How much printing?

CaroGirl · Mar 6, 2006

Do you print chapters as you go? Print the ms in its entirety after each draft? Print only at the end?

I like to see things on paper, and I do print double-sided, but my printer's starting to smoke and I think I've killed a forest and a half so far.

Jamesaritchie · Mar 6, 2006

Printing

CaroGirl said:
Do you print chapters as you go? Print the ms in its entirety after each draft? Print only at the end?

I like to see things on paper, and I do print double-sided, but my printer's starting to smoke and I think I've killed a forest and a half so far.

Only when everyting is finished. What's already written doesn't matter to me until the end has been written. Why print something and make changes when the very next chapter I write may make those changes useless?

Garpy · Mar 6, 2006

Hmmm, I'm a bit naughty really. I print way too much. Although, I have been cutting back on that, and also, reversing my paper and printing on both sides to halve the paper usage. Having said that though, it's still using up print, and power....and these days I'm a bit of an electricity miser. See...in the parlance of eco-cool...I'm trying to reduce my hydrocarbon foot print.

badducky · Mar 6, 2006

I used to, until I realized how much money that cost!

I find it's cheaper to have my ancient, cheap, used laptop on one side of the desk, and the new computer on the other.

I have them open side-by-side and re-enter from one side to the other.

Shadow_Ferret · Mar 6, 2006

I can't afford paper and ink. I never print until it's ready for submission.

Birol · Mar 6, 2006

I print way too much, also, but I do recycle. I tend to print the scene(s) I'm working on and carry them and a notebook with me if I'm going to be running around town. That way, if I end up waiting somewhere, I can work on them. I also buy recycled ink cartridges as well as recycle my own. Not only are they less expensive, but it's better than sending all that plastic to the landfill.

Stew21 · Mar 6, 2006

I print after a draft and do my revisions that way. Though I typically keep one version in ms format and the one I print is in 8 point arial font, single line spacing so it only takes 40 pages, not 200. (and it never crossed my mind to double-side it, that'll make it 20!) works for me.
I like to mark things up on a page, just the the way I am, so I do print, but only after a draft is completed.

mattwaterman · Mar 6, 2006

I used to print after my second draft and read/edit chapters on the subway. It was downtime just asking to be made useful and I figured many people would be reading in a similarly distracted environment. If I found a sentance that was needlessly complex or overwrought it would stick out to me more after 10 hours of work. Of course, that also lead to me missing simple mistakes as well so who's to say...?

PastMidnight · Mar 6, 2006

I print chapter-by-chapter, two pages per side of the paper, and use those for revisions. It makes it easier for me to spot errors on the printed page. I like to also have something portable, so if I am going to be out and about, I can have something to bring with me.

I usually print them in "draft quality" and I save all paper in the house and reuse the back sides for printing.

Vomaxx · Mar 6, 2006

I print it frequently. One reason is that I have little faith in computers or storage systems: large amounts of paper are much harder to destroy than electrons on a metal or plastic plate. The other reason is that I can carry our minor revisions and grammatical improvements anytime. (I write each day on paper with a pen, they type it up, and print it out, every four days or so.)

veinglory · Mar 6, 2006

I write and submit electroncially--and so have never printed any of my stuff. I back up on a flash drive and CD.

Jamesaritchie · Mar 6, 2006

PastMidnight said:
I print chapter-by-chapter, two pages per side of the paper, and use those for revisions. It makes it easier for me to spot errors on the printed page. I like to also have something portable, so if I am going to be out and about, I can have something to bring with me.

I usually print them in "draft quality" and I save all paper in the house and reuse the back sides for printing.

Why do errors on the page matter unless it's the draft you intend to submit?

The main reason I don't print is because I don't even know if chapter two will be part of the novel until after I finish the novel. And even if it remains part of the novel, finishing the novel may mean I have to go back and at least change some things in chapter two. So why spend time editing it in print form?

roach · Mar 6, 2006

I do most of my writing and revision on the computer. I print out pages to take to my critique group.

But, I did print out my WIP when I got to 224 pages just for a different view of things. Leafing through the pages gave me as sense of just where events were coming in the overall book that I couldn't get from scrolling through the pages on screen. I expect that I'll do one more full print out before it's ready for submission for the same reason.

PastMidnight · Mar 6, 2006

Jamesaritchie said:
Why do errors on the page matter unless it's the draft you intend to submit?

It's not that I'm looking for errors in the printing, just that I find it easier to spot errors on a printout. I think it's because I'm so used to looking at my WIP on the computer screen, that just looking at it in a different format helps me to spot things that I miss on the screen. I like having it all spread out in front of me so that I can see the big picture.

scribbler1382 · Mar 6, 2006

I print out each writing session when I'm done. Then I read through and I'll do small write-ins to fix typos, spelling and grammar. I usually start the next writing session by typing in these write-ins. Kind of works the kinks out.

And I understand the idea of "why edit when you don't even know if it's going to end up in the final draft", but it's just the way I work. I sort of trick myself into thinking everything is going to end up in the final draft. Otherwise, I just wouldn't care about writing it at all. I'm also a bit of a perfectionist.

Maryn · Mar 6, 2006

I can't be the only person who sees problems on paper that are absolutely invisible on the screen...

I don't print until I've finished a complete draft, though, and even then I only print parts. If I decide to change something in chapter two that's going to affect every chapter after than, I'd rather change it on the computer.

Maryn, who loves find-and-replace

banjo · Mar 6, 2006

I may print out a passage for a specific reason. Perhaps to pass a novel idea by a beta reader, or take with me to read and rethink while I'm waiting in line or something.

Other than that I can do the bulk of my corrections on the computer. I print when I have a complete draft, for the most part.

AdamH · Mar 6, 2006

Maryn said:
I can't be the only person who sees problems on paper that are absolutely invisible on the screen...

No, you're not alone, Maryn. I print on a draft by draft basis. I like the feeling of crossing out and reorganizing using a pencil to make little editing scratches on my manuscript. I'd almost say it's therapeutic.

LightShadow · Mar 6, 2006

I print on a draft by draft basis not only to see it, feel it, and red mark it, but because I don't trust my computer and cd backup. If anything is lost, I always have my hard copies for posterity.

kristie911 · Mar 6, 2006

Once I finish a draft, I print it but to save paper I reduce the margins to .5 all the way around and 1 1/2 space instead of double. I tried single but it was too hard to mark up the page. I find it much, much easier to do revisions on paper. Like Maryn, I just miss too much on-screen. And when I'm hand editing I keep a notebook and write out anything that just won't fit on the paper. I'll mark the passage with a number so I know to check the notebook when inputing all the changes.

BuffStuff · Mar 7, 2006

I write my drafts longhand in a moleskine (oooo!), with a fountain pen (oooo!) so I only copy the manuscript onto the computer and then print it when I'm looking to do indepth line editing, etc. I'm a luddite only when it comes to writing, though.

Jamesaritchie · Mar 7, 2006

Writing

BuffStuff said:
I write my drafts longhand in a moleskine (oooo!), with a fountain pen (oooo!) so I only copy the manuscript onto the computer and then print it when I'm looking to do indepth line editing, etc. I'm a luddite only when it comes to writing, though.

I don't use Moleskine for fiction, and I had to give up fountain pens because I can't find on that doesn't hurt my poor old hand, thugh I still use a fountain pen for my journal, but I still think the Luddite Word Processor is the best tool for writing. My current choice is the [size=-1]Penmate Duo Expert automatic drafting pencil with a slide on, triangular grip for writing fiction.[/size]

Bigbunny · Mar 7, 2006

I print out my work after every writing session....purely for egotistical reasons: I like seeing what I have produced for the day, and the progress I have made. It makes me feel good.

I also write some of my first draft longhand, if I happen to be somewhere other than smack in the middle of my living room where my computer is. **Heavy Sigh, still waiting for a laptop**

Phouka · Mar 7, 2006

I have a hard time editing onscreen, especially for grammer/punctuation. I print only a critical points, though -- after a draft, when I'm revising. I tend to print in teeny-weeny fonts and as closely spaced as I can manage (usually two pages per sheet). I don't do double sided.

Otherwise, I spend most of my day in front of the computer (luckily with a client who doesn't care if I print out personal stuff within reason), so sometimes sitting down with pencil and paper is a pleasure. My handwriting has so completely disintigrated into scribbling that I cannot write long hand any longer and hope to read it later. When I do try, however, I'm a Levenger circa fan. They may have a fountain pen that works, as well, Jamesaritchie.

DamaNegra · Mar 7, 2006

I never print; that would be a waste of ink and paper that I cannot afford. I only print out short stories and do it using the school printers heheh.

How much printing?

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