Freelancers Getting Organized

Some freelancer writers can certainly get by in less than clean conditions. Yet other freelancers (like me) could never survive a day, let alone an entire career, in a workspace that isn't somewhat clean. Fortunately, there are several methods of getting organized that all freelancers can utilize if they're willing to put in the effort.

A number of freelancers use notebooks to keep track of receipts, clients, deadlines, expenses, etc. My notebooks, especially those with spirals, look beaten up and mutilated to some extent within months or even just weeks. Once my notebook begins to look unrecognizable, I get a new notebook to add to my "collection."

Although these notebooks do save me an abundance of time, they also take up a ton of space. Currently, I have five notebooks that I constantly sift through to find information, and I like to have at least three of these notebooks with me whenever I'm working on the computer.

Microsoft OneNote 2010

A few days ago, in curiosity, I looked through some of the programs I have installed on my computer. I have Microsoft Office Professional 2010 installed on my computer, but the only program I ever use is Microsoft Word 2010. Well, for the first time, I explored everything Microsoft Office Professional 2010 had to offer.

The program that really caught my eye was OneNote. Having a digital notebook on my computer sounded oh, so appealing. I'd be able to have an organized notebook (or five) without sacrificing valuable desk space.

Moving!

Of course, moving the information from my physical notebook to my digital notebook would be no easy task. I had two options: I could photocopy each page and upload it to OneNote, or I could use my ultra-amazing typing skills. I choose the latter, since I prefer looking at computer text than my horrific handwriting.

I admit I've been lazy when it comes to moving. So far, all I’ve typed up is my short-term and long-term goals. I plan to type up my payments next.

What Can OneNote Do for You?

The only reason why I use OneNote is so I can organize and store important information. Yet other freelancers might use OneNote for more than just organization and storage.

If it fancies you, try using OneNote for research. Do you need to complete 50 articles about dogs for a client? Send all information you find on the web about dogs to OneNote. Right-click any spot on the page and a drop down menu should appear. Click on "Send to OneNote." Of course, this only works if you have OneNote installed on your computer.

Moving to OneNote won't be fun, but I expect the hassle to be worth it. I can't wait 'til the day I shove those notebooks aside to make room for my new printer. Once that day comes, I'll have nothing to worry about except backups!

How do you stay organized as a freelance writer? Are you planning on using OneNote?