Link Roundup – Tech and Software
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As a writer in the age of the Internet, you have two choices. You can either hire/beg someone knowledgeable to handle all of your technical/software/website issues – which is a perfectly valid and even wise course of action – or you can get tech savvy. Of course, as a writer, the lion’s share of your time is probably spent on writing and reading, not picking apart the pros and cons of the latest WordPress update or theme. So, here are some links that I’ve found helpful in navigating my way through the brave new world of technology and software.
WordPress Hacks –
The info in this one is getting a touch dated, but I found it invaluable for getting started when I moved my blog from one domain to another about a year ago.
SiteGround: cPanel Tutorial
If you’re running your own website, there is a good chance you’ve been confronted with cPanel. It’s one of the major interfaces that hosting providers use to simplify website management for customers. cPanel can be daunting at first glance, but the tutorials found at SiteGround walk you through most of the essential functions.
Sometimes your website does weird things and wish you knew how to fix it. Well, that’s what Codecademy is all about. It offers free training on HTML, CSS, Javascript, jQuery, Python, Ruby and PHP. Odds are good that whatever problem you’re dealing with is rooted in one of those languages. Even if you aren’t interested in becoming an expert programmer, understanding the basics of HTML and CSS will let you deal a lot of the issues you’re likely to bump up against on your website. Plus, the courses are built to cater to the rank novice.
Copyscape – Plagiarism Checker
Even the most honest writer can accidentally trip over the line into plagiarism and never even know it. The reality is that, with so much written content in the world, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll end up with sufficiently similar phraseology to make a left turn into the land of plagiarism. Copyscape is the go-to plagiarism checker for pretty much anyone buying content from freelance writers with the intention of publishing it online. It is a paid service, but remarkably cost effective at 5 cents per scan. That nickel is some of the cheapest peace of mind I’ve ever bought.
When it’s hardcore, do or die, you must get the words on the page this instant and keep doing it until you’re done time, there is no substitute for Write or Die. When set to “consequence mode,” this little bit of software will literally start deleting your words, which means you have to get it down on the page (or screen in this case) without stopping for pesky typos or to polish that awkward sentence. This is not for the faint of heart. If you’re ready to step it up to kamikaze mode, though, it’s absolutely worth the $20.
There you have it, five of the most useful tech and software resources I’ve run across in my years as a writer.
Is there a tech or software resource you’ve found especially helpful? Leave a comment below and tell us about it!
