Google Docs Between Writer and Editor

I discovered Google Docs quite by accident. My editor sent Word documents that I could open on my Linux computer, until they had edits notated by the Track Changes feature. That's when my computer offered Google Docs to open the files. Then I was able to use the features as my editor had set up for me to accept or reject the suggested changes. I couldn't save my actions and send back the file in an email as it arrived. But I could save all the changes I made and simply share it with my editor. As it turns out these Docs can be edited by multiple users and all can see the changes made by each other. Let me give you a brief rundown.

I have a Gmail account, so that lets me into use this. Simply create a Google account if you want to try it. I wrote this as a new Google Docs document. I visited docs.google.com and clicked on the blue dot with the plus sign in the bottom right corner of the docs home page. It was immediately given an extended URL designation for its new home on the web.

The word processor offers choices in fonts, sizes, colors and all standard styles. It seems to behave as far as holding its settings- unlike other software that makes me want to throw things. There are also several add-ons available for reference and styling.

This is a viable tool that stores documents in a cloud, instead of cluttering up your hard drive. The share button allows you to invite someone to retrieve the document and you can choose whether they are allowed to simply view it, comment on it or edit and change it.

Did I mention that it’s free? Yes, and there’s nothing to download. That means it doesn’t matter what operating system you’re using. This will be compatible.

There’s also a handy tool available for the sake of editing. Click the “File” button from the menu bar and select “See Revision History” from the drop down. This will show the document changes in green lettering. It also opens a side panel with a “Show More Detailed Revisions” button at the bottom. That will give you a look at all changes made after each time the document was saved. This makes it possible for an editor to make changes to a piece of work and allow the original writer to see them. The writer can examine each change and choose to leave it as the editor did or change it back to the way it was originally. That’s where Google Docs works for exchanges between writer and editor.

It's just as easy for a writer to create works on Google Docs in the first place and then choose when to share them with an editor. This may become my new word processor for writing.  Then I can access works from any computer without a flash drive. Check it out for yourself.

Thanks for stopping in
- Jonra Springs