Hello again everyone! Thanks so much for all of your comments on my last post about revision. I was reading through them and found a lot of helpful advice, and so I have made a decision.
Today, I will print my manuscript in hard copy.
Last year I was lucky enough to do an internship at Random House Books for Young Readers. This encompassed a lot of different things, but my favorite was probably evaluating manuscripts. This is something that happens at all agencies and publishing houses, and if you submit a manuscript to be published your work will get evaluated so many times it’s actually nuts. But like, nuts in a good way.
Basically what happens is someone, usually an intern at first, will read what you’ve submitted and write up a reader’s report. In it they’ll talk about the strengths and weaknesses of your work, the plot, the narrative timing, the voice, the characters, the confusing time travel you added to be trendy – you know, everything that’s in there. I found that everyone around me (read: the people who were actually paid to work at Random House) would read the pages on their tablets or e-readers. This made me feel like a crazy person whenever I printed 300 pages (double-sided, I’m not a monster) at the giant LaserJet that was in the center of our office. I would hit “print” on my computer and then diligently start working on something else. Geez, who’s printing all that stuff? I don’t know, I’m so busy inputting this LIC info. I would wait an appropriate amount of time to distance myself from the act, then casually go up and grab my pages. Then I would kick off my shoes, get out my pen, lounge back in my uber comfy reject desk chair, and get to reading.
Maybe I’m old-fashioned. People tell me my generation hates books and being outdoors and face to face interaction, so maybe I was just born in the wrong time period. Either way, something about having that printed copy just made me feel like I was doing better work – really taking in what I was reading. I need to be able to scribble in the margins of things, or I forget stuff. Making a little comment in Microsoft Word doesn’t feel the same. When I’m confused about why the heroine’s zombie boyfriend can bite the cat and not infect him with zombie germs, I need to be able to write “WHAT!?! NO ZOMBIE FELINES!?!?! WHY?? Ask author later” in the margins. Also, why wasn’t she mad he bit her cat? He seems less sympathetic as a character, running around biting people’s pets. Anyway, I digress.
The point is, I need to be able to flip through those pages and cross things out that bother me and write things in that should be better. Maybe it’s crazy that I’d rather do that with a pen than with a keyboard. For that reason, I think printing my manuscript will make it real for me. This is something that I wrote, and here it is in a big pile of pages that need a lot of work. If I can look at these pages the way I looked at the thousands I read during my internship, then maybe I can really get something done. I’m not sure what will be scarier – taking the pen to the pages, or finishing the work and taking the next step.
So what do you think? Do you prefer the digital editing programs (of which there are many), or to have a hard copy in front of you? Share in the comments below!
Cait Levin is the Community Manager at She Writes. You can read more of her blog (when she stops watching so much Dawson’s Creek and actually writes more of a blog) here.
Cait, what a terrific post! I totally have to print to do significant revisions -- though I am one of those writers who constantly edits as she goes, which happens on the screen.
As many have mentioned, I do a little of both. After I've written and edited on screen, I'll print the entire manuscript and edit on paper. I usually find even more things to change on the hard copy. Funny how that works.
I do a lot of editing on the computer as it is easier and quicker to apply the edits, but I've noticed that when I actually print out my work I find mistakes that I hadn't noticed when it was digital. I have to say though that I really do like the feeling of having the pages in my hands. It fills me with pride!
Taking a pen to the pages is a bit scary... it’s not easy to make changes to something you love, but sending out those pages once they are as perfect as you can get them is by far scarier!
Since the advent of word-processing, I've been using a hibrid approach. Like Sharon, I do a first (maybe second, third, etc) edit on the screen, and then print it out (usually at FedEx office) to see how it hangs together as a whole piece of writing. This gives me the chance to do several edits before I waste a lot of paper. The printout allows me to do a complete read-through and reference or revise previous parts of the ms, if necessary.
Likewise, when I'm editing for others in a writing group, I use the "track changes" feature whenever I can, and then either send it electronically or print it out afterwards. This features allows the editor to write in margins, etc., while doing electronic editing.
There was a time when I couldn't write, read or edit on the screen. But I got over that after a couple of years, realizing how much less time and aggravation are involved in the electronic approach. I do somethimes get the feeling, though, that everything we do electronically is so ephemeral, almost unreal.
Hi all -
I revise on my computer. I just find it's faster. It's too many steps to print out, edit, and then go back to the computer and enter edits. I've given myself a deadline. I'm self-publishing in July, so I have to move forward and not waste time. This is probably my 8th or 9th edit so I've seen it on paper many times. I do like holding it as a paper manuscript!
Sharon, your take on the process sounds rad.
Anybody doing something similar in a non Mac environment? If so, what software works for you?
Nothing says clean, clear to read copy like a MS on paper. I can't really explain why but when I can hold it and see how sentences look actually printed, it just makes everything that much easier to read, and edit.
I use an approach nobody has mentioned yet. I write and edit early drafts on my computer -- taking occasional breaks to scribble or outline by hand on paper when I feel stuck. Fairly early in the process I print pdf versions and use my iPad. The GoodNotes app feels 90% like paper and I can underline, add interlinear notes and margin notes the same as on paper. I edit that then run a grammar check (I reject much of what that suggests, but it does find double words, missing and extra commas, and things like that) and use Calibre to pop it into ePub format and read in iBooks. The ebook format give a bit more distance and breaks the connection with page position. Once again, I can underline and add notes. Beta read copies go out in whatever format the readers prefer -- pdf, mobi or ePub. When I have all comments from beta readers, I incorporate those, read once again in GoodNotes, then and only then do I print a paper copy.
I have taken a slightly different approach. I handwrite my pages in a notebook, and then dictate them to my computer directly into my word processor. This gives me a chance to make notes about the flow of my manuscript. The next step is to write or rewrite sections as noted during dictation. Then I outline what I have written, and fill in the missing elements. I then print the completed work out double-sided to proofread. It is a long process, but once printed out it is ready for a beta read by someone else.
For my first revision, I printed out my novel and, looking at the pages, I retyped it. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but I think I got really far with that revision. When you're typing again, you become more aggressive about questioning what you have and you have a more proactive stance than when you're just scanning pages that you basically plan to keep. I didn't slash and burn my novel, but I did cut 50 out of 320 pages because there was just one part of it that I couldn't bring myself to type again, and also because I did quite a bit of condensing and tightening. I like it much better now.
Funny... and great topic!
I found that stories read 'flatter' (duller) on screen, than on paper. In other words, I thought my story was really singing, until I printed those '300' pages (lol), and started reading. For this reason, I must have a printed copy and edit by hand.
The funnier thing is, or rather was; was a proofreader 'once' telling me how it would be so much easier to do the proofread on a computer... and then proceeded to explain to me the 'track changes' feature! NEXT!!!
I find that even I've proofed and made edits online, I always catch other things when I print out a manuscript. The flow is different, and because it looks different as well, you see it in a new way. I think of it as similar to the difference between reading a piece silently and reading it out loud. (That can be another great way to catch changes.)
I prefer to edit my MS online to save ink and paper and easier too to make and see instant changes.
Although I hate to waste paper, I have to have a hard copy (double-sided) as I'm a visual and tactile person. Also, being in front of a screen too long gives me a headache.
LOL Rita on the revision dates. My problem is I sometimes forget to put page numbers and then drop the whole darn thing. Sigh.
My manuscripts are vetted by my critique group, my editor, and beta readers - all digitally. After all those people have their say, then I look at the printed copy and I still find things to change.
I always print out my work. Usually, I read it aloud, too, from the printed page. Recently, I read a piece recording it on Garage band (on my mac). Listening to the playback was a revelation, and led to more editing.
For some reason, I miss things on the screen that are obvious when I review a hard copy. It's very rare for me to only print out once. Sometimes a revision goes in two or three stages and I need to see it again in hard copy each time. If I could, I'd stick to the computer screen for revision, but it seems like I work better revisions when I'm using hard copy. In the case of a very difficult revision, I might cut up the sections and reorganize them on the floor. I like interacting with the copy, if that makes sense. :)
I absolutely revise via paper. Something to be aware of...is be sure to date the manuscript you're currently working on. It helps! Yes, I use LOTS of paper this way, but it's how my mind works.
Sharon, you're lucky you only need to do it one time. I have to do it four or five but in the end the final product shows the results and the books are no longer traditionally published so lots of trees are saved. It's either digital which is where most of my sales are or POD. Still, for me, one hard-copy pass is never enough. Your lucky you can do it. Wish I could.
I create and rewrite on the computer. But when I think I have the manuscript as perfect as I can make it, when I am getting ready to send it out, then I print the entire book and do one final edit on paper. Because of my desire to conserve trees, and printer ink, and not create unnecessary waste, I only do this one time. But it is easier to see what is really on the page when it is on paper.
My dissertation was written on yellow lined paper, corrected, cut up, taped together and how the typist read it (even though my handwriting was much better in those days) I'll never know. (For time reference, it was typed on mimeograph stencils.) Computers are GREAT for editing--I can read my own notes and corrections. On the other hand, I much prefer paper books for reading, not because I don't like readers (I love being able to change the type size) but because I can't flip between several pages easily.
I totally agree. With paper pages you can spread them out, kick them around, mark 'em up, read and reread, have multiple pages in front of you with no miniature screen windows. And there's something about the physicality of it. Of course, some editing takes place on the computer too--constantly!
Hard copy all the way. If I had a nickel for every mistake in grammar or spelling various pre-readers of my book overlooked, I'd be a lot wealthier. Print it out, get out the red (felt-tipped) pen and go nuts.
I go through reams of paper when I'm getting to the point of serious editing. This can include slashing multiple pages, adding dialogue and having to cross reference where I need to move certain scenes. It just doesn't work on a one dimensional screen. Not for me anyway. :)