This is the same reason why I prefer Notepad++ over MS Word for note taking. Word keeps doing funny stuff with the indents / alignment / styles / autobullets and sundry garbage that I can't figure out without investing 5 mins per incident. Much easier to use NP++...stuff just works somewhat IDE like.
Word 2013: File -> Options -> Proofing<p>Feel free to turn off whatever auto-correction options you like.<p>From an IT perspective I always find this type of thing interesting. Everyone is trying to add automation to make things easier for low skill users. That same automation is exactly what low skill users will fight with relentlessly. Primarily because people are each so different. The worst thing you can do to a writer is change what they wrote, but I know hundreds of people who wouldn't be able to function without spell check.
I so get what he's talking about. If I have Word or Outlook erroneously correct my capitalization or spelling one more time, I'm going to scream. That functionality is so terrible, yet trying to disable it is like trying to complete the trials of Hercules.
As far as pure writing goes, there was nothing Bank Street Writer on my old Apple II+ lacked, aside from spell checking. (I think. It's been so long, I'm not 100% sure, but spell checking would have been a major chunk of resources in those days.) When it comes to formatting and presentation, there has been tremendous progress. Most of the functionality word processors really need has been around for since the 80's in the mainstream and the 70's in research labs.<p>(P.S. I don't think spell checking came around until BSW version 3.)
Its interesting that some people here actually seem slightly annoyed because of the tool he is using to write books.<p>I wonder why that is. I guess I'm guilty of this myself, but often IT people have a way of pushing software, hardware and other tools on people even though they don't need it.
"no distractions, no internet"<p>I know there's browser plug-ins to turn off specific sites or the web as a whole... it would be interesting if microsoft included the functionality in office. Would have made for much more productive nights writing papers in college!
It probably helps a lot that the machine and environment he's used to writing in will have an immense amount of memory associated with writing in that universe, very intangible benefits that will nonetheless aid in the act of creation.
Love this. No distractions, no internet, no spellcheck fixing things for you all the time, no other applications, no stupid notifications trying to steal your attention. Only him and his words.
Why do so many in a field that still clings to tools and workflows from the 70's have to ask why George RR Martin uses software from the 80's?
On one hand there's virtue in using a software, methodology, whatever you are comfortable with and works great (something something PHP).<p>On the other hand, isn't George RR Martin a bit slow on writing the series ? I don't read the books but many friends complain about that =)
Meh, only news 'cause it's the GoT writer. Few would care if he wrote on a typewriter, yet, that's the same as using some old computer,software or both.
I wonder how he gets the text file to his publisher? My guess is 3.5" floppies, but I havent had a floppy drive in my internet connected PC in about 10 years.
More power to him for finding a workflow that works.<p>The only thing that would stop me from using a similar set up for writing is that there isn't a DOS version of Spotify :(.
I'd be curious to know how he transfers his files out of the DOS machine then. I can't remember ever using an USB key with DOS. Floppy disks maybe?
Isn't that just being lazy? You can turn off spell/grammar correction in all versions of Office and open source alternatives, can't you?
I think this is another example of the QWERTY effect. Obviously, there are many pieces of word processing software that are superior, but he is so used to his system that, to him, the transaction cost outweighs the opportunity cost.