Any software recommendations for writers?

[bucolic_frolic]

I use LibreOffice, but it is not available to download to Windows 11S software. So I can upgrade to Windows 11 to install LibreOffice, but Win 11 slows the computer down. Or I can pay Microsoft $1.50 per week for Word inside Office 365.

Is Google Docs an option? It's supposed to be free, but is it compatible with Word and LibreOffice?

I think I need to return to a Linux machine so I can use LibreOffice in the same way I always did.

I was going to use Manuskript too, which is freeware akin to Scrivener, but same limitations with Windows 11S.

[ThreeNoSeep]

1. Goigle docs then scrivener

I've used the Google Suite for many years, but recently switched to scrivener for creative composition. Scrivener is awesome for fiction.

[CrispyQ]

2. My writer friends love Scrivener.

I used it for about a year & went back to Word. Here's some info on it. It's not free but there's a free trial version, I think.

https://scrivener.app

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

3. Scrivener is good software.

[IbogaProject]

4. I'd suggest Linux but you will have to research your model

https://www.techbout.com/switch-off-s-mode-windows-11-71395/
Or, maybe try and google your computer and Linux and see if anyone has done that already? The issues I'm still having with Linux are scanning and printing. The joke is "Linux is only free if you don't value your time".

[bucolic_frolic]

8. free if you don't value your time

lol, true in some sense.

But others don't value your money. Generally an Win 11 Home PC is about $60-100 more than an 11S machine. But 11S after a year of free trial, gets you $70 a year for MS365. And this week we learned Win10 support past 2025 is $69 the first year, 2 x $69 year 2, and 3 x $69 year 3. Golden Parachute for the programmers?

There are tutorials on installs with Windows 11, but not 11S specifically. Must be a reason.

[usonian]

5. Here some options I found.

It's a shame that you cannot Libre Office on your system.

If I had to write something fairly long today (and I have plans), I would probably use Libre Office, because of its long development.

I had to look up Windows11S
https://www.makeuseof.com/windows-11-s-mode-guide/

Looks like you can't install any non-MS apps on your system.

Dual boot (linked in the article above) is doable but takes some work.

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-install-multiple-bootable-operating-systems-on-one-usb-stick/

You can use Google Docs on the web, which exports many formats. I don't know about imports because I don't use it.
Why? Because Google can kill your account at any moment if its electronic brain THINKS you violated its terms of service, even paid accounts:

I have everything there from the last 14 years, and for the last five years, I only have it there,” says Barberá, alluding to the fact that he does not keep files on external drives. The loss of the Google account does not only mean that his photos and videos are gone. Barberá has also lost class material, a blog that he kept, and his YouTube account, not to mention other services that he had contracted with his email, from Amazon to Netflix to a German music app.

How could you run linux with Libre Office?

Snag/Fire up a Linux system, and share a network drive with the windows system, if you can. ( Windows 11S may limit this, I don't know)

You can find spare computers that will run Linux on Craig's list (sometimes free) and thrift stores or my back room (I keep old macs that will easily run linux, and will shortly.)

I gave away systems capable of running Linux (I installed Linux Mint on them before giving them away), so you might look around and ask around.


Off the wall stuff:

1. Libre Office is working on an online version, that you can access via a web browser. It is still experimental.
https://www.libreoffice.org/download/libreoffice-online/

2. Anyone can sign up for an Apple ID (No Apple required) and get 5GB storage free, plus you can access the Pages app (which I have used since time immemorial) via a browser (Chrome and Edge are supported among others). Pages imports and exports in many formats, including docx.

https://fossbytes.com/howto-setup-apple-id-create-icloud-account/

3. I looked up Manuskript (run on linux) and here's my take:
Scribus, which may be too "DTP" for your use.
Manuskript has more "writer" features, but is not very polished at this stage in its development.

4. I was using Evernote, but stopped when a foreign company bought it and fired the entire U.S. staff.

If you are using Windows11S due to security concerns, look into TAILS. It is designed for people working in dangerous environments (i.e. reporters in foreign countries)

Good luck.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Thank you all, there are some really good ideas there.

I bought the 11S system specifically for writing but due to the limitations I described it looks as if it is a better browser than software hub. I may make it into a go to portable web browser - it is small and lightweight. It should be faster than the Core 2 Duo workhorse I use daily which is shedding parts as the months tick by. No worry, I have an almost new exact model duplicate on standby. But it is bulky and klunky by today's standards.

I think another laotop is in order just for writing, something backlit like a Zenbook, running Linux. .

Who knew we would start collecting laptops like we do old cars? It's not called the information superhighway for no reason!

[byronius]

7. Final Draft for screenplays, Word for novels.

That’s what I use.

[DavidDvorkin]

9. LibreOffice runs on Windows 10 and 11

I must not be understanding your post.

[bucolic_frolic]

10. LibreOffice cannot be installed on Windows 11S

You have to upgrade to Windows 11, and that slows down the hardware. So I'm trying to install Linux Mint alongside 11S, but it's a complicated install. So it sort of depends on if Win 11S is considered Win11 when discussing install.

[DavidDvorkin]

11. Got it.

[catnipcoffee]

12. Depends on what you're writing...

For myself, I use a text editor more than anything else these days. (I've done a great deal of technical writing and most of my deliverables wanted things in Markdown, so it's become a bit of a habit.)

Google docs are fine, as far as they go, though I understand there have been some recent changes to the terms of service where they insist you grant them permission to train their language models on your data. I'm not sure I like that; your mileage may vary.

If you need to convert your docs to other formats, Google docs can be a pain in the keister. Yes, there are add-ons, but then you're at the mercy of the add-on author with regard to the disposition of your data.

I still have CD-ROMs of Office that I use when needed. (I also maintain an Office 365 sub, partly because I use all three OSs and I need the interoperability.)

If you're writing scripts or other industry specific docs, some of the other recommendations will help.

[mikelewis]

13. You can actually use office online for free... just the online version... not the downloaded version...