Writers Software Choices

One pet hate is when you pay good money for software you need to help save time and it does the complete opposite. This is frustrating to say the least. Our times as writers is precious especially when writing is not our full time role. Therefore to be facing issues with software, the one thing that allows us to put things onto paper quicker can lead to anger. 

Over the years and during writing the books in my catalogue of work, I have used many different hardware and software devices to put my thoughts down. Some have been good, whilst some have been extremely detrimental to that creative process. 

The important thing to remember before reading on is that what works for one person will not necessarily work for another. The approach that I take will not be the same as yours or should it be. The intent here is to show the development process and some of the struggles I have faced over the course of the years I have been behind a keyboard.

With that in mind what I am about to tell you probably gives you and indication of how long I have been writing. So my first device was an Amstrad 464 which shipped with a tape drive and a free word processor called Easi-AmsWord. This to date is still the best word processor I have every used, which may come as a surprise to many of you considering how basic it was but here are my reasons why.

• No spell checker. Yes that's right. It shipped as is so a dictionary was vital to ensuring you made no mistakes. At the time I had and used a thesaurus which was a trusted tool.
• Max file size. The 464 would only allow you to write so many lines before it would be unable to store any more into temp memory. This meant that you would only ever be able to write ~ 2-5 pages before backing up and moving on. This allowed for a very focused way of writing. There was no ability to go back to a previous chapter or side two different chapters side by side.
• Time to load. It took around 2-3 minutes to load up the word processor then further time to find the file you were working on and load that via the tape drive. All of this meant that once you were ready to start working you were in the zone. Today's ability to flick on and off is good but often allows for personal procrastination.
• The keyboard, oh my word the keyboard was insanely good. The right height the right depth of key for speed writing. It was a dream. Whilst we are on keyboard.

Keyboards:

So keyboards, yes this is my personal addiction. As stated above my 464 had to date my favourite keyboard. It's important to note the to date part of the previous statement. As I am always on the hunt for new ones. My second favourite keyboard is an old IMB model M. Folding spring model but this is too loud at night and keeps most of the neighbourhood awake whilst I am working.

I am currently writing this on a surface keyboard which is very good but still lacks the physical connection to a key press that earlier, sturdy keyboards provide. The recent revival of mechanical keyboards have gone a long way in reviving that experience but with a modern take. Keyboards loaded with Cherry MX or ML keys are good and allow for a very tactile experience when I am writing. The surface keyboard and its folding equivalent allow for lots of high speed word bashing without suffering the wrath of the family shouting at me for interrupting their sleep.

Back to software:

So through the years and with faster devices being made available for cheaper prices the king of the word processor dominated my writing path. Yes I am talking about Word. Love it or hate it you cannot deny that it does exactly what its supposed to do and it does it well. There are too many pros and cons for this one and over the years even MS have listened to their users to reduce some of the later whilst maintaining the for.

I have to be honest here and say that Word has been and will be my fall back tool for years to come. With the bulk of my back catalogue still sitting in .doc format.

Passing word by I moved onto Scrivener for a few years. Again this is a good tool and helped me to start writing again at speed but it also hindered it quite substantially too. Lot's of people love it but after two books I felt we had to depart ways. The process of writing seemed too complicated and if anything a word processor just like a pen is a tool to help and not hinder.

My departure with the above led to a bit of a word processing crisis for me. Do I return to the old ways and use word. Look even further back to the word perfects or push onwards to the Google equivalents.

After dabbling with a bit of nostalgia I decided to move forwards and I am now heavily seated in gdocs. Not perfect but it does allow me to collaborate at speed with my editor and other writers. Simple in nature, a hark back to the very fundamentals of what a word processor should be and for that I am happy.

The biggest single advantage however is cloud computing. An always up approach to writing, any device and connection anywhere. This is where the power in my current choice resides.

I hope this blog was of interest to you. Please remember though. What works for you is the most important choice to make. Be in Mac or PC. MS or Google. Bespoke or generic. Seek out what makes your writing sessions a success. The end of the journey is always the same, a book. The process or getting there can be infinitely different. From paper and pen to computer. Go make your choice but never be afraid to explore and seek out other peoples advice. You never know it might make you sessions more enjoyable.