I'm editing a fan fiction for someone... and it's really bad. I need advice?

From one fanfiction beta to another . . . check out someone's profile and look at his stories before you agree to edit. That being said (and as I don't always follow my own advice), there are a couple of things you can do.

1) Come clean and be completely honest. Not only will it take the responsibility of the bad story off your shoulders, you'll never be asked to edit for that guy again. The hard part, however, is doing this without hurting the writer. But think of it this way: constructive criticism is a lot more helpful, and anyone who really wants to be better will take it. I once beta'd for a girl who was generally a good writer and had one absolutely terrible chapter. I told her and . . . she re-wrote the chapter. So that it was excellent.

Sadly, based on what you've said, you can't do that with this guy.

2) Tell him his stories need to be cleaner before you edit. A beta's job is not to rewrite the whole story to add punctuation, etc.; it's to polish a work and pick up on any little details which the author has missed. Authors should have several drafts and self-edits before they send you the chapter and if not -- well, send it back to them! Otherwise, they're taking advantage of you.

3) This is the least beneficial solution for him, but probably the easiest for you: tell him that you feel you're just not the right beta for the job (or that you have a major conflict) and will be unable to edit for him anymore. The downside of this is that he may contact you at a later date for a different story and you may feel guilty enough to take him up on it. Don't. Send back a brief, politely-worded refusal.

In short, you have three choices: tell him the story's terrible and why, tell him he needs to have a cleaner copy before he sends you the story, tell him you just can't be his editor anymore.

But never forget the rule of thumb: be polite, as honest as possible, and firm. This will stop resentment on his side and guilt on yours, while still getting you out of the editing situation.

Okay, so if you've decided on #1, how can you be honest? What's a good way to break the news? This would be my suggestion.

Dear _______,

Thank you for sending me your stories; it's always a good idea for authors (fanfiction or not) to have betas.

Unfortunately, it's the duty of betas to tell authors when there's a problem. I've been editing for you for _____ chapters now, and have a couple of things which you should be aware of.

First off, the copies of chapters you send me aren't really ready to be edited. Betas are there to just check for mistakes -- to polish stories up. You've been sending me chapters which are really more like rough drafts. So do some editing of your own beforehand -- check that punctuation, use spellcheck, all of that -- and then I'll catch anything you've missed.

Secondly, and please take this the right way: I know why you're getting so few reviews; it has to do with tone. Modern readers need a bit more flair, drama, clever language in their reading. You're not writing a textbook! So put down that university book and pick up a good, popular novel before you write -- it'll help get you out of academic mode.

Thirdly: story line. Exciting storylines which get a lot of reviews have a quick succession. Interesting and realistic characters drive the plot to: event, reaction, action, leads to -- event! Jim Butcher (author of the Dresden Files) has written some excellent articles in his livejournal,

http://jimbutcher.livejournal.com/

which are really helpful. Start at his early entries and work your way through, then follow his advice -- it'll help your writing immensely!

I know it's never easy taking criticism, even from your beta, but you have real potential for a writer, if only you use it. No one gets to be a great writer right away, it takes a lot of work -- not to mention advice from other writers!

Wishing you all the best,

_________

I hope that helps.

I'm sorry to hear that. It's a bit tricky isn't it.

Tell him that maybe it's may not be to most peoples interest.

That he could add a little more action, romance ect..

If it sucks that bad, just let him know that it needs more structure.

If you feel that bad I have an account I'll review him nicely if you would be so kind as to send me the u.r.l. =]

Thank you. Good luck

Mara

I can not identify any exceptionally however I've learn such a lot of terrible ones where the writer did not fully grasp the characters in any respect and made them sound dull and infantile! Those are those I hate probably the most after which those that make no feel whatever!

Suggest that he re-read what he's written, and then change what he thinks ought to be changed. Nothing you write the first time will be perfect. He might try his story from a different angle, or abandon it.

Life is too short to read bad fanfiction.