Essential Writer Tools: Must-Have Tools for Today's Freelance Writer

Every trade has its tools and writing is no different. If you are serious about living the entrepreneurial lifestyle and earning money doing so, you will need certain writer tools so that you are equipped to earn money.

What are the best tools for today's freelancer? This article discusses two essential writing tools and why investing in these makes good sense.

When you think about it, if you have the right tools to quickly create good quality content, you stand to earn money.

While there are many writing aids and tools on the market and these have their place, if you want to freelance for income with as few tools as possible, the two writing tools discussed below will do you.

This discussion will outline why having these two essential writer tools at your disposal can further your freelancing career, making the job that much easier by allowing you to work wherever and whenever you want and also helping you to improve and enhance your content.

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Why do I recommend a laptop as an essential writer tool? While you can produce articles on a desktop computer--and certainly, if this is all you have at present, you should use it--a laptop offers distinct advantages to the freelance writer, which makes it a wise investment and the writing tool of choice in today's world.

With a laptop, you can take your work with you, which is entirely consistent with the freelance lifestyle. Rather than being chained to a desk or limited while you are away, a laptop, by dent of its portability, allows you to work wherever and whenever. In an increasingly mobile society, a laptop is the tool of choice for those who work long hours or who do not work to a set schedule.

Many writers work irregular hours, working into the evenings or on weekends and a laptop offers the chance to get away to different locations and socialize, while still being able to work when time is available. As a writer tool, it is unbeatable, because one can stay on top of work no matter the location. Especially is this relevant if you do much of your work online and need to check your websites/blogs/articles/stats frequently or keep on top of work-related emails.

To illustrate just how convenient a laptop can be: I was working on the storyboard for one of my books and also needed to conference with my publisher. I was able to visit my daughter and still keep on top of everything, approving each illustration as it was emailed to me, as we got closer to publication. My trip away would have been impossible, if I had been relying on a desktop computer for my computing tasks. The built-in camera and microphone were incredibly convenient when I needed to discuss matters with my publisher.

Laptops have come down in price, which is another advantage. The cost of a laptop will now run you less than a desktop computer with all its related parts. I actually keep an extra laptop in reserve as a back-up, in case my computer goes down. Time is money and many writers ensure that they are covered and can continue working.

Of course, it's a given that you should get a powerful enough laptop that you can install Microsoft Word for your word-processing needs with its built-in grammar/spell checker. This will help you to present well-written articles, which tend to gain traction online.

I find having wireless is a godsend because I can work any place in my home. It is so much more comfortable to curl up on my coach, instead of sitting in a chair all day. Some writers even work from their beds! If you are under the weather, a wireless connection and a laptop can facilitate this process. You can recline against pillows and continue on, even if you aren't feeling up to snuff.

Recap: Hands down, if you are serious about earning money and going about it seamlessly, a laptop is one of the best investments you can make to this end. You don't leave money on the table because you can work from any location.

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A digital camera is an indispensable tool that will stand you in good stead if you need photos for your articles. While writers can access free images online, it is often much easier to take your own photos so that you can achieve exact results. With a digital, you can do your own photo shoots and upload a supply of good-quality images to use with your articles. Because these are your own images, you can work with a photo editor to sharpen them and crop or re-size as needed for you articles.

I find with some free online photos, I'm not fussy about cluttered backgrounds or other factors that detract from the quality of the images. Free photos can help when you are stuck for a photo for one of your articles but if you have a digital, you will find, over time, that you prefer working with your own images.

Whenever I go on a trip, I always take my digital with me. Some of my best photos have come about because I captured the perfect view or sunset and I've been able to use these images in my travel articles.

It's a good idea to have a collection of stock photos that can be used in articles. A digital camera makes this process so much easier.

You stand to earn more for content containing good-quality photos. This type of content appeals to a broader audience and images give dry written words visual appeal.

To illustrate why this works so well: I remember coming across an article about lavender. Now, I have read a number of articles discussing lavender but I returned to this particular article again and again. Why? While it was well-written, the stunning photos made it a joy to revisit. Content that is memorable tends to be bookmarked for future reference and shared over the Internet, thus earning more for its creator.

Most of us probably remember those old school books that had few pictures and how bored we felt having to plow through page after page of text. Modern textbooks with photos were far more appealing and made learning that much easier.

Remember, people may find your pages from images via Google. Many people search Google for images so this can be another traffic generator for your online content.

Recap: Investing in a digital camera will help you to inform and round out your online articles and you stand to earn more for your work, because people may come across your pages through your images.

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Even better, if you shop around, you can find good deals on laptops and digital cameras, which helps to reduce costs. This time of year is ideal for sales and clearances on laptops and digital cameras.

Picking up a laptop and a digital camera is a small investment that will pay good dividends in relation to your earning capability. These two writer tools can assist you in your entrepreneurial efforts and help you to earn income or eventually transition to a full-time living from your efforts.

Tip: When I was shopping for my second laptop, I contacted my computer tech and got him to find me a powerful laptop for a great price. Delegating can be a good method of "shopping" when you are strapped for time or do not have the expertise.

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