George R. R. Martin uses a 36-year-old DOS software to write his books

[alexmolas]

https://wikiofthrones.com/george-r-r-martin-uses-36-year-old-software-write-books

[eschneider]

As someone who's been using Emacs since the 80s, once you settle into tools that work for you, you can spend your mental energy on solving your problems. :)

[potbelly83 → eschneider]

If only the current generation of software engineers actually followed this advice :)

[vanattab]

Does he still write? I thought he basically tossed the pen in when GOT blow up.

[tschumacher]

Previous discussion on WordStar https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26370252

[JoeAltmaier]

Danielle Steel still uses a typewriter! Got to be 70 years old at least. So does Tom Hanks.

[CharleFKane → JoeAltmaier]

I believe Cormac McCarthy did as well, at least until his recent death.

[deafpolygon → CharleFKane]

That seems to imply that he's had multiple deaths. ;)

[rrauenza]

Can you imagine how much longer it would take him to write if he could also web surf while working?

[NikkiA]

Because wordstar is simple and elegant.

[smackeyacky → NikkiA]

Until you need to access a printer, where it becomes hideously complicated and unable to converse with anything you might own.

It did have the virtue that it ran on barely compatible machines like the Sanyo MBC-550 but word perfect made wordstar instantly redundant.

[hulitu → smackeyacky]

> Until you need to access a printer, where it becomes hideously complicated and unable to converse with anything you might own.

Funny that i have the same feeling almost everyday with web browsers. Printing from a web browser is an exercise in pain.

[smackeyacky → hulitu]

That is true, and seems ti be getting worse rather than better.

[mharig]

Now I understand, why he didn't finish A Song of Ice and Fire, yet.

[hulitu]

I bet he is vulnerable to all sorts of zero day exploits. /s