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WordStar: A Writer's Word Processor (1996)

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

#21

Post by ares623 »

I started getting into typewriters. I could've repurposed an old X230 and disable/remove the network card physically. But I also wanted to stop staring at a screen when writing, so I gave the typewriter a try.

It's still early and I'm struggling to write more than a few lines at a time. Not surprising from how I've been commenting "witty" one-liners in comment threads for over a decade. I expect being able to write long-form with no backspacing will need a lot of time to learn.

But I want to take back my attention. If there's one thing I've learned in the last decade, is that one's attention is a precious resource and it's time to be more deliberate in how I spend it.

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

#22

Post by rrvsh »

visarga wrote: post #18
terminalgravity wrote: post #12

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.

LLMs are really bad at worldbuilding outside of tropes. They're great at coming up with on the fly setpieces etc. halfway through a session, but for novel concepts they really dont work that well

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

#24

Post by incanus77 »

jszymborski wrote: post #4

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.

USB floppy drive on the modern computer side. I do this for old machines.

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

#26

Post by ggm »

Followed the UCSD p-system of putting command prompts on screen. Useful but also irritating to attention and screen real estate.

Usefully showing end-of-line markers. I remember thinking compared to dec-10 ROFF (which iirc proceeded nroff etc) it was both simpler and harder.

Used it, never liked it. Ed was the way.

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

#27

Post by Rotundo »

ares623 wrote: post #21

I started getting into typewriters. I could've repurposed an old X230 and disable/remove the network card physically. But I also wanted to stop staring at a screen when writing, so I gave the typewriter a try. It's still early and I'm struggling to write more than a few lines at a time. Not surprising from how I've been commenting "witty" one-liners in comment threads for over a decade. I expect being able to write l…

I got back to writing longer texts by mentally separating writing and editing. When writing, just write. Even when you think the paragraph could be better, keep on writing.

Only start editing when a substantial piece is ready. Clean up some wording, rewrite a paragraph or two.

Even then, don't overdo it. There is always something to improve, you'll never be done that way. Good enough is good enough, hit publish and go on write the next thing.

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

#28

Post by epihelix »

I grew up using WordStar on the Apple ][. It was great when all you had was an 80 column card, a green phosphor screen and a keyboard, but I was never sad to leave it behind when GUIs were invented. I have nostalgia for the time, sure, but not for that interface and the multi-key-stroke commands you had to learn by rote.

Each to their own, and of course finding an optimal writing environment is a very subjective thing -- but it's not like there aren't modern distraction-free writing interfaces that exist.

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

#29

Post by user3939382 »

epihelix wrote: post #28

I grew up using WordStar on the Apple ][. It was great when all you had was an 80 column card, a green phosphor screen and a keyboard, but I was never sad to leave it behind when GUIs were invented. I have nostalgia for the time, sure, but not for that interface and the multi-key-stroke commands you had to learn by rote. Each to their own, and of course finding an optimal writing environment is a very subjective thin…

> leave it behind when GUIs were invented

GUIs were invented by the Xerox PARC team early 1970s, the IIc (I have one sitting on my desk :) was 1984. Totally beside your point so I apologize. I only mention it because PARC deserves a huge amount of credit.

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

#30

Post by ErroneousBosh »

nylonstrung wrote: post #23

In the same way as WordStar, there's a community of DOS WordPerfect 6.0 users who claim with some validity that it's still the best for writing prose

In the UK at least it crops up a lot in legal circles.

Quite often solicitors have stuff on 3.5" or even 5.25" floppies that need read, converted from WordPerfect into something modern, and delivered as maybe a PDF or Word Doc.

Fortunately, solicitors tend not to be short of money (that they bill their client for) so they can often find "a guy who knows a guy" who can get that precious floppy onto a USB stick. Occasionally I am the guy who the guy knows, and it buys me the odd case of reasonably-priced wine.

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