that helps some. :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Well, returning the favour is not really a choice, since the main problem is that my English grammar sucks to begin with.

As for betareader seaking communities: it's a wee bit complicated. I don't trust everyone with my stuff. Especially after having made really bad experiences in the area.

[mistry89.livejournal.com]

Best of luck with your search - you are bound to find the perfect person to complement your writing.
Cheers :)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Oh, a person with limitless time and patience - that would be great. *g*

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

This beta did not run away in horror - she was buried under the swamp of The Ebol Wyrk and, more recently, Ye Lyttle Healthe Problyms.

English grammar is such a mess that I remain forever grateful I learned it as my native tongue. That you can actually write lovely prose in it never fails to impress me!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Az I said: perfectly sound and acceptable reasons. Alas, that the outcome is still the same. *g*

English is evil indeed. And what's even worse, I keep expecting from it to behave like German, which, at least, does have its twisted logic.