diff --git a/plugin/makecols.vim b/plugin/makecols.vim
index ff67427..11f03da 100644
--- a/plugin/makecols.vim
+++ b/plugin/makecols.vim
@@ -2,17 +2,19 @@
 " Author:       Levi Olson <http://leviolson.com/>
 " Version:      1.0
 
-function! s:beep()
-    exe "norm! \<Esc>"
-    return ""
-endfunction
-
 function! s:makecols()
-    let lines = getpos("'<")-getpos("'>")
-    echo lines
-    return s:beep()
+    return s:get_visual_selection()
 endfunction
 
+function! s:get_visual_selection()
+  let [lnum1, col1] = getpos("'<")[1:2]
+  let [lnum2, col2] = getpos("'>")[1:2]
+  let lines = getline(lnum1, lnum2)
+  let lines[-1] = lines[-1][: col2 - (&selection == 'inclusive' ? 1 : 2)]
+  let lines[0] = lines[0][col1 - 1:]
+  return lines
+  " return join(lines, "\n")
+endfunction