Spellcheckers are useful, even essential. But don't rely on them exclusively.
Read MoreHandy hints
An old typewriter
John Steinbeck's advice to writers
John Steinbeck on writing.
Read MoreA laptop charging tip
An obvious sort of tip that may be beneficial nevertheless.
Read MoreThe Carrot2 Search Engine
The Carrot2 search engine can be a useful alternative to Google.
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A dictionary is an invaluable resource. Photo from www.pixabay.com CC0
2 strategies and 6 online resources for finding the right words
in Handy hints, Language, Reference
If you want to make sure that you use the correct word more often than not, you gotta have a plan.
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Image from Pixabay.com CC0
The ultimate beginner's guide to writing essays
in Handy hints
The importance of outlining, and other useful advice, is included in this infographic. Despite the title, there is much here of relevance to writing in general.
Read More7 ways to manage technical support for writers
Most writers use a computer of some sort these days, and the thing about computers is that they go wrong. It’s not an ‘if’, but a ‘when’. In my experience, it happens when you have a deadline for the same day or when you were just about to dash out of the door to start your holiday. Unless you’re working for a company or some sort of co-operative, chances are you are your own technician. So what can you do to minimise the pain?5 Ways to further your writing project when you can’t work on it directly
There can be several reasons why it is not possible to work on your book, blog or other writing project. Maybe you’ve saved it in the cloud, and don’t have an internet connection. Perhaps you didn’t think you would have the time to write, so didn’t take your laptop with you. Or maybe you’re waiting outside the school gates. Whatever the reason, you can usually still do something. Here are the strategies that I’ve found work for me.Antivirus Blues
One of the things I’ve learnt over the years is that if my antivirus program tells me there is a new version that I need to install, I always create a system restore point (I’m using a PC). Why? Because on almost every occasion something doesn’t work afterwards.Backing up your Blogger blog
in Handy hints, How to
What can be worse than losing your beautifully-crafted prose that you’ve published as blog posts? In this short series I’m looking at how you you can try to guard against the inconceivable happening. Today, I’m looking at Blogger. If you have a blog using the Blogger platform, then here’s how to back it up.Backing up your website or blog
in Handy hints, How to
The word “paranoid” is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as
“exhibiting unnecessary or extreme fear; characterized by unreasonable or excessive suspicion of others.”
Well, you know the old joke: Just because you're paranoid i doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you!
In a similar sort of way, I don’t think there is anything “unreasonable” in being paranoid about losing the content on your website.
Handwriting fonts revisited
While I was writing the blog post entitled Handwriting on the Web, I was quite surprised that the typeface appeared as it was intended to: I’d assumed I’d have to take a screenshot of it to make it appear properly in a web browser. As it turns out, my original instincts were correct.What acting taught me about public speaking
Many moons ago I took up amateur dramatics for a while. That may seem a bit odd for someone who likes to keep himself to himself, but someone invited me to see a play he was in, and I thought it looked like fun.
I have to say that the thought of going on stage was a terrifying experience. Note that I said the thought of it, not the experience itself. I’ll try to explain.
Further thoughts on using Word for Desktop Publishing: Text Boxes
in Handy hints, Technology, Word
Back in April 2014 I penned a few lines on using Word as a desktop publishing tool. On the whole it works, but, as I noted then, it does have serious limitations.
I mentioned in that article that it was impossible to use automated cross-referencing between text boxes. Since then I have discovered something even worse.
The point of pointless writing
What’s the point of doing exercise or yoga? The answer is, usually, to keep yourself generally fit and toned up. Unless you’re preparing for an athletic event, there is no specific or direct point to any of it.
Read MoreIdeas for making your blog work for you
in Handy hints
It can be quite hard coming up with ideas for making your blog work for you. By that I mean help you generate traffic to your blog, help you to establish yourself as the go-to person in your niche, or how to generate income from your blog (whether directly or indirectly). However, I recently came across a blog post that suggests 90 ways to “make your blog rock”. It’s pretty good.Is it possible to write better if you write faster?
I’ve been prompted to ask this question because I recently picked up, in a second-hand bookshop, a book called “No plot? No problem!”. The author is Chris Baty, who started the "Write a novel in a month” competition, otherwise known as “Nanowrimo”.
I haven’t read very much of it yet, but from what I have read I’m impressed.
Bash first, craft later
There is a “law”:
Ninety-nine Rule of Project Schedules
The first ninety percent of the task takes ninety percent of the time, the last ten percent takes the other ninety percent.
I never really understood this in the context of “projects” as normally understood. But in the context of a writing project or assignment, it makes perfect sense.
Writing a book as a blog
It is almost a year since I suggested 7 reasons writers should blog. I’ve recently discovered another one.Writing advice from 1937
On one of my visits to second-hand bookshops I picked up a copy of The Writer, from January 1937. There are some things which haven’t changed, but the technology definitely has!