Hurry up. Test your typing skill. Check your wpm (word per minute).

http://labs.jphantom.com/wpm/

I got 49wpm.

Who should take this test?

Job seekers. You need wpm in your resume.

Update 3 March 2011: Check out http://www.typingtest.com/ to have a test on your typing speed.

Link Love #11 : Word Per Minute is a post from: Writing Consultation

More money = busy = no time to enjoy / spend the money

Less money = not so busy = more time to enjoy but with lesser money

No money = very relaxing = have all the time in the world to do anything without money

The truth is, life is complex. Life is not a simple equation.

Whether you have a full time job or a freelancing career, everyone has to work for money, and everything in the world is about money (earn more, buy more) unless if you are talking about real love (even love needs money – dating, wedding, e.t.c.).

Here I am running a small freelance writing business for survival.

I am not a celebrity & I don’t have millions in my bank account.

I am just like everyone else who works for a living.

However, while I work hard to earn a decent income, there are times when I take long breaks so that I can rejuvenate myself after all the hard work I have done.

Money is important but health is more important.

So as a freelancer, we need to take good care of our body. It doesn’t mean anything if you spend all your time on work so that you get more money but in the end, you are unwell.

Work moderately. Say “NO” when necessary. Remember you don’t have to say “YES” all the time.

Allocate some time for yourself to do whatever you want to do apart from work.

As for me, I prefer to read a book.

Thanks for your time.

Money Vs Life is a post from: Writing Consultation

I used to love to-do list.

I thought that a to-do list will help me keep track with my freelance writing.

During my first year in freelancing, sticky notes were my best friend.

To-do list on sticky notes seems like a neat way to keep track of the stuff that I need to do every day.

I have tried real sticky notes (that I stick to the side of my laptop), virtual sticky notes (that stick to the top right of the laptop screen) and others but in the end, I realise that to-do list is NOT suitable for me.

To write a to-do list is a waste of time for me.

I spent about 5 minutes planning on the stuff I need to do, but in the end, I failed to follow the to-do list.

The one reason why I failed to follow the to-do list is because I forget to look at the to-do list.

I guess I am just one of those who failed to follow a list.

Now, I work with the flow. No sticky notes to remind me of what I need to do and life is simple.

Do you use to-do list in your life?

You can find out more info on sticky notes, if you like.

To Do List is a Waste of Time is a post from: Writing Consultation

When I am working, there are side stuff that I like to call “half-productive tasks”.

Curious to know what those “half-productive tasks”?

1. I love social media so I enjoy Facebook, Twitter and reading Blogs.
2. Watch an episode of Charmed (maybe two).
3. More blog hopping.
4. Read some articles on “how to make more money”, “how to earn money blogging” and maybe even “how to write for money” (not that I do not know these – just for fun).
5. Check out my earnings from my blog (thanks for supporting!).
6. Listen to Outlandish’s music.
7. Researching for something that is not even relevant to my project.
8. Playing Neopets (childish game but I first played this game in 2001/2002).
9. Check out my WC fan page, instant messaging, emails, more emails and other stuff – perhaps banking / contacting people that I have not communicate for a long time.
10. Blogging, writing, working, whatever you want to call it.

There you go! Enjoy!

Half-Productive Tasks I Do When I Work is a post from: Writing Consultation

Google Wave has hit the internet.

Google Wave is an online tool for real-time communication and collaboration. A wave can be both a conversation
and a document where people can discuss and work together using richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.

[via Google Wave]

You have to be invited in order to use Google Wave as it is available as limited preview release.

I am lucky as a friend of mine has invited me for a preview. It looks promising to me.

How Google Wave can help freelancers to work?

I think that Google Wave is an excellent tool to collaborate on projects. If you are freelancing, you can easily work with different people using Google Wave at the same time. This way you can minimise business travel and save more time.

You can work at home easily and discuss with your clients at the same time. Basically, you should give it a try and if you are invited for the limited preview release, count yourself lucky!

Guide on Google Wave.

The truth is I am still learning about Google Wave and if you need a complete guide, Mashable has the most comprehensive guide.

Mashable Google Wave’s guide.

Learn more about Google Wave:

Google Wave is a post from: Writing Consultation

However, not everyone can afford these as they cost a bomb. Bear in mind that it is very difficult to upgrade laptops. Not to mention that you should get a laptop that is of high quality to avoid constant break down which in turn will ruin your work schedule and delay your work. If you can afford, invest in a good laptop so that you can use it for a long time.

Today, we are going to have a look at two laptops that are suitable for writing.

Most people prefer Apple. I would recommend the Apple Macbook Pro 17″.

Yes, it has a large screen which is easier for you to read whatever you have written.

Other specifications:

• 2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo Processor
• 4 GB DDR3 RAM
• 500 GB Hard Drive, DVD SuperDrive
• Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Operating System
• NVIDIA Geforce 9400M + 9600M GT Graphics, 17 inch LED Display

Basically, this is an ideal laptop for online business entrepreneur or writers. With this gadget, you will be smiling throughout your working hours. You get soft keypads, which provide comfort for your fingers. The UI is absolutely amazing and easy to navigate. You can bring your Macbook along to anywhere you want to go. This is a luxury and of course, you will need to sacrifice in order to get the best.

Apple MacBook Pro MC226LL/A 17-Inch Laptop

Apart from Apple, Microsoft powered laptops are also popular. Windows have always provide reliable OS and the latest they have is Windows 7. However, I am using Windows Vista and it never gives me any troubles at all. I am using a rather old laptop: Acer Aspire 4710 that comes with Windows Vista Home Basic.

Acer is a popular brand offering high quality products that you should check out.

Introducing Acer Aspire Timeline AS4810T-8480 14-Inch Aluminum laptop.

Specifications:

• 1.4GHz Intel Core2 Solo SU3500 Processor
• 4096MB Dual-Channel DDR3 1066MHz Memory
• 320GB SATA Hard Drive, 8X DVD-Super Multi Double-Layer Drive
• Windows Vista Home Premium (64 bit, SP1), Over 8 Hours of Battery Life (6-Cell 5600 mAh)
• 14″ HD Acer CineCrystal LED-backlit Display, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD

This is a divine gadget for any writers and it is cheaper than Apple Macbook Pro 17″. You get high quality laptop at an affordable price. Work comfortably without having to break your bank account. This is for those who are looking for cheap laptop.

Acer Aspire Timeline AS4810T-8480 14-Inch Aluminum Laptop – 8+ Hours Battery Life

With two examples of laptops, I am sure you will be able to make the best decision when it comes to buying a new laptop to start your writing career.

Check out more laptops for writing or online business

Laptops For Writers is a post from: Writing Consultation

I am going to move to a new place in October, 2009. This is going to be a drastic change as I will be moving to a small town from a big town.

Well, the small town’s name is Batu Gajah, Perak, if you want to have a look. It is my home town. I wasn’t born there, but I have been living in this small town for more than 10 years before I moved to the big town (i.e. Kuala Lumpur).

The main attraction is Kellie’s Castle. Strange fact: I have never been to the castle although my husband and I have seen the castle on our way back to home town many times.

Anyway, Ipoh is the capital of Perak and I was born in Ipoh.

So, why am I talking about moving to a new place?

Yes, being a freelance writer, it is easy for me to move to a new place since I work at home.

However, have you ever think that the problems such as adjusting to a new place, meeting new people and change of environment will cause a freelance writer to be in shock?

What if the freelance writer is having problems writing in a new place?

Anxiety was the very first emotion that struck me when my husband told me we are going to move. Then, fear was attacking me right in my mind. After that, I had sleepless nights.

I can’t imagine how I would feel once I have moved. I might be shock. I might be unhappy.

Thank God, I am feeling better now, after telling my husband about my concerns.

Let me break down my problems and the causes of my problems in sequence.

The problems

• I am afraid of moving back to home town.
• I am having anxiety.
• I fear that I will not be able to work well in a new place (seriously I tried to work when my husband and I went back to home town during holidays and it sucks).
• I enjoy my privacy in big town. In small town, people might knock on your door anytime of the day (and night).

The causes

• It is a small town, I am used to live in a big town.
• I am scared that things might change between my husband and I.
• My parents-in-law are there. My parents are there. Imagine the stress I am having.
• My husband’s relatives are mostly there as well and they like to ask him for help most of the time.

So, now I need to find solutions.

After reading some articles about moving places and how to deal with anxiety, I guess I have the solutions.

The solutions

• Think positive.
• I can still do what I want to do.
• Think about how my husband needs me.
• See this move as a way out towards success.

The most effective way to counter all writing-related fear is to think of the many inspirations I can get in a new place.

However, to counter new life worries, I will have to think about all the positive things such as:

• More money saving (which is true in my case).
• Clean environment (more trees in small town).
• Quiet environment (more peace for more writing).

I just hope that everything will turn out the way I want and I pray that my husband’s business will flourish.

Why I am going back anyway?

My husband wants to start a business there. He can only do the business there because his partner (i.e. his cousin is there) and it is easier to get the land he needs.

I am fully 100% supporting my husband and his business.

p/s: I need to write this post because I need to deal with my fear. Thanks for reading.

Freelancing and Moving To a New Place is a post from: Writing Consultation

I cannot stop viewing Ihashotdog.com.

This condition developed recently after I came back from a holiday. The thing is I am so hooked on to this Ihashotdog.com blog featuring cute doggies – especially when I am so in love with dogs.

So, here is the example of my daily chronicles this week.

Monday: Ihashotdog.com + 2 hours of serious work
Tuesday: Ihashotdog.com + 5 hours of work
Wednesday: Ihashotdog.com + 1 hour of playing games + 3 hours of article writing
Thursday: Ihashotdog.com + 4 hours of article marketing
Friday: I hashotdog.com + an article on how addicted I am

My solution? I will have to ban all sites except Google. Wish I could do that easily.

My hope is that next week, I will get back in tune with working 24/7 as I have always been.

*Sigh*

How can you resist when you get to see doggies like this one:

see more dog and puppy pictures

Why I Hate Myself This Week is a post from: Writing Consultation

photo credit: jennifer buehrer

These few days I have been having a hard time to concentrate on writing. Most of the time, it would be because everything is so important that I have to complete all at the same time. Then, there will be the moment when I feel bored about writing. Although these are temporary, I need to find a way to keep on going writing without feeling:

a. exhausted – sometimes, it is tiring to write

b. bored – just happen naturally

So, here are ten tips to help me (and you) get going in writing.

1. Spend at least 5 minutes a day to write something. This is some sort of practice to keep us in tune with writing. Imagine not writing for days (when we are on holiday or something), it would be difficult to pick up the momentum. It is similar to starting the engine in the morning. If you do not start the engine everyday for a minute or two, the engine won’t start easily next time.

2. There is no reason to keep on writing without a stop. Don’t spend too much time in writing because your brain will be drained and ideas will have a hard time coming to us. Your brain deserves a rest. What to do when you are not writing? Check out ‘ Don’t Be Scared To Waste Time Browsing These ‘

3. Stop thinking about how much work you have completed. Concentrate on those that you haven’t.

4. Try to get rid of emails, social networking and IMs (Instant Messaging) when you are working. Those are the biggest culprit that disturb our work schedule.

5. As always when you are stuck, it is time to have a walk. Then come back and write more. Usually this trick really works, unless for some reason it doesn’t work for you.

6. When you write, make sure you sit on a nice and comfortable chair. The table should be equally comfortable too (not too small).I have a rather big table to accommodate a PC and a laptop (most of the time, there are also books lying around – *hint*).

7. Read a book in between those writing. A book doesn’t mean it has to be a boring type of book. Depends on what you love to read, you can read any books you want. I love to read comic books when I am stuck. This is why there are books lying around my working table. You can have fiction or non-fiction.

8. Time is important. Even if you have only ten minutes, you can put that to good use. Finish that sentence you wrote the other day or sort out your PC files. There is something you can do. Don’t think that the ‘ten minutes’ can’t settle anything.

9. When you write, it is best to make a draft before you really jump into the writing process. Often this will help you eliminate the writer’s block. Imagine starting to write without a clue. This is when writer’s block will strike.

10. Don’t forget to go out and have fun, and not just stay at home and write, write, write. Embrace your real life social life will definitely help you more in your writing, rather than spending more time with your online social networking (although online social networking helps too).

*****

Some online references for you to dig in:

15 Ways To Break Writer’s Block

Break Through Writer’s Block

*****

Books to help you:

Creative Block

The Writer’s Block: 786 Ideas to Jump-Start Your Imagination

Ten Tips To Get Going In Writing is a post from: Writing Consultation

The advantages of working with another freelancer:

1. You get more ideas by collaborating with another freelancer. This is generally because two brains are better than one. However, beware that too many cooks spoiled the soup.

2. You get to divide the workload so you don’t over work and burn out. This is important because most of the time, you will have to get everything done on time.

The disadvantages of working with another freelancer:

1. You need to charge a higher fee considering that you need to split the amount (unless if you can charge less, depending on your negotiation with the other freelancer).

2. Sometimes, bad communication might happen and things get bad. You might get into arguments and project is delayed or abandoned.

3. If the other freelancer is not happy with you, he/she might back stab you. Beware!

Conclusion:

Whether you want to collaborate with someone else or work on a project on your own is totally your call. There is no pressure to work with someone else if you don’t want to.

Have any more advantages or disadvantages? Leave a comment!

Is It Good To Work With Other Freelancers? is a post from: Writing Consultation