Now that you know a little about me and where I’m coming from, I’d like to talk a little about getting set up for a successful freelancing and sub-contracting career. In his post last week, Nelson gave a great explanation of how oDesk works. Now that you know how it works, I’d like to discuss tools of the trade.

The Freelancer’s Toolbox:

There are three main elements in your toolbox, and the good news is that if you’re reading this you either have them all, or can get them. In this post I want to focus on your computer, we’ll move on to software and your work space later on in the series.

Computer Hardware:

It’s easy enough to walk into a store and get a computer, the problem is that not all computers are created equal. Go into any store from Wal*Mart to Best Buy and you’ll see them lined up from one end to the other, each with a little card or sticker listing its specifications. So far so good, but which specifications are most important?

Probably not the ones you think: Yes things like processor speed, memory, video card, and hard drive space are important, but when you look at a computer as part of your toolbox, other things come to the fore.

When it comes to working as a freelancer, especially a freelance writer, the three most important things are your monitor, your keyboard and your mouse.

Your Monitor:

Pay attention to this, you’re going to be staring at it all day. Too often, you buy a computer and it comes bundled with the cheapest monitor they could find. Cheap monitors are hard on the eyes. You need to find a monitor that displays crisp clear text. If you’re an artist or graphic designer you also need good color reproduction.

My suggestion to you is never buy a monitor you haven’t seen. Go to the store and take a look at what they have on display; if possible see if you can get a look at a text document, not just a background scene tailored to show it off in the best light possible.

Your Keyboard:

I’m a writer, so I type a lot. Depending on the project I can type anywhere from ten to twenty pages in a given day. Needless to say, that gives my keyboard a real workout and I go through keyboards pretty often.

When you buy a computer, it almost always comes with a keyboard. The problem is that it normally comes with a cheap keyboard. A quick look online shows you can find cheap keyboards for as little as three dollars. Unfortunately, they’re worth every penny.

If you’re going to work, you need a good keyboard. I use an ergonomic keyboard, with both the split and the hump, and believe me it makes a difference. I started my first novel on a regular keyboard, and switched to split about a quarter of the way in. The difference was dramatic. Once I’d got used to the shape my daily production went up almost fifty percent.

I’m not saying you need a split keyboard, but you should take the time to find a good one. Cheap keyboards have poor tactile response, the keys feel mushy, and they don’t last under heavy use. Good ones are easier on your hands and wrists, last longer and help keep you more productive.

Your Mouse:

This is the third, and I have to say least important of the three. That doesn’t mean it’s unimportant, just that it’s less important than the other two. I know it’s repetitive, but I have to mention that the mice that come bundled with a new computer are usually pretty cheap. Many people have no problems with them, but that doesn’t hold true for everyone. Good mice not only last longer, but they’re also better balanced and easier to hold. This may not mean much at first, but if you’re going to spend hours every day working on your computer, it will make a difference.

Putting it Together:

If you’ve read this far you might wonder why I haven’t put more attention to things like processor speed and hard drive space. The reason for this is simple. Most modern computers have more than enough processing power, and more than enough hard drive space for just about anything you will need to do. They may be a little short on memory (RAM) but that’s usually the cheapest upgrade. They are also components that interact with other parts of the computer, rather than the user.

What makes a successful freelancer is the person, not the tools they’re using. That’s why the parts of the computer that are most important are those the user interacts with directly.

Next time I’m planning on talking about software. If you’ve got any questions or comments don’t hesitate to ask.

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