Ramblings-n-Writings

I’ve been wanting to write a post about a free program I downloaded awhile back. Since I didn’t do a Friday Featurette yesterday, or last week for that matter, I thought I’d write about FreeMind tonight. If you are looking for a way to organize all of those ideas floating in your head or those pages of research for your next novel, you might want to consider FreeMind.

I actually haven’t used FreeMind very much, but I think it would be a wonderful way to keep research organized or map out a character sketch or character relationships. Quite a few programs like FreeMind are out there, and this one isn’t the prettiest, but it’s free and functional. Other programs have all sorts of graphics and pictures you can use, and from my limited use, those features don’t seem to be available in FreeMind.

If you’re not a writer, I’ve actually used FreeMind to make necessity/want lists, organize project ideas and make a few other experimental mini-maps.

Take a few minutes to check out the FreeMind website, particularly the screenshots to get an idea of what the program looks like.

Another site (where I first read about FreeMind) that I want to briefly highlight is Bootstrapper’s 100 Tools Freelancers Can’t Live Without. You’ll find recommendations for internet browsing software, freelance work resources, organization and task management, communication tools, mind mapping, accounting, travel, and learning resources. All of the recommended programs have a brief description along with a link to the appropriate website.

Last week I wrote a post in response to Dianne’s question about how I manage my time. I focused mainly on the actual “time management” part suggesting a work / reward system, using a timer etc. One thing that I need to be more careful of and feel that I do a pretty poor job of at times is balance. I hadn’t really thought about this until I read Rachelle’s post about the work – life balance.

I can manage my time all I want, but if I have the wrong balance – too much work or too much play – the evidence is there. Sometimes, as a freelancer working from home, I feel like I’m on a see-saw. Home is great (up), work is suffering (down). Work is great (up), home is suffering (down). And it’s a constant back-and-forth (or maybe it’s up-and-down to stick with the see-saw analogy). I wish I could figure out how to balance the see-saw (I remember trying that at recess during my elementary school days. It was so exciting – even if it lasted only a couple of seconds!) Rachelle’s comment – “In fact, I feel like a failure at it (the balance) almost everyday” – describes me perfectly.

I’m going to ponder the things I learned from Rachelle’s post, maybe write a future post on it, maybe not. Make sure you stop by Rachelle’s to read her post, though! I particularly enjoyed the comments to her first post so make sure to read those for more food for thought. She also wrote a follow-up post the following day, so read that too!