The Copywriter Underground

I admit it. I’m a word processor geek. My keyboard might as well wear a pocket protector.
So when I find a comprehensive review of word processors, I sit up, re-tape my eyeglasses, and start reading.
Fourteen word processor reviews later, it’s clear that Windows/Linux users have more choices than I thought (Mac versions available in some [...]

The leading open-source challenger to MS Office (especially Word), OpenOffice Writer is a viable (and free) alternative to writers tired of big-dollar upgrades for little useful functionality.

I’ve got my copy set to automatically save all files in Word format, and I have yet to experience file compatibility problems with my clients (though I haven’t tried [...]

Before PCs, writers used typewriters, and before that, they used pen and paper.
Naturally, being a largely superstitious, wholly contentious lot, battles erupted over what pen worked best, and why. Later, the word processor wars broke out, and back when there was actually a difference between products, writers in text-based online bulletin boards fought over them [...]

Codswallop just published a list of the “100 Web Apps for Everything You Will Possibly Need.”
It’s intriguing. And I found a few I’d never heard of.

But I’m curious; are Web Apps really the answer for freelancers?
They typically offer low-cost (or no-cost) functionality. And let’s face it; low cost is good. Low cost is our friend.
Yet [...]

Cat at the cool new BoDo blog (Business of Design Online) is running a series of posts aimed at making it easier for designers (and clients) to work with writers.

The result of online interviews with a group of writers (including yours truly), the series includes thoughtful little gems like Choosing a Writer, the Writer’s Process, [...]

Writing’s a relatively simple gig.
Pen and paper will get you going, and a purist could make a cogent case for keeping the exercise exactly that simple.
Naturally, that’s not what happens when you add commerce to the mix — and humanity’s unquenchable desire to complicate life.
I’ve been copywriting long enough that I wrote my first bits [...]

Copywriting’s a stressful occupation. You’ve gotta be creative and effective, and do it all on a deadline.
Still, some writers seem to thrive on stress, and for those we have the following: the USB-powered Typing Speed Indicator:
 

The faster you type, the faster he pedals.
We’d thank the Spulch blog for this one, except I [...]

Most writers are absolute geeks about writer stuff - notebooks, PCs, pens - and all the other toys that don’t necessarily help you write better, but are fun to play with anyway.
Via the Moleskinerie blog comes a fun article at the Gadget Lab listing Top Tools for Creative (and Working) Writers.

Covering everything from mini-laptops to pens, including some Moleskine-like [...]

I couldn’t believe my RSS Reader (just switched to Google).
Kristen King of Inkthinker laid out NINE (count ‘em) posts containing nothing… but incredibly useful links for writers of all stripes.
A collection of links (mostly to blog posts), she’s obviously kept track of the good stuff, and for writers, it’s suddenly harvest time (only in spring).
Valuable [...]

What Michael Stelzner did for writing blogs has now been done for writing books. On his Writing White Papers site, Michael’s just released the recently voted-upon list of the Top 10 Books for writers: 
On Writing - Important lessons and truths for any writer. By Stephen King.
The Elements of Style - THE reference for language use in a [...]