I finished writing and editing my book, Guardian, and thought I'd print a hard copy to give my critique partners to make corrections on. But then I thought I'd go through it quickly before I gave it away.
OH MY WORD! I can't believe how many things I want to change now that I see the words on actual paper! I've always known you should print out your book and go through it once more, just to be sure, but dang! I didn't anticipate marking the whole thing up myself.
Let this be a lesson to you, my friends. Rather than be embarrassed, read it personally on hard copy. You'll be SO glad you did. Now I'll be proud of the draft I give my alpha readers!
14 comments:
Oh yes. Whenever I print out a hard copy of anything, I ALWAYS edit it more. It's something about a hard copy that makes me notice all the little things. Well, I'm glad you found the places that needed editing before you sent it out to everyone! =)
- Nick @ Whispers
You know...I've never thought to do this. I think I shall try it :)
So true. Seeing it in a different format opens your eyes to a multitude of sins! Yikes!
Yay - well done you for completing your book ready for critiquing! Oh but yay for printing it out first then re-reading! Whenever I print a story out and read - I always catch something out that somehow wasn't visible when on the screen! Good luck with your novel!! Take care
x
I always print a copy and read it. My eyes don't catch things on a laptop screen that they would catch on paper. I also like to read each draft out loud to myself - it helps me catch awkward phrases. Good luck on your critiques!
That is a great tip. Thank you for sharing, as I will definitely do that next time.
I have never proofread a ms in hardcopy, but the few times I had enough time to do it for academic papers, I've found so many more mistakes than if I had done it electronically. It's because our eyes tend to gloss over certain mistakes and familiar phrases that "should" be right in our mind when we read it onscreen.
Truer words have never been spoken, Melissa. I'm clueless as to why the eyes miss what's on the screen!
Also, if you read it out loud you tend to find more stuff to correct. I'm not sure that you ever feel "done" with editing.
Ann
You are absolutely right, Melissa. Seeing it on paper gives one a whole new perspective.
Sorry I haven't been by in a while. I hope the holidays are treating you well. Have a great week and much success with the book.
-Jimmy
COngrats on finishing your draft--and also on printing it off to have another look! I always find so many little things that way. It helps to look at things a different way!
I wouldn't have thought so but I suppose reading on paper instead makes you read it differently and catch errors.
Good look with your book and have a happy Christmas.
I know the feeling after you get a professional critique...wow, lots to do. But it sounds like you're going strong:) Neat blog!
How true this is! And even then, I've found I need to read my manuscript through on hard copy a second time, even a third time (sigh).
That is wonderful that you're ready to give it to your alpha readers. I'm excited and happy for you, and am cheering you on!!
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs
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