There was a book about word processing that maybe offers some references or interesting interviewees: "Track Changes: A Literary History of Word Processing" by Matthew G. Kirschenbaum, published by Harvard University press: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jun/30/track-changes-a-literary-history-of-word-processing-matthew-kirschenbaum-review https://www.amazon.com/Track-Changes-Literary-History-Processing/dp/0674417070
Also, regarding WordStar specifically -- maybe an interview with Joseph Allen, author of the JOE editor, would also make sense? It seems to mimic WordStar quite a bit, and apparently the author has had his history with WS as well: "At some point, we upgraded to an IBM PC XT and switched to the AD2500 6809 assembler and used WordStar in "non-document mode" for the editor. I remember being annoyed with WordStar because it did not remember the column position when you moved the cursor between lines. On the other hand, I thought the interruptible screen update algorithm was pretty cool- it was certainly a total necessity on the 4.77 MHz 8088 based system. I also learned C on the IBM PC, using Microsoft's MS-DOS C compiler." (Source: https://joe-editor.sourceforge.io/history.html) So the JOE-WordStar overlap might be interesting historically. I woder if JOE was the first Unix editor that mimicked the WordStar experience in Unix to such a considerable extent? (FWIW, haven't really used WS, but I have used JOE for a period, including under FreeDOS, and the "WordStar bindings" seems to be one of its favorite selling points -- so apparently it was a considerably important thing to some Unix people back then. Tangentially related would also be an interview with Paul Lutus, author of the Apple Writer. No idea how much of a contender it wanted to be to WordStar (but: WS did come out in 1978, AW only a year later, in 1979). Maybe Mr Lutus would share interesting insights on the whole climate surrounding the development of early computer word processors. What was it all like. Looks to be a really interesting guy, too :): https://www.atariarchives.org/deli/cottage_computer_programming.php Just some thoughts. Good luck with the book, here's at least one text editor nerd looking forward to it! Mart On Sun, 4 Aug 2024 at 13:53, tsiegel--- via Freedos-user <freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net> wrote: > > You could try No Starch Press, they might take a look at it. > > If you self publish, I'd suggest using the calibre program to offer formats > other than pdf, many folks like epub files these days (myself included of > course), and while I've been told that smashwords isn't the platform it once > was, and it should be avoided for new publishing, which is a shame, because I > like that platform, you can of course publish on amazon, which would get your > book in front of a whole lot of readers. I both love and hate amazon as a > publishing platform. I like it, because it's big enough, many folks go there > first, publish their books, and then I get access to them, which is great, > but I don't like them, because they lock the book to that specific reader, > and they aren't always the best about making their apps completely > accessible, though they generally get a *lot* of negative feedback when they > break accessibility in a new version, but until they fix it, many visually > impaired readers are left with no way to read their books. > > Whatever you do though, (even if you have to buy one yourself), please ensure > you get an ISBN for your book, don't depend on amazon to generate one of > their asin numbers that don't work anywhere but amazon, it makes it difficult > for offline folks to locate the book, which certainly will impact sales, > every little bit helps in a nich market like this one. > > > On 8/4/2024 5:14 AM, Jim Hall via Freedos-user wrote: > > Will do! I'm planning to get most of the book written then reach out to a few > academic publishers (IEEE, STC, …). If no one picks it up (it's a pretty > niche topic) I'll self publish as pdf and print via the Technically We Write > website. > > You might also be interested in Technically We Write. It's an open community, > article-based website about all things "tech writing." I sponsor it through > my consulting company, even though it doesn't generate revenue (no ads, and > we give everything away under a Creative Coming license). We have several > articles there about DOS word processors, including WordStar and WordPerfect. > https://technicallywewrite.com/ > > > > On Sat, Aug 3, 2024, 11:26 PM EdzUp via Freedos-user > <freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net> wrote: >> >> Hi Jim, >> Please post a link to the completed book when it's ready as I would like >> to buy it I am always interested about reading about the DOS days and have >> many fond memories of that time from DOS 2.0 onwards. >> >> -Ed >> EdzUp >> >> >> On Sat, 3 Aug 2024, 21:30 Karen Lewellen via Freedos-user, >> <freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net> wrote: >>> >>> Hi Jim, >>> Congratulations! >>> Not a big fine of posting at the bottom. >>> Still, I imagine you have perhaps come across the articles where George >>> r. r. Martin shares that he writes his novels in DOS using Wordstar? >>> would rock if you got an interview, but at the very least any Wordstar >>> chapter should include him? >>> >>> Kare >>> >>> >>> >>> On Sat, 3 Aug 2024, Jim Hall via Freedos-user wrote: >>> >>> > Liam Proven wrote: >>> >>>> From Canadian SF novelist Robert J Sawyer. (I've met him and read >>> >>>> quite a few of his books. I like them.) >>> >>>> >>> >>>> He writes solely in WordStar so he's put together a freebie distro of >>> >>>> the final version. >>> >>>> >>> >>>> https://sfwriter.com/blog/?p=5806 >>> > >>> > Jim Hall wrote: >>> >>> This is really interesting! I'd seen Sawyer's archived info about >>> >>> WordStar, but obviously this is new. (I'm writing an academic book >>> >>> about 'milestones in tech writing history' and I'm considering adding >>> >>> a chapter on WordStar. Sawyer's info will be good research. I may also >>> >>> email him for an interview about it.) >>> > >>> > Roger wrote: >>> >> I think, you would be crazy not to ask for an interview from a >>> >> programmer (or "WABits") from this era! >>> > >>> > >>> > I've emailed Robert for an interview, and he's agreed! So that will be >>> > exciting. >>> > >>> > If you know of anyone else I might interview about WordStar, please >>> > share an email address or other contact info with me. (And if you're >>> > volunteering for an interview, email me off-list so I can send you a >>> > list of interview questions.) >>> > >>> > >>> > Jim >>> > >>> > >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> > Freedos-user mailing list >>> > Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net >>> > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user >>> > >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Freedos-user mailing list >>> Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net >>> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Freedos-user mailing list >> Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net >> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user > > > > _______________________________________________ > Freedos-user mailing list > Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user > > _______________________________________________ > Freedos-user mailing list > Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user _______________________________________________ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
