Becoming A Writer Seriously

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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The Dontation Coder Forum has a fascinating thread going right now about online dictionaries, including a list of 109 “general” dictionaries.  The thread also explores which are the favorites and provides links worth bookmarking.  You may need to join the forum in order to read the thread.

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After six weeks of travelling and resettling into a new apartment in Manila, I finally have a broadband connection at my home. No more internet cafes and wi-fi hotspots — yippee! The new home connection, sadly, turns out not to be fully reliable, losing 45 minutes of my work a couple days ago — but I’ll perservere.
That means I can once again freely roam the web for the best items online for writers. Here are my initial finds.

Writers Digest Redesigned Website

Writers Digest has just unveiled its redesigned website. Always excellent in the past, it now establishes new benchmarks for itself. It should be on every writer’s bookmark list.

For one, writers can find articles by genre so much more easily now. There’s a new blog tracking agents and writers’ conferences, a great addition. And more…

Particularly, check out The Writer’s Ultimate Resource Guide for 2008. Included on the reasonably-priced CD is the highly-regarded annual list of 101 Best Websites for Writers — and, this year, a guide to the best writing software. The website also currently features an important article about how to back up your writing for free.

I normally visit the website once a week. You wouldn’t go wrong by doing the same. It brings you directly into the writer’s community.

The Writer’s Technology Companion

Just online now for 24 hours or so, this new blog, authored by our reader Dustin Wax, promises to be a very interesting resource for writers. Dustin immediately sets forth his objectives:

Stay tuned for:

• reviews of software and hardware to make writers’ lives easier (or at least more organized),
• tutorials on using and maintaining the tools of the writing trade,
• tips and advice on using technology to promote yourself and your work, and
• links to resources for writers across the web.

The Writer’s Technology Companion will post at least three times a week, with extra posts for breaking news (whatever that turns out to be?—?I’m not sure there’s “breaking news” in the writing technology world) and tutorial series. I’ve got lots of great stuff planned for the weeks and months ahead, with special series on podcasting, getting the most out of Word 2007, and creating e-books in the works.

Already, in his very first post, Dustin tackles the interesting arena of Content Directories, with an interesting case study and some definitive conclusions.

I am very pleased to see another voice join our cluster of blogs/websites — also including Jeremy Osborne’s blog with exceptional content — that address the issues of productivity of writers. Anyone who reads my blog should also check out these other two. AND join us in the evolving conversation, with your comments to the posts on these three blogs. I envision a community growing from these blogs that may become invaluable to many writers.

Tracking Evolving Versions of Your Writing

Speaking of Jeremy’s blog, I am fascinated with his current how-to videos on the open-source software Subversion. Jeremy and I have engaged in conversation before about the importance of keeping track of all versions of any big evolving writing project. Some time ago, he promised to investigate this free software — and now he’s delivering. Definitely worth a read! Visit his blog and scroll down to view the posts and demos.

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More discoveries from my periodic online romp through StumbleUpon, an extremely useful facility which I recommend to anyone who likes online exploration. StumbleUpon asks users to identity their interests. Then it lines up recommendations from all of its participants and passes on favorite sites on subjects you like, one at a time. One never quite knows what will come up next, but usually it’s a pleasant, on-topic surprise.

Free Fonts

Have you ever needed to design a newsletter or flyter but cannot find just the right headline font? This free fonts site may give you just the right one. this one is worth a bookmark.

Quotations Galore

Another resource worth a bookmark — a huge database of quotations, neatly organized by author and subject. The site has other features that will also appeal to writers.

Blurb Booksmart

Some time ago, I blogged about companies that specialize in producing limited-run cookbooks, noting that their systems could be adapted to other kinds of books. Now I’ve discovered a website that does just that — Blurb. Producing a book is truly simple: download the bookmaking software [versions for either PC or Mac], choose a format, fill into the page templates and press to print. In fact, one can buy one of the developer’s own books, which provides instructions on how to make the most of their service. Prices for printed books is not cheap, but not outlandish either. For small-run printing, it’s not a bad route. Worth exploring.

Publishing Poetry

Let’s not leave out the poets. Here’s another — and very intriguing — publication facility aimed directly at poets. It’s called Wordclay. It promises to take one’s poems, lay them out and produce ready-to-print gallies, all for free. One can add color covers and sign a online marketing/distribution deal for a reasonable fee. Perhaps one of our readers can try this out and report back your results.

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As it happens, I have been thinking about various clipboard replacements over the past few days, even before the ClipMate discount offer arrived in my inbox this morning.

PC Utilities Magazine [one of my favorites, published in UK but available on US newsstands and by subscription] offered several clipboard programs on a DVD that came with Issue 96, and just last weekend I was looking over the list, thinking I should evaluate them.  Working from that list, I have today tracked down the websites of each application.

I discovered that there are several options offered by M8 Software.  Its free alternative is M8 Free Multi Clipboard.  The website provides this description:

M8 is the simplest of all multi-clipboard programs. Just have it running minimized and it captures everything you cut or copy from other programs. It keeps the last 25 clips. When you want to paste one back, all you have to do is restore M8 and click on the clip you want. If you prefer to work entirely from the keyboard, you can choose a function key to restore M8 and then paste any clip by typing the letter shown next to it. When you move the mouse over the clips, you can see them in the viewer. If the clip is text, you see several lines and if it is a graphic, you see a thumbnail.

In my explorations, I was startled to find that this free software is available under at least two other names:  101 Clips and A to Z Clipboard.  All will eventually nag you to purchase the full version of the program.  If you object to the ad, you can buy the ad-free version which goes under the name of 25 Clips.  It costs only $4.99.

The program is actually rather handy.  As you “cut” text or a graphic for eventual “pasting,” it is saved into one of 25 slots in a 5-column by 5-row yellow spreadsheet-like grid.  When you hover the cursor over one of the cells, the full copy of the clip pops up for review.  Once you pass the 25 clip limit, the oldest is dumped, making room for the new clip.

The big brother in this stable is Spartan Multi Clipboard, which builds onto the spreadsheet format.  Under the 5×5 yellow grid, Spartan presents an additional group of 150 slots, against a white background.  Clips may be moved into these slots for permanent storage, keeping lots of information at hand for pasting when the occasion demands.  That’s not all:  one can have up to 20 such groups of 150 slots, each group with its own name, allowing for convenient categorization of stored clips.  The software advertises a screen capture facility as well, though I did not look into that aspect.  Spartan Multi Clipboard costs $19.95.  I’m particularly intrigued that there is a USB version that can be run on a memory stick or other flash memory device.  You can buy a bundle of desktop and USB version for $29.95 — and the two can be conveniently syncronized.

When you download M8’s free clipboard, you will be surprised to discover that after installation,  the software’s folder contains not only the free software, but the full Spartan program as well.  You can easily take a look at both, with a single download.

M8 Software, I discovered, is the home of yet another product which I’ve been meaning to explore for quite some time.  It’s called PidgeonHole.  It offers a storage format of nearly identical appearance to Spartan, but this software stores notes, documents, graphics and such, rather than “clips.”  It too has a USB version.

Spartan Clipboard vs. ClipMate

I’ve now had a chance to look over ClipMate as well.  ClipMate is king of the hill — especially if you avail of the one-day discount at Bits du Jour of $19.95, the same price as that of Spartan Multi Clipboard.  In fact, the ClipMate license allows users to install a USB version, in addition to the desktop version, both under the same license.  Spartan’s dual package costs $29.95.

If you were not able to avail of ClipMate’s one-day discount, then the decision between the two is more difficult.

Spartan utilizes a spreadsheet format, while ClipMate follows the hierarchical tree of folders approach.   ClipMate is more powerful, but both do a good job of storing clips for future use.  Spartan is less expensive than ClipMate, unless one opts for the USB installation as well.

And if one is looking only to expand the capability of the Windows Clipboard to handle a number of clips, rather than just one at a time, then the free version of M8 Multi Clipboard or 25 Clips at $4.99 should do just fine.  This latter choice may be all that most writers would need.

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Microsoft’s “clipboard” facility is truly lame.  As a writer, I find myself often going through extra steps to move clips around in a useful form and have wished for a better application.

I’ve known about ClipMate for a long time, but have been unwilling to shell out $34.95 for it.  Today only, the program is available at the discount price of $19.95 at Bits du Jour.  The website gives an informative overview of the program, as well as a link to the developer’s homepage, which of course has lots more detailed information.  I will be downloading and testing it during the day, but I also wanted to immediately pass along word to you that the program is available to anyone who visits the Bits du Jour website today.

Later today, I’ll post some information about other clipboard alternatives.

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Maple is an organizer that allows one to maintain documents in an easily available hierarchical tree. It is touted as a very capable information manager, useful for research and gathering dlocuments together in one spot. And today only it is available for free at Giveaway of the Day. Just click HERE for more information. You can see screenshots at the Giveaway download site linked above and find more information at the developer’s site.

Unfortunately, I am travelling and have a very unreliable internet connection and very limited time, so I have not been able to do my usual investigation of this software. However, I have gathered information about it in the past, now sitting in my inaccessible files back home, as it looked like a useful software to explore.  Andmy internet connection has allowed me a look at the software homepage.  It does look useful.

I’m posting the notification to readers who are adventuresome and ready to try out new software. Remember, it’s a one-day offer only. I’ll be trying to download it myself, if my bad connection will allow it.

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I’ve written a couple of times about the advantages of the internet phone service Skype, along with a recording capabillity.  I’ve already pointed to two options to record Skype calls, extremely useful with conducting interviews.

Today I have just discovered a software that is dedicated to recording Skype calls.  And it is available for FREE — but today only.  The program is called SkypeCap.  You can download it for free this Sunday at Giveaway Of The Day.

I’ve just downloaded it myself, but have not yet had a chance to install and evaluate it.  This software will detect when you have an active Skype call.  You can set the program to either automatically record any such call or to notify you with a query if you want to record the call.  You can read more about the software at the SkypeCap homepage.  The free deal, however, is available only at Giveaway of the Day.

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Giveaway of the Day is offering today a free download of MP3 Recorder Studio.  This software may be extremely valuable to writers who conduct interviews using Skyppe.  Here’s the program description from the Giveaway email newsletter:

Do you need to record an internet call? A conference or radio show? Want to capture every sound on your computer while skipping silence and saving disk space? MP3 Recorder Studio may be just what you are looking for. It records sound directly into MP3 without creating temporary WAV files, it is able to detect and skip silence, to split output files according to your settings. Due to these functions it can monitor sound activities automatically even for very long periods of time. 

I cannot vouch for the program itself yet, as I haven’t tried it myself — but it answers a need of mine, and I will certainly give it a try.

This giveaway appears to have attracted a lot of attention.  Within hours, the site has gotten over 50 comments, which are worth reading.  As I write this, the download website has been”timing out,” a sign of user overload.  Keep trying, if you are interested.  I eventually got through and have downloaded the program.  You can also read more about the program at the developer’s home page.  If you do visit the Giveaway page, be sure to read the comments at the bottom.  They point to installation problems and solutions, as well as to other similar programs.  Here’s one such comment:

Ok so it’s free and worth a look - beyond that I’ll stick to audacity; and then there’s wavepad,audioblast, wavosaur or mp3 my mp3….. 

I can, by the way, vouch for the alternative and free program Audacity, which you can download at Snapfiles.  I didn’t relaize though that it would record Skyppe calls.

Perhaps other readers will have some thoughts and experience to share about recording Skyppe phone interviews.

Technorati Tags: software

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Just a couple days ago, I wrote a review of the unusual writing software WhiteSmoke, which checks for grammar and style, as well as spelling. I’ve just learn that the software is on sale at 50 percent for a couple more days. To get it, click on the big top banner. With the discount on this pricey software, it becomes an attractive option.

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