There are lots of free Microsoft Word alternatives.
I'm sure you don't prepare business plans with charts and graphs. You don't use online collaboration tools. You don't schedule meetings for a group of directors.
I doubt if you would ever need to create business presentations with 100 slides.
You write your words down for blog posts, content articles, guest posts, short stories, and maybe poems. So why do you pay for MS Office to do these simple writing tasks?
- Create distinctive documents with free Microsoft Word templates Microsoft offers a wide variety of Word templates for free and with no hassle. Whether you're planning a holiday party, in charge of the school newsletter, or want a matching resume and cover letter combination, you can find templates for Word.
- If you have Office 365, go to the Start menu and click on the Word Icon. You will probably see something like this. Click on the 'Blank document' to start a new blank file that you can type your recipe in.
You don't need to pay for a word processor
Whichever option or version of Word you choose, you pay.
2562+ FREE LETTER Templates - Download Now Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word (DOC), Google Docs, Apple (MAC) Pages, Microsoft Excel (XLS), Google Sheets (SPREADSHEETS). CV Writing MS Word Free Template Download. Cursive Writng Template Free Word Format. Or even download one of the many free writing. Templates For Microsoft Word Office free download - Microsoft Word, Microsoft Office 2011, Microsoft Office 2010, and many more programs.
The Office suite is a bundled application of many programs that writers will never need.
Even with the basic personal Office 365 subscription and Microsoft Onedrive, you pay for Excel, Outlook, and Powerpoint, just to get MS Word.
It might be a good deal for a small business, but you only want to write, create, and edit text.
Why pay for all the stuff you will never use to write in Word documents?
There is an option to use Word online as part of Office Online, but you still need to pay.
If you only need to write, there many free Microsoft Word alternatives that will do the job perfectly for you.
I was a Word user for years, like all of us. But I can't remember the last time I used it.
Sure, I have lots of old files in Word document format.
But I can open and edit almost any file format with a completely free Word alternative.
Long manuscripts can cause a lot of problems with any word processor, including Word.
You need to use software designed to handle the big job of writing a novel or a book.
Read our article that lists the best free and paid software choices for you if you plan on writing a book.
Free alternatives to Microsoft Word – You have lots of choices
Nowadays, you have so many options.
You can still download free word processor software, or you can use web-based and cloud-based applications.
All you need is a blank document. Then write your words. Add a little formatting and save your work.
Almost any free version word processor can do this.
Script Writing Template Microsoft Word
Do you want to move away from using Word?
Try some of these free Microsoft Word alternatives to see if one is just right for you and your writing needs.
To get you started, here are ten free word processors to choose from.
Google Docs is a free office tool suite. The big contrast to MS Office, of course, is that Google Docs is free.If you know how to use MS Word, you will adapt to Docs in no time at all.The user interface, menus, and formatting options are almost the same.Docs has a word counter, so it's easy to keep track of your writing goals.Many writers, including content article writers, use Google Docs due to the ease of sharing documents and collaborating.It is also fully compatible with importing and exporting docx documents.Writing projects are stored and saved to Google Drive. You get 5 gigabytes for free. It is usually enough storage space for most writers.Another advantage is that you can also set up Docs to work offline if you prefer.You are a Mac user, and all you need is a free word processor; it's easy. Apple Pages can do everything you need to do.The page layout view is extremely easy to work with. All the fonts, text formatting, and editing tools are easy to find.It has a decent spell checker, word count, and track changes with a comments option.Pages also has a great real-time auto-save function. It saves your work automatically to your computer or your iCloud drive when you are online.There is a duplicate file function too. It allows you a lot of control over your edits and revisions.Almost all of the common features in Word are available in Pages documents.One area where Pages really shines over Word is that you have a lot more control over any images you use.I used Apache OpenOffice for many years. It is an open-source project and is still a great option.However, there is another very similar free office suite. Libre Office is a favorite for a lot of writers.The two office suites came from the same basic development, so they share a lot of things in common.Working with Writer, the word processor, is easy. It has clear traditional menus, icons, and toolbars. So it doesn't have the sometimes confusing ribbon found in Word.This might be a useful feature for you. It allows you to get on with writing instead of endlessly searching ribbons for the right buttons.If all you need is a functional word processor, Writer in OpenOffice or Libre Office might be sound choices for you.If you are familiar with Google Docs or Microsoft Word, you will be able to work with WPS Office straight away.WPS is in the same vein as other free word processors. It has all the standard features you expect, and it works with most standard word processing file extensions.But one of its best features is that it gives you the facility to drag and drop paragraphs. It is a very practical idea.Another great feature of WPS is that it has tabbed documents. No need to keep hunting for open windows.WPS also comes with a complimentary cloud storage service that gives you 1G free space for PC and iOS.Calmly Writer lets you one thing well. Write.When you start typing, all of the distracting options disappear away from the interface. All you see are your words.Calmly also includes a focus mode tool. When you activate it, it highlights only the paragraph you are working on at the time.If you are a writing minimalist and hate distractions when you write, it could be a good choice for you.Calmly Writer is a browser-based app, and there is a Chrome extension available.Zoho Writer is a great free alternative to Word. It is packed with a lot of features.You can sync between your PC or Mac, iPhone, Android, or iPad.Almost everything you do in Word, you can do with this word processor. There are even collaboration tools.It also has Zia, a writing assistant to help with contextual grammar, readability, and style suggestions.You can import your existing Word documents and get to work. There is also a plugin to link your Zoho documents to Word.It's not a bad deal at all for a free online writing tool.FocusWriter is another one of the minimalist distraction-free text editors.It uses a full-screen hide-away interface. You access the menus by moving your mouse to the edges of the screen.This option allows the program to have a familiar look and feel about it. But you can get all the clutter out of the way so that you can immerse yourself in your work.It's available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X.If you are looking for a clean, no-fuss writing web app, then iA Writer might be right for you.Forget about all the fancy keyboard shortcuts and lists of menu options.All you can do with this great little app is write.The NYT says this about iA Writer. 'It creates a clean, simple, and distraction-free writing environment for when you really need to focus on your words. It's delightful to use.'For article and blog post writing, it is one of the top free word processors out there. It will suit all types of writing styles.It is available for Windows, Mac, and apps for Android and iOS.Free Office gets a mention because it can do one thing many other word processors cant do.It can export directly to .epub. It's a very handy feature for self-publishers.FreeOffice is a complete Office suite with a word processor, a spreadsheet application, and a presentation program.All of these are compatible with their counterparts in Microsoft Office.TextMaker is the free word processor in this office suite.It comes with advanced formatting options, the ability to create databases for bibliographies and footnotes, as well as track change.It is available as a free download for both Mac and PC.Scribus is a free program for desktop publishing.It gets a mention here because it is free, of course. But also because it is such a feature-rich cross-platform program.As long as you are familiar with using text boxes, you can use this program to design flyers, brochures, and newsletters.Scribus is a page layout and desktop publishing program.
Summary
No, you don't need to pay a cent for a reliable and fully functional word processor.
There are a lot of free Microsoft Word alternatives.
Many of the programs listed above are full office suites. So you get a bonus with all the extras that come with them.
You definitely have a lot to choose from. So make your choices and save yourself some money.
It's easy as a writer to fall into the trap of shiny new toys. There's an endless number of book writing software programs claiming to be the best at one thing or another, from Microsoft Word to Scrivener to Vellum—and the list goes on and on.
They flash their sexy features at you and promise to be the very thing you need to become the writer you want to be. But sadly, these programs will not make you into the writer you want to be. They offer the world, but often only take your time.
That's why I would like to offer a defense for using the industry book writing software standard, Microsoft Word.
The Secret to Choosing the Right Book Writing Software
In chapter seven of his leadership classic, Good to Great, Jim Collins addresses the issue of new technology and how businesses should use them. (Before you say that this doesn't apply to you because you are not running a business, if you are publishing what you write in hopes of someday making money, then you have started a small business, and Collins's book has loads of wisdom for you.)
When it comes to technology, Collins says that truly great companies understand how and when to embrace shiny new toys. 'Good to great organizations,' Collins says, 'think differently about technology and technological change than mediocre ones.'
While the average company seeks to use every new technology that arises to solve their problems, great companies use technology as 'an accelerator of momentum, not a creator of it.'
Pause for a moment and ask yourself, what does it take to become a great writer?
Like mastering any skill, becoming a great writer takes discipline, focus, intentionality, and hours upon hours of practice.
- Scrivener may be a wonderful tool for dividing up book chapters and helping you organize information, but it is not going to put your butt in the chair and help you bang out those words.
- Vellum may be a wonderful tool for formatting, but it is not going to hammer out chapter after chapter until your plot holes are full.
- While Grammarly may spot potential errors for you, it will not wake you up early before work so you can write and keep you up late at night until the manuscript is finished.
This is what Collins means when he says technologies should be used as an accelerant, not a momentum creator. If you aren't already putting in the hard work to be the kind of writer you want to be, it doesn't matter what new writing software you invest in. It is not going to help.
Word Document Templates Free Download
In fact, often new technologies can be a distraction. Each writing software program has its quirks. When we switch to something new, we have to invest time in learning how to use it. Not only are we trying to master the craft of writing, we are trying to master new tech as well. And if we are always chasing the new thing hoping it will make us into the writers we want to be, then we will exponentially slow our progress as writers.
So what is a new writer to do? If the fancy programs aren't going to solve your problems, where should you turn?
3 Invaluable Strengths of Microsoft Word
When you are learning the daily discipline of writing, I recommend using Microsoft Word for three simple reasons. (In a recent article comparing Scrivener to Word, Joe Bunting explained the strengths of Word. I recommend you go back and look at the reasons he laid out as they make my case for the software. I will do my best not to repeat his arguments.)
1. Word Is the Foundation
Microsoft Word is the standard all the other programs are built on. Word was one of the first writing software programs on the scene, which means it set the tone for the features programs need to have, and it continues to do so. As Microsoft Word goes through evolutions, the other writing software programs follow suit.
Therefore, if you can master Word, you can master any of the others because you understand where they are coming from.
Microsoft Word Writing Practice Template Download Free Apps Pdf
Summary
No, you don't need to pay a cent for a reliable and fully functional word processor.
There are a lot of free Microsoft Word alternatives.
Many of the programs listed above are full office suites. So you get a bonus with all the extras that come with them.
You definitely have a lot to choose from. So make your choices and save yourself some money.
It's easy as a writer to fall into the trap of shiny new toys. There's an endless number of book writing software programs claiming to be the best at one thing or another, from Microsoft Word to Scrivener to Vellum—and the list goes on and on.
They flash their sexy features at you and promise to be the very thing you need to become the writer you want to be. But sadly, these programs will not make you into the writer you want to be. They offer the world, but often only take your time.
That's why I would like to offer a defense for using the industry book writing software standard, Microsoft Word.
The Secret to Choosing the Right Book Writing Software
In chapter seven of his leadership classic, Good to Great, Jim Collins addresses the issue of new technology and how businesses should use them. (Before you say that this doesn't apply to you because you are not running a business, if you are publishing what you write in hopes of someday making money, then you have started a small business, and Collins's book has loads of wisdom for you.)
When it comes to technology, Collins says that truly great companies understand how and when to embrace shiny new toys. 'Good to great organizations,' Collins says, 'think differently about technology and technological change than mediocre ones.'
While the average company seeks to use every new technology that arises to solve their problems, great companies use technology as 'an accelerator of momentum, not a creator of it.'
Pause for a moment and ask yourself, what does it take to become a great writer?
Like mastering any skill, becoming a great writer takes discipline, focus, intentionality, and hours upon hours of practice.
- Scrivener may be a wonderful tool for dividing up book chapters and helping you organize information, but it is not going to put your butt in the chair and help you bang out those words.
- Vellum may be a wonderful tool for formatting, but it is not going to hammer out chapter after chapter until your plot holes are full.
- While Grammarly may spot potential errors for you, it will not wake you up early before work so you can write and keep you up late at night until the manuscript is finished.
This is what Collins means when he says technologies should be used as an accelerant, not a momentum creator. If you aren't already putting in the hard work to be the kind of writer you want to be, it doesn't matter what new writing software you invest in. It is not going to help.
Word Document Templates Free Download
In fact, often new technologies can be a distraction. Each writing software program has its quirks. When we switch to something new, we have to invest time in learning how to use it. Not only are we trying to master the craft of writing, we are trying to master new tech as well. And if we are always chasing the new thing hoping it will make us into the writers we want to be, then we will exponentially slow our progress as writers.
So what is a new writer to do? If the fancy programs aren't going to solve your problems, where should you turn?
3 Invaluable Strengths of Microsoft Word
When you are learning the daily discipline of writing, I recommend using Microsoft Word for three simple reasons. (In a recent article comparing Scrivener to Word, Joe Bunting explained the strengths of Word. I recommend you go back and look at the reasons he laid out as they make my case for the software. I will do my best not to repeat his arguments.)
1. Word Is the Foundation
Microsoft Word is the standard all the other programs are built on. Word was one of the first writing software programs on the scene, which means it set the tone for the features programs need to have, and it continues to do so. As Microsoft Word goes through evolutions, the other writing software programs follow suit.
Therefore, if you can master Word, you can master any of the others because you understand where they are coming from.
Microsoft Word Writing Practice Template Download Free Apps Pdf
When you are developing the daily discipline of writing, you might as well do it on a program that is going to help you graduate to something else in the future. Once you understand your strengths and weaknesses as a writer, you can then make a decision about what specialized technology you need to master. And if you have learned how to be a writer on Word, you will easily make a jump to something else because its creators had Word in mind when they made it.
2. Word Is Common Among Non-Writers
When I finish a book, the first thing I do is send it to beta-readers. Before I publish it, I need fresh eyes on it. Because I have written it in Word, anyone can read it.
While fancy book writing software programs might be popular among writers, Word is the standard for professionals. It's in every university. It's at almost ever business. Even if a business isn't using Word, they have a way to convert and read Word documents.
Being able to attach your book to an email and send it off to a friend for a second opinion is invaluable. Word allows you to do that simply, without hassle.
Additionally, if you turn on the 'Track Changes' feature, Word allows those readers to review your work without making permanent changes to the document. When they return the book to you, you won't have to search it for changes. They will be marked and ready for you to accept or reject.
3. Every Platform Accepts Word
I've used Word to write and 'publish wide' three novels, two short stories, and four compilations with other authors. This week, in fact, I published a new short story using Amazon KDP, Kobo Writing Life, and Draft to Digital. While each platform wants something a little different, all three distribution platforms will accept a document I can create with Microsoft Word.
When you do finish your work and it is time to distribute, Word has what you need to get the job done.
Choose Wisely
Microsoft Word Free App
While other book writing software programs might have flashy features that promise to make you an incredible writer, until you've built the habits and disciplines you need as a writer, until you know your strengths and weaknesses, don't be lured in by their siren song. Rather, learn to be a writer on the industry standard.
Those other programs will only accelerate what you are currently doing. They won't create new momentum. If you can publish with Microsoft Word, then the other programs will feel familiar when you are ready to try something new.
If you're looking for programs to accelerate your writing, check out our list of the Top 10 Pieces of Software for Writers (hint: Microsoft Word is #6!).
Do you use Microsoft Word for your writing? What makes it useful for you? Let us know in the comments.
PRACTICE
Today, focus on your writing, not the medium you're using to write it. Open up Microsoft Word, or if you want to go back to true old school basics, pull out a pen and paper. Then, take fifteen minutes to write a story about a character who's always excited for the next best thing.
Book Writing Template Microsoft Word
When you're done, share your writing in the comments, and don't forget to leave feedback for your fellow writers!
Microsoft Word Writing Practice Templatedownload Free Apps
