Editing

I must admit, ever since I took Computing in school, I preferred to type my work out instead of handwriting it (I think I was the first person in school to hand a printed English essay in AND with green headings).

But when it comes to editing, I think I would prefer the pen over the keyboard. Admittedly, I'm a novice editor but I imagine I'd have more freedom of expression to move things around, slice, chop and change everything.

Of course, this still leaves the chore of then having to type it up. Maybe I should bite the bullet and just do it all on the computer.

Anyone else revert to the mighty pen or is tapping away on the keyboard the preferred tactic?

Andrew Chilton - http://kapiti.geek.nz/
SoCNoC 2008 - Unknown and Untitled

This might seem inappropriate for me to say, since I haven't edited anything yet. :-)

Still, I prefer hand written editing - I like to be able to freely circle with red ink. Articles that I've written, I've hand edited and read over many times.

I also take Chris Baty's advice and get a bunch of index cards and outline the entire novel on that (at least, that's my plan).

However, once it's all in roughly finished form, it's reading and editing in the computer, many, many times over to smooth out the rough edges and makes sure that everything flows from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph.

This requires a few days between readings to ensure that you have a fresh eye.

Travis.
--
http://cottreau.blogspot.com
http://cottreaureviews.blogspot.com/

Also, not really an avid editor (my least liked part of the process) but i always print everything off and take to it with a pen. I dont know why but i just cant seem to edit via a computer screen i definitely need the pen and paper.
Once i have gone over it, i make all the changes on the computer then print it again and go from there!
Now i feel bad for killing trees, atleast its all recycled lol

http://vyanae.blogspot.com/

Hmm, I never really thought about it. Certainly for things I've edited (such as school essays) I've always done so solely on the PC. But then, I never really cared for them that much, so it was a slap-dash repeat work avoidance motivator in that instance. Otherwise, most of my writing in the early years was pen on paper to begin with, so it was often edited as I went and as I typed it into the PC.

After thinking about it, I imagine that I would do most of my editing on the PC first. When I'm happy with what I can see on the screen, I'd print a manuscript, go through it once with a pen, then hand it (with notes and corrections) to another person for them to go through with a pen as well, then make those corrections, then can't think of the next step... probably do a limited trial release of Story 1.13beta to a focus group for feedback and begin issue tracking at that point...

So in general, I think I'd go with the keyboard for the bulk of it. I'd use a pen, but only when I'm pretty sure there's not too much left to edit.

edit? what is this... ed..it.. thingy you speak of? Who has time for that when you've finished your essay at 4am and it's due at 8am? Typoes be damned! It'll still get you a pass! Go to bed!

As for fiction, ever since nano I have been deadly afraid of the story I wrote and have avoided looking at it at all costs.

In other words, I'm adding to this thread purely because I like the the look of my own typing (i.e. sound of my own voice), and I actually have nothing constructive to add whatsoever.

Trying to find the time (as usual)!

It sounds like a lot of people prefer the pen (except Dutton). Anyway, I guess I'll just see what happens once I edit something - whatever date in the future that is :-)

Andrew Chilton - http://kapiti.geek.nz/
SoCNoC 2008 - Unknown and Untitled

I spend most of the end of last year (before NaNo) editing a novel that ended up being 70,000-ish words. I like pen and paper. I think you get a different feel for a story, especially a long piece by doing that.

I found even as I did my type in that it was difficult to keep track of all the pieces in a document. It gets very colourful!

Just my 2c.

No Excuses. Just Write.
SoCNoC - Freeing the Flame
Freeing the Flame - 30,065/40,000 words rewritten for May

Usually, I plot/outline by hand. Then, I write by typing (usually because my handwriting is awful, plus I usually write in pencil which after a while smudges and fades).

Like most, I tend to like editing by hand. Nothing like scribbling on something papery to feel productive xD

But I've been trying out yWriter at the moment, although I haven't done it yet, I imagine editing novel-sized work in chunks-of-plot would be easiest on there (you just drag-and-drop scenes). For smaller edits (like no plot changes, just prose), I'll probably prefer hand.

Editing on the computer is easy, with some word processors, like M$Word - just turn on the option. You can put in comments, make suggestions, correct typos, etc. And, when you're ready, you can finalise the copy, by accepting or rejecting the edits.

Mind you, I still prefer working with hard copy - it's a lot faster to read, and it's easy to see the proofing marks and margin comments.

Find more about me here!

I've just completed NaNoEdMo (yay me!). I started out with a run through the hard copy but I need to do so much too it that I've ended up moving to editing on the computer. I use MS Word and track changes so my document is all red and black. More red than black admittedly.

No Excuses. Just Write.
SoCNoC - Freeing the Flame
Freeing the Flame - 30,065/40,000 words rewritten for May

I couldnt handle the real editing on paper. I do that for scientific stuff but not for my novels. It just doesnt seem to work the same for me. Short stories are ok but I now have three >120 page novels and one at 100 page. Printing out is a pain and I dont want to scribble on the copy.
I tend to write the story first. Then I save an unedited copy (very important). Then I begin to go through it and make mostly small changes.
However, I have cut out whole chapters for one story, but I paste them into another file. I can always change my mind. One fun part about editing is that you can write more about another character that has become a little lost in the work. If you are short of words it works.

---------------------------------
NaNo winner 2006, 2007
SocNoc winner 2007,
WWWwace 2007, 2008!!!
Easter challenge winner 2007
Body count: 1 Institute heads, 4 professors, 2 postdocs, 2 PhD students, 2 sequencing technicians and numerous bad guys...
Oh I wish I could put that on my CV.

------------------------------------

I have trouble editing on the computer. I find I can't look at two things at once, and it's harder to find a piece of text I've referred to, that sort of thing. It seems so much easier when I can scribble all over my MS in pencil.

Sanity: Ha ha ha ha...look! A caterpillar!

I find it depends on what blows your hair back. Having a heavy bunch of papers in your hand feels substantial and, as someone said, gives you a different 'take' on the story. It is also easier to drop into your briefcase and take to work so you can edit when the boss isn't looking, read in the loo etc. etc.

But, being a computer person, I do it all in software. I use WriteItNow to create the basic framework, write chapters and organise all my characters, thoughts, ideas and timelines. The software has a spellchecker and thesaurus. Then, when I've gone as far as I can in the software, I export it to .rtf, which gives me a ready-to-send manuscript, double spaced with page numbers, titles etc. I can also open it in Word if I want to touch it up here and there if required.

In my experience no matter how diligent you are, and how many times you re-read and re-write (I must have read and revised my novel end-to-end two dozen times or more), as soon as you print it out (or worse, have it published) the errors and silly spelling mistakes will jump right off the page at you.

The first book I had published was proofed firstly by me and then by 'professionals', and when I proudly opened one of the 'freebies' I received, the first page I opened had a spelling mistake on it. Nothing's perfect!

If you do use Word, there is a highlighting feature that you can use to mark out sections for attention.

Good luck whichever way you go....

I guess I should put some funny quip here.