Hand written notes

mandy0799

Would you keep old copies of legal pads full of the novel you have written, even though it is all on computer now. I have boxes full of notepads and I'm not sure whether to just get rid of them.

Mrs Bear

I'd hang on until it's published, mandy - you never know when you might want to refer back before then. What if something goes awry with the compiling and you lose a crucial page or two? If you have back-ups of your work, you don't really need all this stuff, do you? If you've got research notes that could be useful elsewhere, or plot ideas that could find a new home, and they're not on the computer, keep them. Otherwise it's just more paper to be a fire hazard.

Baggy Books

I'd keep them. It's nice to re-read handwritten notes, irrespective of them being copied elsewhere. They evoke the emotion of the time - where you were when you wrote them etc.

Phots Moll

They'll be worth a fortune when you're a best seller!

Johnnywriter

A bit time consuming, but why not scan them, mandy?

mandy0799

Thank you everyone. I have typed all of them on to the computer but I wasn't sure whether to keep the notes just to prove it's my work if ever challenged, however the box takes up half a walk in cupboard. I think I may have to be ruthless and cull the lot. :-)

Phots Moll

Not sure it would be proof - you could copy out a book written by someone else if you wanted to.

Lizy

After I've typed mine I bin them page by page.
They're half-crossed out anyay and reading them once while I type them up is bad enough.
I do print a hard copy, though, and keep that, along with research notes.

mandy0799

That sounds a good idea Lizy. I think I will do that and clear some space in my cupboard xxx

mandy0799

That's what I thought Phots Mol but someone at my creative writing group said I should keep them but it's spring and I feel the need to clear the house :-)