Google’s Spreadsheets — an unlikely writing tool
Last night, I got access to Spreadsheets, Google’s newest online tool. In case you couldn’t tell from the name of the application, it’s a Web-based spreadsheet. And it’s pretty good. The interface is simple, it contains most of the functions that the average user needs, and it’s easy to use.
So, what does Spreadsheets have to do with writing? Plenty, if you use it properly. During my tests, I imported an Excel spreadsheet (actually, an OpenOffice.org Calc spreadsheet that was saved as Excel) that I use to track my submissions. It went into Spreadsheets perfectly, retaining all the formatting and information.
I’m seriously considering using Spreadsheets to keep track of my submissions, and to keep track of my invoices and payments. The beauty of using Spreadsheets is that I can stay up-to-date no matter where I am.
One feature of Spreadsheets that could be useful for writers collaborating on a project is the ability to share a spreadsheet. You could create a spreadsheet that tracks the work each collaborator needs to do, and the current status of those tasks. Instead of exchanging files – which can get lost or corrupted – you have the spreadsheet in a central location.
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