The Beta Reader Guide

On By baemodsIn BAE2019

What is a Beta Reader?

A beta reader is your trusty companion throughout the fest. By technical definition, beta readers are non-professionals who read a manuscript prior to publishing or read a pre-release of a book (in this case, a fanfic). If a beta reader is provided a draft, they’re often asked to read for spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors. They may comment on parts of a story that are confusing or things that don’t make sense.

However, please take note that this is the general definition and task of a beta reader. We will leave it to the writer and beta reader to communicate what role the beta reader will be playing in their process of writing.

Requirements

  1. A beta reader must have good English grammar. Editing and looking out for grammar mistakes are basic requirements that a writer would request from you.
  2. Respect your writer, their anonymity, what they need, and the story that they’ll be sharing with you.
  3. You must have time. By signing up as a beta reader, you will be companion of the writer in baeconandeggs. You must also give time to support your writer. Please do not ghost on a writer or at least inform your writer that you will be unavailable for a certain amount of time.
  4. Constant communication with your writer.
  5. Be objective. When beta reading, it’s important to begin with an open mind. This isn’t your story. We won’t assign you to a writer that may have your triggers but please discuss any triggers or squicks you have before you agree to beta. Your job as a beta reader is not to impose your vision. It is to help the author realize theirs.
  6. Be polite and positive. Writers will have a lot of challenges that they’ll be going through when writing. Please be there to cheer on them and help them finish their work on time.
  7. Have fun!
  8. You must also be knowledgeable of baeconandeggs’ schedule so that you may also remind the writer that you will be beta reading for.

Process

  1. You sign up as a beta reader in our google form asking for your strengths and weaknesses. It is important that you fill it in as complete as you can so we can match you with the right writer. These are the sections that you will be filling and an example answer:
    • Email Address – this should be an active email for us, and your future partner, to reach you.
    • Username – this can be your twitter username OR any of your username.
    • Alternative Email (optional)
    • Twitter (If you don’t have one, write n/a)
      • example: @beaconandeggs
    • Kakaotalk (If you don’t have one, write n/a)
    • How many writers have you beta read for? Please indicate at least one usernames of writer (or writers) you have read for.
      • Example: iluvcb614 and iwrite4cb
    • How many writers are you willing to beta read for? – You may indicate from 1-5 writers. We will be limiting the maximum assignment to 5 writers only.
    • First Language
      • example: English
      • English doesn’t have to be your first language, but you must have a good grammar.
    • Preferred Content
      • example: Fantasy, Magical elements, Sci Fi, Angst, Enemies to Lovers, Broken and Getting back together
      • Be as specific as you can
    • Refused Content
      • example: BDSM, gore
      • Be as specific as you can
    • Strengths
      • example: I have been speaking and writing in the English language all my life. I have read fan fictions since 2010. I am willing to stay up late to read and discuss your plot. I study law, so I might help on that aspect. I LOVE CHANBAEK WITH ALL MY LIFE AND SOUL
      • This is where you sell yourself, make sure you say everything that you can
    • Weaknesses
      • example: Sometimes my internet connection sucks, but I won’t leave you! I can be a little frank sometimes. I don’t read other pairings other than chanbaek but I’m okay with others as side pairings
    • Is there anything else you would like to say or add? – this is just any other additional information you would like to share to the mods or the writers.
  2. Writers will also fill up a form if they want to request for a beta reader.
  3. BAE mods will then pair you up in accordance to similarities of what the writer needs and what the beta reader can offer.
  4. If we think a match has been made, we will confirm with both the writer and the bet reader if they’re okay with their match. Please take note that you have the chance to refuse to be paired with your match.
  5. If in any case you have troubles with your writer/beta reader in the middle of the fest, please contact the mods immediately. We may be able to reassign you with another one.

Dates to Remember

There are instances that we will be reaching out to you if the writer assigned to you has not been responsive to our emails. In any case, please be aware of these dates:

1st Check-in: January 9, 2021
2nd Check-in: February 28, 2021
Exchange deadline: April 4, 2021
Fest deadline: April 25, 2021
Posting starts: May 6, 2021

If you have questions that aren’t answered by this post, you can send us a DM/CC/email. Thank you!

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