Writers do have a problem.
We prepare manuscripts using Microsoft Word™, because that has become the de facto standard for writing. Our publishers also sometimes demand that manuscripts be prepared in Word format.
However, Word seems to attract viruses.
No problem, you say. As long as we prepare the documents and send them to the publisher, then it's their problem, not ours.
Unfortunately, that's not really the case. Our documents are sent to the publisher, who passes them to the editor and then to the proofreader. Along the way, it may be returned several times for approval.
At any stage along the line, the document could pick up a virus, and it could subsequently infect the other links in the chain.
Our critiquing system prevents viruses from spreading. Documents are uploaded in plain text HTML format to the Internet, so they are clean.
In addition, our Jewish Writing forum is clean. The system automatically strips all attachments. As a result, there is no way for anybody to upload a virused file.
You're safe with Jewish Writing. Let's hope that your other professional partners will be just as considerate.
