2009: Products I Can’t Live Without as a Writer

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Michael Arrington over at TechCrunch was the inspiration for this post. For the past four years, he’s been publishing his own list of must-have products from his viewpoint as a tech blogger. His recently posted list for 2009 set me to thinking: what hardware, software and online services are indispensible to me as a writer? Here’s what I rely on at least several times a week.

Two Custom-assembled Desktop PC’s: Late last year, I locked up my laptop in my trunk, where it rests in waiting only as a backup if ever needed. I travel internationally between two residences, usually via the US, and the new authority given to US customs to seize laptops for no reason galled my libertarian spirit. I have absolutely nothing to hide, but I just don’t want to put up with the potential inconvenience. When I do wish to break out of the house, I often carry along an AlphaSmart Neo to capture sudden inspirations. An Olympus digital voice recorder completes my hardware essentials.

Syncplicity: This remarkable application keeps both of my desktops fully synchronized, with the side benefit of maintaining an online backup of my most important data. Software is downloaded onto each computer and an online intermediary repository is set up. The service runs automatically, with just enough evidence of activity to be reassuring without distracting. Being paranoid about backup, I also use the Mozy online back up serivce.

LastPass: Similar to Syncplicity, but dedicated to keeping whichever passwords one approves in sync. The application also fills in username and passwords for sites allowed into the LastPass personal database.

KeyNote: This aging freeware still functions as my principle vehicle for organizing information and thoughts. I’ve written a very full review of it at the link above.

WhizFolders: Somewhat similar to KeyNote, I use it when I need to hyperlink information with other files and internet sites, as well as to gather the information into a hierarchical structure.

Microsoft Word: While I’m fascinated by alternative word processors and long to break away from the Microsoft leash, I still return to Word for my bigger projects. I often need the footnoting, outlining, and graphic layout capabilities it offers. If not tied to Word for these advanced capabilities, I’d probably turn, as a non-fiction writer, to RoughDraft, PageFour or Jarte. Or perhaps even to Google Docs [it has footnoting capability now!] or Zoho, as online application alternatives. Check back here next year to see where I’m at.

Chapter by Chapter: This small program is essential to keep my big book project organized and the files safe and easy to manage. It displays a list of all chapters with word count, allows me to move them around within my overall structure, keeps each chapter as a separate Word file, and yet, if I ever finish the book, will pull everything into one big file for final formatting and submission. The program now also supports OpenOffice.

Essential PIM Pro: The first software I open every morning. Not only does it display my schedule and maintain my contact list [which can be shuffled into different categories], it also holds my master list of goals and to-do’s. Sometimes I want a bigger picture of my goals and activity. Then I turn to Achieve Planner.

WordPress: This open-source blogging software keeps my blog running. I also applaud Hostgator for its impeccable hosting services. Freeware FileZilla is essential to managing all the themes, plug-ins and photos that underpin the blog.

Firefox: My browser of choice for gathering information via browsing the internet. I sometimes turn to the newer Flock, which is exceptional in keeping my “social media” organized and close at hand.

FeedDemon-Newsgator: FeedDemon resides on both of my desktops, with online Newsgator keeping them in sync. I use this RSS feed reader for the ones I find most valuable. I also use the online Google Reader, through which I follow less closely over 150 RSS feeds to uncover news of interest to writers.

Tweetdeck: This application organizes my increasingly useful Twitter life. I’m picking up lots of informational leads from Twitter, and Twitter in turn is bringing more traffic to this blog. I would have never guessed that five months ago.

Vodpod: A year ago, I had no idea how valuable online video would become for me. Now I’m finding virtually every week a video worth viewing. I collect them, as you probably know by now, at my VIDEO FOR WRITERS site ;hosted by Vodpod. I find a lot of material at YouTube, where I subscribe to numerous informative “channels.”

SoftCAT Plus: Because I download and evaluate so much different software that might be useful to writers, I use this specialized software database to keep track of it all.

Gmail: I rely on this web-based email client for most of my business-related correspondence because of its ability to keep communication threads together for easy reference. It has the added power of working seamlessly with Thunderbird to give me a desktop email client that downloads me Gmail onto my own computers. I use Yahoo for personal mail and its portal homepage, where I gather my news and sport scores.

AceMoney: This program is invaluable in tracking my finances because of its particularly capable multi-currency features.

WHEW! When I started this post, I had no idea I’d cover so much. Looking back on it, I think I can now retire for the rest of the year. What else is there to say? I’ve shared all the best I’ve learned over the past two years.

But things always change. New software arrives, old software falls behind. I’m already evaluating hardware, software and web app’s that may displace this year’s favorites on next year’s list. Follow this blog during the year to keep up with continuing discoveries.

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Comment by
avr
21 Jan 2009

Wow, this is a great list. It seems to have everything and anything. Thank you for sharing. As an aspiring writer, I would not even begin to know where to look or what to look for and this makes it so much easier. Please tell me what is the difference between blogging and using Twitter?

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Make Money giving away products No Cost? | Ways to EX Your nine to Five Job
22 Jan 2009

[...] 2009: Products I Can’t Live Without as a Writer [...]

Comment by
tomcolvin
21 Jan 2009

Thanks for yr reply. You've hit on the very purpose of this blog. I've
been at it for over two years now and am finally beginning to understand the
bigger picture regarding tools and resources for writers. This post is
actually the first time I've shared such an expansive overview. I'll be
doing more.

Some people refer to Twitter as a micro-blog. One is forced to restrict
one's message to no more than 160 characters. Because the messages are so
short, people tend to give many of them a quick glance. I've discovered
that it's a great source of information.

Blog posts, of course, are normally much bigger and take more time to
follow. But they have a long “shelf-life.”

Both are useful to me.

Comment by
Janice
21 Jan 2009

Hi Tom,

That's really an impressive list … Thanks for sharing.

Here is a detailed review of online backup companies, including Mozy's:
http://www.backupreview.info/category/our-reviews/

Comment by
tomcolvin
21 Jan 2009

Thanks for sharing the link. Useful info.

Comment by
Joel
22 Jan 2009

My favorite trade tool for online backup is http://www.MyOtherDrive.com. They offer client encryption so my backups are secure and only accessible for me. Toss in their public and private file sharing, and you will see why they are the “best kept secret” on the web.

Comment by
tomcolvin
22 Jan 2009

I must admit that I do not know MyOtherDrive. I'll check it out. Thanks
for bringing it to my attention.

Comment by
tomdupon
22 Jan 2009

Hi Tom,

I would like to add NomaDesk to this list

Comment by
tomcolvin
22 Jan 2009

Thanks, Tom, for alerting me about NomaDesk. WOW! This application, still
in beta by the way, seems to surpass Syncplicity, which I currently use as I
move from computer to computer. While NomaDesk is marketed to small- to
medium-size business, it can be very useful to a writer, even one with a
single computer, but especially to one who works on two or more computers.

One drawback: it's free while in beta, but there is NO indication of what
it might cost later on. Because of its business orientation, the price may
be higher than many writers would be willing to pay. The website does
suggest that “personal” accounts will always be free — but I wouldn't
absolutely count on that.

I'm currently paying $50 a year for unlimited storage on Syncplicity,
synchronizing a number of computers. I'm not sure I would pay much more
than that.

I myself however will definitely try it out. I like several features
particularly: the separate virtual “drive,” which can be managed directly
from Windows Explorer; the encryption feature; the invisible sync'ing of
multiple computers. AND I particuarly like the feature that will
automatically ERASE any data on a stolen laptop.

For those who might be interested, you will find the product demo video in
the sidebar to the right for the next few days. Soon the video will scroll
on the bottom of the sidebar video box, but it can be accessed anytime at my
VIDEO FOR WRITERS site at http://phmx.vodpod.com

Comment by
tomdupon
23 Jan 2009

Hi Tom,

Thanks for taking a look at NomaDesk. If you have any questions or remarks, feel free to post them or contact me on tom(dot)dupon(at)aventiv(dot)com.

About the pricing: for a personal fileserver, we'll charge 50 $ / year. For a Team Fileserver, we'll charge $ 15/ month.

There are no limits on the fileserver size or on the individual file size.

Enjoy NomaDesk.

Comment by
tomcolvin
23 Jan 2009

Tom, I've already downloaded and installed NomaDesk. Thanks for your
sharing the anticipated cost of service. I've noted that your personal
fileserver plan will cost $50, the same as what I'm paying now for
Syncplicity's premier plan.

I do see a potential problem for me however. I'm an unusual user, with two
residences half-way around the world from one another, and a laptop that now
serves as on-site backup if my desktop fails. As I read it, I'd need a Team
Fileserver to keep these three machines in sync, perhaps even with three
individual identities. At $15.00 a month, that gets out of my range.

Could you please clarify if my reading of the different plans is correct?
It may be that your service is ideal for small companies with several
offices, but less appropriate for an individual with several computers..

I'd like to add that the installation went very smoothly on my Windows XP,
setting up the virtual drives without a hitch. Those servers are, again,
ideal for small business. But, as an individual, many of the files I backup
are in My Documents on the C: drive. I guess I could set up an automatic
backup from my C: drive onto the new K: drive. I already do something like
that with some of my programs which prefer to keep the data within their own
folder — I just back those folders up to a BACK UP folder on my C; drive
where all data is gathered for easy back up to an online server.

Comment by
tomdupon
23 Jan 2009

Hi Tom,

The case you mentionned is a text-book personal fileserver case: you register an account and create a personal fileserver. You then install Nomadesk on computer 1, 2 and 3 and use the same account to connect to Nomadesk. Creating 3 different accounts is only necessary if you are really sharing data with external parties. The drive will be replicated on the 3 machines (and on our server – this wil serve as a backup or you can use our web interface to access the files directly on our servers) – no need to copy files from your C to K drive, you can work directly on the K.

Kind regards,

Tom

Comment by
Indigo
13 Feb 2010

Hi dude
Thank so much your advice was awesome!!

Can't thank you enough

Indigo : )

Comment by
Dave Felton
20 Feb 2010

I second that. It is a great list. Very nice site to be honest.

Dave

Comment by
tomcolvin
20 Feb 2010

Thanks, Dave. Just visited your website. Was especially pleased to see your post of three Stephen King video clips about his take on writing. Yes,, I agree, seeing and hearing the writer himself beats simple quotes in an article.

Sorry, comments are closed.

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