In December 1976, Michael Shrayer released Electric Pencil, the first word processing package for a microcomputer. It was developed for the Altair 8800 and other early personal computers. Electric Pencil allowed users to create, edit, and print text, bringing word processing to the home and small office for the first time.

Electric Pencil was a landmark in the history of digital writing. For the first time, writers, including poets, could use a personal computer to compose and edit their work. This software made the computer a practical tool for writing, paving the way for the word processing revolution that would soon transform the literary world.