Comments on: Sending me electronic files for review and year’s bests… http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/ ...science fiction and other stuff from jonathan strahan... Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:37:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jonathan http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/comment-page-1/#comment-158667 Jonathan Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:34:06 +0000 http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/#comment-158667 I don't disagree, which is why I didn't just change my approach. While I'd prefer to receive printed copies of anthologies, magazines, and collections, I'm going to continue to accept e-copy for the year's best. I'm not so sure about novels, though, which I get to see for my reviews editor gig. I do read some novels online, but it's a bit much for me. My middle-aged eyes are starting to revolt. I don’t disagree, which is why I didn’t just change my approach. While I’d prefer to receive printed copies of anthologies, magazines, and collections, I’m going to continue to accept e-copy for the year’s best. I’m not so sure about novels, though, which I get to see for my reviews editor gig. I do read some novels online, but it’s a bit much for me. My middle-aged eyes are starting to revolt.

]]> By: Jeff VanderMeer http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/comment-page-1/#comment-158655 Jeff VanderMeer Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:05:30 +0000 http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/#comment-158655 Frankly, this would be returning to the age of the dinosaurs. It's clear enough for best-of reading whether something is to be held for further consideration or not from a read online. I think reading novels on a screen is a bit much, but for short fiction in collections or anthologies it's no real hardship. PDFs are meant to be read on a screen as much as on the page. Also consider that you live in Australia and the US postal service has made it very expensive to ship stuff to you. Editors who don't read stuff off a screen are going to be very rare very soon. Jeff Frankly, this would be returning to the age of the dinosaurs. It’s clear enough for best-of reading whether something is to be held for further consideration or not from a read online. I think reading novels on a screen is a bit much, but for short fiction in collections or anthologies it’s no real hardship. PDFs are meant to be read on a screen as much as on the page. Also consider that you live in Australia and the US postal service has made it very expensive to ship stuff to you.

Editors who don’t read stuff off a screen are going to be very rare very soon.

Jeff

]]> By: Rich Horton http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/comment-page-1/#comment-151788 Rich Horton Wed, 28 May 2008 11:35:52 +0000 http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/#comment-151788 I have the same problems, Jonathan. I love getting all the "free" stuff but it's not so free when you print it out. And word or even text formats work better than .pdf, even though .pdf documents are MUCH prettier, simply because a word document, properly reduced, might print in 1/3 as many pages as a .pdf. (Printed galleys or ARCs are still better, but I do sympathize with the cost issue.) One thing that's saved me lots of money on ink is my new laser printer, though. (And it's lots faster than my various inkjets.) The laser printer costs more up front (though mine was a gift), but it doesn't take long at all, given the amount of printing I do, to make it back, as the cartridges last quite some time. -- Rich I have the same problems, Jonathan. I love getting all the “free” stuff but it’s not so free when you print it out. And word or even text formats work better than .pdf, even though .pdf documents are MUCH prettier, simply because a word document, properly reduced, might print in 1/3 as many pages as a .pdf.

(Printed galleys or ARCs are still better, but I do sympathize with the cost issue.)

One thing that’s saved me lots of money on ink is my new laser printer, though. (And it’s lots faster than my various inkjets.) The laser printer costs more up front (though mine was a gift), but it doesn’t take long at all, given the amount of printing I do, to make it back, as the cartridges last quite some time.

–
Rich

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/comment-page-1/#comment-151752 Jonathan Wed, 28 May 2008 08:17:24 +0000 http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/#comment-151752 Um, who are you? Um, who are you?

]]> By: A FAB Query http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/comment-page-1/#comment-151668 A FAB Query Wed, 28 May 2008 02:27:03 +0000 http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/#comment-151668 Reading text off the screen is the new "found" art. The stuff I get--Keep me reading off the screen and you just might have something. Reading text off the screen is the new “found” art. The stuff I get–Keep me reading off the screen and you just might have something.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/comment-page-1/#comment-151661 Jonathan Wed, 28 May 2008 02:06:09 +0000 http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/#comment-151661 I don't actually use Ebay at all, no. But it's a good idea. I also find there's a logistical problem, as well. I have emails with attachments, piles of print out, a thumb drive with copies of files - and so on, and so on. It's a LOT better than getting nothing, but not as good as an old-fashioned ARC or galley. I don’t actually use Ebay at all, no. But it’s a good idea. I also find there’s a logistical problem, as well. I have emails with attachments, piles of print out, a thumb drive with copies of files – and so on, and so on. It’s a LOT better than getting nothing, but not as good as an old-fashioned ARC or galley.

]]> By: A FAB Query http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/comment-page-1/#comment-151660 A FAB Query Wed, 28 May 2008 01:59:48 +0000 http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/#comment-151660 You mean you don't buy ink carts in bunk via eBay? Even with shipping to Down Under, it's a fraction of what you pay at the local store. You mean you don’t buy ink carts in bunk via eBay? Even with shipping to Down Under, it’s a fraction of what you pay at the local store.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/comment-page-1/#comment-151610 Jonathan Tue, 27 May 2008 22:56:43 +0000 http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/#comment-151610 I've certainly done that. But, it still ends up with reading on screen, or covering the cost of a pile of print-out. It works on an occasional basis, but the real problem is that increasingly electronic copies are becoming more and more common. As to the Sony Reader - I'd heard very mixed things about it, especially when it came to PDFs. I know Charles tried it, and seemed far from sold on it. I’ve certainly done that. But, it still ends up with reading on screen, or covering the cost of a pile of print-out. It works on an occasional basis, but the real problem is that increasingly electronic copies are becoming more and more common. As to the Sony Reader – I’d heard very mixed things about it, especially when it came to PDFs. I know Charles tried it, and seemed far from sold on it.

]]> By: AAron http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/comment-page-1/#comment-151506 AAron Tue, 27 May 2008 15:28:42 +0000 http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/#comment-151506 If you have a full version of Adobe Acrobat, and if the .pdf isn't locked, you can usually save a .pdf as a rich text format file. Sometimes the formatting gets a little weird. Afterwards you can reformat the text file for smaller point type and margins, reducing the printing cost. Or you can do what I did, and buy a Sony Reader. If you have a full version of Adobe Acrobat, and if the .pdf isn’t locked, you can usually save a .pdf as a rich text format file. Sometimes the formatting gets a little weird. Afterwards you can reformat the text file for smaller point type and margins, reducing the printing cost.

Or you can do what I did, and buy a Sony Reader.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/comment-page-1/#comment-151411 Jonathan Tue, 27 May 2008 10:50:02 +0000 http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/#comment-151411 I've done the same thing, and am happy to continue do so, in limited numbers. The problem I've found is that Publicity Depts have moved from being reluctant to distribute electronic copies to sending them out in preference to the expense of sending printed copy. The sheer volume of e-copy is what's causing the problem. I’ve done the same thing, and am happy to continue do so, in limited numbers. The problem I’ve found is that Publicity Depts have moved from being reluctant to distribute electronic copies to sending them out in preference to the expense of sending printed copy. The sheer volume of e-copy is what’s causing the problem.

]]> By: Farah http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/comment-page-1/#comment-151410 Farah Tue, 27 May 2008 10:45:01 +0000 http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2008/05/27/sending-me-electronic-files-for-review-and-years-bests/#comment-151410 If I have to print out, I tend to copy and paste into Word these days and print out on 9 point font. Some of our colleagues do have a penchant for 700 page novels. If I have to print out, I tend to copy and paste into Word these days and print out on 9 point font. Some of our colleagues do have a penchant for 700 page novels.

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