a question about fics and betas

[foolish_m0rtal]

One of my projects for this year is going to be revising The Professor's Wife, a little fix-it fic I wrote for xxxHolic after the original ending caused gross creys and a burning anger towards Clamp. When I get angry, I tend to throw myself wholeheartedly at a problem. When I get angry, I write a fuckton of fic and then sort of feel embarrassed about it afterwards.

I've been slowly editing the chapters, catching typos and 2010-2011 Fumu Was Sort of an Idiot mistakes. Some of the recs have alluded to several mistakes or inconsistencies that no one has mentioned in reviews. Kudos are nice and all, but I do like to know if there are pieces of the fic that are confusing or incorrect.

However, this fic is already out there, so I'm not sure how I would ask for beta reading advice. From what I know, that's usually done before the fic is posted. Do you have any advice? Do fic writers ask for betas after a fic is already out? Would it be weird if I posted in the Holic comms and asked for a beta?

Comments

[grimmsical.livejournal.com]

There's no strict protocol for beta-ing, as far as I know. I've had stories (original, mind you) that have been given to someone for editing after posting. It's really your prerogative. I say go for it. One thing that's good about having already posted, though, is you won't have someone who just wants an advanced read and won't actually edit, which has happened to me.

(Also, gross creys. Tumblr has you.)

[foolish-m0rtal.livejournal.com]

Tumblr does have me. I think Tumblr and fandom has influenced far too much of how I talk and what words I use. Slashreport does not help. (or maybe it helps far too much)

Hmm, thanks for your advice! I think I'll post on the comms and explain my situation.

Aww, that's so sad! They didn't give you any edits back? :(

[grimmsical.livejournal.com]

yes, come to the dark side Fight it! :P

I'd say try asking people you know/trust first, especially consistent reviewers. And make sure you're very clear that you don't just want a copy-edit, but a content edit. I mean, if you find someone who isn't satisfactory you can always have another person beta, or you can have multiple betas too. Whatever you feel most comfortable with, though I highly suggest not just using email-only communications (it can work sometimes, especially if you're working with someone who knows what they're doing but...) but also something like IM or even google docs, which now has a sort of discussion side bar thing as well as commenting features etc. In that case, too, you can have multiple editors.

I would volunteer, but school has me hard right now so I don't think I'd do a good job (and I'd want to because <333 The Professor's Wife.)

Yeeeeeeah. They may have done some grammar tweaks, but I think they just wanted to read the story before it was publicly distributed. :/

Good luck!

[foolish-m0rtal.livejournal.com]

Yes. I explained it in my post and requested a strongly content-oriented beta. I proposed using Google Docs and emphasised that I did not have any particular deadline but wanted someone who would also not go incommunicado and bail out. I know enough people in the fandom that I feel okay with posting it.

This is really a year project, and I don't care when I get it done, so I think whoever signs up will actually do it because they are interested, not because they want any kind of sneak preview.