How Do You Edit? Longhand or Computer

joyce · Feb 22, 2008

As I was editing the last couple of chapters in my novel, I was wondering about this. I've edited 2/3 of the novel by printing out each chapter and going over it with a pen. This can take some time since I find myself re-writing whole paragraphs and such. Then I decided to try and edit a couple of chapters on the computer and not print them out. I noticed that it seems to be a quicker process, but I don't seem to be editing as much crap in or out. Perhaps I should stick to the old pen. I was wondering which style of editing do you find works best for you.

Windsong · Feb 22, 2008

I have the same problems with both. That said, I do both.

Charlie Horse · Feb 22, 2008

Second draft on the computer monitor. Third draft with a pen on paper. Fourth draft, by reading aloud. Fifth draft, stick it in a drawer and let your kids do it after your dead.

slcboston · Feb 22, 2008

I used to edit all my papers longhand, just because I preferred the tactile sensations that went with it. Plus I tended to read more carefully. Anymore, though, I've done so much editing on the screen I'm not sure I'd bother wasting the paper to do it longhand.

donroc · Feb 22, 2008

Both.

SmartAsh · Feb 22, 2008

Both. I simply can't catch all the little things when reading it on the computer. However, it's too time consuming to do every edit by hand.

ishtar'sgate · Feb 22, 2008

I do both. I print a hard copy of my novel as I go along and do a daily edit with a pen. Once I've completed a chapter, I revise my flash plug copy and make a fresh hard copy of the chapter. I do this all the way along until I'm finished. I put the whole thing aside for a few months, make revisions and edits on my manuscript hard copy then do the rest of my revisions on screen, committing it to the flash drive every day. All of my really big cuts and alterations are done on my hard copy. Only the small changes are done on screen. For some reason I can see what needs work better when it's on a piece of paper in front of me.
Linnea

bubbagringo · Feb 22, 2008

both

computer for the first drafts...paper and red pen for what I always think is the final draft

WendyNYC · Feb 22, 2008

Both. I wish I could do a better job editing at the computer, but I just...can't.

joyce · Feb 22, 2008

Thanks everyone. I wish I could feel I'm doing as good of a job on the computer, but I feel I don't see everything. I figured I'd do this experiment with the last couple of chapters so I'd know where the longhand editing left off and the computer editing began. Once I set it aside for a couple of weeks I'll surely know how sucky they really are.

kellytijer · Feb 22, 2008

I print it out to edit, for some reason I catch more mistakes that way. My eyes are blinded to errors when I'm staring at the computer screen. I wonder why that is?

BlueTexas · Feb 22, 2008

kellytijer said:
I print it out to edit, for some reason I catch more mistakes that way. My eyes are blinded to errors when I'm staring at the computer screen. I wonder why that is?

Ditto.

I read much more carefully on paper for some reason.

Jersey Chick · Feb 22, 2008

I print out each chapter as I finish it and edit by hand for the first draft. Then I put the changes in the computer, print out each chapter and set it aside. When I finish the second draft, I read through the hard copy and edit with a red pen. I end up making notes as well as changes and I catch a lot more errors that way. I do the entire manuscript, put the changes into the computer, and start all over. I can't edit on a computer screen, even with the comments feature on. I miss too much that way.

auntybug · Feb 22, 2008

kellytijer said:
I print it out to edit, for some reason I catch more mistakes that way. My eyes are blinded to errors when I'm staring at the computer screen. I wonder why that is?

Same here. I think its done after a few checks on the computer and print it out & read it again. I catch way more that way....and then again on the 2nd try...%$#! I'll plant trees to make up for the ones I'm killing...

DeleyanLee · Feb 22, 2008

I print it out if I'm going to edit it for a combination of reasons.

1. It's another way to change hats between creation and editing.
2. I hate the comments feature in Word and I love writing things like "What were you smoking?!?" and "LOVE THIS!" as I'm doing the first read-through.
3. My eyes just can't take that kind of intense staring at the computer screen.

stormie · Feb 22, 2008

Windsong said:
I have the same problems with both. That said, I do both.

Yep, same here.

kellytijer said:
I print it out to edit, for some reason I catch more mistakes that way. My eyes are blinded to errors when I'm staring at the computer screen. I wonder why that is?

Yep, same here.

(Wow, I sure contributed to this thread!)

jannawrites · Feb 22, 2008

Primarily by computer. My longhand gets sloppy, because I don't have the patience to make it any clearer. And my hand always starts to cramp. I think, though, once I'm totally done with the WIP, once I've done all I can on the computer, I'll make a print-out to look over. My eyes always catch more when it's a copy in front of me.

KarlaErikaCal · Feb 22, 2008

kellytijer said:
I print it out to edit, for some reason I catch more mistakes that way. My eyes are blinded to errors when I'm staring at the computer screen. I wonder why that is?

I think it's because we're staring at the computer for such a long time, that our eyes get tired and can't focus in on the errors. That's the way it is for me, at least. I always edited on the computer, and once I printed it out I caught mistake after mistake. I still prefer doing edits on the computer, but I end up forcing myself to print it out. It's worth those tiny errors that you miss on the computer screen.

otterman · Feb 22, 2008

Has to be on a hard copy. I always like to read drafts on paper and edit that way (writing above/below lines, in the margins or on the back of the previous page). It just works better for me. I tend not to lose my place or train of thought when I'm making changes longhand, on the computer I end up doing things over and over without getting anywhere.

KikiteNeko · Feb 22, 2008

I do both. I edit as I go in Word, and then I like to print it all out, get comfy with a pen, and edit by hand. You'd be surprised how different the reading can be when it's on paper, not the screen you've been staring at.

Hummingbird · Feb 22, 2008

I also do both. ^_^ It just feels different when you print it off and have it sitting in your hands. Because it doesn't look the same I'm able to pull myself away from it easier and edit.

Danger Jane · Feb 22, 2008

I prefer editing longhand, even though I prefer writing on the computer. It's much easier for me to see it in a new format and for some reason, less daunting when I can rewrite a sentence and just type it in later.

TheIT · Feb 22, 2008

I'm just beginning to edit my first draft, and I'm finding working from a printout makes it much easier for me to spot problems. Plus I get to play with my colored pens and highlighters while I'm busy ripping the wording apart.

I've also been using colored paper clips to mark the beginnings of scenes with different colors to indicate the POV characters. The other nice thing about working from hardcopy is that I can flip back and forth from one section to another much more easily than on the computer screen.

Jersey Chick · Feb 22, 2008

I'm an arrow-er. When I add in scenes, I tend to scribble all over the back of the pages and there are a zillion arrows going here and there (especially when I'm rewriting scenes). It's a wonder I can follow my own notes between the arrows and the serial-killer handwriting.

scribbler1382 · Feb 22, 2008

There's an old saying (well, it's old to me, anyways) that goes something like "write with fire, edit with ice". This has several meanings, but I think one of them refers to speed. This is one of the reasons I don't write first drafts with pen and paper. I can't keep up with the "fire" without a keyboard. But it's also why I print out work for editing. To slow it down. To be more analytical and deliberate. There are things you catch on the printed page that you simply can't see on screen.

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