Create a template in the gallery/repository and select them as the basis when making a new document.
- Create your document and lay out the elements on the page
- Save this document under a name you can remember or sets it apart as a template.
- Go to the menu: Create new > From template...
- Select the "My Templates" tab
- Click Submit a template
- Select the document you just created as the template you want to use and share.
Next time you want to create a new document based on a template, you'll go back to the Template Gallery and select it from there.
To speed the last step for next time, note the URL that appears in your browser when you open up the template. It will look something like this:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/Awh01EbUNCh0fL3tter5/edit
Make a bookmark out of that. Next time you hit that address you'll load up the document. That's as default as you can get right now.
Keep in mind that while other people using Google Docs will also be able to use your template for their documents, they will not be able to edit it.
This problem happens to me sometimes on my Ubuntu (its a laptop). This usually happens as Google Docs is trying to establish a connection between your computer and Google's servers, so that whatever you type can be saved automatically.
It is "locked" as a safety measure in case a connection cannot be established fast enough and you are about to close the document that you have already been working on (i.e. added content).
Best Answer
I don't use a template, because more likely I just want a consistent way to create a new document from an existing document - without accidentally editing the original document.
I first create an ideal version of a file. From the menu, I then choose "Make a copy...", which then allows me to select the target Google Drive directory. This directory is where all new versions of this file will be created. On submitting the form, a new tab opens, from which I (quickly) copy the URL before the page redirects to the new version.
The "/copy?" URL looks something like:
I've truncated the URL above, replacing some values, but you can see there are some values in there that can be modified, such as whether to copy comments and collaborators.
I then save this URL as a bookmark, or distribute it to my staff, or paste it back into the bottom of the initial document ("Use this file as a template) and "publish" the initial document.