Shared Creation Projects

This time we’re talking about where and how to write for the Internet.

Well where is easy - any where you feel comfortable. It really is that simple. When you are writing for the Internet you need to write material that is personal, passionate, contemporary and compelling. This sounds like an impossible combination. It’s not. To achieve this the writing has to flow, and for the writing to flow you need to be in the moment. That means writing as the inspiration hits you. Inspiration can come at any time and any where. So be prepared to make notes at a moments notice. This is good. It means you’re removing the task of writing and replacing it with just note taking.

To do this remember the tools of working in the moment are everywhere. To make notes remember the old standard of pen and paper and the new standard of the mobile phone. Phones are pretty useful things. You can take photographs to remind you. Make notes to read, use the phone as a dictaphone with a voice recorder or if the phone is fairly smart - it makes a good notepad as well. Of course you could be actually in front of the computer when the idea seeds. This means that you need to instantly access something to write with. You should check out Scribefire - a Firefox extension that is a great note taker and blogging editor or something like Evernote. Evernotes beauty is simply that it stores your notes in the cloud. Meaning you can start your note on any computer you have access to and finish it any other computer you have access to. Giving a nice and easy workflow.

Ok so thats a few notes on the where. Where being anywhere so long as inspiration is with you. Now for the how.

How means you need something to write with. For Internet use avoid Microsoft Word. You don’t need most of its features - or the dubious code it generates. Word is better for other jobs. Not that this means Microsoft is down and out. If you run Windows then check out Live Writer. It is a first class blogging tool. If you’re not on Windows then check out Scribefire (turning into a favourite this), or perhaps one of the online writing tools. If you are writing online its not a bad idea to store your prepare your writing online. Take a look at Google Docs or Adobe Buzzword. Both are fine Word Processors. Alternatively you try out a virtual computer such as g.ho.st.

There are of course plenty of other alternatives. Whats import is that your tool is easy to use, feels right to you and be inserted into a blog entry with the minimum of fuss and bother.

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