[stylist] Writing Software

[P. Campbell]

I sold my first book using WP5.0 for DOS, a synthesized voice called 
Tiny-Talk that sounded like something from outer space, and a program called 
Vocal-Eyes. Trust me we've come a long way. Through all these changes, 
however, many of my work habits have remained the same. I always save each 
chapter in a separate file. This is a personal preference. I prefer to have 
smaller amounts of material in memory when I'm making preliminary 
corrections. Many editors request several sample chapters, and I find it 
easier to merge them than to cut from the entire manuscript, again personal 
preference.

I have never had chapters out of order, nor have I finished with a completed 
manuscript with mixed formatting. Of course my work isn't always perfect, 
and of course, careful checking does take time and energy, and of course an 
editing service costs money. To me the effort, and possible expenditure are 
worth it.

Since I said good-bye to the DOS days I have never worked with an editor who 
hasn't requested either Word or RTF. It is my understanding that even if a 
document created in another program is saved as a Word document some symbols 
remain that can create problems, especially with software used in publishing 
e-books. Obviously I can't comment on this from personal experience, I only 
know what the publishers say, and what they request.

I have always been totally blind, so, of course, can't visualize the printed 
page, but since I've been selling even before I got my first computer, it 
seems to me that in my case it makes little difference.

Please don't misunderstand, it isn't my intention to criticize anyone's 
choice of software. I suppose that for me it's a case of the old adage, "If 
it ain't broke, don't fix it", that is unless you find something better. So 
far for me, I haven't found anything better than Word, but who knows what 
the future may bring.

Phyllis

pcampbell16 at verizon.net