A common Word Processor program such as MS Word, Word Perfect, and others work just like the "WYSIWYG" (What You See Is What You Get) HTML editors like Front Page Express(free), Netscape Navigator(free), Hot Dog, and many other programs. As a matter of fact, many such as MS Word97 and higher, are WYSIWYG HTML editors! If the program allows you to save your document with and an "html" extension ("myfile.htm" or "myfile.html") then besides making a word document to print, you can also make Web Pages, or HTML documents (just like the one you are reading at this very moment). Example; my first ever web page was made using only MS Word97 with absolutely No knowledge of HTML. It was no different than sitting down and making a report cover for a school report or a business proposal for the my boss.
    To see if your word processor is also an HTML editor, open a "New" document then click on "File" - "Save As". In the menu box that opens, see if you have a 'pull down' menu that allows you to choose HTM or HTML:

~A Standard Word Processor Tool Bar~

While tool bars will vary from program to program, the basics pretty much remain the same.
(While this may written from a Windows PC, even a Macintosh user should be able to follow along)

    While the key board is used like a standard typewriter to type your text, the "Tool Bar" takes your typewriter to the next level. You can control the text size, type, color, and placement on your page. You can also "Format" your page's background color or "Insert" an image. The tool bar also offers 'tools' to quickly add a "Table" to put your text and images in (and even give the table a different background color).
Aside from the Icons (little pictures) that offer a few short cuts, all your 'tools' for controlling the page's appearance are listed under the Tool Bar Categories across the top. While some programs may list them in slightly different selections or by slightly different names, some of the most basics will group like this:

    A Word Processor (or high tech typewriter) will allow you to not only type and print a plain black and white letter but also create bright, fancy, and eye-catching flyers and banners. And many of your main scale Word Processor programs today are them selves a "WYSIWYG" web editor.
(we will look at WYSIWYGs in Section 1)
    All you do on this fancy typewriter is type your document, the editor will automatically write the HTML code for you. You don't have to know a lick about the code to build your first Personal Home Page or full blown Web Site! All you do is click on "File" - "Save As" then select the file type as HTML