Suppose I want to write a document, and make it a bit cute. Note like professional level like SR books and stuff, but I want to jazz up my layout a bit. What are my options? Any simple, free software I can use?

LaTeX!

~J

Scribus is a free open-source layout program that works much like Adobe's (very expensive and closed-source) InDesign.

If you want to typeset some documents, LaTeX is the way to go. It's a bit complicated to get used to (no WYSIWYG), but since it's essentially the standard for academic documents there are plenty of how-tos floating around.
DTP programs like Scribus are great if you need layout ready to print, with colour management and all, but IMO they are just too "large" for just setting a bit of text and images.

If you buy InDesign as part of the Creative Suite, upgrade it every 18 months for 3 new versions (for a total of 4 versions and 6 years of usage) you only pay $1.68 per day for the entire suite, assuming USA prices.

You probably want 2 column text, with a few text boxes and maybe some clipart or artwork ??

Well, OpenOffice is a viable, free alternative to MicroSoft Word.

Export to PDF and most people will open the document you produce, with no changes because of the way their system is set up.

If you want to drop some cash, a student edition of Office isn't too expensive [for PCs or Macs]...
...And Pages is a good Mac option.

Branching out into sales, Adam?

I have Word 2003, but aside from columns and inserting pictures, I think that's pretty much it. What I'd like to do is place background designs, and get some text boxes on the side. Looking at Scribus, which is pretty cool, it seems like there is so much more to layout than I can imagine!

MS Publisher will do that as well. If you have Office 2003 Professional, it's part of the package.

Open Office also includes Draw. You can also get alot of plugins for it from the website now (Like I don't have to use Visio anymore! thanks to there being a cisco art plugin)

I have done a lot of layouts using MS Wod, but InDesign gives you a lot more control in my experience.

...And lot more of a hole in your wallet !!

Yes, but it is worth it because you save time. And if you get good, you can make money.

If you have $0 - open office.

Use some poor sap like me that wants to help the indie writers to work on it for you. You can do what you do well, and I can do what I fake well.

InDesign, by itself, is only $300. See the math upthread. Less than a cup of coffee a day.

LaTeX is also less than a cup of coffee a day. It's just all the way less

~J

LaTeX may well be considered an entirely different drink.

LaTex is painful. The money you save, you will have to put into hair replacement.