Hey everyone! It’s Clara Kensie, back with a new Question of the Week! Pretty much the only thing writers love as much as writing is talking about writing. So each week here at Adventures in YA Publishing, I post a question for you to answer. The questions cover all topics important to writers: craft, career, writers’ life, reading and books. Together we’ll become better writers by sharing tips and discussing our habits and practices.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
December 1, 2013
Do you print out your manuscripts for editing?
Happy, happy Sunday, my friends! I hope you all had a great week. Today, December 1, is a big day for me: it’s my deadline for RUN TO YOU Book Two! Yep, today I am sending the manuscript to my brilliant editor, Natashya Wilson at Harlequin Teen. Woohoo! It will be released as a three-part serial in June 2014 (June 1, June 18, and June 15 to be exact). RUN TO YOU Book One will be released in February 2014, also as a three-part serial (February 1, February 8, and February 15). *Gasp* You guys. I just realized that my very first release date is exactly two months away! Eeeeeek!
Okay. Back to business. My question for you this week is: Do you print out your manuscripts for editing?
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| My printed manuscript – all that paper! |
MY ANSWER: Yes. This is a fairly recent development in my revision process. I had always avoided printing out my manuscript because: 1) ink is expensive, and 2) using all that paper is bad for the environment. But this year, I discovered that reading my printed manuscript allows me to look at it with fresh eyes. For whatever reason, I see it completely differently than when I see it on the computer monitor. Now I’m a printing fiend. I print out my manuscript after each draft to make notes with my favorite red pen. While I’m writing a draft, I often print out individual chapters to edit as well, especially when I’m having trouble with them. So now, although my revising and editing have improved a thousandfold by printing things out, I’m spending a lot of money on ink, and I’m not being eco-friendly. I feel horribly guilty about that.
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| My husband snapped this photo as I was heading to the writing cave this morning: Me, my coffee in my favorite mug, my favorite hoodie (a gift from the family after I sold RUN TO YOU), my favorite red pen, and my printed-out manuscript. |
WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you print out your manuscripts? How often? Do you find it helpful? (Side question: Do you have any tips about how to save money on ink and how to make it a more eco-friendly process?)
