writing a novel – e-reader editing
So the poet is writing a novel…
~
Title: unknown
Working Title: Saving the Landing Church
Setting: a writers’ retreat, including an abandoned church
Characters: main character a writer; her husband Tom; people from the embedded community including next door neighbors Emma and Mark; people from the commuter community; the aberrant community
Plot: the story of how a woman tries to preserve an abandoned church with unexpected consequences for herself and for the community
~
~
I have finished my first draft!
This week, I am working on edits.
The writer’s discipline of producing something each day suits me most of the time. I characteristically accomplish enough in three or four hours of work to push back from the computer with a feeling of satisfaction.
Some days, it’s harder to focus. I find editing particularly hard. Perhaps because of the recent holidays, perhaps because it is so cold outside, this week I have been having trouble concentrating.
Yesterday, I discovered a way to make the editing easier!
Lately, I’ve been using my e-reader more and more for general reading. I thought, why not use it to read my own (draft) book?
I didn’t do any fancy work. I merely took my Word draft and saved it as a .pdf file. The first time I did this, the font was so tiny, I’d have to use a magnifier to read. So I experimented a little, and finally settled on the font Times New Roman, size 22, double-spaced. Once I made the font change in Word, I saved it as a .pdf file and copied it directly into my Kobo e-reader. There were a couple of glitches which I didn’t bother to fix. Some words transposed as bold (as you can see in the photo) and none of my italics made it through. But the book was very readable.
Today and yesterday, I have been editing in luxury. I have been sitting in my comfy chair, with a warm throw, a cup of tea and my Kobo. By having my draft in book format, I can see it as a book, read it with more ‘distance’ and more easily find the places I need to re-write or edit. I keep track of edits, page by page, in pen, on note paper. Of course, I’ll have to do the final edits at the computer, but that pain is somewhere in the future, made easier by the ‘Find’ feature in Word.
One step closer to completion!!!
~
Copyright Jane Tims 2013
Congratulations! The first draft is the hard part of writing. You’re on the home stretch now.
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Sheryl
January 7, 2013 at 12:31 am
Hi Sheryl. I hope so. I am editing today, line by miserable line. You give me hope! Jane
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jane tims
January 7, 2013 at 4:31 pm
First of all, hearty congrats on having reached this stage. I am extremely impressed and somewhat envious. I’m not sure that your ebook approach would work for me – I’m very much a print it out and mark it with pencil kind of editor – but bravo for using technology to work for you! Good luck with your next phase, Jane.
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Jane Fritz
January 5, 2013 at 11:24 pm
Hi. So far, this method is great. Eventually, I’ll have to see it printed out as well. I find the different viewing methods give different perspectives. Jane
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jane tims
January 6, 2013 at 5:40 pm
Congratulations on finishing your first draft! I’m impressed that you could figure out how to put your book onto your e-reader. I can picture you bundled up on your chair, sipping your tea and editing in luxury. Enjoy!
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Barbara Rodgers
January 4, 2013 at 2:48 pm
Hi Barbara. Thanks. It was actually quite easy. I know Kobo users will wonder why I didn’t use its various features, but as long as it worked!! Jane
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jane tims
January 5, 2013 at 5:33 pm
What a great idea! Putting your draft into a format that looks like a published book is good for getting perspective and for seeing how it will read to others. Congratulations on completion of the first draft.
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Carol Steel
January 4, 2013 at 9:48 am
Hi. Thanks. You are right about the e-reader giving a different perpective. I wonder how many drafts I’ll have before I consider it done???? Jane
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jane tims
January 5, 2013 at 5:31 pm