Free is better than Microsoft

Anyone buying a new PC or Mac (or anyone doing a system upgrade) is also basically forced to fork over major dough for Microsoft Office. Without it, most home computers simply don't do their most basic function of word processing... Or so they would have you think. As a consumer, let me say: PLEASE DO NOT BE AFRAID TO SAY NO TO MICROSOFT. But as a writer, let me add: there are BETTER options out there.

OpenOffice is a totally free open-source package of programs that are more than comparable to Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Additionally, their functionality is clean and intuitive, unlike the Microsoft products, which have been "updated" past recognition and use. And believe me, after using OpenOffice for five years as my go-to word processor, it is totally reliable. 

Here is what their new 4.0 (which has been updated aligned with Apple's new "flat" OS design) will look like when you download it:

Just in case you're saying, "What!? That looks just like Windows 95... Wack." Well, that's kind of the point. It's simple and it works. Any of the swipey, flippy, slippity-do-da changes that Microsoft has made to its flagship program are basically useless and require a complete relearning of the software. You might also be wondering if using OpenOffice will prevent you from opening your documents on other computers. Do not worry; you can save your writing in any word processing format so that it will later open if you HAVE to use Word at work or something. So, thanks to the volunteers at OpenOffice, you CAN say no to Microsoft with confidence. Who doesn't like sticking it to The Man?

Download your new word processor for free at http://www.openoffice.org/. There are no catches.

Hurdles and milestones

I am trying to write a book. Surprise surprise, it ain't exactly been easy, but at least I can say I'm moving in the right direction. Today I overcame a ridiculous but nonetheless real mental block: the inability to share my work. I submitted a story titled "Wipe the Sleep from your Eyes" (a small section of said book) to be considered for publication in several literary journals.

So what was holding me back? I doubt that my "reasoning" was terribly different from any other insecure creative type:
-The stories aren't quite done yet
-I don't know which venue would best suit me
-What are the chances of a big-bad editor choosing a story by an unknown?
-I can't let go...!
-How do I know it's good enough?

That last one was most daunting. But I finally realized that I am probably never going to write a perfect, immortal story--especially not on the first shot--and I let it be enough that I like it, hoping that someone else will like it, too.

 My secret weapon in managing the submissions can be found at the website Every Writer's Resource; it's a list of the 50 most respected literary journals in the country... And no, I did not submit to The New Yorker... I'm more working my way from the bottom up, and looking forward to the many rejection letters at that. Now, back to the churn.

http://www.everywritersresource.com/topliterarymagazines.html