General Advice on writing?

DangerMouse27

Hi
Ive got my ideas,my story,my plotline and character development and although im nearly finished,i have been writing it all in pen!
Is this bad or should i get a type writer for what i hope to be my next project.i wont use the computer as the dull whine has me searching for inspiration beyond the monitor and into the world which makes this noise!

All matrixy sounding there..sorry!

Anyone?

EileenG

If writing in pen is what it takes to get your words on paper, then go for it. The bad news is that you MUST get it typed on paper before you can submit it anywhere. And editing is much much easier if you can shift stuff around a screen instead of having to type and retype pages in a type writer.

If it's the noise that bothers you, then get a netbook which stands alone, and doesn't make a noise. I actually do all my typing on an old fashioned Psion http://cgi.ebay.ie/Psion-series-5-PDA-leather-case-manual_W0QQitemZ110406838183QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_AudioTVElectronics_PDAsAccessories_PDAs_JN?hash=item19b4c2a7a7&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1301|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50
Like that, because it is absolutely silent and switches on and off like lightening without losing a single word.

arynne

No, no, DangerMouse, sorry but this is a no brainer. Today you simply don't have an option. No publisher, editer or agent is going to even look at your manuscript writen in pen. Obviously you know how to work a PC or you would not be posting here.
Rewrith your book in Microfoft Word. Two fingers is fine, a new document for each chapter. Number the pages. Indent new paragraphs. Single inverted commas for dialogue. Make improvements as you go along and use your Spell Check. Play nice music on head set and enjoy. And the best of luck with it.
AR

godspal

^ this isn't necessarily something you have to do, James Joyce used dashes and Cormac McCarthy doesn't use any sort of notation for dialogue.

Presentation in general is up to you (indetation, double spacing etc.) it will be up to the editor and yourself to work out what is the best presentation for your book.

And saving each chapter... isn't something I practise, depends what I am trying to capture in the text. Make sure you make multiple copies though, save it to your email account by sending it to yourself is good way of making sure you never lose it, and always have access to it. And keep a hard copy too so you can hand it around to friends.

EileenG

godspal wrote: »

^ this isn't necessarily something you have to do, James Joyce used dashes and Cormac McCarthy doesn't use any sort of notation for dialogue.

Presentation in general is up to you (indetation, double spacing etc.) it will be up to the editor and yourself to work out what is the best presentation for your book.

Perhaps, but if you want to be taken seriously as a professional writer, you have to present it professionally. That means properly typed, with correct spelling, and proper punctuation.

Most publishers have guidelines that are available for authors. If you can't work within those guidelines, your publisher is entitled to wonder what else you can't do.

DangerMouse27

Thanks alot for the replies and im looking at getting a type writer.I just didnt want to keep having to write it out twice,once in pen and again on copy.

Thanks again

godspal

DangerMouse27 wrote: »

Thanks alot for the replies and im looking at getting a type writer.I just didnt want to keep having to write it out twice,once in pen and again on copy.

Thanks again

You need to be digital!

davyjose

DangerMouse27 wrote: »

Thanks alot for the replies and im looking at getting a type writer.I just didnt want to keep having to write it out twice,once in pen and again on copy.

Thanks again

Well TBH, a typewriter will take no less effort. Get yourself a PC or a laptop. If you want to be a writer, see it as an investment.

The day off sending in amateur, clumsy submissions written on a typewriter have passed. A lot of people take umbrage to it on this forum, but image counts for a lot, and poorly presented, misspelled drafts don't pass muster. Avoiding this scenario on a typewriter would be extremely difficult.

EileenG

Find some sort of keyboard that you are comfortable typing on, and write your stuff on that. I use an old fashioned Psion, just because it's handy for carrying around and I can add or edit as soon as something strikes me. All that matters is that once you have written something, you can back it up onto a computer (and make copies of all your work onto a memory stick too).

I prefer a keyboard. If the words are flowing, I can't write fast enough to get them down on paper and still read them afterwards. It's maddening when you write something that you know was good, but can't read it.