But what if your needs are more specialized? Maybe you're looking for something to help you write a television script, or even come up with an idea for one. What if you have to manage a large bibliography or need a German spelling checker? What if want a program that will write in Russian, Greek or Hebrew, or all three at the same time?
To find the answers, serious scribes need look no further than "Essential Software for Writers" by Hy Bender, a comprehensive and surprisingly entertaining new volume from Writer's Digest Books ($24.95, F&W Publications Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio).
Bender is an seasoned free-lancer and computer book author whose other life experiences range from designing spell-checkers to writing for Mad magazine -- a good background for anyone willing to tackle this topic.
Naturally, Bender deals with word processing software, reviewing a dozen popular programs, all for IBM-compatible computers. But unlike magazine reviewers who seem bent on torture-testing their products and producing voluminous tables of silly feature comparisons, Bender is more concerned about how a writer would react to using each one, as well as each program's overall approach, strengths and weaknesses.
He'll also tell you some things you won't read in computer magazines, most of which are dedicated to hyping the latest and flashiest. For example, he notes that DOS word processors are much faster and easier to use for basic text editing than Windows programs.
A word of caution here. Because of the long lead times involved in book publishing, this volume doesn't cover the latest versions of some popular programs -- in particular, Word Perfect 6.0 for Windows, which is vastly improved over the previous Windows release.
But Bender devotes surprisingly little space to word processors per se. He's more interested in add-on and stand-alone tools that help writers practice their craft. You'll find sections on idea generators, outliners, electronic dictionaries, indexers, thesauri, rhyme generators and grammar checkers. There are also chapters dealing with specialized tools and lexicons for scientists, doctors, journalists, engineers, academics and multilingual writers.
He pays particularly close attention to script writing -- which requires unique formatting tools -- and deals extensively with research sources, including electronic encyclopedias and on-line services that can cut down on research time, albeit at a cost.
There are also brief but informative chapters on layout and desktop publishing, as well as a discussion of printers and other hardware.
Besides the wealth of specific information (names, addresses, prices, phone numbers), the beauty of Bender's book is his style and tone. Without sacrificing detail and accuracy, Bender is chatty, humorous and nontechnical. The book is also sprinkled liberally with amusing old engravings and quotes about the craft of writing. A couple of my favorites:
"There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein." -- Red Smith.
"Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please." -- Mark Twain.
In short, this is for writers who want to use computers, not computer experts who want to write. It hits the mark.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.