Andre Norton Forum

:As you know, Ms. Norton doesn't like computers, especially the new one in the library (which she calls the "damnthing"). Instead she types her books into an early-eighties PC in the study room, prints it out and then corrections are made and the text is retyped using a more modern equipment.

:Matt

Actually Andre Norton isn't sure that today's reliance on technology is totally a good thing. He relation with that 'early-eighties' PC is also somewhat strained, and she only started to use it when it just made more sense to enlarge the type on the screen. However her study room, is converted from a rather large Living room - About 18 feet of the front of the house, including picture windows, with a HUGE desk that is in the shape of a capital U, the size & shape of a kitchen island. The typing area is the short end of the letter, and the final leg of the U is against the wall.

I'm a computer programmer, and sometimes I'm not so sure that what I put into my computer will come back out....Especially when my keyboard froze when I was typing the first draft of this message....This is my second try.

I thought that some of you might find interesting how Andre Norton's style of writing hasn't changed much since the early days.

I had the joy of searching the archives at the Syracuse University Library (Syracuse NY) in 1994. [Anyone can do this, just don't plan on taking any paper out of the place. They will make photocopies & you can bring in a computer & scanner.]

There are boxes and boxes of stuff. What I was able to trace down was a style of writing.

Andre Norton used to start with a hand written version of her book. Then she typed up the next copy on newsprint yellow paper, double spaced. These typed pages are numbered by chapter and contain lots of editing. Additions were often full pages written in, or a whole page X-ed out. The next copy appeared to have been professionally typed (tan paper) and contains, usually fewer corrections. Then a final professionally typed copy (white paper) was made and was probably sent to the publisher.

Here's a listing of the contents of one set of folders. Remember these are not in the order written, but in the order of the folders.

Death Collects A Manuscript (4 folders) Published as SNOW SHADOW Folder 1: Tan paper copy: pp 1-159 (complete) One page:White lined paper notes: hand written Plot Outline: DEATH AND THE GOTHIC LADY(4 pages) Working title for sequel to SNOW SHADOW Yellow lined paper: ?Quotes? 3 sheets White 5.5x8.5 paper; quotes 2 sheets White lined paper: Jane Austen history: 10 sheets Folder 2: Yellow paper copy: paged by chapters: chapters 1-16 (to end of book) Folder 3 White paper copy: as by Sara Stemm (Andre Norton) pp 0-159 Folder 4 Tan paper copy: pp 26-247

What I'm trying to show is that Andre's writing style hasn't changed except that she is now typing her first draft. Making the handwritten changes, and then working with a second typed copy.