Do you ever write “how to” books or articles? How do you go about structuring your material? Have you ever tackled something like this which required a lot of research? Or do you limit your “how to” writing to something you’ve actually done and have experience at?
I suspect the best “how to” stuff is grounded in experience in most cases. If I had to repair or install ceramic tile in my kitchen or bathroom, I would feel more confident following instructions from someone I knew had installed or repaired it. I would, of course, expect lots of pictures — and I would be very happy to watch a video or two, too.
I am confident as a writer that I could create a quality “how to” on just about any topic or procedure, if I had quality materials and people to help me with the research. But I would still feel as though I were “faking it” if it were something I had not done myself.
What about you? Have you written any “how to” stuff you’re especially pleased with?
Some days I have to be honest — instead of writing something, I have more fun just playing around in the collection of “writing tools” I have in my writer’s toolbox. I’m talking about the goodies and gadgets available out there to make writing easier and quicker for us as writers — but things that too often distract us from writing.
The first really “high-tech” sort of writing tool I ever owned was a small portable computer I bought from a friend. This was a machine made just BEFORE the earliest usable Windows software. It used WordPrefect 5.1 for DOS. (Anyone else remember that wonderful, fast piece of word processing software?) I did own a desktop computer prior to that little wonder, but it used the — you ready for this one?? — dual 5 1/4 inch floppy diskettes. Yeah, those were the biggies and they were extremely unreliable and fragile. When I got the portable computer from my buddy, I moved up in technology to the old reliable (?) 3 1/2 inch disks that were standard for computers for a couple of decades.
That little computer wasn’t nearly as good, or reliable, or filled with features and software as the humblest refurbished laptop would be today. But I really loved the little gem. (It was some early model made by Sharp Electronics, I think.) I suppose I made something like $3,500-$4,000 doing freelance writing assignments with that little machine. One day I booted it up — and nothing happened. It had died quietly overnight. Never did figure out why.
Nowadays I have an aging but still pretty high-end Toshiba laptop that I’ve pounded until the letters are starting to wear dim on several of the keys. It still has a nice, bright display on the LCD and probably will last me many more years. But I confess I love to play with writing tools like laptops, desktops, and even some texting with phones — and some days, playing with the tools is a wonderful distraction from the writing I know I need to get done.
Ah, well. If you never suffer such distractions from your writing, I admire your self-discipline. I don’t know whether I really BELIEVE you, but I admire your self-discipline anyway.
This is sort of a question I ask periodically on my blogs, especially this blog since it relates to writers and writings more than my other blogs: Any tips for really good, REALLY cheap insurance solutions for freelancers?
I’ve moaned and groaned several times about the difficulties of finding affordable health insurance. Anyone doing well at that? And putting aside all the volatile ideas currently crowding the media about health care reform — any of you have suggestions about good, REALLY cheap life insurance?
Standard wisdom about life insurance in the past was always to check term life insurance rates FIRST, then consider whole life if you only wanted to spend more money. I honestly have no idea anymore about all the benefits, advantages, disadvantages of whole life vs. term life. I don’t know, at my age, how much the whole debate really matters.
So, I’m just throwing the general topic out there: any cheap insurance options you know of for freelancers and others who have no access to employer/employee group policies? Leave a comment and let us all know.
