Beta-reading survey

[Sternel]

Hi, everyone.  I'm poking my head out from my Big Bad Lurkerdom to 
ask a favor.  My name is Abbie, although I go by Sternel on the net 
most of the time.  I'm taking a course in Mentoring Writers at Stony 
Brook University, and for my research paper, I'm exploring the use of 
beta-writers in fanfiction communities online, to see what sort of 
similarities and differences I can find between beta readers and the 
peer tutoring process used in university writing programs.  

I'm looking for writers and beta-readers (you can be either one or 
the other, or both!) who have a few minutes to spare to help me out 
by answering a few questions on their writing/betaing process.    If 
you only write, or only beta read, you can answer just those 
applicable questions.  

Responses will be kept anonymous, so you don't have to give your name 
if you chose not to.  If you don't mind being contacted for 
clarification, there's a space to leave your email address.  At the 
close of the semester, I'll make the paper available to anyone who's 
interested.  If you have friends or fellow writers who you think 
would be interested in this survey, please feel free to pass it on.  
Due to my syllabus schedule, I have to set a cutoff date of February 
20, 2005, so unfortunately if you reply after then, while I'll be 
glad to see your response, I won't be able to include it in the 
research.

Responses can be emailed to beta.survey at gmail.com . Feel free to 
contact me there with any questions as well.  Thank you in advance!

About you:
How old are you?

Describe your educational level:

How long have you been writing?

Would you categorize yourself as a beginner, intermediate, or 
experienced writer?

What fandoms/genres/styles do you write for? Do you write original 
fiction?

OPTIONAL: If you're willing to be contacted for clarification or with 
additional questions, what is your email?  
(If you don't wish to be contacted, you won't be.  Responses will be 
kept anonymous.)

Using betas:
Do you use a beta-writer in the course of your fanfiction writing?  
Why?  (Required by the archive/hosting site, Britpicking/fact-
checking, grammar checks, plot and continuity, etc.) Or, conversely, 
why not?

Do you have any preferences about beta-readers?  How do you find your 
beta-readers?  Do you prefer specific people, or do you just use 
whoever's available?  

What sort of feedback do you expect from a beta-reader?  Why?

Do you prefer the beta's comments over IM or in the text?

How do you /use/ the feedback from a beta-read?

Do you communicate with your beta-readers in the process of writing?  
Do they contribute to plotting?  How so?

Do you turn to other people who are not beta-readers while you're 
plotting/writing?

Being a beta:
Do you beta-read for anyone? 

What do you look for as a beta-reader?  Is it the same things you 
want beta-readers to look for in /your/ work?

What sort of feedback do you give, and why?

Do you prefer to give feedback over IM or in the text?

Do you help other people with plotting and writing?  How so?

Do you feel that it's affected your own writing?  How?

Please email your responses to beta.survey at gmail.com -- don't post 
them here!  There's no need to clog up the list any further than I 
already have. Thank you!