[stylist] Writing Software

Wed Jun 15 18:44:19 UTC 2016

Very true. The way the world changes and evolves these days, who knows what
trend will become the preferred mode, smile.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of P. Campbell
via stylist
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2016 1:39 PM
To: Writers' Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Cc: P. Campbell <pcampbell16 at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [stylist] Writing Software

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 

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