It’s been just over a month since I started on my freelance career and I’ve already gathered a whole bundle of tools that I just cannot live without.
For any inspiring freelancers out there, or for those who are simply interested, here are my top 10 ‘tools of the trade’ so far:
1) My Apple Mac – like a good man it’s stylish, sexy and cool and never lets me down. Enough said.
2) Spotify – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love Spotify. For just a tenner a month I can pretty much access any track by any artist I want. It’s my constant companion as I write and it never fails to entertain, console or inspire me.
3) Twitter – my preferred social networking site. Provides me with instant information and food for thought that keeps my inquisitive brain happy. It also enables me to communicate quickly with friends and followers.
4) WordPress – the brilliant personal publishing platform which enables me to communicate with all of you!
5) Inspirational freelance books – yes, I know we all need to start using less paper but what can I say, I’m a woman who loves hard copy. These books are excellent:
*The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World by Linda Jones
*Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2011
6) Seth Godin’s blog – I read his incredible book ‘Linchpin’ and handed in my notice just over a week later. I now follow his blog for tips and inspiration. Check him out if you can: http://sethgodin.typepad.com
7) My notebook – until I can afford an iPad, I’m left with a notebook and pen. :) This is where I write down any ideas that spring to mind, no matter how random they may seem.
8) My clippings folders – in these I stash any magazine / newspaper clippings that I like. I squirrel away all kinds of random stuff in them from make up tips to decorating ideas but mainly they house excellent features, interesting stories or inspirational interviews.
9) Contacts list – every journalist / writer knows that without this, you have nothing.
10) Delicious – I’m still getting to grips with this but so far i’m really impressed. It’s basically a social bookmarking web service which enables you to quickly bookmark anything you come across on the internet which you don’t want to loose. My husband showed me this and although I don’t like to admit it, he was right… it is VERY useful.
