They say that time is money, and this is certainly true for the professional writer. If you’re billing a client according to the amount of time spent on the project, you’ll need to keep an accurate record of that. You could use a spreadsheet, which certainly has its advantages, but the beauty of Taskcoach is that it will actually record the precise amount of time you clock up – as long as you remember to set it going when you start work!
Reviews
Finding something to write about
If you are stumped for something to write about, and you have either an iPad, iPhone, or an Android device, this online service might prove helpful.
Read MoreEvaluation of Find That File
in Reviews
I’ve been trying out a search engine I came across called Find That File.
Review of 30 Day Blogging Challenge, written by Nikki Pilkington
If you're looking for a handy, no frills book of suggestions for blogging, this book should meet your requirements. Having been designed as an email course, 30 Day Blogging Challenge consists mainly of 30 very short articles on different aspects of blogging. Being able to buy the whole lot in the form of a book is excellent for those of us for whom deferred gratification is an alien concept.
Review of Problogger’s Guide To Blogging For Your Business
Before looking at the book in detail, it’s worth pointing out what the book is, and is not. It is, as the title implies, concerned with blogging in order to promote your business. It is not about blogging as a business in itself. It’s an important distinction, not least because once we take money out of the equation then “business” can be used as shorthand for any type of enterprise, including a charity, a cause, or a school.
Some of my reference books
Just because I love technology and spend a lot of time on the web, and writing for the web, doesn’t mean I’ve eschewed books. I still use books extensively (and intensively) for my writing. Not any books either, but ones written or contributed to by experts.
I think if you’re serious about writing you don’t want to be messing about with so-called “crowd-sourced” information, which may or may not be correct.
Review of the Kodak Zx1 Pocket Camcorder
in Photography, Reviews, Video
The Kodak Zi8 pocket camcorder has a range of options for video, a still photo facility, and a really easy-to-use programme for importing your efforts into your computer and uploading to YouTube, Vimeo and other sites.
However, if you’re looking for something a little more rugged, an alternative is the Kodak Zx1. It’s not as pretty, but boy, is it robust!
Read MoreResearch Sites for Writers: Refdesk
Research Sites for Writers: Creative Commons
A good starting point for anyone wishing to find information, a picture, a recording or a video that they can reuse without falling foul of copyright law is the Creative Commons search site. As well as a good starting point, it’s a good one-stop shop, given that it covers such a range of media types.
Research Sites for Writers: Ask
Ask goes back a long time. Originally called Ask Jeeves (and still called Ask Jeeves in the UK), it features a picture of an English Butler. Butlers have a reputation for serious quiet and efficient service; does Ask make the grade?
Research Sites for Writers: Collecta
Making Notes On Websites
in Reviews
Sometimes I come across a website and think it would be quite useful to bookmark for future reference. However, I sometimes find that on returning to it, I can’t remember exactly why! Or I am looking around a website with the intention of reviewing it, get interrupted, come back to it a week later
Read MoreResearch Sites for Writers: Bing
in Reviews
Is Bing a sort of poor man’s Google? There is always a temptation to compare any search engine with Google, but each has its own strengths and shortcomings.
How To Eliminate Distractions
This gives you a quick look at J-Darkroom, which is a clutter-free text editor. I've used it myself,
Read MoreResearch Sites for Writers: Addictomatic
I’ve recently started using Addictomatic as my first or second port of call as far as search engines are concerned. What it does is pull together, on one page, results from blogs, Bing
Have Bottle, Will Travel
in Handy hints, Reviews
I think the title of this article probably gives the impression that I’m an alcoholic, but those who see me at conferences or meetings know that I always have a bottle of water with me.
Review of The Well-Fed Writer
The book is, in effect, a marketing manual for the would-be serious freelance writer. Thus there is much about