Publications routinely write obituaries for public figures ahead of time, but rarely do they escape the confines of editing and make it into print before the subject is actually dead.

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But before I hit the button to send my editors every column, I print out a copy and do the editing and proofreading by hand, on sheets of paper, with a pen.

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In addition to the editing and marketing support for their manuscripts, many writers depend on the advances they get from their print publishers.

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