Printing cost.

Depends on where you take it and how many copies you're making. Add in the cost of three-hole-punching each page, and getting 5 copies of your script made (for example) will cost anywhere from $30-$50.

I never mass print scripts.

I print them out on pre-punched paper (you can buy reems of it at staples) as I need them.

You will find that it you print ten, twenty or thirty copies, that is when you will find more errors you wished you found earlier or you'll send a few out and get feedback from an agent or producer which you now wish you could have put into the other copies.

Trust me, print them out as you need them. Cost per script, including ink and paper is not much more than having them copied.

If you are sending a lot of scripts out, invest in a laser printer.

nope. plain white of light grey cover stock. The only thing you should spend money on is atco brads. don't buy staple brand and cut them down. spend the money and order brads from the writer's store.

joecalabre said:

You will find that it you print ten, twenty or thirty copies, that is when you will find more errors you wished you found earlier

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That is so true. I've thrown away so many of my copied-at-Kinkos scripts because of that. I used to print them about 15 or 20 at a time. Then I'd send out 4 or 5, then wind up rereading the darn thing and finding all these little things I really should have changed. Then I'd start editing to fix those little things, and wind up finding more and more and more to tweak. Then I couldn't bear to send out the lousy script I paid to have copied just a couple of weeks earlier, so I'd toss it and print it out myself.

I have an electric 3-hole puncher that cost about $25. I use that instead of buying pre-punched paper, just so I can always print out a script no matter what kind of paper I have around.

I think the brand of brads (aka brass fasteners) is Acco, not Atco.

One way to cut costs,

I used to go out and buy a really nice laser printer (one way out of my price range). Put it on the credit card and then buy some paper. Run off a ton of copies, I mean keep that new printer humming all night. Then when you're finished take the printer back to the store and tell them you're 'unsatisfied'. As long as it's within 30 days (15 some stores) they'll refund the price of the printer back to your credit card. Also watch out for restocking fees some stores charge a restocking fee of like 10-15% when you return the item. Best bet is to simply ask the sales person if there is a restocking fee before you buy.

shady

mjgwriter said:

One way to cut costs,

I used to go out and buy a really nice laser printer (one way out of my price range). Put it on the credit card and then buy some paper. Run off a ton of copies, I mean keep that new printer humming all night. Then when you're finished take the printer back to the store and tell them you're 'unsatisfied'. As long as it's within 30 days (15 some stores) they'll refund the price of the printer back to your credit card. Also watch out for restocking fees some stores charge a restocking fee of like 10-15% when you return the item. Best bet is to simply ask the sales person if there is a restocking fee before you buy.

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I'm sorry about that's shady, cheap, and just plain not right. If you cannot afford to buy something, then don't buy it.

It's like those people who try buying clothes to go on a date and then go to the store for the next day for a refund. Trashy.

A printer is an investment in your future. If you're serious about being a writer, then you need to save up and buy one.

I agree with Justino.
We may be poor, but that is no reason to throw ethics out the window.

Ditto. You can get laser printers for pretty cheap now (there's always eBay as well). No need to throw ethics out the window.

JennaGlatzer said:

I think the brand of brads (aka brass fasteners) is Acco, not Atco.

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Yup. my mistake. ACCO #5, 1 1/4 inch is perfect for script under 130 pages.

I use two and leave the middle hole empty. The best place to buy them is at: http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=588&cPath= for $7 for 50 scripts. If you want to get fancy, use the washers too.

Readers hate it when people buy cheap, no-name 1 1/2 inch brads and cut them down or leave them hanging.

Those things are sharp and can ruin a desktop or cut hands for that matter.

That makes for a great first impression.

joecalabre said:

I use two and leave the middle hole empty. The best place to buy them is at: http://www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=588&cPath= for $7 for 50 scripts. If you want to get fancy, use the washers too.

Readers hate it when people buy cheap, no-name 1 1/2 inch brads and cut them down or leave them hanging.

Those things are sharp and can ruin a desktop or cut hands for that matter.

That makes for a great first impression.

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Thanks for the link, I was about to ask where you buy them from.