All posts by Joe Wallace

What’s in Your iPod?

getpeel.jpgI’ve been a fan of Gang of Four bassist Dave Allen’s blog, Pampelmoose for quite some time, but I was never happier to be an avid reader than on the day Allen blogged about a fabulous little application called Peel. This app has literally changed my life as a writer in a small but wonderful way; Peel legally harvests free MP3s from music blogs anywhere you tell it to go. Within two weeks I had more free music than I know what to do with, and even listening in the home office for the better part of the work day I can’t possibly keep up with it all. No more changing CDs in the middle of a tricky writing assignment for me, Peel can be set up to dump all the MP3s into iTunes automatically so I just hit “party shuffle” and enjoy endlessly.

Peel is designed to give you access to all that great stuff you’ve been missing with the same basic notion that all good MP3 blogs have: if you like what you hear, buy the full album and support the artist. Contrary to what the major labels and the RIAA would have you believe, this is a supportable business model for an independent artist as evidenced by the recent Radiohead album, In Rainbows which was released digitally “for any price you want” long before the CD went into stores. Radiohead sales have been fine in spite of the damn-near-free digital release. 

Peel is my new favorite tool, but alas it is only available for the Mac at present. You can download it for a free one-month trial, and then buy it once you’re hooked for the ridiculously low price of $14.95.

Five Ways to Diversify Your Writing Portfolio

In case you haven’t figured it out just by reading a few of these blog entries, I like reading Folio. Even as a freelancer, I find this magazine-centric site filled from top to bottom with useful and interesting content. Take Folio blogger Mark Newman’s recent entry, You Will Be Fired. Newman’s advice is aimed at people making careers in magazine publishing, but his excellent advice should also be required reading for anyone aspiring to make a go at freelancing full time. Newman compares the writer’s collection of published clips to a stock portfolio.

In the investment world, people who don’t diversify get killed. The same goes for freelance writers. Sure, you could spend a good deal of time writing nothing but articles about Creative Anachronism, how to make your own swords, and what to wear to the renaissance faire. You could also spend a lot of time sticking your thumb up your nose wondering why you only sell five to ten pieces per year.

Here are some ways you can branch out, flex your creative muscles, and try to pitch ideas to new markets you never even thought of touching before. Some of these ideas are certifiably nutty, and by design. The purpose is to get you thinking about your own work in ways you’re not used to:

5. Make a list of your topics of expertise. Now take each part of your list and find a secondary topic that is informed by your actual expertise. A good example–if you have a lot of experience writing about art, chances are you’ve got a lot of solid information about how artists go about promoting themselves. You can start writing pieces about PR and marketing using what you’ve learned from your art writing. The key is to play up the artist-as-relentless-self-marketer angle.  Apply this idea to every entry in your list. You’ll be shocked at what you learn about yourself.

Continue reading Five Ways to Diversify Your Writing Portfolio

DeLonghi Espresso Maker

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For writers, caffeinated beverages are not just a way to get the brain buzzing. Caffeine is FOOD. There’s nothing like the feeling that all your neurons are firing at once as your fingers sail across the keyboard. We just work better in a highly stimulated state, and besides, it’s brain surgeons who need the steady hands, not us.

We are digging the DeLonghi espresso maker for many reasons–it’s priced under a hundred, it gives you quality espresso and latte drinks with ease using espresso pods, or you can tamp your own grind. We love the pods since they are easy and hassle-free. Reviewers of this machine who claim to love Starbucks say the DeLonghi could put a dent in coffee shop stock.

Buy for $98.88

Are You Being Scammed? Warning Signs for Writers

Any freelancer in the game for longer than say, five seconds, has run into scams specifically designed to lure writers and those who want to be writers.  Some of these are direct rip-offs of your time or your work. Others aren’t deliberately out to hurt you but are run by people who are clueless about how the writing business works. Either way, it doesn’t really matter since the bottom line is wasted time, money and resources.

One example of a dubious publishing model is reported by Storycrafters, which ran complaints about a shady-sounding “get published” scheme at a website called ZootyandFlappers.com. Naturally I’d be willing to give both sides the benefit of  the doubt, but the publisher of ZootyandFlappers went on an ill-considered written rampage against “writers beware” site Preditors and Editors. Bad move, that.  The Bard springs to mind here, the lady doth protest too much.

I’ll try my best not to comment specifically on ZootyandFlappers.com. At publishing time, I don’t know whether it’s a scam site or not. I’d be a liar if I didn’t say it sounds dogdy, but I have reasons I’ll get to in a moment. For me the jury is out because I just don’t know enough, but I know when I smell a rat–and there is a definite rodent bouquet in the air over this particular controversy. With that in mind, here are my own personal warning signs that absolutely scream “STAY AWAY”.

Continue reading Are You Being Scammed? Warning Signs for Writers

SanDisk Cruzer 4GB USB Flash Drive

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Flash drives are incredibly handy for a busy writer, especially if you have to do business between the home office and an on-site gig where you need quick access to your audio interview files, .xml spreadsheets, Word or MS Office files or digital images. We know plenty of people who go back and forth between part-time PR or writing gigs at non-profits, record labels, and small presses, and full time freelancing.

When you’re on the go, a USB flash drive like this four-gigabyte SanDisk Titanium Cruzer is just the thing. Just copy the files from your computer onto the drive, stash it in your purse or backpack and get out to the gig. How much storage IS four gigabytes? Consider that you can store as many as 800 mp3 songs on the Cruzer, so we’re talking hundreds of digital photos and hundreds more documents and spreadsheets. 

Buy UPDATE: Prices on this drive have dropped to an ASTOUNDING $24.99. We don’t always catch those radical price shifts, but many thanks to Scott “Eagle Eyes” Wahlen for pointing out that the market is much more reasonable for the Cruzer. It was originally listing for over $100. At these prices, we predict these won’t last long.

CribCandy: Ultra-Modern Home Office Bling

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It’s true that when you’re struggling in the early days of the freelance game, you can’t afford printer ink half the time, let alone a sexy new office setup, but once you’ve established some good relationships with editors and made some headway in the game you can start replacing your rickety old gear. Enter Cribcandy, our new favorite home design blog. Check out this collection of home office upgrades suggested by Cribcandy, and start making a shopping list. Some of it is silly, some of it is irresistible, and items like the Mash Studios wall mounted LAX desk pictured above is too space-saving and efficient NOT to own. Cheers, Cribcandy…you’ve got some new fans here at the Freelance Zone.