Beta Help
Table of ContentsWhat is a beta reader?

A beta reader (often shortened to "beta") is someone who reviews a story before you post it publicly to help with grammar, spelling & punctuation, plot issues, basically helps make sure your story is ready for the world!

Do I need a beta reader?

At MTT we do not required authors to have their work beta-read before publishing, but we can say from experience that it is helpful to have a second set of eyes look over your story to help polish it and find all the little (and not so little) things that may be not quite on target.

Is there a system on MTT to connect writers with beta readers?

The best ways for a writer to get connected with a beta is to ask for one either in the shoutbox, Discord or in the notes of their fics. People who are interested in beta-ing are also free to advertise in the shoutbox, discord or to offer to beta in a review. We do hope to someday implement a better, more "official" beta system but for now this is the best method.

I would like to be a beta-reader, how do I start?

If you'd like to beta-read you can offer your services in the shoutbox or Discord. You can also offer a certain author your beta services in reviews of their stories (we suggest only doing this if they request a beta in their story/chapter notes or on their profile)

The following is a template you may want to copy and fill out then share with any author interested in your beta services. Delete the ratings you're not interested in beta-reading, select your expected turnaround time for 1 average length chapter (about 2000-3000 words) then deleted any of the beta-reader skills that aren't applicable to you.

~Beta-Reader Template:~

Beta-Reader Status:
Ratings I'll Beta for: K K+ T M MA
Turn Around Time for 1 Chapter: 1-3 Days | 4-7 Days | 8+ Days | Depends, contact for info
I Can Help With: American English | Other English Dialects | Punctuation & Spelling* | Grammar | Plot Suggestions | In-depth editing | Show Canon Knowledge | Show Setting Knowledge

Beta/Editing Experience:

What I can bring to your stories as your beta:

Stories/Topics I prefer not to beta:

I preferred to be contacted via:

~End Beta-Reader Template~

A few notes on filling this template out

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I am a writer looking for a beta, where do I start?

Your best bets are to state you're looking for a beta in the shoutbox, on the discord or in the notes of one of your stories.

Tips for writers AND beta readers:

Before starting the beta process, it needs to be clearly established what the writer wants from the beta. Do they just want a basic proofreading where the beta checks for grammar, punctuation & spelling errors? Do they want the beta to keep a close eye out for inconsistencies, characterization issues, plot holes? Is there one area in particular they would like some assistance with? Or do they want a really in-depth line-by-line edit? Once this is established, decide on time frames, how the writer will send works and how the beta will send corrections back, etc.

Tips for writers:

Tips for beta-readers

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for the beta reader program, don't hesitate to tell us via the contact form or MTT.Fanfic@gmail.com

*The beta-reader template is very much borrowed from the Elysian Fields archive, whose webmaster has been an invaluable help to us!*

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