#alternatives to Google Docs

[s-n-arly]

Hey, are there any alternatives for google.doc?

It depends on what you're using Google Docs for. If it's a word processor, I really love the Libre Office suite. It's got a match for everything in the Microcrap Office suite and it doesn't piss me off the way Word does. If you are using Google Docs for collaboration and sharing, it's probably the easiest and cheapest option, especially if you are sharing with people not on the same network and you want to have access to the same documents at the same time. If you don't need access simultaneously, you can ship a text document (doc/docx/odt/etc) via email and use track changes to identify who made what changes. Microsoft has One Drive, which is supposed to be good for file sharing, but it is not. It sucks and made me want to poke out my eyes with sticks.

Hope this helps.

[edupunkn00b]

Dang, @ellipsus-writes , what did Firefox do to you? /lh

Seriously, all:

Ellipsus is the best!

Hanging on to Google Docs so you can collab with writing partners and beta readers? Ellipsus has you covered! (And it's prettier than Google Docs, too!) Check 'em out!

[enemymine2000]

Just a tip, I think a lot of people don't know:

Even getting a full Microsoft Office package (for Windows and Mac) must not set you back hundred of Dollars/Euros/whater currency your country uses. You can buy complete legal and working activation codes on eBay. The progamm you download from the official Microsoft site, if you haven't yet delete the 360 version pre-installed on your device, install the full version, enter your activation code, and your good to go for anything. Prices depend on availability at any given time so YMMV, but I bought a activation code for Office 2021 for less than 20 Euros. Another for Office 2020 for under 10 Euros. And yes, each device needs its own pass key.

Again, fully legal. Those activation codes are basically left-overs from businesses buying packages of hundreds or thousands of activation codes and not needing all of them. So they sell them to other people, who then sell them on Ebay.

I am begging people to use LibreOffice and personal storage devices like hard drives or USB sticks instead of relying 100% on Google Docs. LibreOffice is free and open-source, it saves files to your own computer, and it lets you save as many different file types. You can write in it, format ebooks in it, and do everything you might possibly need to do as a writer.

"Oh, but I'll lose my USB stick--" Fine, back things up in whatever cloud you use as a form of extra protection, but you should also try your absolute damnedest to also put them on some form of storage that isn't a cloud.

I know it's not accessible to everyone, but if you at all have the ability, don't rely on shit that lives on other people's computers. Especially with everything going on with AI theft and aggressive censorship of adult media. If you don't store your files on your own personal computer that you have control over, your files aren't fully yours, and they're at the whims of whoever owns the cloud.

Learn where your files are stored and how to access them. Get into the habit of backing up your files to your own personal storage. Even if you're not up for intense tech research and you don't care about how the computer actually works, please stop letting your art live in corporate clouds.

[frownyalfred]

“I’m actually really into writing. I—”

“Can I read something you wrote?”

[the960writers]

Alternatives to google docs

For various reasons, this is now a hot topic. I'm putting my favorites here, please add more in your reblogs. I'm not pointing to Microsoft Word because I hate it.

Local on your computer:

1.

LibreOffice (https://www.libreoffice.org/), Win, Linux, Mac.

Looks like early 2000 Word, works great, imports and exports all formats. Saves in OpenDocumentFormat. Combine with something like Dropbox for Cloud Backup.

2.

FocusWriter (https://gottcode.org/focuswriter/) Win, Linux.

Super customizable to make it look pretty, all toolbars hide to be as non-distracting as possible. Can make typewriter sounds as you type, and you can set daily wordcount goals. Saves in OpenDocumentFormat. Combine with something like Dropbox for Cloud Backup.

3.

Scrivener (https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview) Win, Mac, iOS

The lovechild of so many writers. Too many things to fiddle with for me, but I'm sure someone else can sing its praises. You can put the database folder into a Dropbox folder for cloud saving (but make sure to always close the program before shutting down).

Web-based:

4.

Reedsy bookeditor (https://reedsy.com/write-a-book) Browser based, works on Firefox on Android. Be aware that they also have a TOS that forbids pornography on publicly shared documents.

My current writing program. Just enough features to be helpful, not so many that I start fiddling. Writing is chapter based, exports to docx, epub, pdf. You can share chapters (for beta reading) with other people registered at Reedsy.

5.

Novelpad (https://novelpad.co/) Browser based.

Looks very promising, there's a youtuber with really informative videos about it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHN8TnwjG1g). I wanted to love it, but the editor didn't work on Firefox on my phone. It might now, but I'm reluctant to switch again.

------

So, this is my list. Please add more suggestions in reblogs.

[ziyechs]

joe'marr bengals reunion — a (somewhat) comprehensive timeline

1 — “have you spoken to the cincinnati bengals and what would it mean to reunite with joe burrow there?” — “i have talked to the bengals. i don’t know how many times i’ve talked to them though. but, me and joe, you know, i wouldn’t mind going back with joe. if we go back together we’re trying to do nothing but get back our chemistry and have some more fun.”

2 — “i'm really excited for this draft. i don't really know what's coming but, you know, if me and joe could get back to it... i’d love to have some fun with him again.”

3 — “i assume you'd be okay with a potential reunion in cincinnati if that were to happen?" — "yeah, i wouldn’t mind.”

4 — “me and joe talked about [a reunion] maybe like three, four times actually. we talked about it a good bit of times. he texted me this morning, just letting me know: ‘get your bags packed’, so i guess that meant that was gonna be the pick. i don’t know if that was a hint or what. so, he sent me that little text this morning, i was like ‘okay… i'm ready, bro’.”

5 — “what was your reaction like when he was lowkey recruiting you?” — “i actually was believing him sometimes, sometimes i was like ‘stop playing with me’ and sometimes i was just like ‘okay bro, i gotcha, i'm ready now’ so. i believed him this morning when he told me, you know, pack my bags. so that's when i finally was like: ‘yeah he might really be calling this’ so that's when i took his word.”

6 – “jimmy burrow, did joe tell you—he’s always been kind of coy about what he said to the bengals—did joe tell you that he wanted the bengals to select ja’marr?” — “yes, i think we figured that… and eventually… yes, he pretty much told us that he wanted ja’marr.”

7 — “it was like a week before the draft, ja'marr said: ‘dad, joe texted me.’ […] he didn't say what he said, you know. but he said: ‘joe just texted me’, [...] so he had talked to joe like... or texted with joe once or twice that week. and then he told me, he said: ‘dad, if i get with joe, we're gonna kill’ [...] so he was all excited about getting with joe.”

8 — “what was the first thing joe texted you when you got drafted by the bengals?” — “make sure your bag's packed and ready. yeah, that was what he told me.”

9 — “the cincinnati bengals are on the clock now. earlier that morning, i had got a text from joe. he said: hope your bags are packed. i know it's me, at the moment, that's what i'm saying to myself. i can't wait to be a part of it.”

10 — articles: 1, 2, 3, 4

[verschlimmbesserung]

Recommen me new place to write fics please..not google docs

[hjbender]

Hey Bender, what was that writing program you recently posted about that was an alternative to google docs? My computer died today and when i get a new one i think i wanna make a switch to something that DOESNT have the authority to spontaneously lock me out of all my work and train Ai by stealing it

Proton! Specifically, Proton Docs, which is currently a feature of Proton Drive. Pretty much exactly like Google but without the bullshit.

I've been using Proton Mail for a while now, but for the longest time there was no real alternative to GDocs, especially in terms of accessibility across multiple devices (PC, phone, etc). Now there is, and I'm really happy about it. Give it a try and see if it works for you.

[julijbee]

so i finished the dlc.

[slothquisitor]

Also, because we apparently cannot have nice things, I'll be archive locking all my works on AO3 to protect from AI scrapers. Sorry if you read over there as a guest, but if you need an invite code, I've still got some and I'm happy to share. Just send me an ask or DM.

[notartisticdraw]

UNDERTALE PUPPET AU

Hey, fellas. Considering Goulash’s backstory, I’m going to be making a new Underale AU revolving around the concept of puppets/muppets/dolls/marionettes. This is partially inspired by the desire to give Goulash a heavy fascination with puppets and partially by the want to give him an interesting and cohesive backstory.

Goulash never officially meets his parents, Fresh and Greaser (or at least knows who they are if they collide), nor does he ever have the luxury of childhood, instantly conceived as a parasite that infiltrates adult bodies due to their greater power and soul strength compared to children—though this doesn’t mean Goulash never had adult figures to help guide him.

Regardless, I thought a puppet-themed AU would also be a great idea revolving around Goulash due to his parasitic nature and how well themes of manipulation, alternative control, and hostage could easily go hand-in-hand with puppets. Though presented as a child-friendly AU where the entire Undertale cast is replaced with various differentiating puppet versions of themselves, the AU is nothing short of horrifying and sinister, with underlying manipulative themes stitched into the seams.

The AU is still in the newborn stages. All you need to know is that there are going to be five (or three) new characters out of the entire original cast that will serve as Goulash’s “caregivers” or “guidance.” I also wanted to brainstorm a creative name for this AU since I’m pretty sure Underpuppet and Puppettale have already been taken. Plus, I wanted it to be something innovative and interesting.

It could also be an AU that many could separate Goulash’s story from if anyone just wanted to have fun with the silly, horror puppet AU. I wouldn’t mind.

***

(Video by Aloof_cold_Hands (Tik Tok & Instagram)) This is the primary inspiration for the AU. I hopefully plan on remaking this video involving Goulash and his caregivers

***

This will also greatly inspire the AU, revolving around its darker themes. Other inspirations will include Welcome Home, the Muppets, Don't Hug Me I'm Scared, Hello Puppets, etc.

[aka-indulgence]

ok so google docs doesnt recognize when i press ctrl+i or anything anymore, my day is ruined

[mytimeisyours]

Alright I'm back after stewing on this ridiculous AU idea that I had yesterday.

(I will preface this entire thing with: I like to watch TV while crafting, and I was watching Doctor Who. I realized that Matt Smith as the Doctor (Post-Ponds) gives me SO MUCH of a Gale Dekarios vibe Especially in the wine colored long coat

Also I was very active on the internet during the SuperWhoLock days so please, bear with me, I am old and this dog goes not learn new tricks easily.

So naturally.... I bring you my AU idea:

"Doctor Who?" - "Doctor Dekarios!"

AU where Gale Dekarios is actually the Doctor.

Maybe he gave up his life as a timelord, maybe he was defeated and cast into another dimension, maybe he was cursed, maybe he just happened upon a swarm of mindflayers, who really knows - not me, but I'll get there!

The TARDIS, but now as a talking, sassy cat. (It’s Taaaraaaaa!)

They’re stuck in Faerun, in Waterdeep, but he’s brilliant and becomes known as a Wizard.

‘Oh alright,” he mumbles to himself, deciding that if the people want a Wizard, he will be one. He can’t leave anyway, so he may as well learn some things.

Mystra takes notice. Oh, does she notice. A man with two hearts? A man with knowledge of time and space outside of the very limited bits that the people of Faerun are aware of? She’s more than aware. Maybe she decides to trick him, maybe she’s genuinely intrigued, at first, and he loves a challenge. He decides to play her game.

SPOILER ALERT: he loses. And he’s then cast aside. And what does the Doctor hate??? ENDINGS. 

Mystra ends things with him when he fails to beat her at her own game. Maybe the Orb(™) is just a manifestation of his hearts growing bitter, maybe its a curse, maybe we leave it as is. The Doctor is rather quite proud of his smarts, of his brain, I wouldn’t put it past him to actually attempt to find the piece of weave just to show her that he can.  Okay so maybe he does attempt to give her the missing piece of weave and gets the orb I mean it would be pretty on brand regardless

Gale Doctor is COCKY, okay?

So he decides, fine, I’ll do what I do best, I’ll adventure. And now he has all kinds of new skills, so he’ll be…he’ll be fine, right?

RIGHT. Until… until wrong, actually. The mindflayers got him. And what an interesting find, a man with two hearts, a new science experiment, if you will.

He escapes, getting stuck in the sigil, because let’s be frank, that’s definitely a Doctor-style conundrum(™)

And then … her. Tav. (should I call her tav? Should I call her by my tav’s name? Probably going to stick w my tav’s name, she's called Saoirse and she's a mess)

She pulls him out of his own doom, as so many companions have in the past. As so many have, and so many will. And now… he knows he has to stop them. He has to save the world, he’s the Doctor, it’s what he does, he’s the saver and destroyer of worlds, so he has to save them, it’s like he’s obligated

She introduces herself, first apprehensively, then assertively, and his mind is reeling so he tells her that he’s the doctor, and she asks the age old, typical question.

“Doctor Who?”

“Doctor Dekarios!”

And he is just … captivated by her. She’s headstrong, and sassy. She’s unimpressed by his ramblings, but she’s so very kind. And we all know that the Doctor is very kind. Couldn't leave well enough alone on a stranded spaceship because a child was crying.

He knows not to say anything about his … condition. The orb, the two hearts, the alien bit. Can’t gain trust when you’re immediately a threat, and anything alien could potentially be illithid and he knows he can’t tell her anything.

They meet others, and he knows that he’s still the strangest one of all of them, even counting the Githyanki warrior that somehow scares the pants off of him.

He knows that she knows that something’s off. He starts keeping more to himself. His old bones ache and his blood feels like shards of glass in his body and his hearts can’t keep up anymore. And she’s so gentle with him, the man that she teases for being old. If she only knew.

He grips his hair in his hands, wondering what would happen first. The mindflayer transformation, or the implosion. The world ending bloody, or the world ending with a big bang. How funny that this world would end in a big bang. 

And she sits with him. And holds his hand. Massages his hands when they’re stiff and sore. Makes him a salve from herbs that they find, to massage into his joints. For arthritis. As if timelords could have arthritis. No, he knows, it’s not his exceedingly old age. It’s not the centuries of life that are burning through his cells, it’s not even the silly parasite in his brain or the countless experiments that were done on him before he went and got himself stuck in a sigil, it’s Mystra, and her injured pride, and the fact that she refused to just let him go. She’d been enthralled with stories of adventure, tales of worlds and universes that he’s visited and saved, and all of that in return for small pieces of magic. Pieces that he made into his own, pieces that he formed to his personality, because science isn’t there yet in Faerun.

If she couldn’t keep him, nobody could. Typical otherworldly deity nonsense. And he had known better. He knew not to get involved, not to allow her or anyone else to grip his attention so forcefully, not to allow himself the easy entertainment that came with silly gods from other universes, and yet here he was. 

There was no saving him from this. Not conceivably. He could find some magic crown and return it, and she would let him go. No she wouldn’t. He knew it would be a fight to the end.

And fight they did, against cultists, against possessed shadows, against gods. And then… and then, despite himself, despite his own attempts to be isolated and not notice things and be normal like a human being he finds himself… yearning. 

She’s delicate with him, and kind. But she takes none of his nonsense, and she’s more than willing to stand toe to toe with him and challenge everything that he knows about everything and suddenly he’s yearning and pining like a child and it’s all very embarrassing and he knows that he has to tell her something. He has to tell her because she won’t be angry with him like everyone else would be.

So he calls her over, and opens up an old memory bank, and shows her… everything, under the stars. His past, his present, his truth. And she….doesn’t run. She doesn’t even really mind it, because she could already tell that something was off with him, I mean who hangs out in the woods in a purple long coat and he laughs. He genuinely laughs for the first time since he got stuck here in this universe, and his hearts swell and his head spins as she laughs with him, and oh gods he’s falling for her. So he decides, oh, what the hell. He leans closer, just close enough to whisper, and says the silly words he’d never planned to say to anyone after the super mega disaster ending that was himself and Mystra and he tells her… “I’m afraid that I’m falling in love with you, which is never something that ends well, for me.”

[arnold-layne]

how to use ai to improve your writing: make it do everything that a writer should do themselves if they want to hone their craft. that way you’ll never have to learn anything new or use your creativity. this will totes make you an amazing writer trust me bro

[skibasyndrome]

anyone else ever feel like a bit of a fraud for their creative creations?

[hjbender]

I finally got around to emptying out my Google Docs in just another step of un-shittifying my digital writing life. I uploaded my docs to Proton Docs, which has improved so much from the last time I tried it out that it's almost identical to GDocs now. Minus the AI and lack of privacy.

Here's a tutorial if you'd like to do the same.

Moving Your Fics from Google Docs to Proton Docs

You will of course need a Proton account for this. Please note that the instructions below are performed on desktop.

Part One: Getting Your Stuff Off Google

1. Navigate to your Google Drive.

2. Under the big Search bar, you'll see a dropdown menu called Type. Click it and select Documents. This will display all of your documents.

3. Click on one document to highlight it, then hit CTRL + A to Select All.

4. Right click and select Download.

5. Your documents will download into a zip file. Unzip the folder and extract your files to another folder on your computer.

NOTE: Google uses its own file format to handle documents. When you download your documents, they will be Word (.docx) files.

Go through your downloaded documents and make sure they're all there before deleting them from Google. You can delete by selecting all using the method above, right clicking, and hitting Remove.

Part Two: Upload Your Fics to Proton

1. Navigate to your Proton Drive (proton.me/drive). It comes free with your Proton email.

2. On your PC, highlight all the documents that you want to upload and simply drag and drop them into your Proton Drive.

3. You're ready to rock and roll.

NOTE: When you upload your documents to your Proton Drive, they will retain the .docx file type described in the above note. Once you open a .docx file in Proton Docs, a copy will be made of that file. You will see this when you navigate back to your Proton Drive. You may delete the extra .docx file and continue to use the Proton document instead (recommended).

Additional: You can download the Proton Drive app for mobile and enjoy the same cross-device reading and editing capability as Google.