Revisions by the numbers

[pbray]

Days spent revising: 18
New words written: 5,043
Reams of paper consumed: 6
Inkjet cartridges consumed: 2
Cost to mail revised manuscripts to E&A: $16.06
Caffeine, alcohol, chocolate consumption: Don't ask

Mailing your final manuscript to New York: PRICELESS

Comments

[quietselkie.livejournal.com]

Wow.

Do you do some of your editing and revising on printed manuscript, or were the 6 reams used to print the manuscript you mailed in?

[pbray.livejournal.com]

It took 3 reams of paper to print the final copies (1 for my editor, 1 for my agent and 1 for me).

The almost-final version was another ream of paper that was printed and proofed yesterday looking for any formatting issues.

The almost-almost-final version was printed off over the weekend. This was in Microsoft word with the revision markers turned on so I could see and confirm all the changes I made.

Plus I used a ream of paper printing off various chunks and then either marking them up myself or giving them to my critique partner for her to read and mark up. Mostly this was for the three new scenes that were added to the book, but there were a couple of other problematic sections that were big enough where I wanted to read them on paper rather than the screen.

[jlawrenceperry.livejournal.com]

What is this brand of printer you use?

[pbray.livejournal.com]

I'm still using an HP Deskjet 820CSE purchased in 1996 :-) A couple weeks back I solicited suggestions for a new printer, but was waiting to buy it until after this book was turned in--I'm paranoid about upgrading any hardware/software when I'm in the final throes of a novel.

[jlawrenceperry.livejournal.com]

How does an IT Pro find herself with an eleven-year old printer? Not a tech-head, are you?

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Software person, not hardware :-)

I'm in the "if it's not broke don't fix it" category for hardware. Being a thrifty Yankee, I can't see spending money to replace a perfectly good printer--except for the few times a year when it's clearly inadequate for high volume printing needs, and then I start printer shopping.

[jlawrenceperry.livejournal.com]

I was going to say you were more software. Anyway since you're that big DAW/TOR/BANTAM-SPECTRA is JUST around the corner, you've got to have something to print out the enormous checks they'll be sending.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Not to mention all those movie scripts I'll need to approve :-)

[jlawrenceperry.livejournal.com]

no no, let's not be hasty. I haven't written any of them yet.

Did you already say when The Sea Change is due on shelves?

[pbray.livejournal.com]

It's an August title, so THE SEA CHANGE goes on sale on July 31st. (Bantam releases their books on the final Tuesday of the previous month).

This is 10 days after the final Harry Potter hits the shelves, so hopefully bookstore employees will have recovered and be capable of open & shelving other titles by this time.

Anyway, it's up at Amazon and various places for preorder.