Printing is a Must
There’s just no way around it. To truly polish a manuscript, I simply must print it on paper and edit it away from the computer. I’m not exactly sure why.
Of course, in spite of improvements, the computer screen still isn’t great for reading. Even the best flicker to one degree or another. Although I can focus for writing there, when it comes to seeing the whole and nit picking details, printing on paper just works better for me, and I suspect most others.
And then there’s the whole business of how different it is to flip through physical and numbered pages – paging up and down just isn’t the same. Even if I’ve got the manuscript in good enough shape not to be moving great blocks of text from here to there, there’s something about handling paper and red pen that is simply more effective.
I’m old enough to remember the promise of the paperless office – what a joke that turned out to be. Between copiers and computers we must use three or four times the amount of paper we did before those inventions.
I do try to limit my printouts because I’m critically aware of the impact paper has on the planet. That’s why I use recycled paper and why I make sure the printed documents I don’t store go back into the recycle bin. But generate paper I do, way more than I like.
Printing on paper from time-to-time is an absolute must for this freelance writer.
Write well and often,
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POSTED IN: Musings From A Freelance Writer
9 opinions for Printing is a Must
Lisa
Feb 14, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Anne, can’t believe your post today. I had that exact thought today. I mean exact. Reading and editing my writing is always much deeper and more connected to the core of the piece than it is if I edit on screen.
I’ll venture a guess: something physical, connected to the fact that we’re tool-makers, tool-users. And remember all the time we spent with our babies, putting things in their hands, helping them get a “sense” of the world, eye-hand coordination, all that. It’s seems like the answer is somewhere in there…
Love the post.
Heather
Feb 15, 2007 at 7:32 am
Ah, yes, I totally agree with this one. It’s ok to let a little bit of writing get by, but an entire ms simply must be printed. I will always find several typos or glaring errors to fix up this way, too. ;-)
Devon Ellington
Feb 15, 2007 at 9:40 am
Simply rearranging on screen leaves the final text fractured. I need to work on it by hand in order for it to be coherent.
Anne Wayman
Feb 15, 2007 at 9:45 am
sort of guessed I wouldn’t be alone in this ;)
Sandy
Feb 15, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Good post! It’s amazing what jumps out at us from the printed page. Also, if I’m struggling with a writing project, printing what I’ve done so far and moving to a different environment to look it over helps jostle the ol’ brain and give me a fresh outlook on the piece.
Tris Hussey
Feb 15, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Totally with you. I’m better editing on screen now, but sometimes just getting out the pencil (my fav editing tool) and sitting down with the hard copy is just the ticket.
Robert Burdock
Feb 15, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Reading and editing on a screen only is an intensely difficult skill to master. Although I’m not a professional writer like you guys I fill reams of virtual pages for essays and dissertations so can relate in some way to what you are talking about. However have you or any of your creative commenters tried working on a TabletPC before? Ok so your still ’screen based’ but the actual act of being able to write directly on the page (albeit electronically)is a whole different experience and aside from remaining 100% paperless your pen never runs out of ink :o)
Perhaps the main thing though Anne is you wholly acknowledge and appreciate the environmental cost and take pro-active steps to minimise the impact. Good on you :o)
Carma Dutra
Feb 15, 2007 at 10:29 pm
I agree that it is the physical “vibes” (if you will) that flow from the paper to the hand to the heart. You can’t get that by placing a hand on the computer screen. lol.
Brick
Feb 15, 2007 at 11:13 pm
To cut down on paper waste and cost, I bought a TC1100 (tablet pc) with an unexpected reimbursement check I received. I’m hoping to edit/proofread on the tablet away from the desk setting. Time will tell.
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