How Do I Use OneLook?

There are certain symbol/word combinations that give you specific results. Use the “Example Searches” box to guide you in how to enter your words to get the results you’re looking for.

What’s The Word I’m Looking For?

The reverse dictionary, or “Concept” option in OneLook will be handy for times when you know the meaning of what you want to say, but just can’t think of the word you need. In the search box, enter the concept in a few words, a sentence, or even a related single word. Hitting the “Find Words” button will yield a list of words that best match that description.

How Should I Phrase This?

When you know the words you want to use, but you aren’t sure how to phrase it, use the “Find Phrases” option. Following the “Example Box” shown above, enter your word as shown. Entering **Word** will bring up a display of phrases with your word in them.

Customize It!

If you have read other articles by me, you already know I like to customize everything! This is no exception, so let’s dive into what can be changed to make it the way YOU want it to be!

1. Custom Background Color

There are 8 pastel colors to choose as your new background color. Just select the color you want and save the settings.

2. Display Options

I prefer to stay on the page, and have a new window open when I click a link. If you prefer a different option, there are three display options to choose from.Pick the one you prefer and save the settings.

3. Watch Your Language

OneLook isn’t just an English dictionary. This great tool displays your search in one of 6 languages and has a translating dictionary as well.

4. Wildcard Searches

When you do a search with the symbols and words, that is called a “Wild Card Search”.  You can choose to have your list displayed by “All Matches” or narrow the selection down by choosing  “Common Words & Phrases”, or “Common Words Only”.

Whether you’re a student, blogger or professional journalist, OneLook is an asset to any article. I’m interested to know what you use for inspiration when writing! Leave a comment and let us know what inspires you!

Image credit: peteoshea

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All of the below links are to Google Chrome apps and extensions from the Chrome Web Store. Many applications like MS Word or Open Office have some of these features built in, but not everyone used those apps to write. And if you are using a web-based word processor/ text editor application, you may not have any of them.

1. EZ Auto Corrector

EZ Auto Corrector is fantastic. Many people are used to the instant auto-correct of common words. With the amount of emails people send, it is good to have them at least appear like you know basic grammar. With this app enabled, you can type like you are sending an SMS. Some of the default corrections are:

• r – are
• u – you
• gr8 – great
• ur – you are

Another great use for EZ Auto Corrector is a text completer. When I used a Blackberry, there was something similar you could do on there. I had all kinds of shortcuts installed to complete common phrases. Here are some examples you could use to make typing faster.

• ty – thank you
• np – no problem
• yw – you’re welcome
• ang – angioplasty
• stg – small town girl

I did not see a character limit for the end result. It was able to add 50 characters as a replacement “word”

2. Write Space

If you use desktop applications like Write monkey or Darkroom, you will like Write Space. It offers a minimalist, distraction free place to write.

There are no real features to adjust while you are in the app. All you have on the screen is a word counter and it is at the very bottom.

If you want to change some settings, there are options accessible through the Manage Extensions menu. If you want a different background or font color, you will need to know the HTML code for the color.

3. Phras.in

Phras.in is a good word or grammar helper extension. It can tell you which word or phrase is more popular. There are many times where the English language can throw you for a loop and you aren’t really sure what word to use in a sentence. Simply open the app and type in the two choices into the text boxes to see which one is more popular.

You will see how may hits each one got. Underneath the results, there will be an explanation of the two words or phrases.

You can also access similar results by using this URL http://phras.in/phrase1/phrase2. Just replace phrase 1 and phrase 2 with the word or phrase you want to compare like this http://phras.in/alot/a lot

Conclusion

Writing is a process. it can take years to get to a point where you feel comfortable letting others read your work. As anyone who writes for a living will tell you, the only way to get better is to write… A LOT.

What are the writing applications or extensions you use in your Web browser?

Image credit: intro image

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Minimalist writing applications such as WriteRoom seek to close off the outside world, at least temporarily, and provide an immersive environment in order to get back to basics and concentrate on one thing – writing. Let’s take a closer look at WriteRoom alongside a couple of similar apps and discuss whether they may complement your workflow.

Do Minimalist Writing Apps Increase Productivity?

Whether you find minimalist writing applications conducive to your productivity will depend on your particular needs and working methods. Personally, I am something of a habitual ‘clicker’ and can rarely focus on one window for very long before I find myself checking out Twitter, catching up on emails or reading my RSS reader. For me, minimalist writing software has been a revelation and so much so, that I keep an old ‘beater Mac’ loaded up with WriteRoom and some relaxing music, given the job of word processor, in an attempt to draw a line between a computer for working on and a computer for relaxing on.

If you find yourself struggling to concentrate in today’s ever-connected and distraction filled world, or perhaps you just appreciate the aesthetics of minimalist user interface, then it may be worth considering a minimalist writing application.

Introducing WriteRoom

Whether the perception matches the sales figures or not, WriteRoom is often thought of as the platform standard on Mac OS X and the application which all others must measure themselves against. Indeed, this is with good reason, as developers Hog Bay Software have managed that rare balance of providing just enough features to encourage productivity, with an interface which contains extensive options to help you tweak the app to your own taste.

The classic WriteRoom interface as shown above is full screen and completely immersive, unceremoniously cutting off the rest of OS X unless the user navigates to the top of the screen or hits escape to reduce the app’s window size. The UI is also one which resembles an old style computer terminal and it is this no-frills, workmanlike approach which originally attracted me to the app; though to be clear, WriteRoom can be tweaked to use Rich Text fonts and various colour background and text, enabling it to resemble a more slick, Byword-style text editor too, as you can see from the screenshot below.

WriteRoom auto-saves every five seconds by default and unlike some other word processing software options, does so unobtrusively and without slowing down your writing (even on very old Macs). In addition, WriteRoom contains an option to add an ‘Edit In WriteRoom’ menu item within the ‘Edit’ menu of several other applications, such as Safari or Mail, lending the option of quickly switching to WriteRoom for composing your emails or web forms.

You can purchase WriteRoom for Mac from the Mac App Store here and though at $24.99, it isn’t the cheapest option, you can also try out a free 30-day demo, available from Hog Bay Software’s website here.

Alternatives To WriteRoom

WriteRoom is by no means the only such app currently available for OS X. In an attempt to bring something new to a genre which by its very nature limits additional features, competitors have found novel variations on the theme. I shall briefly list a couple of noteworthy contenders below:

Byword

Byword sets itself apart from WriteRoom and others with a novel (and optional) mode of scrolling text which developers Metaclassy refer to as ‘Typewriter scrolling mode’ – an interesting attempt to encourage the user to focus on exactly what is being written.

Though just as immersive as WriteRoom, Byword has its own distinctive feel in use and boasts Markdown compatibility, making Byword very useful for bloggers and web writers who use the text-to-HTML framework. I love Byword and it may have been my main focus of this piece if it did not require an Intel Mac and OS X Snow Leopard or later (WriteRoom works on PPC Macs and OS X Tiger).

OmmWriter Dana II

OmmWriter Dana II should appeal to those looking for something different. Instead of using a spartan interface, gentle rolling ambient tones (which can be disabled) are contrasted with soothing graphics in an effort to lull the listener into the correct state of mind in order to create.

Continuing OmmWriter’s unique approach to word processing, it is offered for a ‘pay what you like’ price, if you choose to buy on the developer’s own website here (minimum price of $4.11).

If you are not sure whether OmmWriter Dana II would suit your working methods, its predecessor OmmWriter Dana I (screenshot above) can also be downloaded for free here

Conclusion

Distraction free writing applications seem to be quite a polarising category of software, usually leaving users feeling strongly in favour or against, but for those of us who do enjoy using them, they can be an incredibly useful tool to help get work done.

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The human mind can be a beautiful thing. Great human minds have constructed towering structures, synthesized cures for diseases, and created works of art that inspire millions with hope and compassion. But even the best of minds need a little help, and often times, the more a person has floating around in his/her mind, the more likely it is to become a jumbled mess.

Mind-mapping is a way to organize one’s thoughts before taking action. One excellent free and open source mind-mappoing solution is XMind. Whether you need to brainstorm, create an outline, or even design an organizational chart, XMind is the perfect tool for the job.

Getting XMind

XMind is currently available for free download for Windows, Mac OS X, Debian/Ubuntu Linux, and in source code. The website also offers a portable version for Windows, Mac, and Linux all in one package, convenient for USB drives, and optional “XMind Pro” subscription services that add some advanced features.

Getting Started

Once you have XMind installed, you can get started right away. It will first ask you if you want to log in, enabling some of its participatory features. This is completely optional, and XMind will work whether you are connected to the Internet or not.

The initial screen will present you with the default balloon with the title “Central Topic”. To change the title, press the Spacebar. Type in the new title and press Enter.

To make a “main topic” press enter again. You will see it branch off from the central topic. If you press enter again, another main topic will appear off the central topic. Press the tab key to create a subtopic under one of the main topics. You can also make numerous subtopics using the same method. All of this makes it easy to get your mind juices flowing without taking your hands away from the keyboard.

Features

XMind comes with a number of useful features:

• Several different structure options, including map (the default), fishbone, spreadsheet, org, tree, and logic chart.
• Style elements such as font type, size, weight, color, alignment, shape of topic balloons, line type, and numbering.
• Global style elements like wallpaper, legend, branch colors, and tapered lines.
• The ability to add special notes to topics.
• Relationship markers to show topic correlation.
• Topic attachments for various file types.
• Topic summaries.
• Multiple sheets in a “workbook” with sheet thumbnails for easy identification.
• Predesigned templates for brainstorming, meetings, organizational charts, project management, reading journals, and personal management.
• Markers with both icons and color coding to categorize and classify.
• Export support for multiple formats, including HTML and Images.

Participatory Component

XMind takes mind-mapping a step beyond individual mind-mapping with its online services and features. One of its useful free services is called XMind Share, which allows users to upload their mind maps and share them freely with the public. Other users can then view, comment, and even download those mind maps.

Mind-mapping Made Easy

Overall, XMind is easy to use and has certainly helped me organize my thoughts better, particularly when I am writing something that is longer than a few pages and/or requires research. It is also very useful when planning events or organizing a group of people on a project. For students who need help brainstorming and outlining for writing, XMind can take their work to the next level. Ultimately, the ability to use it in presentations or share it with the world sets XMind apart from other mind-mapping software. Best of all XMind is free and open source.

What other mind-mapping software do you use?

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Illustrations

To insert an image in OpenOffice Writer, simply click “Insert->Picture->From File“.  Then, select the image that you want, and click OK.

By default, the text will wrap around  your picture. If you do not want this or want a different type of wrapping, right click on the picture and choose the appropriate wrap method from the wrap menu.

The next thing to consider is anchoring. By default, your image will be anchored to the paragraph.  That means that if text is inserted or delete above or below your paragraph, that picture will stay with the paragraph as it moves, even to another page. If your image is page-specific, you should right click, move your arrow to “Anchor” and click “To Page”.  You can also do all of this from the Graphics toolbar, if you have it enabled.

One final point to note is that your printing company may have specific requirements for images. Many will require an image to be 300ppi (pixels per inch). It is beyond the scope of this article to teach you about photo management, but you can read more about this issue.

Styles and Formatting

For most books, you will want the same font and font size throughout the entire book. You will also want the same indentation, margins, and other formatting. To begin, do the following:

1. Click on the Styles and Formatting button in the toolbar.

2. Right click on “First line indent” and click “New“. (That will create a style with indentation already set).

3. Give your style a name.

4. Click the Indents & Spacing tab. You can change the amount of indentation and line spacing (most books are single-spaced).

5. Click the Alignment tab. Most books have justified alignment.

6. Click the Text Flow tab.  Because your book will be justified, you will want hyphenation at the end to make the words flow nicely. Orphan and Widow control will keep single lines from ending up by themselves.

7. Click the “Font” tab and select the font, typeface, and size that you prefer. You can also select your language here.

8. Click the “Drop Caps” tab. If you want to display drop caps at the beginning of a paragraph, you can set that here.

Once you have your style the way you want it, click OK.  You will now have a style that you can apply to any text in your document.  By default, each paragraph will start with the previous style that you were using. You can even tweak that setting in the Organizer tab.

Exporting

Most professional printers will not accept Open Document Text (.odt) format. While that might change in the future, for now you will have to rely on other formats.  While some printers allow you to export to Microsoft Word document format, you should avoid this if you can.  Chances are, your styles and formatting will be altered in the conversion. The safest bet is to export in PDF or PS format.

OpenOffice.org has built-in support for PDF exporting.  Just follow these easy steps:

1. Click “File”

2. Click “Export as PDF”

3. Keep it on “Lossless compression”. You should leave the other settings as they are unless you have been specifically told to change something.

4. Click “Export”.

5. Choose a file name and location and click OK.

If you need to export a PostScript (PS) file, use this method:

1. Click “File” and “Print”

2. Check the “Print to file” box.

3. Click “Print”

4. Choose the location and file name.

5. Click OK.

With the skills you have learned in this series, you now have a basic understanding of book layout using OpenOffice.org.  There are other typsetting features, such as frames, that you may want to consider.  There are also typesetting applications like Scribus for more layout-intensive projects (such as magazines).  Depending on what you want to accomplish, there are free software tools available for your needs.  In the end you will have quality work at an affordable cost.

Further reading:

Positioning graphics within the text

Using frames for page layout

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There are a couple of things you should consider before proceeding:

1. If you are submitting your book to a publisher, they normally do not expect you to format the book or do any typesetting. That is their job. They just want the raw manuscript. In some cases, they may even insist that you use a particular generic font and not change default margins. Make sure you read their submission guidelines.

2. One of our readers mentioned that he usually formats his books after he finishes writing. This is undoubtedly the best method in most cases. What we created in Part 1 was a basic template that you can use without any further formatting needed before you start writing. Furthermore, if you are working for the publisher or are the publisher, the author might be someone else. In that case, you will take his or her text and prepare it.

Page Numbers

Basic page numbering is very easy in OpenOffice.org.  Just click Insert->Footer, and then click Insert->Fields->Page Number.  You can then left, center, or right align it. What that will give you is a page number at the bottom of every page (or at the top if you choose “Header” instead of footer).

In most non-fiction books, however, the page numbers are right aligned on the recto and left aligned on the verso. The result is that page numbers are always on the farthest ends of the pages away from the spine. The second problem to tackle is that page numbers normally start with the text, whereas the default numbering will start with your title page. This is where OpenOffice.org’s sophistication comes in handy. While it is easy to add page numbers, the available variations are extensive.

As I mentioned above, this particular part of layout is something that you must do after the book is completely finished, edited, reviewed, and ready for printing. Otherwise, you will most likely be wasting your time and will have to go back and make changes.

1. There are three page layout buttons at the bottom of your window. The first shows you one page at a time. The second shows you pages side-by-side, and the third specifically shows you mirrored pages like that of a book.  Click the third, and you should now have the title page by itself and then two pages mirrored throughout the rest of the document.

2. Count the pages preceding your first page of text. In my example, I have six.

3. Insert a header or footer. All of your page-number work will be performed there.

4. Go to your first page of text before proceeding so that you can see the results. Then,  click Insert->Fields->Other.

5. Under Type, select Page, leave it on Page numbers, and As Page Style.

6. This is the important part.  Under Offset enter the number of pages you just counted with a negative sign in front of it. In my example, I entered “-6″.

7. Click Insert. If your first page of text now has the number 1, you are good to go. If not, undo and recount until you are satisfied.

8. When you are satisfied, click Close.

9. Click on Format->Page.

10. Choose the Header or Footer tab, and un-check “Same content left/right“.

11. Click “OK” and scroll down to pages 2 and 3.

12. Highlight the number “3″ and right align it. Page 2 should still be left aligned.

Now all of your pages should alternate their page numbers properly. There is an alternative method of accomplishing this same task. You can read about both methods here.

Paragraph Styles

Another beautiful feature of OpenOffice.org is its extensive use of page and paragraph styles. You can even create styles for specific characters. Click on the “Styles and Formatting” button or simply press F11, and you will see a sidebar with all of the currently available paragraph styles. You can create a style and format it however you see fit. To begin with a style that is already created, right click on it and then click “New”. This will copy that style and allow you to build from it.

This is where you can control indentation, line spacing, alignment (which you will most like want to justify), text flow (books usually hyphenate at the end of lines), fonts, and much more. It is completely up to you or whoever is setting publication guidelines for you.

Give your style a name and select the “Next Style” drop-down menu. This allows you to identify which style the next paragraph will use. You could conceivably have two alternating styles or just the same style automatically applied whenever you start a new paragraph.

I have made a document with everything I have done available for download so that you can actually see and play with my changes. In Part 3, we will cover illustrations, more in-depth style techniques, and export formats.

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There is a long list of reasons why you might need to prepare an OpenOffice.org document in book form, and once you have learned how to do it, you will have a useful skill that you or people you know may need in the future. You can use this method for both print publications and e-books.

1. Start OpenOffice.org Writer with a regular blank document template.

The first thing you will need to do is set the size of your book. In my personal experience, it helped me tremendously with writing to be able to see each page at a normal book size rather than the 8.5″x11″ college essay size.  Suddenly, writing one hundred or two hundred pages will not take so long or seem so daunting.

2. Click “Format” in the menu and then click “Page…”

3. Enter in your custom width and height.

The current format will be “Letter”.  Many non-fiction paperbacks will be 6″x9″, while fiction paperbacks are often smaller sizes, such as 5.25″x7.5″. If you are doing this purely for effect, then it is entirely up to you. If you have to meet certain printing press specifications, follow them precisely.

There are lead  pages that always proceed the actual text of a book. If you are preparing a book for printing, they will be crucial. Bookstores rely on that information for stocking, and libraries rely on it for cataloging.

4. Create a title page.

There is no particular format set in stone, but a title page should include at least the title of the book and statement of responsibility (author’s name). If available, it should also include the publisher and place of publication. This is the place to be creative. You can use whatever font style and size you want. Create a manual page break at the end of the title page.

5. Create the title page verso.

This is the page directly on the other side of the title page and usually contains more detailed publication information, including copyright, ISBN, and CIP (cataloging in publication) data.

6. Click “Format” and “Paragraph”.

Click on the “Alignment” tab, and change it to “Justified”. From this point on, you will want your text to be justified.

7. Insert another page break, and you can enter any number of optional pages such as a dedication.

This can include a half title page with just the title or title and author’s name on the second to last page before the text. The final page before the text will be blank, and the text should begin on the recto or right-hand side.

8. Insert a page break and begin your text.

Most books will begin with a chapter number, chapter name, or both.

In part 2, you will learn how to properly align page numbers and format paragraphs. You are now well on your way to preparing your book for publication. Writing a book can be a very rewarding experience, even if you have no intentions of publishing. With OpenOffice.org, free and open source software, you have all the tools you need to make it happen. Happy writing!

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