If you use a computer to just type novels... then you obviously do not need a really good laptop. There is no such set-up where the mouse-pad is above or to the side of the laptop. You are more then welcome to turn off the laptops mousepad and use an external mouse (e.g. a USB, blue tooth, or corded mouse).
When you select laptops, you just need to look at functionality to price you want to spend.
I recommend Lenovo's Thinkpad T61. They're currently going on sale now (www.lenovo.com). They're a gem to use and are easy to trouble-shoot if anything happens. Customer-support is decent, and if anything breaks (e.g. harddirve, CD drive, power-cord, etc.) then they'll send you a new part ASAP (you'll receive in less than 2 days). No hassle (unlike Dell) on getting your warrantied parts serviced.
Case pt: If your hard-drive is "broken", lenovo will send you one out no questions asked. Dell and HP will have to verify that your hard-drive is broken first before sending you one.
I would steer clear of Sony and toshiba because getting both warrantied or non-warrantied fixes on those are a nightmare. Sony parts demand sony parts only (which are ridiculously $$$)
Macs also have great laptops but they will obviously cost more then a PC laptop. The Mac warranty process just requires you to bring it into any Mac store (at a local mall perhaps).