Hugo and Nebula Award winner Robert J. Sawyer makes the case for Word Star, the decades-old word processor that remains his tool of choice for creative writing. His detailed explanation reveals why this 1978-era software still attracts dedicated users despite newer alternatives flooding the market. Sawyer's advocacy stems from years of testing competing platforms and finding Word Star uniquely suited for composition.

The program's design philosophy centers on touch typists, using positional mnemonics instead of dedicated function keys. Control codes like ^E, ^S, ^D, and ^X form a diamond under the left hand for cursor movement, while ^K and ^J sit under the strongest fingers of the right hand. This ergonomic approach lets writers keep hands on the home row, avoiding the constant reaching required by Word Perfect and other contemporaries.

Sawyer cites testimonials from literary heavyweights including Arthur C. Clarke, George R.R. Martin, and Anne Rice, who praise Word Star's reliability and logical interface. Clarke credits it with reigniting his writing career after a 1978 retirement announcement, while Martin calls it his "secret weapon." The program's efficiency advantage becomes clear when comparing it to modern software that forces hand movement away from the keyboard's core typing area.

Despite criticism from Word Perfect users, Sawyer demonstrates that Word Star's interface influenced countless applications, from dBase to Microsoft's own editors. The program includes SWITCH.COM to optimize modern keyboards, proving its designers anticipated user needs. For writers prioritizing pure text composition over bells and whistles, this ancient software offers lessons modern developers ignore at their peril.