Comments on: The Green Writer http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/ Freelance Writing Jobs for All Writers Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:52:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Green Writers: A Freelancing Niche | GreenFreelancers.com http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-72126 Green Writers: A Freelancing Niche | GreenFreelancers.com Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:59:55 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-72126 [...] Freelance Writing Jobs Network has a special article entitled The Green Writer by Robin [...] [...] Freelance Writing Jobs Network has a special article entitled The Green Writer by Robin [...]

]]> By: James Chartrand - Men with Pens http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24375 James Chartrand - Men with Pens Wed, 07 May 2008 12:49:14 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24375 Don't use paper, period. And if you do, have a box nearby. When you're done with your paper, let the kids use it for coloring. Don’t use paper, period.

And if you do, have a box nearby. When you’re done with your paper, let the kids use it for coloring.

]]> By: Janet http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24269 Janet Tue, 06 May 2008 15:38:56 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24269 And, of course, before you recycle or donate your old computers, wipe the hard drive. You can delete stuff but it's still on there. Same for your cell phones -- empty out your personal information. Some police depts collect used cell phones for battered women's shelters; other organizations collect them for soldiers serving overseas. Your local community center might be able to use your old computer, especially if it's only a couple of years old. Good post! And, of course, before you recycle or donate your old computers, wipe the hard drive. You can delete stuff but it’s still on there. Same for your cell phones — empty out your personal information. Some police depts collect used cell phones for battered women’s shelters; other organizations collect them for soldiers serving overseas. Your local community center might be able to use your old computer, especially if it’s only a couple of years old.

Good post!

]]> By: Erika K http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24230 Erika K Tue, 06 May 2008 14:23:20 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24230 @Scribette, I just found out what a stapleless stapler is! It's a little gizmo punches a little hole through your pages and it somehow folds the little flaps together to make it secure. Sounds sophisticated but neat. @Scribette,

I just found out what a stapleless stapler is! It’s a little gizmo punches a little hole through your pages and it somehow folds the little flaps together to make it secure. Sounds sophisticated but neat.

]]> By: Erika K http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24226 Erika K Tue, 06 May 2008 14:18:33 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24226 I have donated a computer to our local educational support unit for a total tax write-off. I have also purchased cartridge refill kits online. Once in a while, I've just had to buy a new cartridge because I guess I wore it out with all the refilling! But Dell has a little envelope for sending back used cartridges. I also leave my color cartridge empty. I don't print anything in color. If I need the rare color printed item, I just go a Office Max or something. I do have to print things off at times, but I rarely have to send a hard copy of anything. I probably print more coloring pages for my kids than I print for my writing work. I have donated a computer to our local educational support unit for a total tax write-off. I have also purchased cartridge refill kits online. Once in a while, I’ve just had to buy a new cartridge because I guess I wore it out with all the refilling! But Dell has a little envelope for sending back used cartridges.

I also leave my color cartridge empty. I don’t print anything in color. If I need the rare color printed item, I just go a Office Max or something. I do have to print things off at times, but I rarely have to send a hard copy of anything. I probably print more coloring pages for my kids than I print for my writing work.

]]> By: Jennifer http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24217 Jennifer Tue, 06 May 2008 13:20:30 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24217 @Adam - Actually, computers aren't too terribly green. Millions of gallons of water are polluted in the creation and cooling of chips. And there are other serious issues concerning the mining of minerals for key components. And all this data we're sending across the net is stored somewhere, namely electricity guzzling servers. I don't know which is worse honestly. @Adam – Actually, computers aren’t too terribly green. Millions of gallons of water are polluted in the creation and cooling of chips. And there are other serious issues concerning the mining of minerals for key components.

And all this data we’re sending across the net is stored somewhere, namely electricity guzzling servers.

I don’t know which is worse honestly.

]]> By: Nicole Andrews http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24206 Nicole Andrews Tue, 06 May 2008 12:53:25 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24206 LOve this post! As a freelance art director and practitioner of shamanism my creative work has leaned towards green clients and I follow many of your suggestions above while working at home. Thx for spreading the green word(s). LOve this post! As a freelance art director and practitioner of shamanism my creative work has leaned towards green clients and I follow many of your suggestions above while working at home.

Thx for spreading the green word(s).

]]> By: bleeding espresso http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24181 bleeding espresso Tue, 06 May 2008 11:45:54 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24181 I'm a big believer in "every little bit helps" so I'm happy that you wrote this post Robin. I was laughing through Marie E's first comment because I'm working on a blog post to that very effect--how my grandparents lived "green" and taught me to do so as well because they had to! Now it makes it all that much easier for me to do things like use both sides of the paper and every scrap from junk mail, etc., because that's just how I grew up. Those life lessons from my grandparents just keep on givin' ;) I’m a big believer in “every little bit helps” so I’m happy that you wrote this post Robin.

I was laughing through Marie E’s first comment because I’m working on a blog post to that very effect–how my grandparents lived “green” and taught me to do so as well because they had to! Now it makes it all that much easier for me to do things like use both sides of the paper and every scrap from junk mail, etc., because that’s just how I grew up.

Those life lessons from my grandparents just keep on givin’ ;)

]]> By: Robin http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24139 Robin Tue, 06 May 2008 00:27:53 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24139 @Sue - Good point about the books, and if it something you feel strongly about, then keep buying them. I think that most of us have areas in our life that we are not willing to budge on so we try extra hard in other areas to help it even out. I suppose it's our personal way of carbon offsetting. @Adam - I'll have to checkout Green Print. I try to remember to not hit the general print button but to tell my printer to print page one only so I can avoid unwanted stray pages, but this program sounds like it could help in other areas. Do you use it? @Sue – Good point about the books, and if it something you feel strongly about, then keep buying them. I think that most of us have areas in our life that we are not willing to budge on so we try extra hard in other areas to help it even out. I suppose it’s our personal way of carbon offsetting.

@Adam – I’ll have to checkout Green Print. I try to remember to not hit the general print button but to tell my printer to print page one only so I can avoid unwanted stray pages, but this program sounds like it could help in other areas. Do you use it?

]]> By: Ronda http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24134 Ronda Mon, 05 May 2008 23:20:28 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24134 Sue - I'm with you on the book thing. I try to do everything as greenly as possible (including working from home), but, as a writer, I always feel guilty buying used books b/c I want to support my fellow starving artists. Is buying from a discounted seller (like Daedalus in maryland [www.salebooks.com])a good middle ground? Does anyone know if authors still make money off sales like that? Sue – I’m with you on the book thing. I try to do everything as greenly as possible (including working from home), but, as a writer, I always feel guilty buying used books b/c I want to support my fellow starving artists. Is buying from a discounted seller (like Daedalus in maryland [www.salebooks.com])a good middle ground? Does anyone know if authors still make money off sales like that?

]]> By: Adam http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24131 Adam Mon, 05 May 2008 22:58:30 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24131 There is a program on the web (free to download) called "Green Print" which helps prevent extra pages with little or no content from going through your printer. You know, like when you print a webpage and because it's too wide to fit on your screen you end up with 27 pages of a vertical line running from top to bottom, with no words. There is a program on the web (free to download) called “Green Print” which helps prevent extra pages with little or no content from going through your printer.

You know, like when you print a webpage and because it’s too wide to fit on your screen you end up with 27 pages of a vertical line running from top to bottom, with no words.

]]> By: Sue http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24128 Sue Mon, 05 May 2008 22:04:17 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24128 As a writer, I struggle with the suggestion to buy used books or go to the library. It's counterproductive and hurts the opportunity for new writers to get published. So I'll buy new books. On the other hand, I make up for that because not only do I work from home (no commute), my husband rides his bike to work every day. We put less than 9,000 miles on our cars combined last year. As a writer, I struggle with the suggestion to buy used books or go to the library. It’s counterproductive and hurts the opportunity for new writers to get published.

So I’ll buy new books. On the other hand, I make up for that because not only do I work from home (no commute), my husband rides his bike to work every day. We put less than 9,000 miles on our cars combined last year.

]]> By: Hazel http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24122 Hazel Mon, 05 May 2008 21:29:33 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24122 Hi Robin, Thanks for the ideas -- and the focus on green. I picked up a pointer or two. And one to pass on -- my printer allows me to set up profiles, and for my default I have a "draft" that has the ink intensity set pretty light. I use it most of time time, particularly when I'm looking at layouts and page breaks. I also have stopped saving paper copies of most things -- I PDF my assignments after submitting them and keep my files on the computer. Hi Robin,
Thanks for the ideas — and the focus on green. I picked up a pointer or two.
And one to pass on — my printer allows me to set up profiles, and for my default I have a “draft” that has the ink intensity set pretty light. I use it most of time time, particularly when I’m looking at layouts and page breaks. I also have stopped saving paper copies of most things — I PDF my assignments after submitting them and keep my files on the computer.

]]> By: Phil http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24119 Phil Mon, 05 May 2008 20:52:53 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24119 As for paper recycling, a lot of schools have dropoffs, and they get a few bucks per ton. As for paper recycling, a lot of schools have dropoffs, and they get a few bucks per ton.

]]> By: David Bowman http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24114 David Bowman Mon, 05 May 2008 19:45:57 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24114 We generate a lot of paper waste, unfortunately. Just recently we started our own recycling project to reduce the amount of our trash that goes to the dump. Just trying to do our part. We generate a lot of paper waste, unfortunately. Just recently we started our own recycling project to reduce the amount of our trash that goes to the dump. Just trying to do our part.

]]> By: Skippy http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24113 Skippy Mon, 05 May 2008 19:45:53 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24113 Marie, look around your town's website or other nearby towns if you live someplace small. In NYC they have days at least twice a year where you can bring old computers and cell phones to be picked up for recycling. Before you do anything with your computer, though, you might want to take out your hard drive and smash it up a bit. Marie, look around your town’s website or other nearby towns if you live someplace small. In NYC they have days at least twice a year where you can bring old computers and cell phones to be picked up for recycling. Before you do anything with your computer, though, you might want to take out your hard drive and smash it up a bit.

]]> By: Marie http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24112 Marie Mon, 05 May 2008 19:42:23 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24112 Thanks, Maria E and Scribette. Hopefully Staples will allow me to lay my trusty' ol friend to rest! Thanks, Maria E and Scribette. Hopefully Staples will allow me to lay my trusty’ ol friend to rest!

]]> By: Scribette http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24108 Scribette Mon, 05 May 2008 19:26:49 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24108 Marie - if you dont have a Staples nearby, you can also get in touch with a local environmental group ... I am sure they would have some ideas for you. :-) Marie – if you dont have a Staples nearby, you can also get in touch with a local environmental group … I am sure they would have some ideas for you. :-)

]]> By: Scribette http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24106 Scribette Mon, 05 May 2008 19:24:12 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24106 Hi! I, like many, already do all this 'stuff'! What is a stapleless stapler though?? Hi! I, like many, already do all this ‘stuff’!

What is a stapleless stapler though??

]]> By: Maria E. http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24104 Maria E. Mon, 05 May 2008 19:11:27 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24104 @ Marie - Staples is still supposedly taking old hardware to be recycled free of charge. Their ad said all you have to do is bring it to the store. @ Marie – Staples is still supposedly taking old hardware to be recycled free of charge. Their ad said all you have to do is bring it to the store.

]]> By: Marie http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24102 Marie Mon, 05 May 2008 19:04:07 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24102 Hey guys, my old MacBook died a few months back, and I have no idea what to do with it. I salvaged some (but sadly, not all) of the hard drive, so at this point I just want to dispose of it in the best way possible. Any ideas? Hey guys, my old MacBook died a few months back, and I have no idea what to do with it. I salvaged some (but sadly, not all) of the hard drive, so at this point I just want to dispose of it in the best way possible. Any ideas?

]]> By: Maria E. http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24099 Maria E. Mon, 05 May 2008 18:53:06 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24099 @Robin - You know you're right about everything you say in your post. I applaud your effort to try and turn things around. Maybe if enough people shout, others will start to hear. Who knows, it could happen. @Robin – You know you’re right about everything you say in your post. I applaud your effort to try and turn things around. Maybe if enough people shout, others will start to hear. Who knows, it could happen.

]]> By: Robin http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24098 Robin Mon, 05 May 2008 18:36:01 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24098 @Maria - I understand your skepticism. I'm skeptical about the longevity of the current environmental awareness, too, but I truly feel called to write and educate on this topic. Oh, and I have to print. I simply cannot catch all my typos on screen. @Adam -I'm not sure if you're joking or not. But if you're not, then I would say if you are truly, truly concerned with being green, turn off your computer right now! As writers there is a slim to none chance that we aren't going to consume some paper. But paper is a renewable source and if used wisely and efficiently, I'm okay with using it. It would be good for us, however, to encourage the print publications we do write for to use recycled paper. The one publication that I write a column for uses recycled paper and environmentally friendly printing processes. Deb- Thanks for the opportunity to guest post! @Maria – I understand your skepticism. I’m skeptical about the longevity of the current environmental awareness, too, but I truly feel called to write and educate on this topic.
Oh, and I have to print. I simply cannot catch all my typos on screen.

@Adam -I’m not sure if you’re joking or not. But if you’re not, then I would say if you are truly, truly concerned with being green, turn off your computer right now!
As writers there is a slim to none chance that we aren’t going to consume some paper. But paper is a renewable source and if used wisely and efficiently, I’m okay with using it.
It would be good for us, however, to encourage the print publications we do write for to use recycled paper. The one publication that I write a column for uses recycled paper and environmentally friendly printing processes.

Deb- Thanks for the opportunity to guest post!

]]> By: Maria E. http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24097 Maria E. Mon, 05 May 2008 18:23:20 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24097 @Adam - I must be the greenest writer of all, because I don't even turn on my printer any more. @Adam – I must be the greenest writer of all, because I don’t even turn on my printer any more.

]]> By: Maria E. http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2008/05/the-green-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-24096 Maria E. Mon, 05 May 2008 18:17:21 +0000 http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/the-green-writer/#comment-24096 @ Deb - As I said, I am a natural born cynic. I do think you're right that you gotta get'em while they're young. And I think some people will do that. However, if history is correct, I don't think the majority of people will make a concerted effort over the long term even though they know what's at stake. P.S. This is one time I hope with all my heart I'm proven wrong. @ Deb – As I said, I am a natural born cynic. I do think you’re right that you gotta get’em while they’re young. And I think some people will do that. However, if history is correct, I don’t think the majority of people will make a concerted effort over the long term even though they know what’s at stake.

P.S. This is one time I hope with all my heart I’m proven wrong.

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