Are Manuscripts Written with word processing programs? (quote, similar)

[Kevdawgg]

Are manuscripts for novels written with programs like Microsoft Office? With computers and word processing programs, it looks like you can write a whole novel on your laptop, desktop, tablet, or whatever device you use to write.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by Kevdawgg

Are manuscripts for novels written with programs like Microsoft Office? With computers and word processing programs, it looks like you can write a whole novel on your laptop, desktop, tablet, or whatever device you use to write.

Yes. Why couldn't you? Mine (incomplete as it is) exists on my hard drive, backed up on a flash drive.

What is the alternative? OK, I know Nelson DeMille writes his novels in longhand on yellow legal pads and has them transcribed, but I think most writers use Word or an equivalent nowadays.

Personally, ever since I went to secretarial school in 1978 and learned to type, I've slowly lost the ability to write legibly with a pen or pencil. I take notes in meetings at work, and sometimes I cannot decipher them. I should have kept up with my Gregg shorthand.

[PanTerra]

Originally Posted by Kevdawgg

Are manuscripts for novels written with programs like Microsoft Office? With computers and word processing programs, it looks like you can write a whole novel on your laptop, desktop, tablet, or whatever device you use to write.

Whaaaaat?!!!! You are just now telling me this?!! I guess I didn't need to send off for that second case of Big Chief tablets to finish my memoirs.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by PanTerra

Whaaaaat?!!!! You are just now telling me this?!! I guess I didn't need to send off for that second case of Big Chief tablets to finish my memoirs.

^^^ Now that was funny.

[K-Luv]

I find that Word can become unstable when the document becomes too long, and formatting is a pain in the behind.

Writers use what-ever they feel comfortable with whether that is Word, OpenOffice (now Libre), or specialized writing software (Scrivener is the best). Some even use the Dvorak keyboard layout instead of qwerty as it supposedly is easier on the wrists.

I use LaTex. It is not word processing, it is typesetting. Essentially it is a mark-up language similar to HTML, but you do not need to do much, if any, coding. It creates perfect documents that are accurately formatted 100% throughout the entire document.

[Kevdawgg]

Originally Posted by K-Luv

I find that Word can become unstable when the document becomes too long, and formatting is a pain in the behind.

You can't format on word pad, so MS word is better for formatting.

[NY Annie]

I prefer WordPerfect. It is less "for dummies" than Word and has more flexibility.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by NY Annie

I prefer WordPerfect. It is less "for dummies" than Word and has more flexibility.

I have always heard that from WordPerfect users. I have never had occasion to use it myself.