Tuesday’s writing tip for authors

A new generation of online resources makes it easy for authors to keep track of ideas while planning, writing, promoting, and profiting from their book. Because ideas are stored online, authors can update and track ideas at work, at home, and while traveling.

Equally important, by creating, saving, and tracking ideas and resources online, you can easily share them with others, including co-workers, family, employees, clients, customers, and prospects!

Centralized online idea tracking

An easy way to get started tracking ideas online is to assemble a list of online resources and save them at URLI.ST.

Within 10 minutes of discovering Urli.st,  thanks to a post I discovered Sunday night on the always-rewarding Swiss-Miss blog, I began two lists, which have, in the interim, tripled in size.  My two lists are:

• Roger C. Parker’s list of best writing books. This is a project I’ve long wanted to create, but didn’t know where to save it. By saving it online, I can instantly update it in my office and at home.

• Free Online Writing Resources for Authors. This is another example of tracking online resources in a location that can be instantly updated from any computer with Internet access.
  

Fast, easy, online tracking and updating

One of the nicest things about Urli.st is the ease of immediately adding new online resources while you’re on the sites.

By dragging the Bookmarklet to your Internet browser’s bookmarks bar, you can add a new URL to your list by simply clicking. The saved resource will include the descriptive page title as well as the URL.

One of the best uses of online URL tracking for authors researching their book online is to assemble separate resource lists for each chapter of their book. Each time they come across a relevant article or blog post, they can associate the resource with the relevant chapter of their book.

Other Urli.st benefits

Here are some adding features you’ll enjoy while setting up your lists and tracking your ideas online:

• List order. While reviewing your tracking list, you can rearrange the list order by dragging items into a new position.
  
• Easy sharing. Each of your tracking lists has a unique, shortened URL. Clicking the Share button copies the URL to your computer memory, making it easy to share the link on Twitter or in your e-mails.
  
• Online collaboration. Not only can you share your lists with others, but you can allow others to add to your tracking lists. Thus, co-workers can add resources, or family members can suggest restaurants and area attractions before vacations.
• Easy registration. Your Google or Twitter username and password is enough to get started creating your first list.
  

Suggested applications for authors

In addition to using Urli.st to assemble lists of recommended books and tracking free online writing resources, authors can track existing books in their field, blogs and websites of competing authors, and compile lists of online resources and tools. Best of all, you can control who can access your lists, and you can access your lists at home or work. Once you familarize yourself with tracking ideas online, you’ll quickly realize there’s life beyond your hard drive. What do you think? What are some additional ways you can profit from tracking ideas online with tools like Urli.st?