It's how I found a beta. But sometimes there are communities and archives that offer lists of those who volunteer to beta, and you can ask one of them if they are interested in your project.
Occasionally a reviewer may volunteer to beta. Decide from their reviews and some correspondence if they will be a good fit. Actually writing back and forth and perhaps reading a few of their own stories is a good way to find out if the two of you can work together.
One of the main things you have to find out is if they are OK with you sometimes not taking their advice. And you have to be willing to take all the advice that seems sensible to you. Be willing to hold on to your story, but also to realize that most betas have a good reason for their advice and that sometimes you must listen.
Don't let your beta be a dictator. But don't throw her under the bus either. If you end up posting a story without using what they tell you and name them as the beta, they'll be embarrassed.
If you turn out not to be a good fit after a story or two, come to a cordial agreement about not continuing, and try to find someone else.
Betas are very useful, but you don't have to have one to write a good quality fic. I don't always use a beta anymore, especially for one-shots. When I do seek one out, it is usually for a special reason--perhaps it is out of my usual sort of story, or I am trying something new.
If you choose NOT to use one, here's how to go about it:
Go over your story several times, spellchecking, grammar checking and looking for typos. A good way to do this the last time is to change the font--it makes the things stand out a little.
Also, before you write a story--especially a gapfiller or a story featuring canon characters, re-read the source. Go back again and again to the books (or the movies if you use that 'verse), over and over. If you keep the source fresh in your mind, you will be able to keep the characters IN character, and their voice will be true.
Finally, remember to check again just before you post for any last minute changes.
My earliest stories are not as good as my later ones. Some authors go through and change their earliest efforts or take them down. I don't. I use them to remind myself of how far I've come.
no subject
Occasionally a reviewer may volunteer to beta. Decide from their reviews and some correspondence if they will be a good fit. Actually writing back and forth and perhaps reading a few of their own stories is a good way to find out if the two of you can work together.
One of the main things you have to find out is if they are OK with you sometimes not taking their advice. And you have to be willing to take all the advice that seems sensible to you. Be willing to hold on to your story, but also to realize that most betas have a good reason for their advice and that sometimes you must listen.
Don't let your beta be a dictator. But don't throw her under the bus either. If you end up posting a story without using what they tell you and name them as the beta, they'll be embarrassed.
If you turn out not to be a good fit after a story or two, come to a cordial agreement about not continuing, and try to find someone else.
Betas are very useful, but you don't have to have one to write a good quality fic. I don't always use a beta anymore, especially for one-shots. When I do seek one out, it is usually for a special reason--perhaps it is out of my usual sort of story, or I am trying something new.
If you choose NOT to use one, here's how to go about it:
Go over your story several times, spellchecking, grammar checking and looking for typos. A good way to do this the last time is to change the font--it makes the things stand out a little.
Also, before you write a story--especially a gapfiller or a story featuring canon characters, re-read the source. Go back again and again to the books (or the movies if you use that 'verse), over and over. If you keep the source fresh in your mind, you will be able to keep the characters IN character, and their voice will be true.
Finally, remember to check again just before you post for any last minute changes.
My earliest stories are not as good as my later ones. Some authors go through and change their earliest efforts or take them down. I don't. I use them to remind myself of how far I've come.