tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post3197137507920097465..comments2023-12-26T23:07:08.005-08:00Comments on TOMORROWVILLE: The World's Most Boring Post? You DecideDavid Isaakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04928598446742324391noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-47603298292960719292007-04-28T01:15:00.000-07:002007-04-28T01:15:00.000-07:00Hi, Deanna, thanks for dropping through!In respons...Hi, Deanna, thanks for dropping through!<BR/><BR/>In response to your comment:<BR/><BR/>"Additionally, copyeditors are almost always expected to copyedit at a rate of about ten pages per hour regardless of the font used...Times will hold about 375 words per page, whereas Courier will hold about 250--that's a lot less time for the copyeditor to spend on your text."<BR/><BR/>Well, with my margins, the number of words on a page of Times is about the same as the number of words on a page of Courier with standard margins. That's what I was searching for--the words per page of Courier with the readability of Times.<BR/><BR/>I realize that this does nothing to address the problem of spacing for copyediting, and I sympathize with your plight. But most of us out here writing are worried foremost about how well the agents and acquisitions editors enjoy reading our text. If they don't enjoy rwading it, the manuscript will never make it to the hands of a coyeditor.David Isaakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04928598446742324391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-61614885929661458832007-04-26T10:54:00.000-07:002007-04-26T10:54:00.000-07:00Actually, if you're with one of the big houses, co...Actually, if you're with one of the big houses, copyeditors <I>cannot</I> print out a copy to please themselves--usually, we don't even get an electronic copy.<BR/><BR/>Because of the white space, it's easier to spot typos in Courier. With Times, it's even hard to tell the difference between a comma and a semicolon. (I tried to put an example in the comment, but your blog wouldn't allow it. Look at "number;" and "number," in both Times and Courier--the difference is dramatic. (Or you can just <A HREF/ HREF="" HTTP://DEANNAHOAK.COM/2007/02/26/FONTS-AGAIN/ REL="nofollow">look here</A>, where I used the example on my blog a while back.)<BR/><BR/>Additionally, copyeditors are almost always expected to copyedit at a rate of about ten pages per hour <I>regardless of the font used.</I> (More ignorance, I know, but publishing is a hidebound industry.) Times will hold about 375 words per page, whereas Courier will hold about 250--that's a lot less time for the copyeditor to spend on your text.<BR/><BR/>Using Courier will help you ensure that the copyeditor can work with your manuscript in the best way possible--it isn't the fastest font to read, no. You don't want that for copyediting. Unfortunately, with few exceptions at the major publishers, whatever you submit the book in is what the copyeditor has to work with.Deanna Hoakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11152307378680031431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-18254188956747382172007-04-21T12:14:00.000-07:002007-04-21T12:14:00.000-07:00Hey Cate, good to hear from you.Neil, I brought yo...Hey Cate, good to hear from you.<BR/><BR/>Neil, I brought your novel on this trip.<BR/><BR/>Pheeliques, nice to meet you. Hope to see you again!David Isaakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04928598446742324391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-64502659303150614312007-04-19T05:28:00.000-07:002007-04-19T05:28:00.000-07:00David, I will go one step further--the TNR margin ...David, I will go one step further--the TNR margin suggestion is sheer genius! I will be employing it forthwith and to hell with the frou frou.<BR/><BR/>The footer thing is also interesting, though I need to test it, although I might not be the best to test, being a southpaw I've a feeling the way I read is slightly different to 'normal' people and different things are more likely to distract me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-91701164513398710272007-04-17T19:05:00.000-07:002007-04-17T19:05:00.000-07:00I found this post very interesting, actually. This...I found this post very interesting, actually. This is Shit I Wonder About. And it's entertaining writing. Who could ask for more?Jake Jessonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06834903087805267419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-24603497770858351492007-04-16T19:42:00.001-07:002007-04-16T19:42:00.001-07:00not boring! twas not boring!formatting is a stick...not boring! twas not boring!<BR/><BR/>formatting is a sticky issue. we writers want our manuscripts to look professional, so as to best showcase the professional quality (we hope) of our writing. it reminds me of the "crystal goblet" principle in typesetting: you want the text to look as beautiful as possible without type and/or design overly calling attention to itself. it's the contents that are important; the container--not so much. type/design/fonts/margins/headers/spacing are all employed so as to best show off the writing. <BR/><BR/>i've noticed that if someone tries to fudge their font and margins too much, i end up distracted from the writing and irritated and thus less inclined to regard textual foibles with indulgence (i've also noticed that, generally, those who fudge too much often aren't quite in the "writing of professional quality" range anyhow).<BR/><BR/>i'm glad you wrote about this with such clarity and candidness. this really demystifies the issues and gives practical tips. i'm really glad i found your blog.<BR/><BR/>pheeliquesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-52370495563896603702007-04-16T19:42:00.000-07:002007-04-16T19:42:00.000-07:00not boring! twas not boring!formatting is a stick...not boring! twas not boring!<BR/><BR/>formatting is a sticky issue. we writers want our manuscripts to look professional, so as to best showcase the professional quality (we hope) of our writing. it reminds me of the "crystal goblet" principle in typesetting: you want the text to look as beautiful as possible without type and/or design overly calling attention to itself. it's the contents that are important; the container--not so much. type/design/fonts/margins/headers/spacing are all employed so as to best show off the writing. <BR/><BR/>i've noticed that if someone tries to fudge their font and margins too much, i end up distracted from the writing and irritated and thus less inclined to regard textual foibles with indulgence (i've also noticed that, generally, those who fudge too much often aren't quite in the "writing of professional quality" range anyhow).<BR/><BR/>i'm glad you wrote about this with such clarity and candidness. this really demystifies the issues and gives practical tips. i'm really glad i found your blog.<BR/><BR/>pheeliquesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-78263572253086650212007-04-16T06:43:00.000-07:002007-04-16T06:43:00.000-07:00Hi DavidI didn't find it boring either.Particularl...Hi David<BR/>I didn't find it boring either.<BR/>Particularly like the use of frou-frou (where does that come from french?) <BR/>Almost lost it when you came to margins though. I just ignore them and hope they sort themselves.<BR/>Use TNR mostly myself with the occassioanl Arial if I feel it's a bit more contemporary.<BR/>Enjoy your trip.<BR/>Catecate sweeneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17252667817332240354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-78501001353355302582007-04-15T10:18:00.000-07:002007-04-15T10:18:00.000-07:00That suggests that your mental health is no better...That suggests that your mental health is no better than mine. (Poor guy.)<BR/><BR/>(Someone once told me that when writers get together they never talk about books--just money, agents, and formatting.)David Isaakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04928598446742324391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371628584376797540.post-57684790806229769622007-04-15T07:08:00.000-07:002007-04-15T07:08:00.000-07:00Hi David. I actually found this post to be fascina...Hi David. I actually found this post to be fascinating. I especially liked your suggestion for margins. Thanks.Jeremy Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11254147824518501318noreply@blogger.com