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WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996)

sfwriter.com

11–20 of 94 posts

Re: WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996)

#13

I've long considered getting a netbook, slapping freedos on it and running WordStar or WordPerfect as a writing deck. I'm not sure how I would get my files I create off the device since USB support isn't really a thing.

If you want just load the dos net ios/smb stack (or a tcp stack) and go to town.

Re: WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996)

#14

These programs are great for sitting down and writing with no distractions, but if you have a setup with directories full of word docs, text files, various graphics, even excel sheets all related to what you are working on that you need to refer to and cross-reference, they are less useful than an older version of Word or OpenOffice/LibreOffice. And they are difficult to export, share... there's a reason we don't use…

That looks like a different type of writing, perhaps research or business writing. Wordstar like editors that bring simplicity and a distraction free environment are best suited for creative writing.

Re: WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996)

#15

These programs are great for sitting down and writing with no distractions, but if you have a setup with directories full of word docs, text files, various graphics, even excel sheets all related to what you are working on that you need to refer to and cross-reference, they are less useful than an older version of Word or OpenOffice/LibreOffice. And they are difficult to export, share... there's a reason we don't use…

That looks like a different type of writing, perhaps research or business writing. Wordstar like editors that bring simplicity and a distraction free environment are best suited for creative writing.

A large fantasy adventure could easily have supporting documents with cities stats, characters, races, maps etc.

Re: WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996)

#18

I believe George R. R. Martin uses wordstar to write his books. I still hold a little hope that he will finish A Song of Ice and Fire series.

I think he is busy making sure AI doesn't finish it first. Can't have AIs trample in his fantasy land.

Re: WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996)

#19

I've long considered getting a netbook, slapping freedos on it and running WordStar or WordPerfect as a writing deck. I'm not sure how I would get my files I create off the device since USB support isn't really a thing.

I've had similar thoughts and ended up going with FreeBSD and no network connection for my use case. It's been great. It gives you some of the expected terminal ergonomics (and USB support) without the distractions.

Re: WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996)

#20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That looks like a different type of writing, perhaps research or business writing. Wordstar like editors that bring simplicity and a distraction free environment are best suited for creative writing.

A large fantasy adventure could easily have supporting documents with cities stats, characters, races, maps etc.

It could have, but George R R Martin famously uses Word Star and he surely has all that.

Then again he's also about a decade late with the next book

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