News And Updates
I don’t replace my keyboards because they’ve stopped working. I relpace them because they’re so disgustingly filthy they’re beyond all hope.
I have a bad habit of snacking at my desk, working through lunch with a sandwich at my side, spilling coffee droplets, cookie crumbs, etc. Once, when I was still working in an office, I even spilled an entire mug full of tea with honey onto my keyboard. All of the keys got stuck.
The other week, my husband bought me a laptop, which was just about the most exciting thing ever in the world. (He’s so good with gifts; last year, he got me a GPS for my car and, the year before that, my Nikon D40X.)
It meant that I could be mobile…if only I had something to carry it in.
I’ve raved about my Nikon D40X in the past. About how — even for non-photographers — having a good camera can be invaluable when it comes to blogging, marketing materials, and more.
Now that I’ve unearthed my husband’s dust-covered tripod and used it to shoot some photos for an upcoming blog post over at Nerve, I’d like to rave about that as well.
I’ll admit it.
I only wanted my husband to get his laptop fixed so that I would never have to leave the cozy safety of my bed ever again.
I loved propping up several pillows behind my back, setting up the small breakfast-in-bed tray, and writing, tweeting, and surfing Etsy to my heart’s content. It was relaxing, and appealed to my inherent laziness.
So it drove me crazy that he was taking his sweet old time replacing his laptop’s defunct power cable.
Then he presented me with an early birthday gift, and suddenly the possibility afforded by mobility seemed limitless!
[$18 for set of 3, Etsy]
I carry a polka-dotted notebook in my purse at all times. There is a collection of moleskines on my desk. And I have the NiteNote tucked away in a drawer underneath my bed.
But that’s not all. In my hall closet, there is a large plastic container filled entirely with blank notebooks, some purchased in various B&Ns and stationery shops…most gifted to me by those who are aware of my enduring notebook love.
You’d think that would be enough to last me a lifetime, but I’m always on the lookout for something new, cute, and small enough to fit in my purse.
Which is why I’m digging these Bright Ideas pocket notebooks on Etsy. Because lord knows I could use a few more bright ideas.
[Via Design Dish]
Related: Product Placement: NiteNote, Product Placement: Freelancedom Survival Kit
Just a week ago, I linked to my review of the Peek Pronto over at the Modern Materialist.
I had been eager to review it as an alternative to the iPhone or BlackBerry but, in the end, I found it wanting.
In fact, I even went off on a minor rant on how having such a device made me feel more immobile, rather than mobile.
I know that not all of us have this problem, though, which is why I’m trying to reach out to all of you smartphone users in a different way.
After the jump, 5 reasons you shouldn’t spend money on a smartphone:
I was thrilled to have a chance to review the Peek Pronto. Loath to spend money on a smartphone, the cheaper plan for this standalone e-mail device seemed ideal.
In the end, though, even that small cost proved to be not worth it.
Head over here to see my full review.
I’ve already written in the past about the importance of being prepared. A huge part of that for me has been the greedy consumption of books: how-tos, self-helps, career guides, etc.
I’ve read so many that I think it’s about time for a roundup. After the jump, the 20 books that helped me build my freelance life…and that could very well help you too!
[RCA Rp5022 64 Mb Voice Recorder With Usb, $19.98, Amazon]
[Olympus TP-7 Telephone Recording Device, $17.71, Amazon]
I’ve been doing a lot of interviews lately and, to get the job done, I’ve been using the items above.
My voice recorder (new versions are available) has a ton of storage place, allows me to place markers within my sound files, and includes a USB port for uploading to my computer. My telephone recording device also works like a charm, one end plugging into my recorder, the other going into my ear, allowing me to record all of my telephone interviews. Both of them being quite cheap, I’d recommend them to any writer on a budget.
But once the interviews are done, the worst part still remains: transcribing.
After the jump, a few resources for those who wish transcribing could be easier, or for those who’d like to outsource it altogether!
I blogged about this for Modern Materialist earlier today, and thought some of you might be interested.
As a writer, I find myself spending a lot of time staring at a blank screen. And then, at night, when I’m supposed to be shutting my brain down, ideas start coming fast and furious.
My husband hates this.
Every time I think of something new, I have to lean all the way over and turn the bedside lamp, so I can jot down my idea. Then I turn the lamp off again. Then I lie there tossing and turning and think of something new. I lean over. I turn on my bedside lamp. I start scribbling. And on and on.
Then, Michael brought this home: