Labor Day weekend begins tomorrow (for some), and I am happy to say that I am heading to relaxation and fun before becoming the “Diva” of time management and organization once again.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Labor Day weekend! Remember, working and relaxing are two things that need to coexist in order for you to remain sane.

September 3, 2010 – =O

September 3, 2010

September 2, 2010

September 2, 2010

September 2, 2010

September 3, 2010 – Great story

September 2, 2010 – No, look at Eragon

September 2, 2010

September 2, 2010

September 2, 2010

September 1, 2010

September 2, 2010

September 1, 2010

September 1, 2010

September 1, 2010

August 31, 2010

August 31, 2010

August 31, 2010

August 31, 2010

August 31, 2010

It’s the last week of summer vacation.  Even though it’s been a great summer, I think the kids and I are ready for school to begin. With the end of summer and the beginning of school, I also readjust my work schedule. In the summer, I work in the early mornings and late evenings because the days are filled with kid activities. We’ve gone to the beach, pool a bunch of times, camps, zoos, museums, and the list keeps going. It has definitely been a summer to remember.  As we all know, all good things must come to an end, so it’s time to head back to my “normal” schedule.

With the kids in school, I’ll have time to begin writing more than ever and network like a pro. Fall is my favorite season, so that helps as well.

I hope that everyone had a lovely summer.  What exciting things did you do?

August 26, 2010

August 27, 2010

August 27, 2010

August 26, 2010 – A group of 33 miners trapped 700m underground in Chile has been told they may not be rescued until Christmas. =O

August 26, 2010

August 26, 2010

August 26, 2010

August 26, 2010

August 26, 2010 – Knew that was the next step

August 26, 2010

August 26, 2010

August 25, 2010

August 25, 2010

August 25, 2010

August 25, 2010 – Police had an easy job identifying a naked couple who broke into a house and filmed themselves having sex – because they left the camera behind when they fled.

August 25, 2010

August 25, 2010

August 25, 2010

August 25, 2010

August 24, 2010

It seems that lately I have been writing brochures, left and right. Brochures are a public relations piece that could really aid your organization, whether it be for profit or not. You could use brochures to bring awareness for a cause that you hold close to you heart, or sell your services/products. I created this video to give you some pointers to help you write an effective brochure.

To check out my other videos, please click here.

I have revamped my Facebook Page and Twitter site.  I wanted to make it a little bit more me.  I have been slowly learning more about FBML and applications that will aid you in creating a custom Facebook page. I recently used Pagemodo and Miproapps after reading a TechCrunch post about it.  They are both great applications, so you can’t go wrong with either one.

When it comes to Twitter, I love the artistic backgrounds that Tweetygotback provides. You can create your own custom Twitter background, and there are tons of guides out there to help you do that.  However, if you find one that is already great in itself, why not use it?

What are the applications that you use to create your Facebook Page and Twitter profile? Or do you start from scratch?

I am currently freelancing since the kids are on summer vacation. School is starting soon, and the kids will not be home for the majority of the day. It’s been making me wonder if I should consider getting a contracting position. I plan on buying a bigger place next summer, and with that, I want to save some money before making that giant leap. My freelance writing career is picking up, but there are some things that I miss about going into an office. With these thoughts, I can’t help but wonder what are the pros and cons of freelancing and contracting?

Before I get into the pros and cons, I want to tell you what I think is he difference between freelancing and contracting. For me, freelancing is when you work from home and are not on anyone’s time. You have different clients, and you usually work on a 1099 form. You wear different hats because you are your own marketing, technology, human resource, and everything else department. With contracting, you are usually dedicating your time to one client, work on a W-2 form, and you only focus on your area of expertise.

Here are my pros and cons for each one:

Contracting Pro: You have the ability to socialize with others

A freelancer’s life can be a pretty lonely one. You don’t work with anyone else, so unless you leave your home, you don’t have the ability to socialize. Humans are social creatures, so it can sometimes drive you a little batty. As a contractor, you have to work with other people, so this means you have time to be social.  Companies try to keep morale up by hosting several events, when you are contracting, you will be able to attend those.

Freelancing Pro: No one is clocking your time

When you are freelancing, you have the ability to set your own schedule. I read this time management book called Time Management from the Inside Out, Second Edition: The Foolproof System for Taking Control of Your Schedule — and Your Life. In it, Mortgensen discusses how you should set your schedule to your biorhythm. Not everyone has the same one. This is why a 9-5 job doesn’t work for everyone.  I am a night owl, so I usually are ready to work from 4:00 p.m. onward. I love the freedom to decide when to work. I feel that as long as I get eight hours (or more) in during the day, no one should tell me when to work.

Contracting Pro: You have access to expensive applications and tools

One of the great things about contracting for a company is that you are able to work with all the applications that are probably to expensive for you to have on your personal computer. This is a plus because you are able to learn how to use these applications without having to pay for it yourself.

Freelancing Pro: You can download whatever you want

In the majority of the offices you encounter, you are not allowed to download whatever you want on your computer systems.  It can be really annoying at times, but it’s understandable because if you download the wrong things, you can cause major upheaval on the computer’s network.

Contracting Pro: You get to dress up

There are times that you want to get all dolled up and get out of the house. When you go into an office, you can.  Whether it’s business casual or business formal attire, you are able to get out of the sweats and look your best.  Wearing a great outfit can definitely boost up your morale.

Freelancing Pro: You get to dress down

However, sometimes you really don’t feel like getting into those high heels and skirt. When you are freelancing, you are able to slip on your slippers and your sweats, and work while you are comfortable. I tend to dress up even though no one is going to see me because then I can feel my best while I am still at home.

Regardless of whether freelancing or contracting is right for you, there are pros and cons for each one. You have to decide what is right for you.  I think that I would consider a contracting position with one company if they were flexible, allowed telecommuting, and I was able to learn something I had never learned before. Until I find that, I will keep loving the freedom I have as a freelancer.

Photo Credit: Office Space…sith?, originally uploaded by MrMeanMustard.

August 19, 2010 – Yes

August 19, 2010

August 19, 2010 – Doubtful

August 19, 2010

August 19, 2010

August 19, 2010

August 19, 2010

August 19, 2010

August 19, 2010

August 19, 2010

August 19, 2010 – Isn’t this what many people use?

August 19, 2010

August 19, 2010

August 19, 2010

August 18, 2010

August 19, 2010

August 19, 2010

August 19, 2010 – Not good

August 18, 2010

August 18, 2010

Technical writing can get pretty expensive. You have to have applications that will help you in writing technical documentation and proposals, creating flowcharts of all kinds, modifying and manipulating images, and the list keeps going. The applications, like Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and Visio, usually come with a hefty price. Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to sacrifice the quality if your technical documentation and proposals without having to pay $500 for an application? I have found some open source or free alternatives to the expensive applications that you will need for technical writing. I have listed the five main ones here:

1. Office Suite

Everyone needs an office suite that allows you to write documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. This is regardless if you are in the technical writing field or not. People usually think of Microsoft Office when they want a word-processing software. NeoOffice and OpenOffice are great alternatives without the price. Like Microsoft Office, NeoOffice and OpenOffice have everything you need to write and develop documentation, spreadsheets, presentations, etc. I prefer NeoOffice, but it’s only for Mac. However, both applications can get the job done. The great thing about both is that there are tons of templates on their web sites. Furthermore, you are able to download the templates from the Microsoft site, and open them in both applications (I’ve done that a few times). One thing to remember is that people are still using the Microsoft extensions, like *.doc, *.xls, *.ppt. Therefore, you have to remember to convert your documentation into those extensions instead of the extensions used in NeoOffice and OpenOffice.

2. Creative Suite

Even though the graphic design is left for the graphic designers, Technical Writers usually need to have some knowledge on image editing and manipulation. Adobe is well known for their Creative Suite, which includes Photoshop and Illustrator.  The suite is extremely expensive. It is definitely worth it if you have the money, but if you don’t, then you can just keep on dreaming. If this sounds like you, then you should check out Aviary. Aviary is an online creative suite that allows you to do almost everything you could do using the Adobe Creative Suite. A great addition is if you use Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome, Aviary has extensions that you can use to manipulate images that you find online. It also includes a screen capture application as well. If you want a more in-depth review of the Aviary online creative suite, then click here to check out what I wrote when I was writing for the awesome tech blog MakeTechEasier.

3. Project Planning

If you write project management documentation, then you know all about Work-Breakdown Structures (WBS) and Gantt charts. WBS and Gantt charts aid in planning how the project tasks will be broken down by time. It is something that needs to be done if you want to have a successful project. Without proper planning, a project will fail. Therefore, having a WBS and Gantt chart are useful because you have to think about how you will measure the success of the project during various phases. Also, you really consider the resources, which are usually actual people in roles, that you will need to ensure that the project tasks get accomplished. The usual application used to do this is Microsoft Project. I will have to admit that it’s probably one of Microsoft’s best applications out there. A great alternative is OpenProj that is very similar to Microsoft Project. You are able to easily create a WBS and Gantt chart that have milestones, resources, and attached to a time schedule. Additionally, you can specify dependencies. These means that if this task doesn’t get done first, then another task can’t be completed. I was very impressed with OpenProj, and it’s one of the applications I have on this computer.

4. Flowchart Creation

In many kinds of documents, like project plans, system architecture documents, and proposals, you always include flowcharts of all kinds. These flowcharts can be design flows, organizational charts, or workflows. It is a great way to show readers a complicated process in a simplified way. I usually use Microsoft Visio to create these. However, if you don’t have the money to spend on the application, then OpenOffice and NeoOffice both have Visio-like applications in their office suites. It doesn’t have templates in the application that you can use to quickly start your flowchart, which is something Visio has. However, if you go on their site, there are some templates that you can download, so you can use it to create your own flowcharts. There is a new service, Flowchart.com, that is currently invitation only, and it seems promising. However, I still don’t know the details, but I’ll keep a lookout for it.

5. Desktop Publishing

Technical Writers usually work in different areas. One day, you will see them writing a design document; the other day, they are working on a brochure. Therefore, a desktop-publishing software is something that every Technical Writer should have handy. There are some great desktop publishers out there, but they come with a hefty price. If you are starting out, and can’t afford to pay for one of them, then Scribus is an alternative you should consider. Scribus is an open source desktop publisher that allows you to create all kinds of publications. For instance, you can create publications like newsletters, brochures, postcards, etc. It doesn’t have any templates, so you kind of need to know what you are doing.  However, it has all the functionalities that you need to create a successful publication.

BONUS: Document Collaboration

Document collaboration is very important in technical writing. You are usually writing documentation that needs others input, or you are working in a team that is working on different pieces of a huge document. Therefore, you want to use an application that allows you to work together when writing and editing various documents. If it has version control and a mistake is made, then you can quickly revert back to an older version if an error was made. Google Docs is is my favorite way to collaborate with others when creating documents. If you haven’t checked it out, Google Docs allows you to chat with others while creating and modifying documents and spreadsheets. Additionally, it allows everyone to see the changes almost instantaneously, which is a huge plus. There is also version control in Google Docs. If you make a mistake, then you can revert back to an older version. Google Docs is a great alternative to Microsoft Office.

What are some of your favorite open source or free alternatives to popular but expensive applications?

When you use one of the self-publishing services, they will assist you in creating and being able to provide your readers with a printed version or electronic copy of your book for a percentage of the book price, which is something that you set.  However, you are responsible for editing and promoting your own book. This is different than going to a publishing house that will usually help you in doing those two things. This is what makes self publishing so attractive to many writers.  It is easy and accessible to everyone. It is a lot of work though because you have to find something of value that will make the reader want to invest their money in your book. Now, there is a self publisher that is making it easier than ever for you to do that.

Last week, I interviewed Manfred Macx founder Jon Renaut. I was really excited to interview him. There were two reasons for my excitement: 1. Manfred Macx is a new self-publishing service that is revolutionizing the way self publishing works and 2. It is a Washington-DC based startup company. It is always refreshing to have your local startup companies doing something unexpected and innovative. I talked to Jon on the phone, and he talked about his new self-publishing service.

Shevonne Polastre: Why did you decide to start Manfred Macx?

Jon Renaut: I began a blog discussing ebooks and ebooks readers.  The more I started looking into ebooks and ebook Readers, the more I started thinking that there was more interesting opportunities than blogging about it. The model that my (self-publishing) site uses is the way that I wish my favorite authors worked. I’m kind of done reading paper books. It’s a pain to be carrying them around all the time.The last couple of books that I have read, I have read through my phone.

SP: You’re using the Kindle?

JR: No, I’m not. I have a Motorola Droid. The screen is a little small, but I have it with me all the time. If I have five minutes, here or there, I can pick up the book whenever I want to. It’s not ideal, but until there is a better technological solution, it’s working ok.

SP: Whatever works to get some reading done, right?

JR: Right.

SP: I thought the business model for Manfred Macx was interesting. Can you elaborate on that?

JR: The business model is not one of my own creation. It has been hitting the music industry first. The music industry kinda went digital a little before the publishing industry did. The publishing industry is just now getting into “What do we do now that everything is digital?” There are still lot more paper books than ebooks. Amazon’s big announcement that they are now selling more Kindle books than hardcovers. The market is moving pretty fast in that direction.

The idea is if you are going to be distributing digitally, there is no cost to you for each instance. The marginal cost for raising one more unit is zero. In a competitive market, the price goes to zero. But, you still want authors and musicians to make a living, so you have to look at “if my content is available to everyone, how do I still make money?” It’s kinda easier for (music) bands because they still have the performance. It’s how most of them make their money anyway. However, it’s pretty rare for an author to make a living doing public performances of their novels. I guess some of them could, but it’s not going to work for most of them. You have to look a little harder for things that fans would be interested in and would be willing to pay for. That’s what we’re trying to do.

The general idea is you set a goal of how much money you want to raise with your book. Then, you list whatever you want to sell. Once you reach that goal, the ebook is free to everyone. You can come to the web site and download it, or put it on a file-sharing service, like BitTorrent. Then, the author will still have the items for sale. If you see this free ebook, and you check it out and love it, you can come back to the site and support the author. I already have the ebook, but I would love to meet the author for a drink, or whatever the author is selling.

SP: Do you have an example of how Manfred Macx works?

JR: I have a book I self published, and I sold a bunch of stickers advertising the web site.  All the proceeds go to a charity I chose.

SP: So there is a way of people to set it up so the proceeds go to charity or another third-party?

JR: Yeah, sure.

SP: Will Manfred Macx be publishing paper formats as well?

JR: We will be doing paper books too since plenty of people are reading them on paper and will be for awhile, I think.

SP: Are you distributing to all the formats out there? Like Kindle, Nook, and iPad?

JR: That’s the plan. I personally prefer the .epub format because it’s open and there a lot of things that can read it. But, being a technical guy, if I have a book that is in the wrong format, I can get around that. Lots of people wouldn’t know how to convert .epub to something like the Kindle format or anything else. Yes, I would like to make the books available in as many formats as possible.

SP: There are probably lots of authors out there who aren’t the most savvy when it comes to promoting their books. Do you have an additional service that can help authors with book promotions, especially online?

JR: That’s planned. Right now, the funding is all coming from my personal savings account. I’m hoping that it can kind of build up slowly, and when Manfred Macx starts to bring in more money, we can start expanding the services.

SP: I know that you are just launching the service. Are you ready for writers to start using it?

JR: Yes, we are ready to go!

Check out Manfred Macx if you want to self publish your book today.  It is very innovative how they have taken the business model that the music industry is using and applied it to the publishing industry.