I seem doomed to have to print it out multiple times...

You might try this: Change the view to reading layout, and make the pages about the size of a book page. Sometimes just seeing the words and paragraphs in a differently arrangement can help.

Also: try reading aloud from the computer screen - this catches a surprising amount of clunky phrasing.

But yes, the trees. Oh, the trees.

Recycle your paper. Print on the clean side of used paper.

Just keep practicing.

Don't be too hard on yourself. You might be over-editing without realizing it.

I buy recycled paper or paper from eco-friendly papers (not recycled, but trees that are replanted after being harvested). I print a ton, so I do this a lot.

I also make the font smaller and switch my margins to .5 and print single-spaced, which can cut the number of pages by quite a bit. My most recent printout only used something like 80 sheets as I did it front and back as well, and that's an almost 100k novel.

For some of us, like me, there is no substitute for reading on paper, because reading on screen causes eye-strain and leads to the eyes skipping a lot of minute content. But yeah, it's both bad for the earth and bad for our bank accounts to do it more than once per draft, at most.

I rough draft by hand, then type text into the working manuscript file. I make extensive use of auto-correction tools. I read aloud from the screen. For drafts, I print double-sided or on the clean side of used sheets.

I use environment-friendly papers - recycled and/or renewable fiber content both for handwriting and printing.

And to save money when I need to print out a full MS draft, I often find that taking the file on disk to a copy/print shop to print out is cheaper than the cost of ink for my home ink-jet printer.

Ideally, I try not to print out the full MS more than twice -- three times at most.

As for printer costs--I bought a cheap laser on clearance and it's amazing how much money you save. It only does black and white, but if you're someone like me who prints a lot, it's definitely worth the investment. I was having to spend almost $50 per draft before on ink. Now I can print something like 2000 pages before the cartridge needs changing, and refurbished cartridges can be bought for cheap online.

I have that problem. I prefer to have a printout for editing, but it's not a very cost effective method. Changing the layout has been beneficial for me.

ardenbird said:

So, I get a story to where I think I'll just print it out to proofread, and instead I have edits in nearly every paragraph.

How can it look so different on paper than the computer screen? How come I can't see these edits on the screen?

Does anyone else encounter this?

When I wrote mostly shorts, it wasn't so much of a problem. Now, with a novel in the works, I'm seeing myself purchasing reams of paper. I'm currently printing two-pages per side, double sided, so I get four manuscript pages on one sheet; but still, it's going to use a lot of paper...

Click to expand...

I don't know whether it's a matter of practice, a mindset, or just an inherent skill. Some people need to print to edit, some do not.

Printing a novel length manuscript just to edit it seems like a horrible waste of time and money to me, but you do what you need to do.

I always do a paper edit as well as a screen one. I also read aloud. Your eyes get so used to seeing things a certain way that changing format will make errors jump out at you.

And you aren't being too hard on yourself. Agents will be twice as critical so polish, polish, and polish some more.

I also have a little live talk program that reads out loud my work. It's a cheap way to go and I can close my eyes and listen to it being read. It helps with the flow and voice of stuff.

(Shadsoft speak is name of the program I use.)

I prefer to edit on screen. I do produce one reading copy of a draft, printed to look as much like a book as possible: non-MS font (so, not Courier or TNR -- I like Georgia), single spaced, justified, two columns per landscape page.

Reading aloud is also a great trick for finding errors and unpleasant prose rhythm/repetitious sentence structures.

Hey AB,

Try downloading cutepdf. That way you can print a pdf copy of your MS and, although it's still on the computer screen, it looks different from print preview etc.

Regards

Whacko

Following Alleycat's suggestion above, doing a ctrl A and changing the font style might give you the fresh pair of eyes you need to see things differently.

I used to write everything long hand, and I just couldn't compose at the keyboard. But then I got used to it but had to print everything out in order to edit it. Now I can edit on screen, and I even do editing and proofreading professionally completely electronically. I do print some things out, but not everything. My point is the human mind is amazing and can be taught to do almost anything if you're patient and keep at it. I'm willing to bet that one year from now you won't have this problem.

As for paper, I raid the recycling bin at work, making sure there is nothing confidential on the printed side.