Is Microsoft Word a great tool to write an encyclopedia about a fictional world?

[Miaristan]

Hi,

I'm here because I want to create the equivalent of a MediaWiki online encyclopedia, but through using the MS Word files as the articles/pages of my encyclopedia, since simply using MS Word to write everything feels much more beginner-friendly and cost-saving as compared to buy a host an work in a real website. I also know MS Word has some collaborating tools for when multiple users would want to work on a same Word file btw.

I would also want to know if there could be third-party templates I could download and use for Word so I could create pages that would practically mimic a typical MediaWiki-style page, to make it both orderly and beautiful.

So, I'm awaiting your answers, and have a good day!

 

[pmmg]

Word is good for writing then, sure but there are better tools for a wiki. In the MS world, sharepoint and one note are more for this.

 

[Prince of Spires]

if it gets you writing, then it's a good enough tool. However, I agree with pmmg that there are better options out there. I personally use OneNote. It's not very Wiki-like in its behavior, but it gets the job done. It backs up online automatically, it's included in my MS subscription (so essentially free...). It helps getting stuff organized and its easy to use.

There are also free Wiki options out there, including ones that you can just run locally on your computer, if you really want wiki functionality (like easy linking etc).

Also, if you have an author website, you could always create a wiki part on there as well. I'm sure Wordpress has some plugins that help set this up, as do most other platforms probably. Just add password protection to the part so it's not publicly visible (unless you want that), and type away.

 

[Demesnedenoir]

Hmmm, I have 5 readers/volunteers posting to the wiki but mostly sending me stuff like chapter summaries to glance at and post to the wiki, and they send them in any old format that I can read, LMAO. So, I think this comes down to personal preferences and what you are working with. If developing languages and whatnot, that's an extra level of complication. I personally don't like Word, and for languages I use Scrivener... Okay, I pretty much use Scrivener for everything writing related. But I probably really should move languages to Campfire. If my memory is right, they have a structure setup for language development. For small entries I just post directly to the Wiki and to be blunt, I'd recommend just going ahead with the hosting IF you are dead set on a wiki. Then you can fiddle with formatting and all that. But if you're just world building and may never get around to developing the wiki? The answer is whatever works for you.

I reviewed Campfire here: Review of Campfire Pro Writing Software a long time ago. It had a feature for wiki export, but I didn't use that feature. I did a quick test and it appeared to function well enough, but my wiki knowledge is much greater now than it used to be, LOL. The app has a lot of solid features so it might be worth checking out for several reasons. World Anvil maybe?

I'm pretty much stuck with Scrivener for most things. I'm used to it, so it's my comfy work space.

If you wanna check out my wiki: www.sunderingthegodswiki.com

 

[Rexenm]

OneNote would be perfect. I make lots of amendments in my writing, and go through old useless information because everything is updated. There is a lot of room for improvement, in my technique however, because I am always evolving. The pace is up to you, but it would be good to make hyperlinks to larger bodies of text, because that makes it more concise. Indeed Wikipedia does this to great effect.

 

[Penpilot]

I used to use Wikidpad a personal wiki software to keep track of all my story ideas. It''ll take a little work to learn how to use it, but it's free.

WikidPad - wiki notebook for Windows/Linux/Mac OS

 

[Devor]

For small entries I just post directly to the Wiki and to be blunt, I'd recommend just going ahead with the hosting IF you are dead set on a wiki. Then you can fiddle with formatting and all that. But if you're just world building and may never get around to developing the wiki? The answer is whatever works for you.

^ This.

I don't really think that a wiki is worth your time as an author. I don't find it a good way to organize my notes. I want to see a lot of my notes quickly and together, so I rely a lot on key words instead of sentences. And a wiki is just better as a fan endeavor, although you should support them at it.

But if for some reason you want a wiki, then just do it. There are websites set up to make it as easy on you as possible. It's a monthly fee, a little format tinkering, maybe get some images if you can, assign access rights to whoever you trust, and then start uploading your entries straight into the site. You can skip a separate word processor all together if you want.