I have finished writing my book but the biggest problem I have is that I can't use a computer very well. It is a nightmare trying to collate it all and edit it and then attach it as an e-mail. I am having great difficulties. Is there a writers' pc course? My first computer crashed and I had to rescue all my work but it is now distributed all over the new pc. Help please.

Interesting question, Feathers, and I would suggest yuor first stop should be at your local library, who should have a file of local computer skills courses.
Our library offers computing instruction, and once you get to know the tutor you could ask them questions to help you sort out your own PC.
It's well worth contacting your local Age Concern. There is a local Arts centre near me where Age Concern run a Computing Skills course one day a week, where a tutor will sit with a client, one-to-one, for 45mins and run through general exercises, introduction to the internet and to emailing, or go through specific problems that they might have depending on what level of experience they have.
Local Adult Education centres often have computer skills courses, but they tend to be more structured, with one tutor for a dozen or so students, and set exercises, so not much help for specific problems.
If you're near London, there may be summer courses on at local colleges.


- NaomiM

Thank you Naomi. I have already tried to find courses as you suggest without much luck but I didn't know that there may be summer courses, so I'll give that a go.

I am trying to number the pages. So I pulled up help and followed instructions. I only got '0' on the first page and 2 on the second, then it gave up the ghost. So I don't know if I did it the wrong way or not. I am using Vista and I can't find anything. I was fairly competent on XP but Vista is entirely different.

Should I set up the page in double spacing or leave it as single-spacing? At the rate I'm going I shall be old by the time I get it all right.

Feathers

Oh dear, Vista. I have to admit that I hate that operating system and haven't yet got to grips with it. I'm a computer skills tutor at Age Concern, and we see lots of laptops with Vista installed on it, and there's just so much rubbish on there which the person will never use unless they were running a medium sized business. I keep Windows XP on my machine.
But, anyway,
If you are sending it out to an agent, then, yes, you should use double spacing for the manuscript, (single spacing for the covering letter and synopsis).
As for page numbering, I'm afraid I can't help you. I haven't tried it on Vista. In my version of MS Word it's simply: Insert > Page Numbers > OK


- NaomiM

If you're not able to find a course (there is the ECDL, which is several modules and you only need to take the MS Word one if that's all that is useful for you) then there are lots of books available - most libraries have a good computing books section where they range from complete beginners to quite advanced manuals.

It might be easier for you to learn that way than following the instructions on the help screen - I know it is for me.

Alternatively, is there someone who you know who is computer savvy and can come and visit you for a morning? You could cook lunch in exchange for them helping you to rearrange the files and deal with all the formatting problems.

Also, I am sure there will be forums like this one aimed at computer users.

Jenn

Thanks for your e-mail. I have a few books on how to use vista, the best being Vista for Dummies where they use normal language to explain things but I always seem to have a question that's not in the book. So I had a good idea (I hope). Maybe I should try and get a copy of XP. Officially it's finished now. There's probably a computer term for that but I don't know what it is. I've also found out that vista is not being taught yet by local colleges etc. So I am stuck with a computer I don't really understand. There is a programme called microsoft Works. It's a bit like XP but with less functions. My old pc crashed and I was lucky to save my manuscript but when I transferred it to the new pc it didn't know how to open it. I've ended up with my book scattered all over the computer. But I will persevere and try to sort it all out. It helps to get support. Thanks.

Feathers

I wouldn't consider stepping back to XP unless really necessary. I'm an XP user myself, and am happy with it, but reinstalling an operating system is a specialised task. It's not like installing a new application. I won't even go into detail unless you really want to know, but my message is -- don't!

MS Works is a cut-down version of Office rather than XP. It doesn't have all the features that I like to have in an office suite, but should be perfectly adequate for writing.

Rather than reading books about Vista (the operating system), it might be better to learn about using Word, whether the Office version or MS Works version.

Best advice of all? Save your work regularly -- several times during a session. Then at the very end of the session, back it up, preferably to an external drive or USB flash drive.

Feathers, my local very long-established computer consultancy was doing a brisk trade in re-installing XP for people who've bought new computers and can't bear Vista: it could be worth paying to get someone who knows what they're doing to do it for you nice and quickly.

MS Works isn't bad at all, if you're not trying to do anything too sophisticated: it comes with Word, so at least you can to-and-fro with documents easily.

Emma

Thanks for the help regarding the pc. After my old pc crashed I put it all on a dvd but not being familiar with vista I wound up with hundreds of files on the desktop. I am so scared of losing stuff I save it too often and now I have dozens of copies of each bit.

What I am trying to do is get 3 chapters together on the same programme
(probably open office org.) and send it with an e-mail to the literary agent advertised next to this website.

Has anyone tried them? Is this a good idea? I would be grateful to hear from anyone about submissions of all kinds.

Feathers

Has anyone tried them? Is this a good idea? I would be grateful to hear from anyone about submissions of all kinds.

Regarding the first part of your question, Feathers, I've sent you a WWmail. As for submissions in general, most Agents/Agencies has websites with their submission guidelines, so it's best to check them out first before sending them off.
If you need to polish up your synopsis, there is a Synopsis & Outline group where you can upload yours for feedback.


- NaomiM

Hmm, Your operating system should not affect word processor.

In Open office, open a new document. Find your three chapters. Highlight the text, and copy it to the clipboard, Ctrl-C. Go back to Open office blank document and paste your text Ctrl-V.

Times New Roman 12pt Double line spaced - single sided.

Write your email and attach your document.

Hi
Regarding backing up your work- As well as saving on an external drive I also regularly e-mail myself copies of my work. That way they are permanently saved in my hotmail account so I can access them from any computer.
My lap top got stolen last year and I lost a lot of work- something that I am not going to let happen again!
Hope you sort things out.
Vic