writing programs

[Booblover56]

need a writing program for my windows 8 laptop

my tablet has MS word but I'm a little old school it's a pain to write on the tablet

I need something with spell check cause I'm a horrible speller and something user friendly like word would be nice

so what's a good free program to use?

 

[Bramblethorn]

need a writing program for my windows 8 laptop

my tablet has MS word but I'm a little old school it's a pain to write on the tablet

I need something with spell check cause I'm a horrible speller and something user friendly like word would be nice

so what's a good free program to use?

LibreOffice is pretty popular as a free Word-like program.

 

[ElsieElsewhere]

need a writing program for my windows 8 laptop

my tablet has MS word but I'm a little old school it's a pain to write on the tablet

I need something with spell check cause I'm a horrible speller and something user friendly like word would be nice

so what's a good free program to use?

Are you typing exclusively on a tablet? Or do you also write using a keyboard?

Either way, there are a number of different programs and sites.

• MS Word
• Libre Office
• Writer by bighugelabs.com
• Calmly Writer
• Google Docs

Calmly Writer, Writer (by bighugelabs), and MSWord work with the Grammarly plugin/extension. Google Docs also has a database of plugins like GradeProof for correcting errors.

 

[Handley_Page]

There are, as might be expected, a number of WP packages.

In addition to Libre Office (aka Apache Office) which is remarkable similar to Word,
you might care to look at the following:-


Jarte. This is a neat addition to Windows own notepad thing. It has a
Dictionary (a bit basic but a good start), and saves its files in RTF format. And Free!
Kingsoft writer. A very neat package.
Lotus Symphony. Personally, I do not find Lotus particularly easy, but it's slick.
Y-writer. Good reviews for writing scripts and programmes.
Abword. Very neat.



Good Luck

 

[jsmiam]

"Microsoft Word Online" is a thing too, a version of word, somewhat hobbled here and there, purely on the web, and free for the foreseeable future. Bing it, it works reasonably well, totally worth the price.

Also, a Bluetooth keyboard for the tablet turns it into something almost usable for real work and writing too. Almost...

 

[ElsieElsewhere]

"Microsoft Word Online" is a thing too, a version of word, somewhat hobbled here and there, purely on the web, and free for the foreseeable future. Bing it, it works reasonably well, totally worth the price.

Wow. I've never seen anyone use "Bing it" before. It's typically always "Google it", definitely never "Yahoo it."

 

[jsmiam]

Wow. I've never seen anyone use "Bing it" before. It's typically always "Google it", definitely never "Yahoo it."

<=== rebel...

 

[ElsieElsewhere]

<=== rebel...

You should totally DuckDuckGo it.

 

[jsmiam]

You should totally DuckDuckGo it.

Very true...

 

[Booblover56]

A keyboard for my tablet would cost the same as a year or two of MSword
And the last one I had broke a week after the warrenty ended

I was looking at the libre program but my laptop is being a bitch and won't download it

 

[Grillytilly]

I use libreoffice for all my writing and calibre to convert my files into ebooks. If you start using libreoffice you'll find that it is beaucoup powerful. It can just be a simple text editor if you need that but it can do way more. I've been using it since college and it always blows MS office out of the water. For me, it isn't about if the source is open or that I can get it for fee. I like all the functionality it has. I can easily do things with it that MS office just can't match. And I like the fact that it has menus at the top of the application just like every other application. None of that ribbon garbage that just takes up too much of the screen. And another thing, I can change the language to whatever I want. I travel to different countries where the computers people want me to use or sell don't have any English. Their version of MS Office won't have any English either and there are no options for getting it into English. So I have LIbereoffice on a usb drive and I run it in English from there.

 

[Grillytilly]

A keyboard for my tablet would cost the same as a year or two of MSword
And the last one I had broke a week after the warrenty ended

I was looking at the libre program but my laptop is being a bitch and won't download it

Yeah, keyboards don't last forever. The more you type, the sooner they start to stick. I buy at least two a year and it's a pain to find one with the right configuration of keys. My hands are used to only two keys being between L and Enter but a lot of Asian keyboards have the enter key as a different shape. They also hide backspace on you and I just can't live with that. I might be in the computer store and a guy is curious why I'm buying ten keyboards. I'm just stocking up because I found a pretty good layout.

You know, not to be pushy or anything, but have you thought about getting rid of Windows 8 and putting Linux on there? If you don't know what linux is, just look up Ubuntu OS. It can be a bit confusing at first but it's basically a different OS that should run on your hardware. Just because you bought your tablet with Windows on it doesn't mean you have to keep windows. Any OS that is designed for that hardware will run it. But of course, before going anything like that look it up and get more information first.

 

[rjordan]

need a writing program for my windows 8 laptop

my tablet has MS word but I'm a little old school it's a pain to write on the tablet

I need something with spell check cause I'm a horrible speller and something user friendly like word would be nice

so what's a good free program to use?

If you're a touch typist, I'm surprised you haven't smashed your tablet against the wall by now. Get a decent blue tooth keyboard with a layout that is comfortable for you so you don't have to think about the hardware. A tablet was not made for writing. For writers, tablets have all the inconvenience of a cell phone without the ability to make a phone call.

For software, I've been using various versions of Open Office for abut 20 years. I understand Libre Office branched off from it at one point, but it worked fine for me as a professional for many years. I don't use it much anymore as I do all my writing, note taking and organizing on Scrivener. Unless you need the features Scrivener offers, I'm not recommending it. It works well for me.

rj

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I've used most of the programs mentioned. I always go back to Word and yWrite. Word for short - under 50k words - and yWrite for novel length works, which when finish I dump into Word for the final edit.

 

[ElsieElsewhere]

Yeah, keyboards don't last forever. The more you type, the sooner they start to stick. I buy at least two a year and it's a pain to find one with the right configuration of keys. My hands are used to only two keys being between L and Enter but a lot of Asian keyboards have the enter key as a different shape. They also hide backspace on you and I just can't live with that. I might be in the computer store and a guy is curious why I'm buying ten keyboards. I'm just stocking up because I found a pretty good layout.

You know, not to be pushy or anything, but have you thought about getting rid of Windows 8 and putting Linux on there? If you don't know what linux is, just look up Ubuntu OS. It can be a bit confusing at first but it's basically a different OS that should run on your hardware. Just because you bought your tablet with Windows on it doesn't mean you have to keep windows. Any OS that is designed for that hardware will run it. But of course, before going anything like that look it up and get more information first.

I'm sorry, but what the fuck kind of keyboard are you using that requires you to replace it bi-annually? I had the keyboard before this one for 7 years before replacing it, and it is still fine. The only reason I replaced it was because I wanted backlit keys. Do you type by slamming your face into the keys? You might want to consider investing in a more solid keyboard. Also, if the keys are sticking, then there might actually be something else going on.*nudge* Either stop spilling maple syrup on your keyboard, or stop jizzing on it.

If you're a touch typist, I'm surprised you haven't smashed your tablet against the wall by now. Get a decent blue tooth keyboard with a layout that is comfortable for you so you don't have to think about the hardware. A tablet was not made for writing. For writers, tablets have all the inconvenience of a cell phone without the ability to make a phone call.

For software, I've been using various versions of Open Office for abut 20 years. I understand Libre Office branched off from it at one point, but it worked fine for me as a professional for many years. I don't use it much anymore as I do all my writing, note taking and organizing on Scrivener. Unless you need the features Scrivener offers, I'm not recommending it. It works well for me.

rj

I needed/wanted something for typing while I am hanging out in bed, so I tried the tablet that at&t gave me for upgrading my phone. Never have I been that frustrated with a device before. The response for typing made me want to kill myself. I gave up and just asked for a Chromebook for my Bday.

 

[Booblover56]

Ok i think we are getting away from my original question which is finding a free writing program for my LAPTOP
My tablet is just what I'm stuck using right now since my laptop doesn't have what I need

I read up on libre and i think it would be perfect but i can't figure out why my laptop won't let it download

Ugh I used to keep up with all this stuff for work but since i retired i have lost track of all the new technology

 

[DreamCloud]

Google Docs.

That way you can write on your tablet, your laptop, and your phone if you so desire. Never have to save, backup, or worry about shifting files around to keep the different devices in sync. It's also very nice at sharing with an editor or two.

 

[Handley_Page]

Yeah, keyboards don't last forever. The more you type, the sooner they start to stick. I buy at least two a year and it's a pain to find one with the right configuration of keys. My hands are used to only two keys being between L and Enter but a lot of Asian keyboards have the enter key as a different shape. They also hide backspace on you and I just can't live with that. I might be in the computer store and a guy is curious why I'm buying ten keyboards. I'm just stocking up because I found a pretty good layout.

If you are prepared to invest some money into a decent keyboard, take a look at the Cherry 'clunky' that came with the IBM PS/2 towers. These keyboards are still available, but you may have to look a bit wider.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I'm sorry, but what the fuck kind of keyboard are you using that requires you to replace it bi-annually? I had the keyboard before this one for 7 years before replacing it, and it is still fine. The only reason I replaced it was because I wanted backlit keys. Do you type by slamming your face into the keys? You might want to consider investing in a more solid keyboard. Also, if the keys are sticking, then there might actually be something else going on.*nudge* Either stop spilling maple syrup on your keyboard, or stop jizzing on it.




I needed/wanted something for typing while I am hanging out in bed, so I tried the tablet that at&t gave me for upgrading my phone. Never have I been that frustrated with a device before. The response for typing made me want to kill myself. I gave up and just asked for a Chromebook for my Bday.

I replace my keyboard at least once a year, sometimes sooner. Not because it quits working, but a lot of the keys have their letters rubbed off. The keyboard is cheaper than a new set of keys.

 

[BuckyDuckman]

Google Docs.

That way you can write on your tablet, your laptop, and your phone if you so desire. Never have to save, backup, or worry about shifting files around to keep the different devices in sync. It's also very nice at sharing with an editor or two.

I second Google Docs. You can export your writings into any format you want. It's free. It works right inside your browser. Yes, you can use it offline, though I don't. And it keeps my writing off my computer, so I can use any ol' computer. I switched my erotic a couple years ago and have been very happy. Yes, there's a spellcheck, too.

 

[Handley_Page]

I second Google Docs. You can export your writings into any format you want. It's free. It works right inside your browser. Yes, you can use it offline, though I don't. And it keeps my writing off my computer, so I can use any ol' computer. I switched my erotic a couple years ago and have been very happy. Yes, there's a spellcheck, too.

Yes, it's free, but I don't like the idea of what I write, for whatever purpose, being on someone else's computer (ie., 'the Cloud'), where "analysis" can be done (presumably for the purposes of "improving" my experience, ie., adverts.) or simply because the NSA or whoever can look at what I've written to make sure I'm no terrorist.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Yes, it's free, but I don't like the idea of what I write, for whatever purpose, being on someone else's computer (ie., 'the Cloud'), where "analysis" can be done (presumably for the purposes of "improving" my experience, ie., adverts.) or simply because the NSA or whoever can look at what I've written to make sure I'm no terrorist.

Well if you eventually post the stuff here, they get to look at it anyway. The NSA at least, but I bet Google is looking too.

 

[rjordan]

Well if you eventually post the stuff here, they get to look at it anyway. The NSA at least, but I bet Google is looking too.

He's fucked. Hidden among a massive number of references to British aircraft are 7600 references to "Handley_Page Literotica". Could be references to sex in a WWII bomber, but he's wise to be careful.

rj

 

[ElsieElsewhere]

Well if you eventually post the stuff here, they get to look at it anyway. The NSA at least, but I bet Google is looking too.

I could care less about some intelligence agency looking at my google docs... As long as they don't look at my first drafts. I'll assassinate myself if that happens.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

He's fucked. Hidden among a massive number of references to British aircraft are 7600 references to "Handley_Page Literotica". Could be references to sex in a WWII bomber, but he's wise to be careful.

rj

Yes, but all they have to do is a member search to get to those stories he doesn't want on google docs.

I could care less about some intelligence agency looking at my google docs... As long as they don't look at my first drafts. I'll assassinate myself if that happens.

And they are hoping you don't care...about them looking at anything personal.