Since then, I moved some of my documents to Google Docs, and I love it. I know the files exist in an easily accessible location no matter which computer I am using.

The only drawback is that I frequently use my Netbook in areas where I have no Internet access. (Yes, I know it seems silly to use a Netbook without the Internet, but I bought it for size and portability, too.) If I know what I will be working on, though, I just download it to my hard drive before I leave the house. This method of working has the added benefit of adding an extra backup of the file, which pleases me to no end.

I don’t use Google Documents for everything. The novel and novella still live on my hard drive—the type of writing I do for those pieces just isn’t conducive to a quick in and out. I need to focus, and I frequently need to turn off my wireless Internet to minimize my distractions.

But Google Docs is perfect for short stories, articles in progress, query letters, and assignments for my Perfect Pitching class. (I am loving the class so far, by the way. I’ll post a review at the end.) I also keep my submissions tracking spreadsheet there.

Let me know how you are using the cloud.

I had myriad issues with my previous laptop, and because of those issues, I became a huge fan of free online file storage. I created multiple drop.io sites to store documents, I kept things in my Gmail and other online mail accounts, and I told my mail client to leave messages on the server for 10 days, just in case. Of course, when my laptop died, I realized that 10 days isn’t enough, because I lost all of my email older than 10 days, as well as any messages I sent using the client instead of webmail, but that is neither here nor there, and I will recover that email as soon as I pull out the old hard drive and connect it to a working computer.

Backups are important, and Web services are a great way to backup your important files at no cost. But, what about the other cloud computing options available to you?

I have made some use of Google documents, either to open a file attached to my email and check that it is the most recent version or to store copies of my resume and CV for use at any time (hey, you never know when you might need to send out a query or respond to a job posting).

But I haven’t used it for drafting. I was using Word and Works for that, and I recently put Open Office on both the laptop and the netbook. I still need to have access to my files without finding Internet access, so for me the cloud is my backup.

What about you? Are you writing in the cloud, or are you sticking firmly with the safety of your own hard drive?

A few agents have made themselves available on Twitter, and they provide good information for aspiring writers.

• NathanBransford
• Jessica Faust
• Colleen Lindsay
• Kim Lionetti
• Lauren MacLeod
• Jenny Rappaport
• Kate Schafer Testerman

In addition, add these blogs to your Google Reader or other blog subscription tool. (Yes, there are some of the same people listed.)

• BookEnds, LLC — A Literary Agency
• Nathan Bransford, Literary Agent
• Fine Print Literary Management
• Rachelle Gardner, Literary Agent
• Jennifer Jackson
• KT Literary
• Janet Reid, Literary Agent

I know there are other agents out there, and you’ll want to find the ones that represent your genre and read their submission guidelines, follow them on Twitter or Facebook, and visit their blogs regularly.

Are there any agents you have found on the social media landscape that you would like to add?

I’m not a longhand kind of gal–I want my words to be electronic from the get-go. So, even though I have notepads, I don’t think they are the best solution for me. I would just have to type in everything I wrote later.

And I have my laptop, but it is big and heavy, so it is not ideal to bring to work.

My dream is a foldable keyboard for my iPod Touch. They used to have some for Palms, and that would be easy to carry in my purse. Sadly, there is no such thing. I could do some weird workaround, but I don’t quite understand how to do it, and it seems like a lot of work for something that may not work.

What do you do? Schlepp the heavy laptop? Use a Netbook? Use paper and pen?

Well, here are some of the essential people to follow on Twitter to help you build your freelance career. (Listed in no particular order)

@DebNG: Deb is the founder of the Freelance Writing Jobs blog. She tweets about the freelance life and when she has new posts or job leads. Deb is an advocate for fair pay for freelance work.

@QueryFreeWriter: Jennifer Mattern runs this group and associated Twitter account. I’ve included quite a few of her posts on freelancing in my roundups. The goal is to clue freelancers in about career paths that focus less on a life of writing query after query and more on billable projects.

@FreelanceFolder: Tips and posts to help you lead a successful freelance life.

@FreelanceSW: Another great source for tips about leading a successful freelance life.

@WendyBurt: Wendy Burt provides information about contests, interviews with successful writers, and advice based on her experience as a full-time freelance writer.

@LFormichelli: Another full-time freelancer, Linda Formichelli offers training in various aspects of freelance writing.

@thewritermama: Christina Katz is the author of Writer Mama and Get Known Before the Book Deal, two essential components of any writers’ toolkit. Writer Mama provides advice for building a writing career around kids, but the advice applies for any writer who has limited time.

@TXWriter: Laura Spencer is a writer and blogger. She hosts a great blog and tweets about her new posts–and other topics.

@standoutcopy: Ellen Buchine is a freelance copywriter. She shares tips for creating clean, effective copy and using words wisely.

@JaneFriedman: Jane Friedman is the publisher of Writer’s Digest/

@bakercom1: Pam Baker is another freelancer. She provides a model of how to use Twitter to find writing gigs and sources.

@AnneWayman: Anne Wayman runs the About Freelance Writing blog.

@mariaschneider: Maria is a freelancer who used to be the editor of Writer’s Digest. She tweets interesting resources for writers.

@WritersDigest: Official Twitter account for the writer’s bible.

@MediaBistro: MediaBistro is a site targeted toward media professionals.

@AvantGuild: The members-only section of the Media Bistro web site. This account tweets about events and courses.

What about you? Who do you follow in Twitter? What blogs about writing can you simply not live without?

Of course, this means I have one more goal for the month of June…

1. Google Reader

I feel like I’m a little late to this game, but I’m absolutely in love with Google Reader. It’s free, and it gathers all of the blogs I follow into one handy place that I can read no matter which computer I’m working on.

It automatically gathered the blogs I followed in Blogger, and it lets me easily add new blogs I come across

2. Merriam-Webster Online

Why waste my time flipping through a paper dictionary when I can go online and search for correct spellings and synonyms and antonyms?

3. Text messaging

Inspiration strikes in strange places. Usually when I am nowhere near my computer. When I’m in the grocery store or walking down the street or (don’t tell the policeman) driving, I can capture it in a quick text message and send it to my personal email account. That way, the idea is there next time I turn on the computer.

I have a texting plan on my phone, so I’m not charged for each message. If you are charged per text, you can save each text as a draft, then set a reminder on your phone to check your drafts folder when you are back at your computer.

What are your favorite tools, technological or not?

yWriter is a free writing program that organizes your writing by scene and chapter, allowing for easy moves and renumbering.

The interface is a bit hard to get used to, and I will readily admit that I was not yet thinking of my WIP in terms of scenes when I began using the software two weeks ago. I am still in the mode where I am capturing the story as it comes to me. I will be more ready to think about scenes and motivation-reaction units in revisions.

Right now, I’m not sure it is the best choice for my first draft, but I love being able to shift scenes from chapter to chapter. Perhaps if I were not flying by the seat of my pants, I would be more able to relate to yWriter. It seems like a very valuable tool for an author who has a solid outline (or any outline that exists outside of her head).

Some comparable products include Storybook (open source), Story Weaver (commercial), and Dramatica Pro (commercial).