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I understand the value of distraction-free writing. But I think it must be much easier to acccomplish using a regular laptop and special software. Something you
by mongol 5y ago
I understand the value of distraction-free writing. But I think it must be much easier to acccomplish using a regular laptop and special software. Something you boot into and only allows creative writing. No distractions, just options to edit, save or power off. A special writer's OS.
Is there not anything like that?
- kajecounterhack 5y agoI think it exists, but it doesn't work for everyone. I have some writer friends who use the Freewrite and really appreciate it. Also the greyscale screen with no backlight is a different experience.
- looki 5y agoGeorge RR Martin still writes his books with the DOS program WordStar. Given the pace he releases books at, this might more be out of preference than desire to focus though...
- boznz 5y agoI still occasionally use Freedos and a wordstar compatible editor I wrote in 1991, I dont even go to the DOS prompt I just boot strait in to it. The biggest problem is still getting my work off this machine to a networked one so I can back it up or publish it, used to use a floppy when those were an item but now using a serial file transfer program.. all pretty clunky.
- sidpatil 5y agoWhich computer are you using? If it's a desktop, have you considered using a USB-to-floppy drive? [1] https://www.plrelectronics.com/floppy-to-usb/ https://www.plrelectronics.com/floppy-to-usb/
- selfhoster11 5y agoI'm pretty sure you can have an ad-hoc setup with a serial to network adapter. It might require more custom software on both ends, but if you control both ends anyway, it might give you a smoother experience anyway.
- i_am_proteus 5y agoGet an old chromebook that can boot linux, install a minimal distribution without much more than a text editor, dictionaries, and thesauruses. Disable the wireless internet. Cheaper than one of these things.
- II2II 5y agoIt has certainly been done before, though perhaps not to the extent your suggesting. In the early days of Ubuntu, I ran across a modified live CD that included OpenOffice and little else. It was advertised as being a distraction free environment for people who needed to do writing, though it was probably better geared towards those writing papers for school than professional writers.