In some ways, Threadbox looks to me like a simplified, yet still powerful version of Google Wave, which is so complex that even techies have been slow to adopt it.  Here’s the way, Threadbox describes itself:

“Threadbox is a real-time, secure, and shared online workspace to host conversations, store and share files, manage to-do lists, launch on-the-fly conference calls and gather group opinions.

Threadbox is a private, shared workspace for your workgroups, enabling everyone to easily post messages, files, to-do lists,launch conference calls and gather group opinions. Anyone who signs up for a Threadbox account can start a thread, post messages and files, and invite anyone by email. Anyone in the workgroup can post messages, files, etc, online at the thread itself, or by emailing a unique email address for the thread. Email notifications keep everyone updated at all times. Threadbox also provides each user a list of threads they’re on, sorted by activity. Each user can have an unlimited number of threads.”

Threadbox is opening up with a FREE version.  Eventually, it will release a more powerful Pro version, but writers will be unlikely to need the additional power.  There are other similar applications.  If some of my readers request it, I’ll look into many of them and do a comparative analysis to see which are most suited to writers.  Leave a comment below, if you are interested in such coverage.

For more information, read the Threadbox Frequently Asked Questions.  The demo video, of course, gives you a quick run through.

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One way of increasing your productivity while writing is to create a conducive environment.  That goes beyond the physical setting of your computer room.  Writers can create a setting right within one’s computer in two ways:  hide away all the distractions a computer presents, and create a restful aural ambience.

Lifehacker, one of the best productivity blogs on the internet, has discussed these strategies from time to time and has returned to the subject recently.  I’d like to pull the information together here for writers.

AMBIENT SOUND

Some writers, I’m guessing, listen to music while they write.  But this can actually be distracting, unless the music genre is carefully chosen.  Quiet Gregorian chant and very quiet New Age music works for some.  Other writers, especially those in somewhat noisy environments, turn to “white noise,” a steady sheet of sound that helps to cover up the distracting sounds.  Personally, I like sounds of nature as a quiet background.  Here are some free alternatives:

Atmosphere Lite: AtmosphereLite is a free downloadable software that allows a writer to choose from among a range of natural settings, such as oceans, streams, forests and campfire at different times of day.  I’ve been using this for years now.  I love it and can attest to its effectiveness, at least for me, in blanking out distractions.  It encourages me to turn off the TV, and it generally covers up the sound of jangling phones and door bells.

RainyMood: Lifehacker has found a new option.  RainyMood is a website that simply replays a 15-minute loop of a storm whenever one visits the site.  It’s free and no downloads are necessary.

Live365: Another favorite of mine for several years is Live365.  Essentially a catalog of over ten thousand internet radio channels created and uploaded by individuals, the range of niche music and sound is awesome.  If you browse the genres, you will, for example, find 163 different channels of “ambient” music and sound, as well as 13 channels featuring choral music, such as Gregorian chants.  One can listen to most of these channels for free, though the music is occasionally interrupted by an ad.  For ad-free listening, one can join as a VIP member.  The danger with this source is the ease of being drawn into music unconducive to writing.

Simply Noise: For free “white noise,” just go to Simply Noise.  This is especially useful in more public settings with distracting background clatter.  Some writers may even prefer this at home.  There’s something soothing about it.

MORE: For more about the use of ambient sound, read a very full exploration by Lifehacker from several months ago.

DISTRACTION-FREE DESKTOP

Computers offer up so many distractions for writers.  Several developers have come to the rescue with minimalist word processors that offer up a truly blank screen and nothing more.  My previous discussion of DarkRoom and related programs remains relevant.

Creative writers may find Liquid Story Binder, both a word processor and a total writer’s environment, invaluable.  The word processor has a distraction-free interface, and one can line up a playlist of your choice of music to provide the soothing sounds you need.  Read my review.  This program has been updated with additional features, but the review is still accurate on the features described.

And for the Mac, there’s the new OmmWriter.  Watch the video demo in the sidebar [available for the next few days] or at my VIDEO FOR WRITERS collection.  For a full review, check the link in the “Related Articles” below — makes me want to shift over the the Mac OS.

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A demo video, even though a bit dated, covers the software basics and clarifies its organizing concepts.  WATCH the video at the developer’s website.

Developer Peter Molyneux continues to actively add features. I’m buying this updated version on Friday for these new features. You will also find that Peter is very responsive to users who have questions and suggestions.

If you search back through this blog’s archives, you’ll find several discussions about the importance of versioning.   I chuckle when I recall my exchanges a couple years ago with fellow blogger Dustin Wax, as we commiserated about the difficulties of the task.   Peter has now made it simple as pie.  And affordable too!

REMINDER:  Today is DISCOUNT DAY for the screenwriting software Movie Outline 3.  See my announcement from last week.

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TimeGT

I’m most intrigued by the brand new FREE software TimeGT.  Anyone who has tried the Getting Things Done method and failed to keep the system going [hey, that's me!] will be very intrigued with the software.

There’s a clear and fairly thorough review of the software, with screenshots, just posted yesterday at Make Use Of.

To fully appreciate the power, yet simplicity of the program, one really needs to have some understanding of the GTD method.  Essentially all tasks fall into three categories:  Next Actions, Waiting For or Someday/Maybe.  Then one must consider just where these tasks are to be done, or better phrased, in what context:  office, home, computer, telephone, shopping, church are some examples — others might be when energy is high, or energy is low.  TimeGT makes it easy to dump your tasks into the program, to categorize them — and most important, to find them all neatly organized, like all the tasks to be completed at the computer, in one place.

But the program goes beyond that, allowing organization by project, or by area of life, such as romance [never forget to buy that little gift that occurred to you].  And if you need access to the program and data on different computers, TimeGT has a low-cost way to back up and syncronize it among any number of computers.

As a brand new program, it still has some limitations.  I especially look forward to a smartphone app, so that I can dump new tasks into the program even when away from the computer.  Currently, the product lacks good documentation.  BUT there is a brief tutorial video, which you’ll find in this blog’s sidebar for the next few days.  The video is also at my VIDEO FOR WRITERS site and at the TimeGT site as well.  I found that I had to view the video several times to learn how to properly enter data.

TOM’S PLANNER

You may wish to supplement TimeGT with another brand new program, still in beta development.  Tom’s Planner is a facility that I have actually wanted for over three decades!  I learned about GANTT CHARTS way back then, a system developed by people managing huge projects.  I loved the visual simplicity of the charts, but most implementations were way too complicated for the simple projects I was handling.  Moreover, I wanted something that would be able to show several on-going projects simultaneously.

That’s exactly what Tom’s Planner does.  Look at the video in the sidebar — or at my VIDEO FOR WRITERS site if it has already scrolled out of the box.  It’s also available on the application website.  For me, it’s simple to manage, and it makes my multiple projects so visual.

This application is web-based and is still in beta.  To use it, you must set up a beta online account.  There’s no indication yet of the eventual cost of this service.  Usually, those who participate get free use for an extended period or, at the minimum, a nice price discount.

I see this new application as a perfect companion to TimeGT.

LEADER TASK

This suggestion is time sensitive.  Bits du Jour has arranged for a deep one-day-only 75-percent discount on the powerful time and project manager Leader Task Home Edition.  This software takes a much more traditional approach:  calendar, contacts, tasks organizer.  But it adds additional functionality, perhaps too much for a writer — but one doesn’t have to make use of all the features, and at the price, it’s a great deal.  You can check out the deal and download the program for evaluation right away — but purchase must be on Thursday, January 14.  To understand the program, go take a look at all the self-explanatory screenshots.

While somewhat out of date, there is a very, very thorough review at dotTech.  In fact, this is perhaps the best review I’ve ever read about a time and task management software — it’s more like a tutorial about how to organize your life.  I highly recommend that you read it, even if you do not decide to buy the program.

EssemtialPIM

I purchased Leader Task in an earlier Bits du Jour deal and like it.  But I have stuck with a similar though less powerful program EssentialPIM.  There’s a FREE version, which I used for several years.  I eventually upgraded to the PRO version, which adds some useful functionality in tracking Projects.  EssentialPIM is now on version 3, which adds email management.  You can see my review of the free version 2, which is still an accurate description of the program and its capabilities.  In an update review of the PRO version, I include screenshots of how I use the program to manage my projects.

LIQUID STORY BINDER

Bits du Jour has yet another deal for you this week:  a one-day half price discount on Liquid Story Binder.  This is a breathtakingly different program designed just for creative writers.  In fact, it offers more of a “total writer’s environment,” rather than just another word processor.  Again, I’ll rely on my previous review to give you an introduction to the program.  There are a few new, significant features to mention:  mind mapping, full screen editing and a distraction-free typewriter mode.  You can get it on Wednesday only, January 13 for $22.98.

DISCLAIMER:

I have no affiliation with any of these companies.  In fact, I have evaluated either their free version — OR purchased the program at previous discount opportunities.  I personally think highly of all four programs, all of which offer great help in getting organized for 2010.

WRIDEA

Wridea is a new online application to facilitate your own brain-storming — and it allows you to invite others to chip in their ideas too.  One must sign up for an account, but it’s FREE.

I’ve just tried it out and am intrigued.  I can enter my ideas, categorize them, add notes for each idea, set up separate pages for different projects and invite friends to take a look and add their own thoughts.  Pretty neat.

As it happens, I’m working on three projects right now that require collaboration across distances.  I’m therefore beginning to search for powerful, yet inexpensive collaboration tools.  DO YOU HAVE ANY COLLABORATION TOOLS TO RECOMMEND?  Please leave your comments.

The major difficulty I’m finding is that some of my collaborators just never log in to the collaboration site.  Have not yet figured out how to get these people actively involved.

TWELVE POINT — for scriptwriters

TwelvePoint is an online resource center for scriptwriters.  It is jam-packed with information and useful tools.  But it’s NOT FREE.

The site, however, has just issued an invitation for a one-week free trial.  This is an excellent opportunity to see if this site will be helpful to you.  Here’s what the site developer sent me as a teaser:

It’s easy to apply for your free trial. Just email jonquil@twelvepoint.com with ‘free trial’ as the subject and she will contact you with details of how to access the site. Please note, because TwelvePoint.com provides such a wealth of information, you may not apply for more than one free trial a year.”

NOTE:  I’ve accumulated quite a number of links about other collaboration applications below.  If this topic interests you, take a look.  To be honest, I’ve added them for my own reference, but you might have this list useful as well.

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There’s nothing more troublesome than keeping a version history of your major writing projects.  I’ve written about that challenge from time to time in this blog and some months back even recommended this program when it was offered for free on Giveaway of the Day.  Those “giveaways,” however, are good for one-time installation only, and I lost my copy when my hard drive died.  I’m so glad that Bits du Jour is the one offering it now, at an unbelievable 70 percent discount.  The discount is available TODAY ONLY — that’s all day Sunday in the US.  And the program can be re-installed, if necessary — just save your installation file and the user registration code.

The download routine is a little bit quirky.  Once you’ve downloaded the file and click on it, one is asked to download it yet again via the Digital River Download Manager.  Stick with it, and do as instructed.  From this second download file, installation is straight-forward.

The program is added to your start up routine; it adds an icon to your task tray.  It does this so that it can automatically monitor files that you wish to save automatically as the versions progress.  Monitoring can be temporarily disabled by clicking on the tray icon.

The version offered for sale today is 2.1.  Purchase qualifies one for free upgrades for all subsequent 2.x versions.  This will be valuable, as some important new features are scheduled for release as early as this fall.  This program continues under serious development.  Another nice feature:  it can be installed on multiple computers, as long as it is not used simultaneously on two machines.  This is ideal for writers who work on both laptop and desktop — or at office and at home.  The developer is very vigilant about product support, always a plus.

For writers who insist on using freeware, there is a somewhat similar program available called File Hamster.  This program, while designed with graphic designers in mind, works equally well for writers.  As it happens, I just installed it yesterday for evaluation. The free version, however, will not be upgraded any more.  For upgrades, as well as for some useful plug-ins, one has to pay — so the program turns out not to be as “free” as it looks.

I’ll play around with both over the next few weeks.  At first glance though, I’m likely to give the nod to History Explorer, which has an interface that I find more useful.

This free application resides on your own computer.  Entering your books is dead simple, IF the book happens to be in the huge Amazon database.  Just enter the ISBN number, and information about the book is automatically imported if you are online.  You can also add other useful information on your own, such as the physical location of the book.

There’s another similar program called BookCAT, but it’s a shareware program that you must buy.  bookTome should fill the bill for most.

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Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers – Now Online

Each year I look forward especially to the Writer’s Digest Best Websites for Writers list.  Always I find something new and helpful.  Routinely, the list comes out a month or two after appearing in the print edition.  Today I received an alert that this year’s list is finally online.  Check out the 101 Best Sites for Writers for 2009.

Once again, the list provides little coverage of the nuts-and-bolts and productivity side of things.  Still the editors have founda lot of gems.  Over 2000 websites were nominated this year.

Documents To Go — Now Available for iPhone

It seems like Documents To Go, the application that allows one to work with Office documents on one’s handheld device, has been around forever.  I remember using it years ago when I was still carrying around my early Palm Pilot.  Developer DataViz has done an extraordinary keeping the application up to date.  It has now just announced Documents to Go for the iPhone.  It’s available at the Apple iTunes store, along with 50,000 other applications.

ToodleDo:  A ToDo List Worth Doing

I’m a sucker for To Do List applications.  Toss one my way and I’ll certainly take a close look at it.  Few, however, stick around on my own computer.  ToodleDo may win me over — and I certainly recommend it to other writers for at least an evaluation.

ToodleDo is an online ToDo list manager.  What makes it different in my eyes is its underlying power.  Your ToDo List can be as simple as you wish — OR it can pull into one place multiple lists representing every aspect of your life, each tucked away in its own easy-to-access folder.  Moreover, tasks can have subtasks, an essential feature in my view.  Oh, yes, and of course it can be synced up with your – you guessed it – iPhone.

ToodleDo comes in three flavors.  The free version will satisfy most writers, although it lacks the subtasks feature.  The Pro Version [$14.95 a year] may well be worth it to some.  The Pro Plus Version, I think, will not appeal to writers, especially at $29.95 a year.

To help one understand the applications vast array of features, take a look at the product comparison chart.  Probably you will learn just how deficient other To Do List applications really are.

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Up-to-Date Backup Strategies:  I’ve written several times about back up strategies, but the available hardware and software keeps getting better.  For the most up-to-date review of back up strategies, read PC World’s brief how-to article.

The Wealthy Freelancer:  This is a fairly new blog, but already it has carried several posts about the importance of time management to one’s productivity.  This link takes you to those posts.

Author Leo Babauta’s promo strategy:  Babauta offers a free 27-page downloadable e-book in advance of publication of his real book.  Interesting idea to build interest and buzz.

Place a Word Count Button on the Word toolbar:  Dp you like to follow at a glance your accumulating word count?   You can do that relatively easy in Microsoft Word, though it takes a few clicks to do so.  PC World offers instructions on a simple step that will put a word count button right on your Word toolbar, making the check even easier.

Build a Tumblr Website:  I learned about the website platform Tumblr from Kyle Bunch who describes it this way:

Tumblr is the ultimate case of a “so easy, I just can’t NOT use it” apps.  Sure, I’d much rather host my own sites if at all possible…but when Tumblr lets me get a good-looking site with a so-easy-my-dead-aunt-can-use-it CMS from idea to live in a few minutes, I just can’t stop doing it.

If you’ve got a minute, click on the links to get these out.

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How much time do you spend fussing around with your computer, trying to get it to work for you efficiently? If you are like me, too much — and with the added anger that sometimes goes along with it. The December issue of PC World carries an article that will certainly help: 20 Tech Habits That Will Change Your Life. ;You can conveniently find the article online, with all the clickable links for followup.

Personally, I found 14 of the 20 tips to be directly useful to me as a writer juggling too much email, worrying about backing up my files, setting up a thumb drive as my travelling writer’s office and such.

Much to my surprise and delight, I discovered that many of these tips have already been conveyed to you in various posts over the past year. But this article brings them all together in a one convenient location.

Even if you use the online article, you may still wish to buy this issue of PC World on the newsstand. This issue has more of my dog-eared bookmarks than usual — it’s packed with useful information. You may recall a previous post where I wrote that PC World had overtaken PC Magazine in my view as a useful resource for writers. This issue is a good case in point — so much down-to-earth, usable information.

One last observation: I started this blog two years ago as a stimulus to help me learn about how to harness the computer and the internet as a writer. With the blog, I’ve been able to share with you my discoveries. Even more important to me personally, my blog has become my own warehouse of information and bookmarks, all assembled in one place — and I can easily find what I’m looking forward via the Table of Contents in the sidebar or under the archives tab.

With this PC World article, which carries information I’ve already passed on to you, I now realize that in many ways, I’ve accomplished my objective with this blog. That has set me to thinking: where do I go from here? You’ll hear about my assessment and about some new directions over the coming weeks.

NOTE WELL: In the preparation of this post, I just discovered that PC Magazine will henceforth be published online only and that PC World has significantly downsized its staff. That startles and amazes me. These magazines are the most advertiser-packed magazines that I buy, and I therefore assumed they were financially sound.

These developments underscore a sub-theme of this blog: the world is moving online, and writers that don’t acknowledge this reality do so at their peril.

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