What did you use to Write your Last Article or book?

HappyLady Level 1

October 3, 2018, 1:14 pm

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What did you use to Write your Last Article or book?

I began in LibreOffice but then discovered that Google Docs was great for collaboration. On the way, my co-writer and I got addicted to the "Glue Word" finder as we discovered we both write "sticky" and they say that good writers do not

Then we kept sticking everything into ProwritingAid just in case we missed anything we had not picked up ourselves. (prowritingaid.com)

I threw the entire document into Hemmingwayapp and then finally landed back at base on Google Docs and used the Language Tool add-on to see what that would show. (hemmingwayapp.com)

If I could find something that would highlight a problem, I used it and we also heard the whole thing out loud.

This was after the whole text was written and edited by ourselves. We knew we could not self-edit alone.

Some might say we went for overkill, but we wanted to learn where our weaknesses like. We altered a lot, deleted many words, changed many sentences.

As I began to format, I still found mistakes. This proves self-editing is never going to give you a perfectly edited book, even if you use every available tool you can. Oh, and I put sections into smallseotools plagiarism checker, to be sure I had not plagiarized by accident.

I would be interested to know how others self-edit.

(I confess an addiction to grammar checkers. I love to put my work into them and see what they throw up and there is something very satisfying when they find no fault.)

Comments

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rlpzbeermoney

rlpzbeermoney

When I discovered Google Docs, I didn't use Microsoft Word anymore when writing articles or essays. Google Docs is much more convenient. It syncs automatically to your Google Account. It has better grammar checking and spellchecking. It can translate stuff for you on the fly. The version of MS Word I'm using is pirated so I guess that's my fault that some features don't work. Google Docs is free btw.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

The only function LibreOffice could do with that Office has is the ability to move text around really easily. However, in LibreOffice, you can do it when you know how. With docs, you have to cut and paste which can be trickier. This is the one feature missing from Google Docs which is superior until it comes to formatting. I tend to write in Docs then move to LibreOffice. While I possess a bit of paper saying I can use MS Word, I have never liked or got along with it. Grammarly now does a Beta version for Google docs which makes it even better. If they just sorted page numbering so you could make a book look professional and an easy way to make headers different throughout the book, I would probably use it all the time.

6 years ago

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rlpzbeermoney

rlpzbeermoney

You have specific needs that's why but I guess they designed Google Docs to be for the everyday person that just needs a word writer online. I didn't know that Grammarly is coming to Docs. I'm actually a long time user of Grammarly. I had to copy paste my spellchecking before and it's nice that I can do it inapp in Docs.

6 years ago

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Martinsx1

Martinsx1

At the moment, I'm definitely sure that no online tool is better than Google Docs with all the features it comes with such as linking up well with one's Gmail account, path with grammarly for spelling and grammatical correction. The translation work is so good especially when you get into site that uses other languages than English. It automatically translates contents on the site in English language.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

It seems fine until you get to the formatting stage. Definitely a tool for writing, but a way to go until it works well enough to self publish a book to a professional standard. Too many things needed are missing.

6 years ago

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jaybee19

jaybee19

As much as I want to use Google Docs all the time, I still can't do the big switch because I'm still not used to using it compared to how I'm used and comfortable with MS Office. Also, I am not very sure if Printing shops here where I live use Google Docs and so I am afraid that it might get ruined after converting it in to the MS Format.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

I think it would work if you download the right file type. I guess you could experiment with a shorter document to see how it works if you download in MS Office format.

6 years ago

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jaybee19

jaybee19

Thanks for the advice. I'll go and see if it does solve my problem very soon. I actually use another office suit which is WPS for my other laptop because I can't afford another license for MS Office and what I do is I save my WPS File to PDF for it to be safe from reformatting. I'm considering to do that with Google Docs but I'm not sure if converting to PDF is available with Google Docs.

6 years ago

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Martinsx1

Martinsx1

I started out with MS Office with my desktop computer and still switched to it when I started using laptop for my online article writing. It did served me very well and satisfactorily till I jumped into the band of using Google Docs in order to enjoy more features from Google that helps with writing good articles.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

If they listen to users, I think Google docs might be able to corner the market. However, so far they are not listening to those with formatting needs enough and it is frustrating that a lot of useful apps are as yet, useless as they turn up unverified and remain so.

6 years ago

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Martinsx1

Martinsx1

Google Docs is my favorite and I have used it in writing so many of my online articles and contents. Google makes things very simple and easy especially when it concerns SEO and freelancing. It's synced properly with grammarly which helps in eliminating most errors in writing and make one's writing to be of high quality.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

I find the comment you make about SEO very interesting as I am trying to improve my SEO skills. Whether we like it or not, to be successful online involves knowledge of SEO over and above writing skills. Or, maybe it should now be included as a writing skill? (I guess that is another question.) I find the possibilities of co-editing really great. I work with someone in the US and we can converse real time as we work on a project.

6 years ago

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stbrians

stbrians

Self editing can prove to be tough. I tried it myself and ended up with a disaster. Apps do not recognize mistakes of words that spell almost the same. If you write same, it can come out with dame or sane and it cannot notice the difference.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

I know from elsewhere you are not from the UK and even us English nationals have trouble with our own language and are poor at editing ourselves. It does take knowledge of a language to see where apps go wrong. Even then, I forget question marks and my brain tells me they are there. My brain sees them, but they are not on the page. It is why we need two to Tango. The difficulty for most writers is they are too poor to afford the services of a real editor and I have had a few experiences where places like fiver.com have provided an editor, but the editor does not have native English so added very little to what I was doing.

6 years ago

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jaymish3

jaymish3

I agree that you can never edit your own work.That's why when you write something at school, the teacher always advises that you take a day or two between drafts. You need to remove yourself from your work for a bit. The problem however is that when you are a freelance writer you don't have that luxury, so you need to use different tools to edit. However I have never heard of the tools that you are talking about.I'll be sure to check them out.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

Every online thing that checks your writing has different abilities and does different things. It is worth using more than one. I found you can write directly into quite a few and that helps. However, at times this can slow you down. Everyone finds their best way of working and the tools they like in the end.

6 years ago

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superlicca

superlicca

I have been using MS office for years and it is great! I also use google docs but I am still comfortable with MS office. I got it for free from my job. I have Grammarly to check my grammar, punctuation mark, and spelling. Self-editing is hard but there are tips that you can follow to improve your work.

6 years ago

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romyter013

romyter013

I do the same thing too. If something that I forgot or confuse of words that I'm typing everyday, Grammarly is always there to correct me. I use Microsoft Word until now I guess thats what I get used to. And already familiar with the buttons on where to go to like if I need to add something on the page.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

The Beta version of Grammarly certainly makes Google docs a competetive tool in the world of Word Processors. I am still fond of the Language Tool add in though.

6 years ago

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superlicca

superlicca

Self-editing can be difficult. They say that even editors need to have their own content edited. The good thing is that you can find a lot of reliable articles that give you helpful information on how to do self-editing. You can also join groups or connect with other writers.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

I have often wondered about setting up a kind of word for word editing site where freelancers and self-publishers could exchange services for free. It could also contain links to all the useful articles. If I had the SEO and web design skills, I would do this right away, but want to learn these and also brush up business skills first.

6 years ago

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amelia88

amelia88

Google docs is my go-to writing program too. Honestly the fact that it auto saves is huge, plus the sharing capabilities that it has makes it the convenient and logical choice for me.

Not to mention, it’s free!

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

That auto save and the fact you can go back to all the previous versions of the same document has saved my bacon many times.

6 years ago

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theresajane

theresajane

Google Docs is such a great help to me. Honestly, I haven't tried the ProwritingAid nor LibreOffice, so I would have to be biased with what I'm currently using. So far, I have liked how Google Docs help me improve my writing, in the aspect of grammar. Also, I love the auto-sync feature, old but gold style, still I am at home with Google docs.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

ProwritingAid is an add on in Google docs. It tells you different stuff from the Beta version of Grammarly so using both and Language Tools (another Google docs add on, ) is really helpful. Mind you I then get stuck on improving till nothing needs to be done and take ages to actually publish anything.

6 years ago

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MomoStarr16

MomoStarr16

I don't know if it can call applications but I wrote my latest article on a social media platform. It is a top rated social media site with plenty e-books to read. In my country it is the no. 1 site that the bookworm are logging in.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

These social media platforms that crop up are really useful and encourage a lot of people to write. I have not done so for a while, but do enjoy them immensley. They seem to have a heyday and then find they cannot pay what they promised, but sooner or later someone will find the alogorithm that works until Google has another update..then the circus begins again. The sites go to the wall and we think they are dead, but out of the ashes, yet another social media phoenix arises. There was Bubblews of infamous fame, Tsu, lots of others. They come and go but while in their heyday seem to provide a great outlet for those who love to write.

6 years ago

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NerdIndeed

NerdIndeed

I prefer to use Google Docs to draft my articles. I love the auto-saving feature, so I do not have to worry if ever I experience power interruptions and such. I also like the fact that my file is backed up in the cloud, stored somewhere safe, and can easily be accessed no matter what device I use. Then I copy-paste my finished work to MS Word to have a copy on it on my hard drive to be safe.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

This is a good way of working. I have had a few times where electricity failed and yet I have been safe in the knowledge what I was working on will still be there and that if my laptop goes to the great land of non working laptops that litter houses throughout the land, the work is not lost but safely stored in an Internet sky.

6 years ago

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amelia88

amelia88

I'm curious now with all the responses that love Google Docs, just how things like Microsoft Word are faring. Does anyone still pay for a subscription to Microsoft Word these days? Or are we all "Team Google Docs/Team Open Office".

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

I have always hated the Microsoft monopoly and after restoring a dead laptop to life by shoving in a Ubuntu disk I have never looked back or wanted to. Just now I have a Chromebook and the temptation to void the warranty by installing Linux is great. Mainly it is because I want Open Office which even if I did have a Microsoft OS would be my weapon of choice. The only missing thing is the ability to easily move chunks of text up and down. If LibreOffice and Google Docs could add that in they would, I think, for many, oust Microsoft altogether. One thing I realised is when you buy a laptop with Microsoft stuff you do not automatically get the OS itself. The laptop company has paid to install a finite licence which will end. You have to back it up and if you have not, you may as well forget buying a new version of what you already paid for and install a free Linux system. The same with the Word processor. Word always seemed to run out on me at the point where I could not afford to renew and Open or Libre Office was a gift from heaven.

6 years ago

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Jeane

Jeane

Only three times did I work with people who helped edit my writing. They were good at what they did and it's from them that I learned a little about editing. Cut out the fluff. Cut out the fluff. Cut. Cut. Cut.

Since then, I do all the editing of my writing myself. I don't use any special software.

I'll paste the document in Word, fix the the spelling errors and then read the piece that is being edited out loud and correct any mistakes as I find them, paragraph by paragraph.

6 years ago

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coolavender

coolavender

I'm using an older version of MS Office for writing my articles and blog posts. I got it free and though Microsoft is constantly trying to wean me out of it through surprise updates (they keep changing my default word processor!), I have no intention of giving it up. I just don't like the look and feel of LibreOffice and the latest Word version (it's overpriced in my opinion).

I use either Grammarly or sentencechecker as initial grammar check before I do the proofreading myself. The Hemmingway app is probably a great app for testing the readability of an article but I haven't used it lately. Like what @Jeane said, and this is also what I learned from a content mill, just cut the fluff.

6 years ago

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cmoneyspinner

cmoneyspinner

Grammarly is the only tool I use. It works well because it catches a lot of my spelling errors and fixes my punctuation marks. I don't use any other tools for writing.

6 years ago

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jaymish3

jaymish3

I agree@cmoneyspinner. I also like Grammarly. However you need to pay for the premium version, otherwise even if you put your tools through grammarly it won't catch all the mistakes you make, like sentence segmentation and sentence structure. They are other free online tools you can use for this. However you are right that Grammarly is good at catching all your spelling mistakes and punctuation. There is still market for a good editing tool, I wish someone would come up with one.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

No it is true paid versions are better, but if you are clever, you can use several apps to get the results you need. That said, I will renew my ProwritingAid subscription as soon as I can. It would be nice to have a super powered thing that did everything and also understood context.

6 years ago

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thejoyrevolutio

thejoyrevolutio

I have always been a pen an paper kind of girl and encode it in Microsoft Word. I have never tried Google docs or Grammarly. I’ve heard of Grammarly and I wanted to try it. I almost also never review my work. I cringe everytime I read my works. So a great tool that will help catch my grammar mistakes would be a great help.

6 years ago

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HappyLady

HappyLady

Grammarly is good in this case as it just corrects grammar in the free version. It could give you confidence rather than making you cringe as don't forget you will also see what is right. I have Grammarly in my browser and find it very useful as when you have to keep correcting a mistake, then the brain learns to not make the same mistake. Please don't cringe and gain confidence. After all, your post here is fine and that is a kind of writing.

6 years ago

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focusedwriter10

focusedwriter10

I have been using MS Word for many years, but I came across a client who wanted me to write using Google Docs. After using Google Docs, I have never turned back.

Google Docs is my favorite because it is easy to use, and its auto-saving feature is amazing.

6 years ago

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emiaj55

emiaj55

The same goes for me. I have never really intended to use Google docs until a client required me to. I am much more accustomed to MS office so I was reluctant to do so but it turns out it was much easier to use. The tools are very handy and that auto save feature has saved me a lot of times.

6 years ago

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Kakashi2020

Kakashi2020

I use MS Word and I tried Google Docs before but went back to MS Word because it's easier to work with. When it comes to grammar checking, I use several free sites.

6 years ago

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