Er... I do have issues with that. I guess because I came from HP fandom, there were so many works vying for people's attention, and as a result, people knew that they had to work, so yeah, as long as you aren't shredding the ego, sure, but the work shouldn't be tied to a writer's ego.
I do agree with you re: the whole voice and style though. If the beta'ing process is done well, the writer will be aware of someone 'listening' to her work for the first time. The thing is, a lot of writers think that in order for writing to be 'worthy' it has to sound a certain way. Like, this person I beta'd for a bang, she had all these descriptors and twenty dollar words and a sort of faux, forced politeness, when her style was very sly, and quite funny. So we spent a lot of time getting away from the descriptors and twenty dollar words and strange politeness, and worked on getting the writing as clear as water. Her style came through, then in all its snarky glory.
I know what I do like to see when writing, such as a cool turn of phrase, description (not overly so, but enough to have a sense of 'place' in someone's work), and a feeling that the work is just so smooth and flowing. I know how hard that is to get right.
But I'm with you about finding a writer's work that you like, and really sit down and ask yourself why. Then ask yourself what you don't like, and then try and make your work something that you yourself will like, because sometimes, after I've written fanfic and put it out there, the only person that's liked it has been me. :D
with regards to being kind when beta
I do agree with you re: the whole voice and style though. If the beta'ing process is done well, the writer will be aware of someone 'listening' to her work for the first time. The thing is, a lot of writers think that in order for writing to be 'worthy' it has to sound a certain way. Like, this person I beta'd for a bang, she had all these descriptors and twenty dollar words and a sort of faux, forced politeness, when her style was very sly, and quite funny. So we spent a lot of time getting away from the descriptors and twenty dollar words and strange politeness, and worked on getting the writing as clear as water. Her style came through, then in all its snarky glory.
I know what I do like to see when writing, such as a cool turn of phrase, description (not overly so, but enough to have a sense of 'place' in someone's work), and a feeling that the work is just so smooth and flowing. I know how hard that is to get right.
But I'm with you about finding a writer's work that you like, and really sit down and ask yourself why. Then ask yourself what you don't like, and then try and make your work something that you yourself will like, because sometimes, after I've written fanfic and put it out there, the only person that's liked it has been me. :D