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For over 30 years, I have relied on the same document tool, and it has significantly shaped my writing journey. In the early days of my writing career, StarOffice was the primary software, which later evolved into OpenOffice. Eventually, LibreOffice emerged as a fork of OpenOffice in January 2011, and since then, I have never looked back. While I use Google Docs for much of my non-fiction work, for serious writing—namely, my novels—I turn to LibreOffice.
When I talk about “serious” writing, I’m referring to large documents, often exceeding 60,000 words and over 300 pages in length, which require precise formatting. Let’s explore the features of LibreOffice that keep me anchored to this software.
1. LibreOffice is Highly Customizable
The standout feature of LibreOffice for me is its extensive customization options. Writers thrive when they can tailor their tools to suit their workflow. Anything that disrupts that process can be frustrating. LibreOffice allows me to personalize my environment, enabling me to work efficiently. When ideas flow quickly, it’s vital to avoid interruptions for formatting changes. For instance, I prefer my Heading 2 style to be centered, require single-spacing for paragraphs, and like a specific indentation. With the LibreOffice Style Editor, I can set these preferences, ensuring that my writing process remains smooth.
2. LibreOffice Saves Documents Locally
A decade ago, saving documents locally might have seemed outdated, but in today’s cloud-centric world, it’s a significant advantage. I prefer to keep my manuscripts on my local file system rather than on third-party servers, which raises concerns over privacy and security. LibreOffice allows me to store everything locally, and I save my files to a shared network drive for easy access across different devices.
3. LibreOffice Offers Continuity
I use LibreOffice on both my Linux desktop and MacBook Pro, ensuring consistent document formatting regardless of which machine I’m working on. This reliability is crucial for submitting book manuscripts that require specific formatting standards. Switching between different software can often lead to formatting issues. However, with LibreOffice, continuity across platforms and file types is seamless.
4. LibreOffice is Packed with Tools
LibreOffice includes a comprehensive collection of built-in tools to meet various writing needs. Beyond the standard spellcheck and thesaurus, it offers text redaction, accessibility checks, macros, and more. Additionally, it incorporates tools for databases, presentations, and graphics, allowing me to perform a wide range of tasks without relying on external applications.
5. LibreOffice is Free (and Not Just Financially)
While I do use proprietary software, I prefer open-source applications whenever possible. Open-source software like LibreOffice benefits from community vetting and responsive development teams that consider user feedback. The best part is that LibreOffice is entirely free to download and install on as many machines as needed, without any financial obligation, though donations are welcomed.
6. LibreOffice is Big on Security
LibreOffice provides enhanced security features compared to online services like Google Docs. Users can set passwords to protect files, ensuring that only those with the password can access the documents. Additionally, version 24.8 introduced a feature to remove all metadata from files for added privacy. This is a vital aspect for anyone concerned about document security.
In summary, these six reasons illustrate why LibreOffice has been my preferred office suite for decades. It’s a tool I trust for writing my manuscripts, and I encourage anyone interested to download and install LibreOffice from the Document Foundation—you won’t be disappointed.