word-processing-automation

The chapter discusses the author's experience with early word-processing and story development tools while writing 'A Fire Upon the Deep,' highlighting the limitations of primitive automation and the potential of advanced software like Lotus Agenda for managing complex narratives. It explores the tension between privacy and collaboration in digital manuscript sharing, proposes innovative ideas for capturing the creative process through timestamped keystroke records, and reflects on the future of hypertext fiction as a distinct and evolving art form alongside traditional novels.