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What Do You Use to Write A Book?

There are a lot of software programs* out there for writers wondering how to write a book--some are useful and some useless, but I have a basic question whose answer will help you make your selection:


Which One Will You Actually Use?

 

Getting a story out of your head, through your fingers, and into a manuscript has its own challenges. The last thing you need is to have to learn a new system, lose your content [shudder], or have the process of getting the words out cause frustration and potentially interrupt your flow. 

 

Pick the software or program that encourages or facilitates your work. Typically the one you are most comfortable with. I have always used MS Word in my work and can effortlessly write, track changes, cut/paste, or anything else I need to do when creating without thought, and so I used Word to write my books.


My advice is to get it down and you can transfer your manuscript if needed into another format AFTER you've done the bulk of your writing. In the end, most people hand their finished manuscript over to a professional formatting company like Go Published (aren’t you?) who make it look like a real book and put the windings and chapter headings, and all the goodies on it. Don't get in your own way. Use anything that works for you.


-- Anna Erikssön Bendewald








* Some of the most popular are Final Draft, Scrivner, Storyist, or LivingWriter.











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