essential technologies for writers and editors

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Working editor or writer? Here’s the technology you need to succeed.

The days of editor or writer as ivory-tower eccentric are long gone. Today, communications professionals need to understand and use current technologies.

Here’s what we recommend all publications pros have at their disposal.

1. Microsoft Office 2007 and 2003. Yes, you need to buy Office 2007, and we recommend loading it on your system in addition to (rather than instead of) 2003.

2. Adobe Acrobat Standard. For creating PDFs and marking up documents using Adobe’s electronic highlighter, pencil, and sticky notes.

3. Compression utilities. You need WinZip, StuffIt, or the built-in compression features in Windows to “zip” and “unzip” files.

4. File sharing/transfer methodology. If you send large files only occasionally, having a YouSendIt account may be sufficient. If you need to share a large number of files with a large number of people, a true collaboration tool like Central Desktop or Microsoft SharePoint may be necessary.

5. Broadband. Now and then, you’ll run across a freelance editor still using a dial-up Internet connection. If you do, run the other direction.

6. Facsimile. Faxing is probably the least glamorous of technologies. But watch it rise above all the others when your client casually mentions that he wants to fax a few changes to you—and you don’t have a way to receive them. Your best bet is to use a combination fax/printer/copier/scanner; short of that, you can get by with a service like eFax or MyFax. Don’t believe me on this one? Check out Wired magazine’s article on why the fax isn’t going away anytime soon.