{"id":2207,"date":"2013-06-19T10:09:47","date_gmt":"2013-06-19T14:09:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/?p=2207"},"modified":"2013-06-19T10:09:47","modified_gmt":"2013-06-19T14:09:47","slug":"technical-tools-for-writers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/technical-tools-for-writers\/","title":{"rendered":"Technical Tools for Writers"},"content":{"rendered":"

What in the world do I mean by \u201ctechnical tools\u201d for writers?<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are many possible tools a writer might use, including a dictionary, a thesaurus and a desk (either standing or sitting) and chair or large ball, but that’s not what I’m talking about here.<\/p>\n

Technical tools include: a typewriter or one or many computers with text editing or word processing software installed, a digital tape recorder, a mobile or land-line telephone, a camera, an e-reader, digital pens and transcription software.<\/p>\n

Typewriter or one or many computers<\/h2>\n

\"typewriter\"<\/a>I suppose you could write with a pencil or pen and a piece of paper, but you wouldn\u2019t be able to distribute your work very easily.<\/p>\n

Some writers still use only typewriters and then secretaries scan or retype their work into a typewriter. That\u2019s particularly old school, but it works.<\/p>\n

Most of us have one or more computers with text editing or word processing software installed. I have a desktop computer, because I prefer typing on a Microsoft Natural Ergonomic keyboard.<\/p>\n

Check out the one I have here:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/hardware\/en-us\/p\/natural-ergonomic-keyboard-4000<\/a><\/p>\n

It hurts my wrists and elbows less than other keyboards.<\/p>\n

I also still use my first laptop computer, which at this point is more of a luggable. It still works well, so I even replaced the battery on it recently, even though my husband said it was a waste of time and I should have invested in something new instead. I hate change, so I\u2019m resisting a bit longer.<\/p>\n

Just for interest sake, it\u2019s a Toshiba Satellite A40 in a \u201ccool blue design.\u201d<\/p>\n

Check it out at: http:\/\/www.toshiba.ca\/web\/product.grp?lg=en&section=1&group=223&product=2590&part=2190<\/a><\/p>\n

Wordprocessing Software<\/h2>\n

I use Word, Open Office Writer and Wordpad frequently.<\/p>\n

Printer\/Scanner<\/h2>\n

I used to have a separate scanner and printer, but now I have a Lexmark all-in-one that includes a fax and copy machine too. I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d use those features, but they both came in handy once when a client didn\u2019t have email. (Who doesn\u2019t have email these days?)<\/p>\n

Digital tape recorder<\/h2>\n

I used to use a Sony digital recorder, but it was a pain to transfer interviews so I switched to a Roland Edirol R-09, which I absolutely adore. If you need a tape-recorder, this one works great. Note: some people have broken the door for the battery and SIM card compartment, but I\u2019ve had mine for years now and that hasn\u2019t happened yet. (Crossing my fingers as I type this, which is quite a trick.)<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a link to the product:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.rolandus.com\/products\/details\/757<\/a><\/p>\n

(I have the red one.)<\/p>\n

SIM Cards<\/h2>\n

I forgot to mention SIM Cards. I need them for my tape recorder and my camera. It\u2019s good to stock up.<\/p>\n

Mobile or land-line telephone<\/h2>\n

My mobile phone is a Samsung Galaxy that runs on Android. Love it\u2014although I had to invest in software to transfer tasks and meetings from Outlook. It was worth it.<\/p>\n

My home phone is an Uniden. It\u2019s fine.<\/p>\n

Headset for computer and telephone<\/h2>\n

Again, I have three. Haven\u2019t found one I like yet.<\/p>\n

Camera<\/h2>\n

I have a Sony digital handheld camera model DSC-H5 and a video camera too, but these days I tend to just use the camera and video functions on my phone. (My photography and video skills suck though, so don\u2019t copy me.)<\/p>\n

E-reader<\/h2>\n

I adore my Kobo. It became even more useful after I downloaded Adobe Digital Editions onto my desktop so that I could read PDFs on the little thing.<\/p>\n

Digital pen<\/h2>\n

People rave about these, but I haven\u2019t tried them yet.<\/p>\n

Transcription software<\/h2>\n

Ditto.<\/p>\n

What tools do you rely on?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What in the world do I mean by \u201ctechnical tools\u201d for writers? There are many possible tools a writer might use, including a dictionary, a thesaurus and a desk (either standing or sitting) and chair or large ball, but that’s not what I’m talking about here. Technical tools include: a typewriter or one or many […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_wp_convertkit_post_meta":{"form":"-1","landing_page":"0","tag":"0","restrict_content":"0"},"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2207","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-journalism","post-wrapper","thrv_wrapper"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2buQs-zB","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2260,"url":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/typical-writer-dilemmas\/","url_meta":{"origin":2207,"position":0},"title":"Typical Writer Dilemmas","author":"Tracey Arial","date":"June 25, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"What kind of writer are you right now? \u00a0 The answer to that question sometimes determines how you will act. Each of us encompasses many types of writers. If you can take on the identity of a different kind of writer, even temporarily, sometimes you can eliminate writer's block or\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Journalism"","block_context":{"text":"Journalism","link":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/category\/writing\/notable-nonfiction\/journalism\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"typewriter","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/typewriter.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":303,"url":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/blogging-combines-publisher-and-writer-roles-into-one\/","url_meta":{"origin":2207,"position":1},"title":"Blogging Combines Publisher and Writer Roles into One","author":"Tracey Arial","date":"May 1, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"A writer friend mentioned on a listserve today that she plans to blog every day this month as part of the 2012 Blogathon, a contest set up by reporter and editor Michelle V. Rafter. \"Is anyone here participating in the 2012 Blogathon?\" So, in a moment of inspiration, I decided\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "History Worth Remembering"","block_context":{"text":"History Worth Remembering","link":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/category\/history-worth-remembering\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Word Processing System","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/wang2200.jpeg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2050,"url":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/why-themes\/","url_meta":{"origin":2207,"position":2},"title":"Why Themes?","author":"Tracey Arial","date":"June 2, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Using themes to organize writing is an old idea, but as our world gets more complex, they are even more important now than ever before. The word themes might be confusing to bloggers because it often refers to a type of software application that\u00a0indicates how a blog will look on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Journalism"","block_context":{"text":"Journalism","link":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/category\/writing\/notable-nonfiction\/journalism\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"typewriter","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/typewriter.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2266,"url":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/website-tools-for-writers\/","url_meta":{"origin":2207,"position":3},"title":"My Three Favourite Website Tools for Writers","author":"Tracey Arial","date":"June 26, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"There are lots of different possible website tools for writers. Here are the three I use most. Google Almost everything I want to do can be done via Google, from searches to word translation. I particularly like Scholar, that allows me to search academic papers and Books to search through\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Journalism"","block_context":{"text":"Journalism","link":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/category\/writing\/notable-nonfiction\/journalism\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2072,"url":"https:\/\/traceyarial.com\/blog\/en\/blogging-via-wordpress\/","url_meta":{"origin":2207,"position":4},"title":"Blogging Via WordPress a Grand Adventure","author":"Tracey Arial","date":"June 3, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Blogging seems like a straightforward thing for a writer to do, but I didn't find it easy to begin. The technical gibberish around the industry seemed too dense to navigate. It took years of consideration before this site was created. Now, I don't understand what took me so long. 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