google docs or a word doc

[Kerrian]

Hi all,
Just wondering which is best to use to do my first draft, google docs or the normal microsoft word?
Thankk you.

[Skip Slocum]

This will be up to you but for me, MS Word is easier to move from one computer to another. If you are sending your draft to someone who does not have or use google, they may come up short on viewing a G-Document.

Skip

[510bhan]

MS Word is more readily transferable I believe. Why not make a copy so you each available? When you get to the stage of editing and printing, you'll need back-up copies anyway so you don't wreck the manuscript you intend submitting. Fiddle about in the copies and when you are happy, make the change to the main document.

[Kerrian]

Cheers guys.

[sincerely_anna]

I would always have a copy of your most recent draft on Google docs. Computers can be wonky, and the worst thing that could happen would be for you to lose your MS. I shudder at the thought!

[Vel]

I use google docs since I own several computers and use them in the various countries I'm in. It's clean and efficient, though you need a net connection to work on it. People don't need a google account to view your manuscript if you make it public or 'accessible with link' though they will need an account to edit it. I'm rarely on the same PC twice, aside from Old Reliable at home or the Leviathan I used to use for gaming back when I had a thing called free time.

Depends on how much you move around I guess.

[REShirley]

MS Word is the accepted format in the publishing world for electronic submission purposes.  For standard hard copy submissions via snail mail it doesn't matter as long as you've written the manuscript in standard manuscript format and can print it that way.  If you're just writing it for you and don't care about submission...do what feels right.

[Spell Chick]

Since I use auto correct all the time, using Google docs irritates me no end. The first time I write a character's name, e.g. Spell Chick, I then highlight it and make spellchick come out Spell Chick without me having to do anything but type without ever grabbing for that pesky shift key. Since I often mistype George as Goerge, geo comes out George for me.

I hate typing and try to make it as easy as possible. govt comes out government. uni comes out University. All my states and countries automatically capitalize and things like feb come out February. Since I type about rivers in general and rivers in specific, river stays river but rriver turns into River. There are all sorts of way to make auto correct do some of the crap typing stuff.

I use Google docs, but as a storage bin rather than a writing tool.

[mfarraday]

I use Google docs, but as a storage bin rather than a writing tool.

me too.

i find Google to be slow-moving and slow-reacting. maybe that's b/c of the old computer i sometimes use it with, but....that's been my experience. so i store things on there. i think i'd be tearing my hair out if i used it to actually create things.

just my .02...