Where to Write

[sistergypsy]

Hi everyone! I’m brand new here and not 100% sure on everything yet.

I was wondering where everyone does their writing? I’m quite happy using Google Docs, but my friend told me that they allow AI to use and learn from your work on there, which is something I’m opposed to.

Does anyone have other suggestions?

 

[pmmg]

Howdy SisterGypsy. Welcome to the site.

Here on the site, work is usually posted in critique request, or story showcase. The first being a place to get feedback, the second to just show off your stuff.

You can also post work in Portfolios, but you should know that to post there is viewable by the public (or private to the point that only you can see it.)

Mythic Scribes does not have great tools for posting stories...so the portions people post up are usually snippets. For whole works, such as a book, there is an undercurrent of 'friends one might make' who will do it, and those usually post on a place like Google Docs, or make some arrangement in PM's.

For many beginner writers, it usually does not take more than a few pages to find a lot of stuff to work on.

If you are new, there are places on the site that are locked to you. They will become unlocked if you make 5 posts.

You should know that the power/gift of reciprocity is always present. If you are offering little and want a lot, you probably wont get it.

The rest depends on your goals for yourself and your writing.

 

[Mad Swede]

Hi everyone! I’m brand new here and not 100% sure on everything yet.

I was wondering where everyone does their writing? I’m quite happy using Google Docs, but my friend told me that they allow AI to use and learn from your work on there, which is something I’m opposed to.

Does anyone have other suggestions?

OK, first things first. The only time Google use your private documents to train AI is if you use Gemini to help you in your writing. To stop this you need to change some of your settings, like this:

• In a Google Doc, click Gemini in the top menu → Bottom bar preferences → Turn off. This removes the Gemini bar/chat panel across Docs for your account, though the Refine sparkle icon that appears when you select text can’t be fully removed this way.
• To turn off the broader smart features that feed Gemini across Docs, Gmail, Drive, and more, go to Gmail → Settings ⚙ → See all settings → General tab → Manage Workspace smart feature settings, then turn off Smart features in Google Workspace and Smart features in other Google products.
• Avoid setting documents to “Anyone with the link can view or edit” since they will become publicly available, meaning the content could potentially be used by Google and other AI services for AI training if found.
• If you use third-party extensions in Google Docs, check their permissions and privacy policies; remove any that request unnecessary access or that you no longer use.

I don't use Google Docs, nor do I use Microsoft 365 or anything similar. I use the standalone version of Microsoft Office and I do not store any documents in any cloud service. All my documents are stored locally on my PC and I regularly make backup copies.

 

[pmmg]

Wow, reading MadSwede, I realize I totally answered to wrong question? What was I even reading?

Yeah, pretty much, I use an older version of word, and do not use any cloud services. Sometimes, I just use notepad. For backup, I email the story to myself a lot (So I can write at work if I want to), and I have a script which writes copies to a server in my house, but every now and then we lose power and I forget to turn it back on. So the script does not always work

I try to avoid posting in places that can leak to the public unless I am publishing. But...I am not sure why that matters, Its not like people are waiting to read my stuff I need to improve my reach.

 

[Insolent Lad]

Being old-fashioned (or maybe just old) I do all my writing off-line, mostly using LibreOffice. Drafting on my laptop, comfortably on the couch, editing, formatting, and all the rest at my desktop in the office. Frequent back-ups via equally old-fashioned USB sticks. If you do need others to see your work, I think Google Docs are okay (the app is more or less a fork of OpenOffice/LibreOffice). I doubt AI would find much useful to steal from me!

 

[Super Fantasy]

I use a standard text editor.

 

[Karlin]

standalone version of Word, private cloud backup (not onedrive). email myself copies of work in progress, and physical hard drive backup.