Writer’s tools are extremely expensive, especially in terms of software. Here’s a great list of free open-source software designed just for writers.

First, lets define exactly what open source software really means. The term “open-source” comes from the idea that the source code of the software is revealed to the public, unlike Microdaft where everything is super-duper secret. (Or at least, so they think.) When the source code of a piece of software is available to anyone, it means that anyone in the software community can use it – within certain very loose guidelines – to create new software, create add-ons, refine the program, and so on. The one major caveat: they cannot take this free source code and sell it for a direct profit.

Does that mean it’s free? Well, sort of. There’s a strong code of ethics in the open-source community, and almost nobody abuses the grass-roots system that has grown up around this concept. Most people who contribute to open-source projects make their living by consulting, designing, supporting, and doing other things alongside the product of the open-source project, not the project itself.

However, this same code suggests that if there’s a donation button, and you’re happy with the software, then by all means, buy the programmer a virtual coffee. Realize that programmers of open-source software make only marginally more than your average freelance writer. Yep – a couple of bucks wouldn’t hurt either of you.

The website osalt.com has a massive database of open-source software for almost any purpose. (Be aware that they also offer downloads of commercial software – scroll past that to get to the free stuff.) But here are some of my personal recommendations for writers;

- OpenOffice, an alternative to Microserf Office. I have not used any MSO products for several years – this does more than MSO ever will, and looks almost identical. Virtually no learning curve, except for some exceptionally cool new stuff. Imagine this: free, does more, and fewer crashes. I once used this to layout an entire book for print, which I’ll talk about in a future blog post.

- WordPress, the blogging platform that this blog you’re reading is based upon. (This is different from WordPress.com, which is when you use it on a public server, which I do not generally endorse for writers.) I’m talking about WordPress.org, which offers the version that you can download and install on almost any webhost. A zany array of plugins and graphical themes are also available at WordPress.org/extend/.

- XMind, a mind-mapping application that can be used not only to distill your writing ideas, but also to map out characters, plot lines, and even help you figure out who the murderer is.

- PDF995, which although not really an open-source project, it is still free and very reliable. Even though you’ve read in other posts what a fan I am of Adobe products, I still use this for creating most of my PDF documents from typed documents, because it’s lighter and faster than the real thing. This version displays ads each time you use it, but you could just slap down the $10 and not see the ads.

- Celtx (pronounced “Kel-tix”) offers an alternative to the writer’s plague of crazy pieces of paper in every room of your house. Designed as a pre-production and planning tool for screenwriting and similar story-based art forms, it’s very useful for writers. Think of this as a digital binder, collecting your ideas and storyboards, not to mention the actual script, all in one place. Great collaboration tools for more than one contributor.

And for Writers Who Podcast…

- My beloved Audacity, the program that I use to record and edit almost all my audio podcasts. Easy to use, with cool built-in effects and a very forgiving undo button. Even the kids will love this.

- I recently discovered The Levelator, a dandy yet tiny application with big benefits for any podcaster. Smooths out levels and jumpy volume levels. This saves me hours of work.

If you can find a way to give back to the open-source community, please do so by donation or by promotion. It will keep writers in software for a long time coming.

OK – this post has nothing to do with writing, publishing, eBooks, podcasting, social media, or marketing. But, this easy cake recipe is seriously good.

Years ago, my mother used to bake this cake every Easter. She would bake it in a pan shaped like a lamb, smother it in butter icing, and then pat coconut onto it to look like the lamb’s fur. My sister and I loved to pick off the jelly beans that she used for eyes, and my dad would eat the licorice nose. My mother recently gave me the pan, and now I use the pan to make “Kitty Cakes” for my own little girl.

This recipe exactly fills the lamb pan, which was designed to take a standard Betty Crocker cake mix. So, that must mean that this recipe will fit any of those specialty character or shaped pans put out by Wilton Cake products.

Jean’s Special Whipping Cream Cake

(Originally taken From Sphere Magazine March 1975)

1 cup chilled whipping cream
2 whole eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

- beat cream in chilled bowl until stiff
- in separate bowl, beat eggs and vanilla till light and fluffy
- fold egg mixture into cream
- fold in all remaining ingreds in turn
- pour into a greased bundt pan

Bake at 350~ for 50-60 minutes. Cool cake in pan for 5 minutes, then invert onto wire rack to finish cooling.

To decorate a bundt-style cake, simply sprinkle w/ powdered sugar.

The beauty of this recipe is that it’s so good, you don’t need to ice it. I figure if I put the effort into a special homemade cake, I don’t have to bother with elaborate decorations. I have made this cake a lemon flavour by adding a tiny amount of artificial lemon flavour and yellow colour. It also tints nicely, because the cake is a nice clear white – not a yellow colour – so it can easily be made an attractive petal pink with just a dot of red food colour.

Have fun blowing out the candles!

Looking for ways to make your writing resolutions stick? I’ve compiled my list of the most influential books I’ve ever read, both as a writer and as a human being.

I found it impossible to sort these according to importance, with the possible exception of the first title, as all of them have had such great impact at different times of my life.

1. The Elements of Style, by Strunk & White

Reason it made the list: Satisfies the geekiest of urges to look up errors in grammar and punctuation. I get ridiculously emotional about this book.
Number of times read: I carry it in my purse at all times. No kidding.
What it will do for you: Hands-down easiest and best reference for grammar, punctuation, and language usage. Respected by everybody. It’s lighter than the Chicago Manual of Style, and faster to use. I cannot live without it, and read it like a novel.

2. How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie

Reason it made the list: Makes you think of your writing and yourself as part of a larger whole.
Number of times read: About 10, from age 12 on.
What it will do for you: Gives you the tools you need to communicate better with just about anyone, in any situation. Great gift for young adults, and a healthy reminder of valuable writing and speaking skills for a lifetime.

3. Nancy Drew and the Case of the Hidden Staircase, by Carolyn Keene

Reason it made the list: Reminds you to keep a level head, even when you’re chasing a ghost and your father has been kidnapped.
Number of times read: About 500 between the ages of 6 and 10. About 200 between the ages of 10 and 35. I used to own the entire series, but the bindings eventually collapsed.
What it will do for you: A great series of books for a curious little (or big) girl, teaching us to avoid letting emotions clog our rational processes. Includes many important useful tips, such as to always keep a flashlight in your purse, and how to use a bobby pin to pick a lock.

4. The Greatest Salesman in the World, by Og Mandino

Reason it made the list: Stop thinking this is a book about sales: it’s a story about a salesman who understood people.
Number of times read: Several.
What it will do for you: Falls into the category of classic motivational / professional development literature, whether you are in sales or not. A simple yet profound understanding of what motivates people. (This is sometimes found in the Christian section of your local independent bookstore, though the style is not overtly pastoral.) Note: Mandino wrote about something called “The Greatest Secret in the World” in 1975 – 31 years before Rhonda Byrne shared her “discovery” with anybody.

5. Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill

Reason it made the list: Before Tony Robbins, before Stephen Covey, and before Wayne Dyer, there was Mr. Hill and his 17 Laws of Success. This was the first of HIll’s books that I ever read. Given to me by my future husband on our second date, in lieu of flowers or candy. I knew then that he was the one for me.
Number of times read: I typically read it about once every 18 months or so.
What it will do for you: If you think it’s about being financially rich, you’re missing plenty. Hill was so far ahead of his time, which was the dirty 30′s, when we were recovering from that other depression. Don’t forget that Hill was a friend and protege of the wealthiest entrepreneur in the world at the time: Andrew Carnegie, an entirely self-made man. Fear of success? Fear no more.

6. Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

Reason it made the list: Had I not been obsessed with this book when I was in my formative writing years – about age 12 – I would be less of a writer today.
Number of times read: Many, and I should probably read it again.
What it will do for you: In my less-than-humble opinion, despite the best efforts of Oprah, we do not read enough classics anymore, and we’re not passing them on to the next generation of writers. This book is an excellent example of the Second Rule of Writing, Write What You Know. Nobody knew romance, heartbreak and misery better than the Bronte sisters.

7. Eat Right 4 Your Type, by Peter J. D’Adamo and Catherine Whitney

Reason it made the list: It’s hard to write well when you feel awful, and the plan in this book drastically improved my overall well-being.
Number of times read: I refer to it all the time.
What it will do for you: Gives you a much better understanding of how your body works and what it needs to work well, including your brain. It also happens to be a great example of a well-written, non-fiction book with fun anecdotes and excellent typesetting. Includes an interesting section about anthropology, and personality profiles associated with your blood type. (Turns out, I’m a writer by blood – literally and figuratively.)

8. Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody Mystery #1), by Elizabeth Peters

Reason it made the list: If there is a past life, I lived it in turn-of-the century Egypt, as an Englishwoman Archaeologist and amateur Detective.
Number of times read: I own at least one edition of each in the series – 18 in all, plus a companion book – including autographed copies. I usually have one of these on the go.
What it will do for you: The language used in these books reflects the vocabulary and spoken English of roughly the 1890′s to 1920′s, which is refreshingly complex. Why doesn’t anyone use grammar and sentence structure like this today? Rich sweeping vistas and stories that suck you in and make you read until 3am.

9. STORY: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting, by Robert McKee

Reason it made the list: All the world’s a stage, and Robert McKee teaches the writer how to tell a story, fiction or not, that will engage your readers.
Number of times read: About 3 from front-to-back, and refer to it regularly.
What it will do for you: Understanding how a classic story works is a key part of one’s basic writing skillset. The fiction formula taught by McKee is really based on ancient story-telling techniques of classic literature, and has numerous modern applications, far beyond that of writing a film script. Read it with this in mind, and you won’t be able to put it down. Spurs your imagination to great heights.

10. Feel the Fear… And Do It Anyway, by Susan Jeffers

Reason it made the list: Another great communication reference, which talks very specifically about the one emotion that motivates just about everyone to do just about everything.
Number of times read: I’m afraid to say.
What it will do for you: Get past that writer’s block by understanding where it really comes from. Develop a sense of confidence about your writing that you’ve never had before, and if you need to make changes, this book will definitely help you do that. Don’t limit this book’s potential for you by calling it a “self-help” title, as it is a very basic approach to a universal obstacle for all healthy people.

Enjoy!

Here are the the cool Christmas goodies that I have on my advance list for the show that was broadcast today, December 1st on BlogTalkRadio.com, “Christmas Gifts for Bloggers, Writers and Podcasters”. If you missed the show LIVE, you can listen anytime for free using the player in the blue and black box in the column at right.

These links are in no particular order. Thanks again to all those who took the time to respond and send me links to great products. I’m truly sorry that I didn’t have time to talk about all of them on the air.

• http://www.bigfeetpjs.com
• http://www.mousenvy.com
• http://www.etretouchy.com
• http://www.wildwords.us
• http://www.caffeinetest.com
• http://www.madewithmolecules.com
• http://www.tenonedesign.com
• http://www.animoto.com
• http://www.newtoyinc.com
• http://www.pathfinderluggage.com
• http://www.brickhousesecurity.com/voice-activated-digital-audio-recorder.html
• http://www.warmmouse.com
• http://www.polyvore.com
• http://www.writegirl.org
• http://www.wacom.com/bambootablet/
• http://www.takeaclass.org
• http://www.baboomenergyspray.com
• http://www.eyeslicesusa.com
• http://www.pencilbugs.com
• http://www.woodenhorsepub.com
• http://www.howmanydaysago.com

Thanks for listening! More great shows about publishing and marketing air every second Wednesday at 3:30 pm Pacific Time. Check us out next on December 3rd, when we will have co-host Chris Flett, the “GhostCEO”, on the show to talk about book marketing from a female author’s point of view.

On Monday December 1st 2008 at 3:30 until 4 pm Pacific I’ll be hosting a radio show LIVE on BlogTalkRadio.com – Christmas Gifts for Bloggers, Writers and Podcasters.

I’ve got a nice fat list of super cool stuff to tell you all about, plus I hope that any Bloggers, Writers and Podcasters out there will call into the show to tell us what they really want for Christmas! To call into the show during the LIVE broadcast on Monday December 1st at 3:30, simply dial from any phone: (347) 205-9352.

You can also submit your questions via the comments link below on this post, (the blue bar that invites you to “join the conversation”), via email to me directly at blogtalkradio@humanuspublishing.com, or even using the live chat box that will open about 30 minutes before the show, accessible at the direct link to the show.

Right after the show, you’ll see another post here that lists links to all the items I have on my advance list to tell you about, plus you’ll be able to listen to the show for free using the player at right. (The black and blue box with audio controls on it.)

Hope to hear you on the show!