OK, it’s official: I am completely insane. The last time I posted anything on this website was back in July (sound of wrist being slapped), but I’d like to get going again. So what better way than to register for Digital Writing Month?
Blogging from Word
A really good blog editor is hard to find. But if you create your day-to-day documents in Word, why not use that as a blog editor too?
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.
Everyone wants to be an author
Getting published is just the start of a long, hard process, as this cartoon strip makes clear!
Read MoreInheriting 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?
A nightmare scenario
Being offered a hefty advance on your book sales is great, except…
Read MoreKeeping track of time
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!
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 MoreAutomatic 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.
Tweeting, blogging and self-publishing ebooks
I attended a really useful seminar – well, two seminars – run by the Society of Authors. The morning session was on tweeting and blogging, and the afternoon one on ebook self-publishing.
Something of interest 12/30/2011 (p.m.)
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The New York Times - history of word processing in literature
Article about a forthcoming book, containing interesting snippets from the author's research.
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A literary history of word processing
Article about a forthcoming book, containing interesting snippets from the author's research.
Books vs e-books
in News & views
I came across an interesting post by Jeff Thomas, in which he refers to an Infographic by Newsweek, which compares printed books with electronic or e-books. (An infographic, by the way, is a graphical or otherwise succinct way of presenting a lot of information quickly. Newsweek’s books vs e-books graphic is one of the few easily readable ones I’ve come across, but that’s neither here nor there.)
21st Century Writing
For anyone who thinks that writing with a computer is not that different from doing so with pen and paper, maybe this short video will change your mind – and put a smile on your face!
Evaluation of Find That File
in Reviews
I’ve been trying out a search engine I came across called Find That File.
Managing four diaries
in Handy hints
According to my diary, I am due at the vets today for worming. I am told that this involves nothing more terrible than having a gigantic pill put down one’s throat. Nevertheless, I’m glad that the entry refers to our cats rather than myself.
One of the drawbacks of entering appointments into a smartphone is that it’s not easy to write copious explanatory notes – but the advantages definitely outweigh the disadvantages.
A week to remember
in News & views
People visit the Writers’ Know-how website because they have an interest in technology for writing rather than in my private life, which is why I never post anything deeply personal here. However, recent personal events have affected my working life, the most visible evidence of this being the lack of updates here for nearly two weeks. Less publicly, a number of emails have remained unanswered. Here is what has happened during this period.
Read MoreReview 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.
Something of interest 11/28/2011 (a.m.)
Using Google for Article Ideas
Stumped for some ideas on what to write about? One way to tackle that sort of block is to generate ideas randomly. The trouble with random idea generators, however, is that they are usually either outlandish (for example “mobile fish typewriter”), boring, or repetitive. That’s because they’re too random. Also, you have to dance to someone else’s tune: there’s no input from you whatsoever.