What writing software do you use?

MonaLeigh · Aug 7, 2007

My trial is expiring soon on Microsoft Word 2007 and I'll have to either purchase it or find something comparable. I had been using Word 2000 forever until my laptop died and I had to get one w/Vista. (Vista only uses 2003 or 2007 Word, which I do not have).

Just curious what other writers use and like.

Rich · Aug 7, 2007

I thought writing software was more of a customize thing. (I didn't even know that there was an MSW 2007.)

I use MSW 2003, which gives me all that I need. For the most part, any MSW program from the mid-nineties on would do as well.

The text is the thing.

jennifer75 · Aug 7, 2007

Usually BIC, but sometimes a Papermate Flexgrip, both in Medium Point, blue ink.

Codger · Aug 7, 2007

Depends on what you're going to do

I'm sure that this has been discussed elsewhere, but can't say which forum.

What will it cost you to purchase Word 2003 or 2007?

I used M$ Word for many years, and it's way overengineered (feature bloat). I only used it because it has become the defacto standard. However, I mostly create manuscripts using Courier 12 pitch, double-spaced, so almost any editor/word processor will do. I use the .rtf output format option, which produces files that are universally interchangeable with other word processors.

I recently bought an Apple iMac and have an inviolable rule that NOTHING from M$ will be installed on my virus-free Mac. So I use a freeware product called OpenOffice that includes a word processor, a spreadsheet and other goodies. They all produce files compatible with MS products.

I guess it depends on wether you need specific features only found in Word, or not.

Scrawler · Aug 7, 2007

I use MS word, but my husband is tempting me with Open Office
He loves it, and I'm going to give it a try this week.

MonaLeigh · Aug 7, 2007

Thanks, I just downloaded Open Office. But I can't figure out how to get my MS word stuff to open up on it. I'll have to wait to ask my computer savvy friend.

kristie911 · Aug 7, 2007

I just use Word. It's functional and I know how to use it, so I hesitate to change. Though I've heard plenty of good things about Open Office. But I'm not going to try downloading it on my dial-up connection...I don't have a free year or so to wait for it to download.

Dave.C.Robinson · Aug 7, 2007

Right now I use MSWord. I have used Open Office but find Word 2007 works really well with my writing style so I stick to it.

Scothoser · Aug 7, 2007

I've tried a couple of word processors out there, and nothing can really beat Word for the sheer number of features, bells and whistles that's rolled into it. But for practical usage, I prefer Google Docs. While Word is great for a number of different things, Google Docs is perfect for my writing. I can write at any computer I'm at as long as it has an Internet Connection, because the document is stored online. I can also organize my documents into folders, so I know where everything is, and exclude non-essential documents from my list.

Open office is brilliant for anyone that needs a full featured word processor without the expense. If you are looking for something that's free to save money, Open Office may be where you want to go. If you are looking for Mobility, I would definitely recommend Google Docs.

maestrowork · Aug 7, 2007

Word.

I am now using iWork/Pages for the Mac to do outlining of my new WIP. I also use Omni-Outliner, but I prefer Pages.

RumpleTumbler · Aug 7, 2007

You might want to check out some of these threads in addition to what is being posted in this one.

JerseyGirl1962 · Aug 7, 2007

lakewriter said:
My trial is expiring soon on Microsoft Word 2007 and I'll have to either purchase it or find something comparable. I had been using Word 2000 forever until my laptop died and I had to get one w/Vista. (Vista only uses 2003 or 2007 Word, which I do not have).

I absolutely HATE Word, but I have no choice when I'm at work. (Just my 2 cents, of course.) I learned on WordPerfect, which I think is more logically set up (and that's what's on my laptop).

Anyway, I use a free program called YWriter. Simon Haynes puts it, and, yes, he's a writer (he's on the Water Cooler from time to time). It's a nifty little program that you can put on thumb drives, which means you can bring your story along with you, wherever you go.

If you want to go with full-fledged word processor, try Open Office. It's free; I use it at home, and it fills the bill quite nicely.

~Nancy

Shady Lane · Aug 7, 2007

Word
word
word

everything you wanted in Word

P.S. Anyone who can identify what I am satire-ing gets a rep point.

Mel · Aug 7, 2007

I have Word 2000 but never use it. Open Office is what I use and love it.

If you right click your WIP there's a list to choose from. If Open Office isn't showing there then click Choose Program at the bottom, then go to your programs and find Open Office and click it. It should open it just fine. After that Open Office should be on the list.

Adam Israel · Aug 7, 2007

I'm on a Mac, so I use Scrivener to do all my writing, and only occasionally use Word for final formatting of a manuscript.

chartreuse · Aug 7, 2007

I have an ancient version of MS Word on my iMac. Works fine for my purposes.

scarletpeaches · Aug 7, 2007

MS Word 2000, courtesy of an ex-boyfriend. All I got from that relationship was a broken heart and some WP software.

LilliCray · Aug 7, 2007

My old laptop had WordPerfect, and I loved it. Unfortunately for me, my new laptop only has Microsoft Works (and a trial for Word, but I'm not going to bother dealing with that one).

I downloaded Open Office recently, and that works pretty well, though I prefer WPerfect and Works.

JimmyB27 · Aug 7, 2007

For the Mac users with Open Office, take a look at NeoOffice. It's a Mac native port of Open Office, so you don't have to mess around with all that X11 stuff.

Dhewco · Aug 7, 2007

lol, I read the first few posts and started to worry I was the only one to use WordPerfect. Finally, a couple people said they had it. At least that's something. I love WordPerfect. I've used it since they came out with 5.0. When I lost a computer and my new computer had Word on it, I cried. There was just something about Word that didn't work for me.

As soon as I could, I bought a laptop that had WordPerfect. (I had other reasons for buying a laptop, of course.) Now, I have WP on both desktop and laptop. That's the way it should be.

David

Adam Israel · Aug 7, 2007

Dhewco said:
lol, I read the first few posts and started to worry I was the only one to use WordPerfect. Finally, a couple people said they had it. At least that's something. I love WordPerfect. I've used it since they came out with 5.0. When I lost a computer and my new computer had Word on it, I cried. There was just something about Word that didn't work for me.

As soon as I could, I bought a laptop that had WordPerfect. (I had other reasons for buying a laptop, of course.) Now, I have WP on both desktop and laptop. That's the way it should be.

David

I heard a few editors at NASFiC this weekend complain about WordPerfect, actually. They complained about some of the problems with converting submissions from WP to Word and missing characters, like end quotation marks.

JimmyB27 · Aug 7, 2007

StoneTable said:
I heard a few editors at NASFiC this weekend complain about WordPerfect, actually. They complained about some of the problems with converting submissions from WP to Word and missing characters, like end quotation marks.

Maybe they should be complaining that MS Word doesn't read WordPerfect files correctly.

Adam Israel · Aug 7, 2007

JimmyB27 said:
Maybe they should be complaining that MS Word doesn't read WordPerfect files correctly.

*shrug*

I have no problem using Word for my final manuscript cleanup. Whatever makes it easier for the editor.

Dhewco · Aug 7, 2007

I have Microsoft Word on my desktop, but I can't find my numbers so I can register it. So, I don't bother. I might try that yWriter others mention.

David

celeber · Aug 7, 2007

I use microsoft word. It is what I am most comforatble with and know the ins and outs of.
I am interested in seeing some of the others mentioned though.

What writing software do you use?

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