Gathered from AHCJ members and compiled by Bara Vaida.
TRANSCRIPTION SERVICES AND RECORDING PHONE INTERVIEWS
No Notes
Can record in-person and phone interviews and have them transcribed for about $1 a minute.
Total Recall
This app provides a widget during the call to start recording, and it can sync the finished files to Google Drive for backup.
TapeACall
An app that records calls from anywhere on your cell phone, converts them into mp3 files and then stores the files.
CallRecorder for Skype
This program can record both audio and video calls and convert them to mp3 files. Use either AudioNote or PearNote to take notes that are indexed to the CallRecorder file.
F5-2 Transkription
A German program that uses hot keys to advance, stop, start, backup, etc.
Rev.com
For recording and transcribing phone interviews. However, as a caution to AHCJ’ers, Maryn McKenna of the freelance committee says Rev.com has recently had trouble completing orders, so this may no longer be a good resource.
Cogi
To record interviews.
NCH Software
For transcribing audio recordings
TIME TRACKERS/ ACCOUNTING
Toggle
Free time tracking tool that can be used on the desktop or mobile phone. Works with Apple and PC operating systems.
RescueTime
Can track your time to find out that you spent X hours today in your writing and Y hours checking social media.
Harvest
Free time tracking site and app. It lets you track time by client, copy receipts, and invoice.
Hours
To track time (for Apple only):
Freshbooks
It has a timer in it if you are billing by the hour and when you want to send an invoice, you simply instruct the system which hours you want from what project to be billed to which client.
Billings Pro
To track the projects and create invoices. The timer is right at the top of the
screen.
QuickBooks
To manage billings
ORGANIZATION
Evernote
Is great for keeping track of links and for things on the fly, short-term storage (e.g. for a blog post)
Mendeley
Useful for organizing citations
Scrivener
For writing and organization. Scrivener lets you gather all notes, links to websites and drafts in one place. The program exports Scrivener documents to many formats, including MS Word. Works best for Apple users
DevonThink
For organizing your documents and databases
Insight Timer
For the work-life balance.
OmniFocus
To track tasks
Google Books Downloader
For scraping any book content that Google Books posts: full book or preview, and you can limit it by pages.
xPad
For quick note-taking; I keep it open on my desktop. It exports in .rtf.
CREATING A WEBSITE
WordPress
For creating a website.
Wix
Another free site for building websites
Google Analytics
To track people coming to the website and learn what pages they are reading
OTHER RESOURCES – STORIES AND WEBSITES
7 Tips For Getting New Freelance Work, Even When You are Busy
From the Content Standard
Tips for A Freelancer Handling a Tax Audit
From The Writer
5 Steps for Overcoming Writer’s Block
from Writer’s Digest
100 Best Websites for Writers in 2016
From The Write Life
Wordrates
A website written by author Scott Carney who wrote the ebook, The Quick and Dirty Guide to Freelance Writing. You can get the book free if you give him your email address.
The Freelancer’s Union
Non-profit that aims to support the interests of freelancer writers.
Freelance Success
An online newsletter that aims to connect freelancers with editors and other freelance writers.
SCORE
A volunteer network that provides mentoring, advice and web-based education on most facets of starting or running a business.
Women’s Business Centers
A national network of educational centers that assist entrepreneurs (men as well as women) in starting and growing small businesses.
The Business of Freelancing: Getting to Six Figures
A web-based course from Debra Gordon, a medical writer with a thriving health care communications business.
American Society of Journalists and Authors
Professional development organization for freelance writers.
Mediabisto
An online media jobs listing site, which also offers professional journalism training courses.
Writer’s Market
A guide for getting published and places to market your work.
