One of my new favorite pieces of software is FoldingText from HogsBay Software. It’s a text editor for the Mac with outline formatting you can fold and unfold to see text. While I use Microsoft Word on the Mac or PC for my hardcore writing, my composing process often relies on other tools for outlining and planning my articles and posts. Historically, I’ve only used text editors when I am coding HTML or hacking at JavaScript until I found FoldingText.
Here are three ways I use FoldingText:
Planning my writing schedule forward. I’m hearing from more PR people and software companies than ever before and have started to use FoldingText to project my proposed TechRepublic writing schedule out over the next few months.
Strategic planning. I like using FoldingText when I’m writing about personal and professional plans. The page is clean and I can fold and unfold text under headings. At one time, I wasn’t a fan of distraction free writing but at times now it is just what I need when thinking through something like a professional move.
Article and post outlines. On some of my more complex articles and posts, I start from an outline. FoldingText comes into play a lot more now though it still has a bit further to go to really challenge OmniOutliner on my iPad.
What has been your experience with FoldingText?
After a busy fall and spring, I’m looking forward to summertime and going to the pool has been on my mind lately. While the pool was the last thing on my mind during the unseasonably cool Memorial Day weekend, I do look forward to some quality reading time as the summer progresses.
I always seem to have more time (or perhaps more excuses) for reading during the summer and hopefully that will remain unchanged for Summer 2013.
What books are you planning on reading this summer?
I was asked recently by someone how do I generate ideas for the articles I write for TechRepublic and other sites. Since my layoff in September 2012, I’ve been a full time freelance writer generating story ideas that interest my editors is of utmost importance. read more
The last six months since my layoff has been a flurry of freelance work especially article writing. Moving from the glacial drift speed of a federal government contract back to freelance writing meant I had to get organized quickly. It was back to living by my ideas again.
One of the first things I did was get reorganized quickly and came to rely on the following apps:
The anniversary of my father’s death and his birthday have passed again for another year. He was a good father, a good man, and he was my best friend, trusted advisor, and confidant until he passed away in January 2000. There were many times I wished he was still around these past few years but he left me with some good lessons I still hold true to this day.
Here is some of the wisdom my father passed onto me:
Through the Apple Recycling Program, I was able to accumulate enough Apple Gift Cards to purchase an iPad Mini. While I am quite happy with my third generation iPad, I thought having an iPad Mini in house could be helpful with my CNET TechRepublic.com and The Mobility Hub writing. At least, that was the excuse I told myself.
Here are my initial thoughts about the device:
2012 could have ended up much worse of a year than it actually did. While I didn’t make good on some of the 2012 plans, I got through the year and landed on my feet.
Here are some of the lessons I learned this year:
I was reminded recently about how much the successful management of remote writing projects relies on common sense, communications, and teamwork. Looking back over previous part-time remote projects I’ve worked on the lack of one of those elements usually made for a lot more difficult of a project.
However, I’m the first to say that communications are a two way street between the remote writer and the mother ship.
The year 2012 has finally come to an end. It wasn’t without its personal and professional challenges but nonetheless my year ended on a happy note.
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