Why I Write Using Microsoft Word

and how I make it work for me

Writers love to argue about tools. Scrivener versus Google Docs, notebooks versus apps, even typewriters still get a mention now and then. But for me, the tool that fits best is the one that’s familiar to many: Microsoft Word.

Why Word and not something else?

I gave Scrivener a try once. Lots of people swear by it, but I found it complicated, and honestly, the price put me off. Google Docs? It just doesn’t click with me, especially with all the AI features creeping in. And as much as I admire people who hand write their novels, I type much faster than I write, and the thought of typing it all up afterwards stops me writing in the first place. And to be honest some of my writing would need a GP to translate.

Word may not be flashy, but it’s reliable. And if you set it up how it works for you can be useful and unfussy. Some writing apps have so much showing on screen, the visual noise can be deafening. Before anyone shouts, yes I know to use all the features of Word that you need to subscribe, but for me it's worth it as I use other Office apps too. You can access Word for free but a slightly lite, online version only.

My setup inside Word

I always keep the navigation pane open, it’s one of Word’s most underrated features. I use Heading 1 for chapter titles, which means every chapter is instantly listed in the sidebar. If I’m breaking things down into scenes within a chapter, I use Heading 2 for those. That way I can jump around the whole manuscript without endless scrolling. Remember you can change the default Heading styles and save them as a new style.

I also rely heavily on the Review/Comments feature. I’ll leave notes to remind myself of edits or ideas, but I’ve also got a permanent comment that simply says “Here”. That way, next time I open the manuscript, I just click Next Comment and I’m right back where I left off.

For formatting, I stick to what agents usually want: Times New Roman, double-spaced, indented first line. And because Word works across devices, thanks to OneDrive, I can grab the document on my phone if an idea strikes while I’m out.

The tools I lean on

There are a few features I couldn’t live without. The live word count is always there in the bottom left corner, useful for keeping track of daily progress or overall length. Find/Replace has saved me countless hours, especially the time I changed a character’s name halfway through a novel. And of course, comments aren’t just reminders; they’re little breadcrumbs that make my messy drafts feel manageable.

Saving and backups

This one’s easy, OneDrive autosave. Since Word is part of Office 365, every keystroke is saved as I go. It takes a lot of the fear away, no more losing work to a sudden crash or a forgotten save.

Why Word might (or might not) be right for you

If you’re the kind of writer who thrives on complex outlines, character profiles, and walls of research material, Scrivener or a similar tool might be your best friend. If you’re already in love with Google Docs, great, stick with it.

But if you already use Word for work, you’ll find it instantly familiar. Spend a bit of time experimenting with its setup; split screen to compare two parts of your manuscript, “arrange all” to keep multiple docs open side by side, and you might be surprised how powerful it actually is.

At the end of the day, it’s not about the “perfect” writing tool. It’s about the one that gets you writing. If how you are writing is making telling your story difficult then it's time to try something else.