Writing, marketing and technology
I often use dial-in conference call systems with my big clients. Some of them really like to share presentations and desktops using web conferences alongside a phone call or conference call. I also use Skype to video conference with my Dutch teacher. In my quest to become a very big little company – to use [...]
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I have recorded a few interviews recently using my iPhone and its built-in voice memo application. I sent them away for transcription (I’ve found a couple of ways of getting this done online for about $30-60/hour of recording) but the quality wasn’t that great for the typist. However, I think I’ve found the answer: the [...]
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Interruptions kill productivity. But background noise can slow you down in less obvious ways: Fatigue. Noise makes you tired. Just as shouting over loud music in a bar strains your voice, your brain has to work harder to filter out unwanted information. Poor concentration. It’s more likely that your brain will latch onto some background [...]
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I’ve just discovered Daytum. It’s mission is to let you “collect, categorize and communicate your everyday data.” What this means in practice is a configurable dashboard that lets you add numerical information and display it using a range of graphs. Here are some possible uses for writers: Tracking word count output day by day Monitoring [...]
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Ambitious journalism student, Alex Cooper, introduces us to Teeline Shorthand with his debut guest post for Bad Language. In this article I will go through the basic structure of Teeline Shorthand, a brief history and some tips for learning it along the way. Teeline was invented by James Hill in 1970. It is aimed at [...]
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Novelist and geek-hero Charlie Stross writes about the drawbacks of using what-you-see-is-what-you-get word processors to write novels: Changing file formats Proprietary file formats WYSIWYG “conflates document content with presentation” Heavily marked-up text isn’t suitable for use online Word mixes inline and style-sheet formatting His solution is (sometimes) to use hardcore programmer’s editing tools: Given my [...]
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I am the proud owner of a large number of tiny, defunct computers. For example, I have a working HP 95LX handheld that runs DOS, a Toshiba Libretto 70CT which only a tiny-fingered Japanese schoolgirl could type on and an OQO Model 01+ which is as tiny as it is noisy and slow. Each one [...]
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This is a great online tool that really forces you to write. It just stops short of delivering electric shocks if you stop work (although that’s a promised future feature!). Check out Write or Die and Dr. Wicked’s Blog.
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I have updated the writing tools on Articulate’s website and added a new one. They are free to use and I hope people find them helpful. Feedback and suggestions are welcome. Readability calculator This is a fantastic tool to calculate readability scores for blocks of text (just cut and paste) or websites (just enter a [...]
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I am working on a number of website projects right now. My mission is to banish ‘lorem ipsum’ by working text into page designs before development starts. (To find out why, read my article: Want a good website, on time? Prioritise content) I wanted to find a tool that would let me create page mockups [...]
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Matthew Stibbe is CEO of Articulate Marketing and Turbine, the easy, online way to deal with office paperwork. He edits Golf Hotel Whiskey and writes the Forbes Aviator column.
Check out my new, free eBook, 30 Days to Better Business Writing, 71 pages of expert tips and advice to make you a better writer. Available on Kindle, paper and free online.