When I first began looking for a way to represent WickedWordCraft.com, I really wanted a paper-look to match my quill.

Since that time, I’ve gone a bit more “high tech” with my look to appeal to my ideal clients (high tech real estate agents and brokers), but I’ve found a few excellent WordPress themes with an old-fashioned paper theme that I wanted to share this week.

Some are scrolls, some are smooth, some are scorched. All are beautiful. (more…)

I’ve always had difficulty with my two polar opposite sides — the side that loves a good pen and quality paper, and the other side that adores all things techie. The only thing that marries the two in me is sharing the same goal: Effective Communication.

Now, I find a new (upcoming) product called LiveScribe that just may be the answer. It may be just another jaunt down a technology rabbit hole, but it appears to have promise.

It not only records your writing, but also the audio of the situation. Sounds perfect for conferences, college classes and the like — IF the audio is high enough quality and the memory space is enough that the pen doesn’t fall into “overflow” shutdown at a critical moment.

Personally, I’m quite interested in learning more about this new product on the horizon (due to be released Q4 of this year). The only problem? It won’t use my beautiful fountain pen to do the writing and that’s a shame!

I tripped across the following site recently and found it quite interesting:

A web-based program to design your own widget-ready WP Theme on the fly. You may want to give it a whirl!

While I’m working on resources to help (in particular) real estate agents using an independently hosted WordPress theme, I happened to trip across this wonderful post full of over 120 resources, links and tools for bloggers.

As soon as I get a bit more time, I’ll be reviewing each of these in light of my WP for RE project, in the meantime, Thanks, Mashable!

(Note: Image used under Creative Commons, and belongs to Cambodia4kidsorg and was found on Flickr.)

While surfing the web (yeah, again) I found a freebie issue of Small Spiral Notebook which was not only free, but thanks to the magic of NXTBook Media, was pretty cool in presentation as an online magazine as well.

If you want to check out some of the works and writers, take a peek at Issue #4 of this Literary Magazine of Writers and Poets.

A recent pearl in the www — a website promoting an author’s book that is so low-tech, but so original and so cool that I don’t care that it breaks all the “rules” for websites.

Visit a book website that you won’t soon forget — using what’s available in the kitchen, a dry erase marker and flash to tell the whole story!

Writers are ALL creative people, even when out of their “customary” element!

I’ve been searching for the best pen holders to keep my favorite pen within reach on my desktop. I don’t really like sets, but I’ve seen a few cool individual pen holders over the years (like a bronze monkey version that I saw a few months back, but can’t seem to locate now).

And, I assume I’m not the only one looking for a really nice way to protect, display and find my pen on my desk. With that in mind, I decided to share a couple of the cool ones I’ve found with other pen lovers:

• New Age Designs and Custom Tile Desktop Pen Holder (check out their mousepads and other items too!)
• Frog Tree Bronze Pen Holder - Note: Levenger’s links go stale quickly and their products also disappear quickly (I think the monkey holder was originally theirs too.)

If anyone else has found a cool pen holder (particularly one for only one or two instruments), please let me know. I’m still looking!

Not everyone is a bag lady at heart — but (as most of you know) I love “go bags” and boxes and containers — especially those made of wood and leather. With that said, maybe this “write up” pulled a little harder at my desire to purchase than it should… (more…)

I’ve noticed over the past few years that, despite my tech tendencies, it’s the low tech stuff I buy for myself on special occasions. On my birthday every year I buy myself a little nicety that I would never normally be able to justify. It’ a private celebration and I thoroughly enjoy the shopping trip to find that special something.

I’ve noticed over the past few years that, unintentionally, that special item has always had to do with paper, pens, ink or paint. I find that extremely interesting, although it surprised me when I first noticed the pattern. (more…)

I got an email today from a fellow writer who asked if she should offer project rates or standard hourly rates for her copywriting services. Some of her potential clients had been advised by a real estate coach to always get per-project rates. She asked for my advice.

For anyone who plans to hire a writer, you may want to consider the following, before signing on the dotted line: If you have a standard/recurring project (like writing a 250-word property description, if you are are a real estate agent) you can easily hire a writer and pay them “per listing.” But this is pretty “rote” writing and you aren’t pushing the creative envelope much. Some writers are willing to do other projects based on a per-word or a per-page calculation.

There are a few things you should consider on each of these “product-based” approaches to writing services:

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It’s interesting that the author of the cover story for Forbes Magazine this month should claim that bloggers are dangerously opinionated. I find it even more interesting that this writer entitles his article (in a fair and even-handed tone) “Attack of the Blogs!” which is illustrated with an (equally non-judgmental) image of a man being punched out by his computer monitor .

The author, Daniel Lyons, states, “Blogs started a few years ago as a simple way for people to keep online diaries. Suddenly they are the ultimate vehicle for brand-bashing, personal attacks, political extremism and smear campaigns.” Hmmm… Now THAT’s a fair, even-handed, and balanced and position, wouldn’t you agree? (more…)

Since I often work with Real Estate professionals (they comprise about 80% of my client load), I’m often asked why I don’t BECOME a real estate agent… I’m asked this fairly often by my RE clients. Even my own father asked me that at couple years back. (more…)

While cruising the US Trademark Office site this a.m., I found some new information (or at least ‘new to me’ information) on protecting the intellectual property rights of small businesses…

If you would like to see this information yourself, visit www.uspto.gov/smallbusiness.

Lucky is doing what you love for a living, being surrounded by people who not only support you in doing what you love, but who also forgive you when you become tunnel-visioned and consumed with it.I went to my one onsite client’s office today where I do a monthly series of diagnostics, tests and updates — check out the functionality of their network, each computer on the network, and address any questions, concerns or issues that they may be experiencing.

I work in the office on the farm nearly every day, and this once a month trip out reconnects me with the real world. I guess that, and the fact that I adore the clients, are the reasons I don’t give up that contract, even though it’s not my area of specialization. Besides, it forces me to stay on top of the hardware and software end of technology advances and helps me to work more efficiently in my own “virtual” office and advise other clients on technology solutions.

But when I’m there, I realize how lucky I am. My normal daily commute is across the floor. My work clothes are the denim dresses I throw on after a quick shower and running a brush through my hair. Yes, many days I even work barefoot (gasp!) or in sandals or tennis shoes. I still object to the “bunny slippers” cliche for most home office inhabitants. I used to think that I needed to dress like I did for regular office work to feel “professional” enough to project that over the phone and in e-mail. That was when I was still struggling for clients. I was still proving myself TO myself.

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