I thought I should make this post in light of a recent experience a friend of mine had. Iām in no way an expert on the art of editing, but I believe these etiquette tips wonāt hurt anyone.
Being someoneās beta is perhaps a dubious privilege, but it doesnāt change that it requires a foundation of trust. A writerās confidence can be very easily crippled; giving an unpolished piece to someone can very nerve-wracking! I think most betas tend to be authors themselves, can you remember your early days as a writer sharing your work? Iād imagine it was pretty scary.
Not to mention, not all writers are veterans of their craft, some are trying their hand at a new hobby. I think to beta someoneās piece, it takes a certain amount delicacy. And if youāre not that type of editor, thatās also fine, as some writers prefer a blunt, direct approach.
The trick is being clear about that from the get-go!
So here are some general tips:
1. Establish what the writer is looking for; grammar? Spelling? Flow? Dialogue tags? Punctuation? Or perhaps they would appreciate a second opinion on things like plot? Maybe they struggle with writing fight scenes or smut, and would prefer suggestions on sentence construction, for example. It doesnāt hurt to know what youāre looking for.
2. Remember that when editing someoneās piece, youāre refining their work, not rewriting it to your taste. It can be a fine line! Itās important to remember youāre fixing errors and occasionally making suggestions, but to each author their writing style!
3. Be sure to word your suggestions as suggestions, not demands. Text doesnāt have a facial expression and can easily come off as rude/demanding.
Delete this, it doesnāt make sense
Can easily be: consider clarifying this sentence or removing it as it could confuse the reader. Tone is everything.
What does this mean? Say this differently.
Can easily be: consider rewording this sentence for clarity. Give suggestions.
Notice these examples leave it up to the writer to decide.
These are general examples of course, the point is, like writing, the choice of words here changes everything, has a certain impact.
4. Avoid stating a negative opinion like āthis sounds cornyā, āthis is clicheā, āthis is cheesyā. Give suggestions on alternatives. Suggest a rewording for the problematic dialogue.
Just like unsolicited critique on a fanfic can cripple an authorās confidence, demanding or curt remarks from a beta can have the same effect.
There are some additional things betas can do that are pretty great but not required:
1. Praise parts you particularly liked: a beautifully constructed sentence, a clever line, a funny bit of dialogue. That kind of confidence boost is invaluable!
2. Give feedback on the overall piece which can include both praise and advice.
3. Offer to take a second look if the author would like after they look over your suggestions.
Generally, the message is to be kind and considerate. Be sure to use gentle words when making suggestions. Make sure to respect the authorās style.
Feel free to add to/contradict this post with suggestions of your own, or to use any personal experience as basis for advice.
