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When I started editing, the double-spaced manuscript rule was in all the guidelines. We read and edited all on hard copy, so double spacing was helpful for marking corrections.
But now in an age where I'm reading much more on my computer screen or downloading to my Kindle, I find double-spaced text very annoying. On the rare occasions now when I do print out a manuscript and need space for notes, I have done the 1.5 line spacing, but even that seems rather spread out if I'm looking at it on a computer screen.
And I certainly can't type something that is double-spaced!
So, tell me, do you still work with double-spacing on your manuscripts, or do you change the line spacing at the last minute to meet a guideline?
17 comments:
I'm with you, Becky. I like single-spacing. So much easier to read! And I can see more of what I've just written so I don't have to scroll up as often as I would if I were typing double-spaced.
I guess I'm just a slug but I sure don't like to have to click any more than absolutely necessary! And that scrolling up and down is almost, yes, almost exercise.
I still write with double-spacing. Because after I finish my first draft, I print it out and do my first pass at revisions/edits on the hard copy. Plus, after so many years of writing everything double-spaced, that's the way I'm used to looking at it---and I know by my page count about what my word count for the chapter is. And I find it easier to read on the screen if it's double-spaced. I have a tendency to either skip lines or keep re-reading the same line in text that's single-spaced (yes, even in books).
I double-space just because it's easier on my eyes, especially when I've been staring at a computer screen all day. And when my eyes get tired, I'm just plain irritable if something comes in that's difficult for me to read...(g)
Since I started editing with Barbour I have gotten used to single spacing, but as I am also an English professor, I prefer double spacing on the papers turned in to me. I guess I am an ambidextrous spacer.
Now I use all single-spacing. And 11 pt font. I realized after doing some content edits that I really liked the single spacing. I could scroll through the document quicker, and I got a better idea of how the print would look on a page. Was I packing in too much type and making a page visually intimidating? Much easier to see with single space.
I am well trained. It's all single spaced now. I like it better. I find it much easier to read, jumping pages is always weird--seems like my paragraphs pop back and forth too much. So now I jump half as many pages.
I double-space my first draft, and I leave it that way during revisions, until right before my final read-through. I'm used to it, plus it helps me with word count.
I've always done it double spaced as I thought that was the norm with editors, and it helps me find errors. But I could do the other also, I guess! Esp. if times are changing... :)
I've always double-spaced my manuscripts while writing. I guess it's because I've always done it that way. but I don't like single-spacing at all. :-)
I use double space. I've never tried single spacing, except for synopsis.
I send my stuff in double-spacing. I hadn't even considered changing. So, does that mean I need to stop double-spacing my books? :)
I find single-spaced material much easier to read. I put the view at 115% to 150%, depending on what I'm looking at (density of words/parasgraphs, mostly), and fly on through it.
I'm reading finished work, so I'm always looking at that last page number to judge where I am in the project. Smaller number--faster progress. Or at least that's how it seems. :-)
I double space. It's easier to see where I am. :)
I double-space, but it's a mental thing. When I see everything crammed together on the page I freak out and think, "I can't possibly edit that much in one sitting!"
When it's double-spaced it doesn't feel like so much is required of me...and then I feel like I've accomplished SO much because I got through two pages!
I know...it doesn't make sense really, but that's what's going on in my brain :)
I'm not asking you to change your style. I was just curious on what you prefer. If I want to change the view on my computer or for printout, it is usually pretty easy to do.
Now, if you are one of the few who puts a line space between paragraphs, stop it right now. That is a real pain to fix on our end. :)
I'm with Kaye. I'm so used to the double spacing on a manuscript, that looking at it single-spaced is uncomfortable for me.
Of course, I don't have a Kindle yet. Hoping to get one soon.
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