Hey everyone! I’ve been into creative writing since I was a kid. Used to create these fantasy tales and short stories back then. After taking a break for years, I’m ready to get back into it because writing feels like who I am. I have this idea for a book and want to get all my ideas down on paper. I’m wondering if Google Docs would be good for this kind of project. Has anyone here used it for longer writing projects? Would love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Thanks for any advice you can share!
Wrote my whole first novel draft in Google Docs two years ago - worked great for getting the story down. Best part? You can write anywhere. I’d bang out chapters on my phone during lunch, edit at home on my laptop, and jot notes on my tablet while traveling. But once I hit serious editing mode, it got messy fast. The comment system becomes a nightmare when you’re leaving notes all over a long manuscript. My advice: Use Google Docs to get your story out since you’re jumping back into writing. Just plan to move everything to Word when you start real revisions. The cloud sync means you can’t make excuses when ideas hit.
Google Docs is suitable for beginning your writing journey, but it can lag with extensive manuscripts, especially past 50,000 words. While its collaboration tools are beneficial for engaging with beta readers or editors, the auto-save feature prevents work loss. However, for larger projects, consider using dedicated software like Scrivener or Word that offers better formatting options. If you’re simply jotting down ideas as you reignite your writing passion, Google Docs can serve you well.
i used google docs for my first book too! it was okay until it hit like 40k words, then it froze a bit. formatting can be a hassle, but if ur just getting back into writing, it’s free so y not give it a shot! 