In Which A WIP is Printed

Just printed. Not published, not picked up by an agent or anything like that. Printed in that, I went to Kinko’s and paid them to print it for me so that I can now have people read it, and tell me what they think. It’s sitting on my table right now, all 275 pages of it – and it’s beautiful. Thick and lovely. Yes, I’m still talking about my book.
It’s always a pretty amazing experience when you print out your novel for the first time. Til this point, it only existed in you computer, on a screen that disappears when you shut the computer off. The paper is real. It won’t go away unless I rip it to shreds. I can touch, smell it. It smells like trees. Like ink. Like hours of hard work.
I can’t wait to hand it out and get feedback. I’m even a little excited to see the red pen that will soon be all over the pages. It only means that I can improve my story – and then print it again.
Let it begin!
How did you feel the first time you printed your book? Excited? Nervous? Tell me about it!
I was amazed at the sheer volume of my book when I first printed it. It was so heavy in my hands… on the computer it felt very insubstantial. It’s exciting!
It’s very exciting! You’re exactly right, it feels insubstantial until you print it.