Author Confession

[keiramarcos]

My name is Keira and I'm fed up with the beta process.

Don't get me wrong, I totally love my betas. They're great. I just hate the process itself.  

I have to ask myself, who in fandom decided that beta was a thing? Who thought -- oh, I'm getting free stuff to read but this author really should do a bunch of extra work to make sure my free entertainment doesn't have any typos!

I'm currently in beta for my QB fic. I mean, like I'm on part 2 of 6 in that process. I just finished Darkly Loyal and it's twice the length of my QB. If I actually put that in beta -- it wouldn't be ready to post until probably April. Fuck that noise.

BAH.

Comments

[alisonk23]

Speaking as a reader, I don't mind either way. I have read plenty of stuff that's apparently been through the process and still has typos &c, but I have always ignored it. As you rightly point out, we are being given a gift and it isn't nice to be rude about that!

I don't really see why an author needs to say one way or another whether the text has been beta'd. If none is credited, I don't assume there wasn't one. TBH, I don't think about it one way or another, but if I did I might well come to the conclusion that the author thanked their beta privately. Anyone rude enough to ask about it should be ignored!

Traditionally published work is different. I was pretty hacked off some years ago when I bought a big coffee table style book published by the BBC (of all people) which turned out to be full of errors. Not impressed!

But it's an entirely different situation from fan fiction (even if much fan work is plenty good enough to be sold in shops!) because of the payment involved. Plus I doubt the money saved on not using editors goes to the writer...

Do whatever makes you happiest, K. You already give us so much.
Happy Christmas!