Becoming A Writer Seriously

I’m pretty good about backing up my data: I have several routines, some automatic, some manual, that provide me with multiple backups secured at various locations. Here’s one of my earlier posts about backup strategy. But yesterday I discovered that’s not enough.

Over the weekend, I installed and activated a new file management program. Almost immediately, my computer system went haywire. At first, I thought it was an imminent hard disk failure. Immediately, I invoked one of my manual backup schemes, but it failed — and the computer shut down unceremoniously I spent much of yesterday trying to re-start Windows XP, amid various blues screens and error messages. I nearly paniced.

As I thought through my vulnerabilities, I realized that one must back up MORE than just one’s data. What if, I thought, I have to reformat my disk and reinstall Windows? I once had to do that years ago, and I can tell you it’s no fun. One can easily lose everything: all programs must be reinstalled, user preferences must be recreated, and more.

First, I realized that the programs that I have downloaded and installed have not been backed up for over a year. Recent software installation files exist only in my “Essential Programs” folder under Downloads. I don’t even have an up-to-date list of those programs. Many of those programs are writing-related, programs I’ve already reviewed here, or have in my “review queue.” Some of those programs must be active on my computer in order to open their datafiles. I suddenly realized that my well-preserved data might be impossible to open without repurchasing the underlying software — and I’m talking about hundreds of dollars of software not properly backed up. Moreover, while I keep good track of the “registration code” for each software — I use SoftCAT Pro, whose data is properly backed up — I realized I would have to repurchase that software to get back to that data. OUCH!!! And to reinstall all my programs, with the proper registration code, I would need the original downloaded program files — otherwise I would have to repurchase all of them.

MAJOR POINT: if you have essential downloaded software on your computer, be sure to backup the installation files somewhere safe — either on a CD/DVD disk or to some backup location outside of your own computer. And keep this backup updated.

MAJOR POINT: Fortunately, I keep pretty good track of the registation codes of my installed software via SoftCAT Pro. Do you have your registration serial numbers handy in a secure place? If not, think about setting up a backup system.

MAJOR POINT: I have all of my passwords catalogued in a secure software program. But I realized yesterday that I did not have a back up of the program’s installation program, or even a safely secured note about that program’s registration serial number. GOSH!!! I stood on the verge of finding it impossible to retrieve my password file. If you keep your passwords somewhere — to programs and websites — do you have a backup plan to be able to access them in case of a computer failure?

Recommended How-To Save Yourself Articles:

I’ve come across today a couple of recent online articles at PC World that I have printed out to help me take the proper insurance steps to protect myself of computer failure. You may wish to check them out yourself and to print out copies to have on hand.

• Six Downloadable Boot Discs That Could Save Your PC
• What To Do When Windows Gets Really Messed Up

The Good News

Fortunately, after arduously saving everything I could and printing out my entire passwords database of 44 pages, I finally entered the Windows XP “Restore Point” rountine [you’ll find it in Accessories>System] and chose a restore point of 4 days ago, when everything was working properly. I chewed my fingernails down to nothing as I waited for this routine to complete its task, which took much longer than I would have imagined. BUT it worked! I’m back up and running — and busy doing the backups that I now understand are fundamental.

If you do not know about XP’s Restore Points facility, you may wish to take a look at a full explanation by PC World’s how-to guru Steve Bass.

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While this blog was on “cruise control” for a week, with several pre-posted articles, it also went silent for almost a week, as some of you may have noticed. The amazing thing is that during these two weeks, subscriptions have soared over 300, Technoriati has finally taken notice of the blog [counting links from 82 different blogs] and the current poll has attracted lots of attention.

Thanks to all for pushing our community of writers forward.

I have a three-week working trip to Europe coming up in June-July.  Hey, maybe our readership will jump to 500 this next time around.  At the instruction of Dustin Wax of The Writer’s Technological Companion, I’ll try to pre-post a month’s worth of items to cover the blog while I’m travelling — it’s a convenient trick made possible by my blogging software Word Press.

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I got home yesterday after a draining, but successful two-week trip and discovered that I failed to catch a recent Giveaway of the Day program: RecentX.

I was so impressed with the program’s demo that I downloaded it anyway for evaluation — and perhaps purchase. If you juggle lots of documents, folders, programs and websites, you know how frustrating it is to dig down through Windows Explorer and various history lists to get to what you are after. RecentX makes it a snap. It intuitively gathers locations of your most-accessed files and sites into clear lists. To see how it works, just view the demo’s at the program’s homepage.

For me, the program still seems worth the purchase price of $19.95 for the time and frustration it will save.

Today’s Giveaway — not productivity-related, but it may be useful

If you ever need to make screenshots, you may also wish to download today’s Giveaway of the Day program: TNT Screen Capture. I use several such programs, and this one looks like it’s one of the very best and most powerful. I’m sure you will be seeing screenshots on this blog taken with the program. Grab it, while it’s free — today only. By tomorrow, the program will slip down onto the “recent giveaway” list

Now back to my heaping backlog of work. Next week, I expect to have a software review or two to post.

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As usual, I routinely scour blogs and websites, now up to over 140 of them, for the best, most useful items for writers.  You can see them all at Tom’s Google Reader Shared Items.  Here are just a few of the most interesting.

Teaching Kids To Write

Inspiration 8 is a software aimed primarily at students to help them visualize, organize and even write about things that they observe.  If you wish to inspire your kids to write, take a look at this unusual software.  Who knows?  It might even inspire adult writers as well.

LifeHacker’s 2007 Guide to Freeware and WebApps

I love end-of-year lists, the best of this, the best of that.  These lists offer up the very best from a full year’s worth of coverage.  LifeHacker gives us each year its list of top free software, and this year’s version has just been posted.  I’m personally pleased to see that in the software genres important to me, I seem to have tracked down myself these very same winners.  This is a good list!

For Cell Phone Addicts:  Jott

Web Worker Daily points us to a remarkable facility called Jott that allows us to use our cell phone to jot down reminders and notes as we race around through out life.  Hard to believe, but Jott translates your spoken reminders and notes into written text, which is forwarded to one of several computer-based locations for your retrieval.  The enthusiastic comments to the Web Worker posting suggess that this facility might be truly useful.  CLICK HERE for the Jott homepage.

Ten Steps To A Better Home Office

Freelance Switch looks at the home office, which many of us writers also inhabit, and finds simple steps to make it more functional and productive.  Its recommended 10 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Home Office Cheaply are simple to implement and may well improve your productivity.  You may wish also to visit Dumb Little Man’s Tips for Life blog for his contributions to this discussion.  This topic hits me right at home, as I’m right in the midst of rearranging my condo and its home office.

RightsAgent Aims To Protect Your Rights

About a week ago, we reported about a disturbing court decision that appears to strip writers of copyright protection they had taken for granted.  This week KillerStartups alerts us to a new website that may offer a remedy, sharing its evaluation about why RightsAgent may be a killer app.  Writers concerned about copyright protection would do well to follow developments at this new site, which you can visit HERE.

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Since I have been knocked completely off schedule due to a family medical emergency, now is a good time for you to become completely familiar with The Writer’s Technology Companion.

Dustin Wax’s new blog is beginning to establish itself within its first two months as perhaps the best blog covering issues relating to writer’s productivity. With several years experience as one of the top blogger’s on the internet as a major domo at Lifehack.Org, Dustin brings to his writer’s blog perhaps an unparalleled range of experience and knowledge. His blog shows it: meticulously conceived and designed, any blogger can learn just by examining the structure of his blog. King, however, is the content.

Dustin has just finished a clearly written, 5-part series on publishing your own ebooks. And following his own advice, the series is now available as a short, free ebook that many writers should download to their ebook library. He has a bunch of other 5-part series up his sleeve. You see, Dustin mapped out months of content even before going public — talk about a writer who’s organized!

Anyone who has subscribed to Becoming A Writer Seriously — at last check about 280 subscribers! — should definitely subscribe also to The Writer’s Technology Companion. These two blogs closely parallel each other: similar in concept and coverage, but with somewhat different styles and emphases.

Other Diversions

While I’m at it, directing you to other sources, check out the recently released Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers. You will find it in the current issue of the magazine, which hit the newsstands just a week ago. Eventually the list will appear at the magazine’s website too, if you prefer to wait. Or you can order the magazine’s Writer’s Ultimate Resource Guide 2008, a CD which also contains the website list.

While on the subject of the list, I’m rather surprised that there is not a category there for blogs and sites which deal with “productivity.” Maybe next year, Maria? But then, I’m prejudiced, aren’t I?

Mac users should check out the computer section of your neighborhood magazine stall for the magazine [I forget which one] with a cover story comparing iWorks and Microsoft Office. One of the reviews compares the word processor component of these competitng suites, with some startling and informative conclusions. And there’s a companion article identifying many of the other word processing programs available for the Mac. I was surprised, however, that Scrivener was not included.

I hope these diversionary suggestions will keep you occupied for another week or so. I hope to back with some new software reviews by mid-month.

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One of the genuine classics in books about the writing life is Dorothea Brande’s Becoming A Writer, first published in 1934.  Fortunately, it has been reprinted, with a foreward by  John Gardner.  This book offers very wise insights into the process of writing.  It served as one of the inspirations of my blog.

You can order a copy via Amazon from the Productivity Store, an Amazon “storefront” which I have personally customized for writers.  You’ll find there the books that I recommend in many different categories of writing.  Consider this your very own online store for your writing needs — books, hardware, software, it’s all here.  And it is often updated with new selections, carrying my own brief blurb — and a click will take you to the Amazon page featuring full information about the book, with especially useful user reviews.

I consider this “store” one of the more valuable features of this blog/website.  I hope you’ll take a look.

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Words can be very visual — and lots of fun.  By happenstance, I’ve come across a couple of websites that truly demonstrate that.

Visuwords

Visuwords is an absolutely intriguing website that does graphical wonders exploring meanings and connections of words.  It’s been around for almost a year, but I only discovered it within the past week.  If you care about words, you really must take a look.  It’s a truly valuable and FREE tool.

Hot For Words

I can hardly believe this discovery:  words can be very sexy indeed!  Something of an internet sensation, Marina is a Russian who’s put up her site Hot For Words to teach people about the etymology of English words.  Would you believe that the site has received over 47 million hits within 8 months?  And that she’s just been featured on the Bill O’Reilly show — talking about words, not politics?

How can etymology be such an astonishing hit?  To give you a hint, she’s been nominated as “the sexiest geek” on the internet.  You will have to take a look — first, tuck the children in bed and buckle your seat belts — and you will see what the fuss is all about.

Lest we be distracted, the material which Marina covers — or uncovers? — is genuinely interesting to word lovers.  Just close your eyes and listen.

WordWeb

While I’m on the subject, I’ll mention again another useful and free tool to help you with words.  WordWeb is a software that has several faces:  one can access it online, install a free version on your computer, buy a more powerful PRO version — or even get the developer’s version so that the dictionary-thesaurus can be tucked into word processors.

Since this post focuses on the fun side of words, you may also be interested in this company’s tool for crossword fanatics:  Crossword Compiler.  This program actually has been around for quite a long time.

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Frankly, I’m astonished at the results of our poll about the word processor preferences of you, the readers of this blog. Just take a look to the right to check the poll — and vote on your choice, if you already have not done so. Once you vote, you will see the results.

As I write this, over 100 readers have voted. And, to my amazement, the results are absolutely evenly divided among the four choices. Only a quarter of us rely exclusively on Microsoft Word, while another quarter of us supplement Word with other word-processing tools. Yet another quarter prefer other word processors, but turn to Word occasionally, and the remaining quarter never use Word at all.

These results point to an interesting hypothesis: Aside from the business world, where Microsoft Office is so dominant, folks who identify themselves as “writers” are much more adventuresome in their choice of word processor. I was not expecting this outcome.

Perhaps the results are a reflection of this blog’s readership, writers who are attracted to discussion about the tools of writing. The results also mean that our readership obviously have a lot to share about their own thoughts and experiences regarding writing tools.

Now I would really like to know: what writing tools do YOU use? what are the reasons for YOUR choices? Please take a couple of moments and share your thoughts by clicking on the COMMENTS link at the end of this post. It’s time to speak up!

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I’m posting this newly uncovered group of blogs and websites about book promotion as much to gather feedback from writers, as I am to pass on information that might be useful. I recognize that these are “commercial” sites, selling services to writers seeking to promote their own books. I raise the question: Are services such as these productive? Or just a waste of time and money?

This constellation of sites revolves around its central point at Cyber Book Buzz. Essentially, the site promises to write and post a review of your book online — for a pirce, of course [$99 or more for a one time posting] Cyber Book Buzz also claims that over 100,000 people, many in the media, read their RSS feed. It has two affiliated blogs where reviews are posted: AuthorList, which does not appear to be very active, and Blogging Authors, which features book reviews and author interviews and which seems to be the most active of these sites. The first two of these sites are infrequently updated, suggesting the services are not catching on. Blogging Authors, however, the site I uncovered first, seems to be different. Also offered via that site is an eBook, Blog Your Book To The Top, available for download for $29.95. The content appears to be mostly elementary, but the undercurrent information about driving traffic to your site, may be useful to newcomers to the blogosphere.

I’m always dubious about sites where one pays for exposure. On the other hand, I’ve certainly come across some that look like they really would be helpful.

What are your thoughts? Have you had experience with such book promotion sites? Can you recommend other such sites for consideration by our readership? Click on the COMMENTS link, and share with us.

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Maximum PC, of all places, has uncovered some new ventures into book marketing and distribution and provides a very brief news item in its May issue, just now hitting the newsstands. The news is so fresh that it’s not even up on the magazine’s home page yet. Of course, I had to dig deeper.

Random House has come up with a clever new marketing ploy, selling individual chapters of books. It describes the scheme this way:

Sometimes what you want is a slice instead of the whole pie. That’s why we’re offering a new reading experience– the ability to purchase individual chapters. Imagine that! Downloading and reading exactly the part of a book that meets your needs.

The publisher is testing this scheme with the book Made To Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath, with a website page devoted to offering chapter by chapter downloads for $2.99 per chapter. Of course, such a scheme works best with books with “stand-alone” chapters. BUT perhaps this might lead to the re-invention of serialized novels, like those of Dickens a century ago.

Random House also offers at its website a very useful “Browse and Search” facility for many of its books, powered by Insight widgets. A click on any book cover with the “Browse and Search” tag will bring up pages that you can flip through, rather like browsing in a bookstore. Bloggers and writers with websites can even embed selected books into their sites to help readers find and buy the books. I’m intrigued by this feature and have posted a sample at the bottom of the sidebar of this blog.

Harper Collins has an even more audacious marketing strategy. It picks certain books to feature for one month on its Browse Inside page. From this page, one can open the book online and read the entire book for free. The premise of this scheme is that some of the readers who look into a book for free will decide to buy a copy. Maximum PC reports that this “enticement model” was pioneered by Boing Boing editor and sic-fi writer Cary Doctorow, who has offered his books for free downloads. His own publisher, Tor Books, has picked up on the idea by offering free ebook copies of some of its titles. A new Tor website is coming, but in the meantime, curious readers are invited to subscribe to the publisher’s newsletter, which will offer a different free ebook each week.

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I’ve come across a few items on the internet that may be of interest to you, so here they are:

Gateway to Research Resources

The blog Write to Done carries a recent guest column by Clay Collins which is the best post I’ve seen anywhere about the various online options for serious research. I do tons of online research, but Gary has uncovered routes I’ve never heard of. This post deserves a bookmark on your browser for easy access.

From Blog To Book

The New York Times has published an article about yet another blogger who has been signed to a big book deal. Talk about a “fast track”! Christian Lander launched his blog only in January, and by late March he had a $300,000 book deal.

One insider quoted in the article suggested that there’s a trend developing among literary agents to scour the internet blog world for potential books and authors. Read the details here.

By the way, nobody has called me yet.

Organizing Your Start Menu

Yesterday I noticed a sidebar ad at CNET for a how-to video on organizing one’s cluttered Start Menu. A cluttered Start Menu truly slows me down enough that I’ve done something about it on my system. I’ve written about that task a couple of times already, but the topic deserves occasional revisits.

Today I went in search of that sidebar ad, but it had rotated off the page. A Yahoo search turned up something similar, from months back — I thought it worth sharing. The demo how-to is at Lifehacker.

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