Can Word be used for desktop publishing? The answer is yes — but only as a last resort. Here’s a summary of my recent experience.
Read MoreUsing Word for desktop publishing
in How to, Technology, Word
Technology
Let's think about ebook cover design
I’m involved in a great 5 week course (free!) for teachers called "Crafting your own ebook". I’ll be leading a session soon on the subject of designing a book cover, and although I’ve found some great resources, I thought I’d turn to the community to find out what tips and/or websites others might suggest.
Read More4 ways that Spark London is good for writers
If you listen to blues songs, you will discover that amongst the angst, the stories of “my baby done packed her suitcase and caught the midnight train” (they must have amazing rail services in the USA because all the trains seem to depart at midnight), and being down and out, there are some real glimpses of a deeper Truth, with a capital “T”.Typewriter art
Remember typewriters? One of the things I used to try and do was to make pictures by typing the letter “X” over and over again in all the right places. For example, one of the images it was possible to create in this way was a Christmas tree. OK, so it wasn’t the most exciting thing in the world, but at least it kept me off the streets.Consumers don’t want interactive ebooks
in Technology
The good news for those of us who prefer just to write than to be multimedia producers is that consumers in the UK have shown a marked lack of interest in so-called “enhanced” ebooks.Organising yourself
in How to, Technology
The biggest problem facing the would-be writer is getting commissions. I think we all know what it’s like to receive rejection slips. Some of us could even paper our walls with them. The second biggest problem is how to organise yourself to not miss a deadline once you do start to get commissions. The best way, I’ve found, is to use a spreadsheet.Technology-inspired words are definitely buzzworthy!
New words are always interesting, I think, and not just the ones that have been inspired by technology. But before I say any more about that, I feel the need to get something off my chest. Don’t worry, I won’t make this a long post: the last thing I want is people tweeting me to say TL;DR (too long; didn’t read).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!Ccleaner to the rescue
It's often the case that something which looks like a big problem can be fixed pretty easily. Such was the case earlier today. I typed in a comment on my other website, but when I pressed "Post", a message popped saying "You are unable to post."
Very helpful!
Well, all sorts of things go through your mind at a time like that
Using your phone’s camera
Phone cameras have been getting better and better, and I believe they are both useful and usable now, from a writer’s point of view.
Using the right search engine
in Handy hints, How to, Technology
What’s the right search engine to use? The answer is: there isn’t one. Different search engines typically give different results from each other, so your best bet is to carry out the same search in several search engines, not just one.
Inheriting ebooks
Amanda Katz asks: Will Your Children Inherit Your E-Books?
It’s a fascinating article. Is rummaging through the contents of a Kindle that belonged to your grandmother the same as rummaging through boxes of books that belonged to her, assuming that you can even access them?
Automatic writing
The term “automatic writing” is usually associated with a particular psychic phenomenon. However, software now exists that can take data, such as sports results, and generate reports from it.