Friday, June 14, 2013

Apps and Resources for Writers and POETRY FRIDAY!

.
Howdy, Campers and Happy Poetry Friday!

Thank you, Margaret, for hosting today
at Reflections on the Teche


I stress when I have a blog post to write on a favorite online writing resource and no time to write it.  Can you relate?  In that case, it's nice to have a caring blog-buddy name Carmela who has extra resources in her big floppy bag and tosses me one as I frantically run by.

 This is not Carmela Martino.

In the spirit of generous blogging, Carmela has handed me
20 Inspirational Apps and Online Resources for Writers.  How cool is that for a hot summer writing resource?

Yep, there are lots of great resources on that link.  However, may I express a nagging uneasiness about certain apps?  Based on several friends' recommendations, I downloaded Evernote, which is included in this list.  I was looking for a useful To Do List app and this apparently fits the bill.

What creeps me out was that in order to access this marvelous and free app, you have to allow it to access all of your contacts. 

ALL OF MY CONTACTS?  Evernote wants the phone number of my vet?  Of my dead podiatrist who I loved so much I cannot bring myself to delete from my phone?  Of Uncle Davie? 

 Uncle Davie and Eli.

Evernote wants/GETS all these precious people?

I couldn't do it.  I couldn't surrender my peeps for a free app.

PRIVATE
by April Halprin Wayland
I'm not openin'
my phone book 
to apps.
And I'm hopin'
your phone book
is snapped.
poem © 2013 April Halprin Wayland. All rights reserved


Now I'm off to my critique group.  Wish me luck!  And if you find that one of these resources is particularly wonderful, please let us know...and remember to enter our contest to win a copy of our very own Jill Esbaum's newest book!  Click for all the dino details: Angry Birds Playground: Dinosaurs. You still have time--the contest ends June 18th!
Dive into your summer writing!

drawing © 2013 April Halprin Wayland. All rights reserved

April Halprin Wayland

9 comments:

Ruth said...

Yeah, that is kind of creepy that they want all your contacts. I think you did the right thing!

Bridget Magee said...

Your poem captures that technological pervasiveness that is our society spot on, April! I don't have a "smart phone" (our's is dumb) so I don't have access to apps, but so many things on Facebook ask for way too much info, too! Kind of scary.

Jill said...

Ick, April. I won't give a third party this stuff, either. Creeps me out. It's bad enough that too many online retailers have my credit card on file. *shudder*

Carmela Martino said...

Love the photo, April. Wish it was me. :-)

I use a program/app called Springpad for my to-do list, though it has lots of other uses as well. It's free on came be used on your computer and other devices, like my NookColor. (I don't have a smart phone.) They didn't ask for my contact list when I signed up. You can check it out here:
http://springpad.com/about

April Halprin Wayland said...

Thanks for the vote of YES, Ruth. I think each app really does have a price and we have to decide what we're willing to pay...

Scary, creepy, icky--yes, Bridget & Jill. But, we're the first generation. We're all in this together and we'll get it right...it will just take awhile (she says optimistically!)

Carmela--I'll see if downloading Springpad on my phone is different. Maybe it asks for it if it's on a smartphone.

Mary Lee said...

That's a great list of resources!

Anonymous said...

I do use Evernote, but I don't recall allowing it access to my contacts? I like that I can write notes in it and email them to myself. I also used it once on my iPad when I had to make a speech. It was easier to read on the device. But I understand your concern. I don't think much that we do is private anymore. Someone somewhere knows that I am sitting in my kitchen typing this note to you. Hmm.

April Halprin Wayland said...

Margaret, perhaps Evernote doesn't ask for contacts if you're downloading it to a computer or pad...but it told me that's what it was going to do if I downloaded it to my smartphone...

...and yes, someone, somewhere does know that you and I are typing back and forth. (Yoo-whoo! Hi there!)

BJ Lee said...

lots of great resources! personally, I love grammar girl. She's helped me out many times with grammar issues