Random House Explains What Publishers Do

[Graham]

Originally Posted by kennyc

more like extra chance to get it right.

For me it is much easierto miss things on-screen. shrug.

Agreed. I'm always amazed at how much I spot on a printout after what felt like a thorough editing session on screen.

Graham

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by kennyc

more like extra chance to get it right.

For me it is much easierto miss things on-screen. shrug.

But you're talking about your own writing. If paper works better for you, fine. When the editor is working on paper, it means someone else has to input all the changes, and that someone is probably going to be an editorial assistant or a freelancer, who can easily miss changes, or misinterpret handwriting. And the person inputting the edits is also an extra cost, versus the editor just doing it on the computer screen in the first place.

Computer editing is much easier and more efficient.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Catlady

But you're talking about your own writing. If paper works better for you, fine. When the editor is working on paper, it means someone else has to input all the changes, and that someone is probably going to be an editorial assistant or a freelancer, who can easily miss changes, or misinterpret handwriting. And the person inputting the edits is also an extra cost, versus the editor just doing it on the computer screen in the first place.

Computer editing is much easier and more efficient.

Not if the editor is payed much more than the person inputing the changes.

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by tompe

Not if the editor is payed much more than the person inputing the changes.

It's as quick for the editor to make the change in the file as to make it by hand with a pencil.

[tompe]

Originally Posted by Catlady

It's as quick for the editor to make the change in the file as to make it by hand with a pencil.

So you have made or read about empirical studies. Any pointer to where I can read about these studies? Because without these studies I really do not believe you.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Catlady

But you're talking about your own writing. If paper works better for you, fine. When the editor is working on paper, it means someone else has to input all the changes, and that someone is probably going to be an editorial assistant or a freelancer, who can easily miss changes, or misinterpret handwriting. And the person inputting the edits is also an extra cost, versus the editor just doing it on the computer screen in the first place.

Computer editing is much easier and more efficient.

same applies (apparently) there .... for the same reasons likely.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Catlady

It's as quick for the editor to make the change in the file as to make it by hand with a pencil.

that's clearly NOT the way they are doing it.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Catlady

But you're talking about your own writing. If paper works better for you, fine. When the editor is working on paper, it means someone else has to input all the changes, and that someone is probably going to be an editorial assistant or a freelancer, who can easily miss changes, or misinterpret handwriting. And the person inputting the edits is also an extra cost, versus the editor just doing it on the computer screen in the first place.

Computer editing is much easier and more efficient.

The editor may not be able to make certain changes without the approval of the author. It may be easier to mark, spot and collaborate using a paper manuscript. With a computer you need to have all pre and post changes available with post somehow bolded or colored to separate the two.

And some may find it less tiring and straining to use paper.

[Ninjalawyer]

Originally Posted by Fbone

The editor may not be able to make certain changes without the approval of the author. It may be easier to mark, spot and collaborate using a paper manuscript. With a computer you need to have all pre and post changes available with post somehow bolded or colored to separate the two.

And some may find it less tiring and straining to use paper.

There's an option in Word to do blackline comparisons. You can even turn on and off the comparison to flip between the marked-up and clean version without switching out of the document. It's also easy to add note balloons.

I don't particularly care how people choose to edit their work; for me personally though, it feels like a waste of time to mark-up a document in pen and then have an assistant make the changes.

[plib]

Originally Posted by Ninjalawyer

There's an option in Word to do blackline comparisons. You can even turn on and off the comparison to flip between the marked-up and clean version without switching out of the document. It's also easy to add note balloons.

I don't particularly care how people choose to edit their work; for me personally though, it feels like a waste of time to mark-up a document in pen and then have an assistant make the changes.

You've obviously gone through multiple revisions/negotiations of filings/contracts too.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by plib

You've obviously gone through multiple revisions/negotiations of filings/contracts too.

Right, but he's a ninja! That makes all the difference.

[plib]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Right, but he's a ninja! That makes all the difference.

That raises a question. Do you want your lawyer to be a ninja, or a shark?

[kennyc]

A wolverine.

[Catlady]

I've edited mss. on paper. and on computer screen, and I've also inputted other people's paper corrections to a digital file. So I believe I have sufficient background to give an informed opinion as to which method is more efficient.

I simply cannot believe that in a forum where people extol the virtues of e-books and cringe at the thought of buying a paper book, some folks apparently think paper is the preferred medium to work on during the publishing process.

And as Ninjalawyer said, when you use Word, you have the option of tracking changes by multiple people, each one's alterations in a different color. You have the comment feature, where you can explain a change or go back and forth discussing a change. You have room to write, as opposed to trying to scribble in the margins on a paper copy or on a Post-it that might fall off. You have legible corrections, not something another person has to struggle to interpret or query--and each query that has to go back to the editor is more wasted time.

And think about the simple waste of paper, too!

[kennyc]

Ok. Sorry you can't believe it. I've done both as well for some 20 years now. I still disagree.

And even more importantly in relation to what brought this up. Apparently RH agrees with me. (not sure I like that, but it appears to be true)