What could be worse than losing all of your carefully crafted work? Here are 5 ways to protect yourself against that happening.
Read MoreWith apologies to Edvard Munch
How to
The iCloud.com dashboard
A big problem with iCloud
in Handy hints, How to
If you use the Notes app on an Apple device like an iPad, and wish to access your notes from an Android device, such as an HTC smartphone, here's a work-around.
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Most printers double up (or triple up) as scanners and photocopiers as well these days.
How to scan a document into a pdf file
in How to
How to get a paper document into a digital (pdf) version -- and how to correct it if it comes out upside down.
Read MoreCheck the readability of your writing
Check the readbility of your writing with this free online tool.
Read More5 minute tip: get more from your battery
If you use a device like a phone, laptop or netbook, here's a handy tip to help you enjoy more writing time between battery charges.
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What I've been reading: Something nasty in the slush pile
How should you pitch a publisher with your book proposal? Or, to look at this another way, how should you not do so? This book answers that question.
Read More10 ways to find illustrations for your writing projects
in Photography, How to
Where can you find good photographs with which to illustrate your blog articles? This post provides the answer!
Read MoreReview of Help! for Writers
Writers' block is just one of many writerly ills. In this book, Roy Peter Clark offers over 200 practical tips.
Read More7 Ways to improve your writing
in How to
Every craftsperson should work on improving their craft. So, how do you become a better writer? These are the things I’ve found to be very useful. I hope you do too.How to display your word count
in How to, Technology
I am not sure if displaying one’s word count is a good idea or not. On the one hand, you are publicly committing yourself to writing, because if your word count remain static then it appears to everyone that you are not doing anything. On the other hand, appearing not to be doing any writing could be quite embarrassing.Backing up your Wordpress blog
in How to
It’s a good idea to keep backups of your day-to-day documents, so it makes sense to back up your blog too. In this short series I’m looking at ways to do that. Last time I covered how to back up your blog if you use Blogger, in the article Backing up your Blogger blog. Today, I’ll take you through the process of backing up a blog if you use Wordpress.Backing up your Blogger blog
in Handy hints, How to
What can be worse than losing your beautifully-crafted prose that you’ve published as blog posts? In this short series I’m looking at how you you can try to guard against the inconceivable happening. Today, I’m looking at Blogger. If you have a blog using the Blogger platform, then here’s how to back it up.Backing up your website or blog
in Handy hints, How to
The word “paranoid” is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as
“exhibiting unnecessary or extreme fear; characterized by unreasonable or excessive suspicion of others.”
Well, you know the old joke: Just because you're paranoid i doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you!
In a similar sort of way, I don’t think there is anything “unreasonable” in being paranoid about losing the content on your website.
Handwriting on the web
So, you’d like to use a handwriting font on your website or blog? It’s pretty easy, but you ought to think about the impression you want to create. And perhaps use it sparingly, unlke in this article.Further thoughts on using Word for Desktop Publishing: Frames
If you have the occasional desktop publishing to do, or if you only require a sort of limited desktop publisher or simply don’t have the time to learn a whole new program, Word will do fine. But, to borrow from Clint Eastwood, a program’s got to know its limitations. In the article Using Word for desktop publishing, I noted that text boxes are good for enabling you to place text anywhere. Furthermore, you can link text boxes, so that if text outgrows its text box, you can make it flow on to another one.Using Word for desktop publishing
in How to, Technology, Word
Can Word be used for desktop publishing? The answer is yes — but only as a last resort. Here’s a summary of my recent experience.
Read MoreOrganising yourself
in How to, Technology
The biggest problem facing the would-be writer is getting commissions. I think we all know what it’s like to receive rejection slips. Some of us could even paper our walls with them. The second biggest problem is how to organise yourself to not miss a deadline once you do start to get commissions. The best way, I’ve found, is to use a spreadsheet.Mind your language! Crosswordese
If, like me, you have a love of language, you should explore the strange world of the cryptic crossword. Unlike the plain crossword, the cryptic variety requires more than providing a synonym for a word or phrase. Rather, it involves working out what the clue is getting at.
That sounds much more difficult than the task facing you in an ordinary crossword, doesn't it? In fact, much of the time it's easier, for one simple reason.
Combining different versions of a document
Suppose you’re in this position: you have created a document. You have sent it to someone else for their comments or to edit it. They have now sent it back to you, but in the meantime you have made some changes to your original. How are you going to sort out this mess?!
If you and your colleague have been using Microsoft Word, then you don’t have a problem. All you need to do is use the Combine Documents feature.
How to create a magazine cover
I have always liked presenting ideas in the form of a magazine cover. It can act as a stimulating writing prompt for other people, and it can also serve to help you focus on some key ideas. But most of all, it’s just enjoyable in its own right!