6 ways LibreOffice is better than Google Docs for serious writing work

I have been writing for greater than 30 years. I suppose that makes me considerably of an skilled. Throughout these three-plus a long time, the one doc software I’ve relied on essentially the most hasn’t modified all that a lot. 

OK, let me make clear that. 

Once I first began writing, there was no LibreOffice; there was StarOffice, which turned OpenOffice. From OpenOffice, LibreOffice was forked and there is been no turning again. (LibreOffice was introduced formally in January 2011.) Though I exploit Google Docs for many of my non-fiction work, when issues get critical, it is all LibreOffice.

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What do I imply by “critical?” I imply my novels. I imply formatting. I imply engaged on 60k+ phrase paperwork that may span over 300 pages. 

Let’s dive into the LibreOffice options that hold me coming again.

1. LibreOffice is very customizable

Of all of the issues I like about LibreOffice, the software program’s customization choices land squarely on the high of the record. One factor about us writers is that we love to do issues the way in which we love to do them. When our workflow is dictated by one thing or another person, we are able to get a bit cranky.

Additionally:  customise the LibreOffice UI to greatest suit your model

LibreOffice not solely permits all the correct customizations to assist me work the way in which I want, however it additionally permits me to configure sure choices such that I can work most effectively. Working effectively is essential for me due to my writing method. Once I’m engaged on a novel, the concepts are likely to circulation sooner than my fingers can kind (and I can kind quick). If I’ve to pause each time I want to modify from H2 to straightforward textual content or enter a chapter heading, that stops my circulation. 

One instance of that is the customization of types. By default, the Heading 2 model aligns left —  however I’ve to have it centered. After that, the default paragraph model must be single-spaced, and the primary line of each paragraph wants an indention of .10. With the LibreOffice Model Editor, I not solely can set the formatting of these types, however I can dictate what model follows (so once I hit Enter after a Heading 2, it should at all times default to my configuration of Default Paragraph Model). 

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With LibreOffice, I can put my fingers on the keyboard and write with out interruption or distraction. The issue with distraction is that it is not simply the time it takes to deal with the problem at hand; it is also getting again within the circulation of issues. So, even a 10-second distraction can flip right into a minute. A ten-minute distraction can flip into 20, and it is all uphill from there.

2. LibreOffice saves paperwork regionally

Ten years in the past, I would not have thought-about this a promoting level for an workplace suite. However with the migration to cloud (and the potential of AI utilizing saved paperwork for fodder), storing my manuscripts on a third-party server is a non-starter. Fortunately, LibreOffice hasn’t gone the way in which of the cloud; every thing is saved and saved in your native file system.

Additionally: refine your writing with LibreOffice’s statistical evaluation software

It sounds so archaic, so old school, proper?

In case you have significantly delicate paperwork (comparable to a guide manuscript that you do not need to one way or the other get out into the general public or used to coach AI), you’ll be greatest served by coming down from the clouds and utilizing LibreOffice to retailer your paperwork regionally. I save them to a shared drive on my community, so I can entry them from any laptop and proceed the writing or enhancing course of.

Talking of which…

3. LibreOffice gives continuity

I’ve LibreOffice put in (and set because the default) on my Linux desktop and my MacBook Professional. By doing this, I can be certain that switching from one machine to the subsequent will hold the doc formatting intact. This turns into crucial when coping with guide manuscripts that you simply undergo your writer, as they could require them to be formatted in a really specific manner. 

Additionally: use the LibreOffice digital signature function

If I had been to modify between LibreOffice, Pages, and Google Paperwork, the formatting might wind up a jumbled mess. That is to not say LibreOffice does not adhere to requirements. You may open a LibreOffice doc in MS Workplace and it’ll (principally) look high-quality (though you may need to tweak some formatting). Even Google Docs means that you can obtain within the Open Doc Format (ODT), which LibreOffice makes use of as its default. 

With LibreOffice — greater than another workplace suite — I discover the continuity between purposes, computer systems, and paperwork to be spot on.

4. LibreOffice is full of instruments

LibreOffice comes with loads of built-in instruments that cowl quite a lot of wants. Sure, it has spellchecking, a thesaurus, autocorrect, and different normal instruments. Nevertheless it additionally accommodates just a few extras that may enchantment to you, comparable to textual content redaction, accessibility examine, auto-text, macros, extensions, a method navigator, templates, and magnificence enhancing. 

Additionally: create a database with LibreOffice

And that solely scratches the floor. There are additionally database, presentation, method, and drawing instruments accessible, every of which has its personal set of specialised instruments.

The factor about LibreOffice is that if I must get one thing achieved in a doc, you wager I can do it with out turning to a third-party software.

5. LibreOffice is free (and never simply in value)

I am not an open-source purist. I exploit proprietary purposes, like Spotify, Slack, Opera, and others. However when given the selection, I’ll at all times go along with an open-source utility. Why? As a result of meaning the supply will be vetted by hundreds of builders throughout the globe. On high of that, the event crew listens to function requests. I’ve submitted options to the builders that they’re contemplating. That is essential to somebody who is determined by a software for his or her livelihood.

On high of LibreOffice being free, it is also freed from cost. You may obtain and set up LibreOffice on as many machines as you want, with out ever having to drop a penny. After all, you would additionally donate to the LibreOffice trigger. 

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I can already hear you saying, “However Google Docs is free.” That it’s. However with the locally-installed LibreOffice, you do not have to fret a few third-party having access to your work. Though Google claims they don’t seem to be presently coaching their AI LLMs with person content material, there is no assure that the declare will proceed to be the case.

6. LibreOffice is large on safety

LibreOffice gives a heightened stage of safety over Google Docs with two excellent options. First, you’ll be able to password-protect recordsdata such that the one option to open a doc is to know the password. With out that password, the doc stays locked.

 Doc passwords are arrange within the Save As dialog and will be encrypted with both a password or a GPG key. One other useful possibility was made accessible within the 24.8 model of LibreOffice and means that you can strip all metadata from the file (which is nice for privateness). 

Additionally: password-protect a doc with LibreOffice

To do that, go to Instruments > Choices > Safety, “Safety Choices and Warnings” > Choices. Within the ensuing pop-up, click on “Take away private info on saving” and click on OK. Whenever you allow the removing of private info, it should occur with each doc you save in LibreOffice. So far as the password safety, that is achieved on a per-document foundation.

And there you could have it, six the explanation why LibreOffice has remained my go-to workplace suite for many years. I can not think about utilizing another software to write down my manuscripts. 

Obtain and set up LibreOffice from the Doc Basis now. You will not remorse the selection.