Submission Tracking Methods

4


Freelance writers need to track their submissions to print and online publications. I’ve always used a card file, because I could keep it handy on my desk, and the box was not subject to computer crashes or lightning strikes. Thinking I should probably be tracking on the computer instead, I have checked into various ways of tracking submissions electronically. Here’s what I’ve found and what I think about each option.

Microsoft Excel File (Spreadsheet): I set up a table in landscape view with header row containing these labels: Article/Story, Publication, Contact, Word Limit, Pays, Date Sent, Response In (time period stated in guidelines), Number of Pages, Postage (if any), Reply Expected, Responded on (date), Accepted (date), Amount Paid, Date Paid, and Notes. Once my file was set up, I just entered the data for each submission when I sent it out. When I got a reply, I’d update the listing. This works pretty well for tracking your income for the year as well as keeping up with your submissions, but you have to know how to use the spreadsheet software. Continue reading →

New Year, New Computer Stuff

Posted on by
Reply


Online groups and some blogs have alerted me to potential security problems with Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 (which I really liked), so I have switched to Mozilla Firefox Web browser. Some of my friends were already using Firefox, having been told that it was more secure than IE.

I switched a couple of weeks ago, and, so far, Firefox is fine. I do think it’s a little faster than IE. The bookmark process is different, so I had a bit of a learning curve there. On IE7, I used the Favorites menu feeds feature to track my RSS feeds. I didn’t immediately find a similar feature on Mozilla, so I just transferred all my feeds to Google Reader. If you have Gmail, you don’t need a new password to use Reader.

I spent my Christmas cash on MS Office 2007 Small Business, so I now have the latest versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook. Another learning curve! I still haven’t found all my favorite commands on Word. I tried importing my RSS feeds into Outlook, but I didn’t like it as much as I like Google Reader. The updating process seemed to slow down my e-mail delivery. With Google Reader, I can stay logged in as long as I’m online and check periodically for updates.

Also, I got a Bamboo Fun input device for Christmas. I’ve installed it and fiddled around with it some, but I’m still really in the dark as to what this gadget will do for me. More on that later, I guess.

Following Blogs

Reply


Today, I decided to count the number of blogs I’m currently following. The total number is 41! And it doesn’t take as much time as you might think.

If you are a writer, there are some publishing industry blogs that you really should follow. I won’t share my entire list, but here are the ones I find most valuable for myself as a Christian writer.

Sally Stuart (Christian Writers’ Market Guide): http://stuartmarket.blogspot.com/

Jim Watkins (Author, Editor, Speaker): http://jameswatkins.wordpress.com/

Terry Whalin (Author, Agent): http://terrywhalin.blogspot.com/

Michael Hyatt (CEO Thomas Nelson Publishing): http://www.michaelhyatt.com/fromwhereisit/

Christian Authors Network: http://canblog.typepad.com/canbookmarketing/

Some of my other favorites are:

Lawrence Wilson (Wesleyan Publishing House): http://www.lawrencewilson.com/index.htm

Ron Ovitt’s Devotional Blog: http://devog.wordpress.com/

Jerry Brecheisen: http://brecksong.com/

When I talk to other writers about following blogs, they often ask me how I find time to follow so many. I use the feeds feature in Internet Explorer 7 favorites menu. There’s a tour of the feature on the Microsoft site. What I really like about this method is that I can see my whole list of blogs at once. The blog names that have updated material appear in bold type. I check my favorites first, and, if I run out of time, I come back later to check the others. Information on how Mozilla Firefox’s readers are here.

If you use an older version of Internet Explorer, you should be able to upgrade to IE7 on the Microsoft site. I don’t use Mozilla Firefox myself, so I don’t know whether you can upgrade from older versions or not.

The only downside of following blogs on your Web browser is that you can’t access your list from other computers. Next post, I’ll discuss some of the online feed aggregators I’ve tried.

Meanwhile, feel free to comment on this post and share any knowledge you might have on this subject. I invite you to subscribe, too.

What Is a Wired Writer?

Reply


I thought a “wired writer” was a writer who was well-connected…to the Internet, I mean. It’s a writer who has e-mail and knows how to use it, who also knows his/her way around the Web. Maybe it could also refer to writers who are so out of practice journaling by hand that they can no longer read their own writing. I suppose it could refer to a writer whose “posterior” is wired to their office chair.

I first encountered the term on the Web site of Jim Watkins, popular writers’ conference speaker, writer, editor, humorist, and threat to society (his words). Jim is wired to the hilt, because his Web site/blog contains a wealth of information on writing and using the Internet to enhance the same.

It comes as no surprise that a genuine wired writer spends a lot of time on the computer. Now, I find out that there’s a condition known as Wired Writer’s Syndrome. See Absolute Write Web site for a complete definition. I think I may be showing symptoms.

According to Absolute Write, a wired writer is well on his/her way to publishing success. If you aren’t wired to write, it’s time to remedy that. Whether you write for personal reasons or for publication, you’ll be able to organize and disseminate your writing better if you’re wired.

Websites for Writers: Web-site Builders

Posted on by
Reply


Most writers wanting to be published need to have some type of site or blog to establish their online presence. Most also want to minimize the cost. I wanted to research what’s available either free or at minimal cost, so I started by analyzing my own situation and looking for what’s best for me. I learned a lot along the way, and I’ll share what I learned in the next couple of posts.

To do your own site, you need hosting and you need software to design your site. I have been designing and updating my own site for several years using Microsoft Front Page 2000. My initial cost for the software was substantial at the time, but I have not updated it since…well…2000, and it still does what I need. I use http://www.ezchristianhosting.com/ at $4.95 a month, and I have never had a problem with the site being down or with their support. Most of the time, support gets my problem solved within a couple of hours. The only times that it has taken longer than that were when there was a wait time for the servers to update certain processes.

I’ve been envious of some other writers, though, who have their sites professionally designed. Examples: Mary Yerkes, Ginny Smith, Cecil Murphey.

So, I decided to check out the website builder offered by EZ Christian Hosting. They offer a 10- day free trial, so I took them up on the offer. The designs they offer are awesome, just what I thought I wanted, but I had trouble finding a theme I thought would be good for a writer-editor. Also, I realized I wouldn’t have as much flexibility with my layout with the site-builder. If I chose to convert my site to their web-builder plan, I would be paying $17 a month rather than $4.95. I do highly recommend taking a free trial, though. And, if you don’t have design software on your computer, you will have to use a web-builder or buy software.

With Vistaprint, you can start out at $4.95 a month for a 3-page site and upgrade to higher-priced plans depending on your needs.

My trial at Vistaprint is good for 30 days, so I’ll have to take it down by September 10th, because I’ve decided to stick with my current arrangement and learn how to better utilize my software. I’ve redesigned my site from the ground up. It’s not finished, but take a look: http://www.emilyakin.com/.

Blogger vs. WordPress

Posted on by
Reply


For my first blog, I chose Blogger because I knew someone who used it, and I thought it would be easy to get help from my friend if the Help file was not adequate.

I’ve noticed many other writers like WordPress or Typepad. My primary criterion was that the blog service be free. Next, I wanted it to be easy to use…”intuitive” in Geek-speak. Typepad costs, or at least it did when I was doing my evaluation, so I didn’t even consider trying it.

I’ve decided to stay with Blogger after experimenting with WordPress. Although WordPress does have features that Blogger doesn’t, I think Blogger is easier to use and has more features that I want for my purposes. There’s plenty of help available through the regular Help channel and there’s a blog on using Blogger, too.

I’ve done some research on what others think about this subject. Here’s some info that helped me make my decision.

http://pulsed.blogspot.com/2007/07/blogger-wordpress-chart.html

http://www.jonbishop.org/2008/05/blogger-vs-wordpress/

Many writers are using blogs in lieu of a Web site to promote their work. I’m not sure it’s a good substitute, but it’s working for some people.