{"id":6752,"date":"2016-07-18T10:35:44","date_gmt":"2016-07-18T16:35:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.daskeyboard.com\/blog\/?p=6752"},"modified":"2020-07-23T08:31:53","modified_gmt":"2020-07-23T14:31:53","slug":"how-george-r-r-martin-writes-on-an-old-school-dos-computer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daskeyboard.com\/blog\/how-george-r-r-martin-writes-on-an-old-school-dos-computer\/","title":{"rendered":"How George R.R. Martin Writes on an Old-School, DOS Computer"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

As I\u2019m sure many of you readers know, the Game of Thrones books are freaking massive. They\u2019re so long and hefty that just holding them to read should count as some form of weightlifting. The popular novels\u2019 crazy size and complexity makes it even more shocking to find out that author George R.R. Martin writes them all on a computer older than current college students.<\/p>\n

Martin uses a DOS running computer and a WordStar 4.0 word processor to type out his epic novels. For anyone too young to remember, WordStar 4.0 was released in 1987, nearly 30 years ago. Think about that next time you want to upgrade your system as soon as the newest version comes available.<\/p>\n

The WordStar 4.0 word processor looks like it came straight out of a 90\u2019s sci-fi movie too. With its black background and complex controls, it looks like Microsoft Word\u2019s evil twin. There isn\u2019t a cursor, so you have to enter commands on the keyboard to do anything within the processor. If you\u2019ve never used a DOS computer or have forgotten just how complex the WordStar system was, there are plenty of demonstration videos on YouTube that will give you some serious respect for Martin\u2019s writing methods.<\/p>\n


\n<\/center>So, why does he write on such an old system? It\u2019s not like he can\u2019t afford a better computer. The guy\u2019s made so much money off of Game of Thrones that he\u2019s got this writer wondering if a DOS computer isn\u2019t the real secret to success. Well, it\u2019s not hooked up to the internet, so the distractions are minimal, he doesn\u2019t have to fear a virus or a hacker, and it doesn\u2019t autocorrect all of his made up words. Can you imagine the field day autocorrect would have with the names from Game of Thrones?<\/p>\n

I know what you’re thinking: so that\u2019s why it takes him so damn long to finish each novel. Honestly though, using an old school word processor seems to help him and his writing. Everyone has their own weird preferences when it comes to their personal computers, especially writers. Plus, according to his interviews, Martin does have a second computer that is hooked up to the internet, so he isn\u2019t totally stuck in the dark ages.<\/p>\n

Now, we don\u2019t know whether or not he uses a Das Keyboard hookup on his old-school machine, but if you\u2019re out there, George, let us know. What about the rest of you? Is anyone else out there still running retro machines?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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