Comments on: While U Wait: Form the Infrastructure

By: Wendy Lawton

Wendy Lawton — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:10:40 +0000

Jane, I don’t know of a specific program that captures reader names. I think most web designers write their own scripts for capturing online reader contact and most writers I know input physical addresses one at a time in a database. Anyone else have any recommendations?

By: jane G Meyer

jane G Meyer — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:04:24 +0000

Reader Data Files. … Make sure you are able to separate them by zipcode for mailings and to let them know geographically when you will be in their area. In addition to reader files, you’ll need to have influencer databases, reviewer databases, etc.

Wendy, do you have a particular program that you like that captures reader data? I have a new Mac, and am just getting used to this new machine and all it has to offer, but I’m assuming that Entourage isn’t enough… that making groups isn’t quite what you’re talking about. I’d love your recommendation.

Also, the comment about back up is SO important. My computer, and my external hard drive all crashed about a year and a half ago. I lost quite a bit of writing I now use Mozy.com, which backs up everything on my computer off site. I’ve been very pleased.

By: Lucy

Lucy — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:46:42 +0000

It should not need saying, but if you store this much data (contacts, etc.) on your computer, make monthly backups to an entirely separate system. If you don’t, there’s likely to come a time when you’ll wish you had.

I have an emphatic preference for paper (and paper backups) myself, but there’s no denying that this requires a lot of storage space and the mental flexibility to remember where you put things.

By: Jane Steen

Jane Steen — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:47:36 +0000

Lynn, apparently yes: according to Rev. Proc. 97-22, you can scan your records. BUT I’d still throw the originals in an envelope or something just in case. I haven’t started using Evernote for business documents yet, but I know people do.

Everybody: trying out Things and Daylite. Things: great if you want a simple project manager. Daylite: I think I’m in love. It’s a little daunting at first, but incredibly powerful. Will cost $200 for the basic single-user version PLUS the module that will allow me to turn emails into tasks (and thus finally restore the feature I miss so much from Outlook).

Wendy: Thanks (I think) for sending me off into an organization binge. I will, eventually, be very happy about all the time I’m spending on this.

By: patriciazell

patriciazell — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:22:53 +0000

Wendy, thanks for the timely info. Today was my last day at school and I am sitting amid a mess typing this. It’s time for me to organize and your tips will help me.

By: Lynn Dean

Lynn Dean — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:01:09 +0000

Jane (or anyone who knows)~ Would the IRS accept a scanned copy of a receipt? Or would they require the original? I do love the idea of scanning a backup copy. It never hurts to wear a belt AND suspenders, so to speak.

By: Wendy Delfosse

Wendy Delfosse — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:38:55 +0000

One tip on the e-readers: if you can’t afford to invest in one Kindle makes a free app for desktop (Windows and Mac… and maybe Linux too?) so you can still get your e-books without yet splurging.

By: scarlett

scarlett — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:34:35 +0000

Soooooo timely! I have my manuscript out to four agents right now and only this weekend did I consider, “What happens if one of them says yes???” How irresponsible of me! This list is so wonderful, I think I’ll print it out and mark off items as I complete them. Look forward to tomorrow’s post too!

By: Krista Phillips

Krista Phillips — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:13:34 +0000

LOVE this, Wendy! Great tips! Kiddos are gone for the next 2 weeks to gma & gpa’s house, so hubby and I are taking the “time off” (well, not off of work, but off of parenting!) to get our house ready for baby, and I’m also using it to organize my writing stuff as well, including many of the things you listed! I figure if I’m having a hard time of it now with 3 kiddos, when I add #4 in July, I’m going to go CRAZY if I’m not organized!

By: Jane Steen

Jane Steen — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:13:10 +0000

Thanks for the tips – very useful, although I’m fairly organized so some of this is in place already (we commercial writers have it much easier when entering the fiction arena, as writing is already a business for us).

I found the tip about Things particularly useful – I’ve been using Toodledo, which is a good web-based task management app with an iPhone version, but it has its quirks and I’m hoping Things might be the solution.

The other tip that struck me was building a reader/contacts database. The Mac address book is fairly powerful, and I can sync it across all my devices using MobileMe, but as I move towards querying my work–and thus gaining a mass of contact info I may rarely use–I’m thinking of trying out Daylite. I already use the Billings software by the same company for billing clients.

And I love my Kindle! I can send my drafts to it and read them through while making notes to myself about future changes. One day, no doubt, I will buy an iPad, but I always prefer to wait for about version 3 with Apple.

More quick tips for writers – the Mac-only Scrivener is the best program I’ve found for writing (your next book), and Evernote is incredibly useful for gathering ideas, research, images and just about everything. Lynn, you could scan your receipts into Evernote!

And, of course, if you’re not blogging and on Twitter you need to set this up while you’re waiting for replies from agents (it will keep you from fretting, too).