What is a manuscript?
A handwritten or typed document of a writer's work.
The Power of Pen and Paper: Unearthing Manuscripts in Creative Writing
Manuscripts are to writers what brick and mortar are to a building. A manuscript is a handwritten or typed copy of a writer's work that serves as a preliminary document, a prelude to a finished product. Through manuscripts, writers can trace the progress of their creativity, see how their work has evolved over time, and pinpoint moments of inspiration. Manuscripts give writers room to experiment with language, characters, and themes. It allows them to spill out their thoughts onto paper without distraction. Although the realm of creative writing has grown to include digital mediums, manuscripts continue to hold special significance. In a world of digital distractions and instant gratification, the act of handwriting or typing a manuscript encourages writers to slow down and focus on the craft of writing. Manuscripts are a physical reminder of the creative process, a tangible connection to the words that formed on a blank piece of paper. Whether a writer is refining their first novel or jotting down ideas for a poem, manuscripts are a crucial component of the writing journey.
Manuscripts take on new life in the world of literature. Here are two examples of how manuscripts have played a role in shaping creative works:
The manuscript of The Great Gatsby was submitted to the publisher, Charles Scribner's Sons, with Fitzgerald’s original title “Trimalchio in West Egg.” Scribner convinced Fitzgerald to change the name to the now-famous title, and the novel has become a canonical work of modern American literature.
Mary Shelley’s handwritten manuscript of Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, still exists and is kept in the Bodleian Library at Oxford University. The manuscript includes changes and annotations made by Shelley’s husband, the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who played an active role in the editing process.