Computer Skills for Writers  Get yourself organised! A six week practical course for writers who are just starting to earn money from their writing -- or intend to -- or those who have been earning money for a while, but want to get organised so they can earn more. Learn how to utilise your home computer for more than just your manuscript and letters: make it your personal assistant. Course Outline Professionalism Attitude Presentation Work habits Discipline How your computer can help you. Computer elements Printer Screen CPU Drives -- soft, hard, CD ROM Serial ports Desk & chair Light natural artificial Ergonomics Posture Using the mouse Regular breaks Basic necessities The printer The word processor All in one packages Word processing skills Manuscript format Headers and footers Page count vs. computer count Page numbers Typographical conventions Em & En dashes Periods Quotation marks Dialogue punctuation. Indenting Italics Book print compared to manuscript presentation Line spacing Proportional vs. non-proportional fonts Justified or ragged left Serif vs. Sans serif Business letters for writers Using boilerplate paragraphs Standard elements of a business letter Query letters Indexes and catalogues Research/resource index Templates Using styles Using autotext Using autocorrection For minimising typing. Global search & replace Practical uses Book masters/file masters Limitations Customising menus and toolbars Read the manual! Spreadsheets Work logs Chapter counts Financial record keeping Databases What is a database? Using a word processor as a database Market databases Work logs Address labels Book indexes Printers! Types Dot matrix Ink jet Laser Print quality Kerning print head movements Editor’s preferences Print speed Desk top publishing capabilities For letterheads, business cards, etc For presentation work newsletters, etc. Consider upgrading Envelopes vs. labels CD ROM’s Bookshelf & other dictionaries Encyclopaedias Quotations Diaries Electronic Pocket pads Traditional Notebooks Traditional notebooks The screenwriter’s card trick The electronic version. Editing Automatic spell checkers Submissions -- What your computer can do for you Address labels and databases Printing off manuscripts Last minute editing for uniformity Page numbers Background printing Idea generation Using outline Keeping ideas on-line Ideas generation file Hard copy clippings and ideas files File management Computer files Saving and auto-saving, backup files Hard copy files Off site storage Disaster recovering File loss HDD crash Virus alert! The Internet Email Discussion groups The web & its uses Newsgroups & bulletin boards IRC Chatting FTP Publishing on the web Finding markets on the web Research on the web Research for writing Market research Contacting publishers Networking with other writers Swapping files by email Critiquing on-line Other BBS available AOL Genie CompuServe Viruses and other nasties How to avoid them The fake ones. Professional and PR resources from your keyboard Letterheads Plain paper Colour stock Pre-printed Printed Business cards Compliment slips Address labels Resumes & CVs Biographies and profiles Record keeping Research files Expenses & overheads Submissions Correspondence Assets Computer equipment Books Taxation demands DIY Taxation packages Accountants’ demands How to get faster at it: Ten-fingered vs. two fingered typing Learn-to-type programs Mouse vs. keyboard Programming keyboard shortcuts. Desk top publishing DTP packages -- what are they and what do they do? Uses for writers Self publication Newsletters Interesting in doing this course on-line? Mention your preferences when enrolling. Ebooks & Romance Novels * Sherlock Holmes Pastiches * Creative Writing Instruction * Home