What are you actually trying to do? What do you want to achieve?



Tell us that and you stand a better chance of getting your question answered accurately.

I seem to remember reading about – certainly never using – an option that let you click the insertion point anywhere in the page, like writing anywhere on a blank sheet of paper … don't remember what it was called, though.

It is still there, but a BAD thing to use. It makes for documents that are much more difficult to edit. It is turned on by default when you install Word.
File > Options > Advanced

I entirely agree, Charles! it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen … but it's reassuring to have you confirm my vague memories that the option exists. I should hate to think I'd made it all up.