FireScribe - Tool for bloggers

I am always looking for tools that will make the writing process easier--especially when it comes to blogs lately. I have found just such a tool, which immediately caught my eye--ScribeFire for the FireFox browser (version 3). I have to admit that I have lost my patience with IE7 and its constant crashes and lockups.

This blogging tool works directly from the system tray of your browser. It allows you to add Flickr photos, YouTube videos and keeps a running list of all your current blogs and entries. FireScribe has been easy to set up, as well. I have to confess that I like this tool because of the user friendliness and the short learning curve. Not to say that it lacks any essential features for the beginning to accomplished blogger. Only the most advanced bloggers might wish for other features (that would usually require special skills, courses and a pilot's license, for the average person). For these advanced bloggers, WriteToMyBlog should fit the bill (I will cover this in another article).

ScribeFire allows you to alter timestamps, trackback URL's and ping sites directly from the user interface. You can even set Categories for your articles. It has a lengthy list of your entries at a glance, making for quick and easy access. You can make notes regarding any of your articles and attach them. These show up only for you, I assume.

You have easy formatting in Rich editing, Source editing and Live Preview of the post, just as in most any other user interface, but I like the fact that they have added the ability to add an impressive and sizeable list of special characters, as well. Letters can also be made much larger or very small at will. In addition to bold, italic and underline, you also have strikethrough. There are 10 fonts beyond the default font, each a fairly common and very readable font. I would like to see the ability to add a few more unusal ones, for the times that you demand some flair. Perhaps a future incarnation will offer it. I also noticed that you can justify the text and make ordered or unordered lists. What seems to be missing, however, is a spellchecker. Perhaps this was an oversight on the part of the programmers of the tool. You have to be confident with your spelling skills or a good proofreader (which you should do anyway).

I also love a feature that Blogger itself has sadly lacked in the past (unless you use Firefox, as I have lately done)--the ability to highlight and cut and paste text. I have never been able to do that in Blogger. If there is a way, it has eluded me. ScribeFire allows this easily and without the slightest complaint. I feel to rejoice!

The Promote tab beckons to me to delve into its mysteries and the Settings tab brings everything to the forefront in a snap, without the need or worry of having to first save the text or lose it in the page switch, as I have in Blogger in the past. As with anything, the proof is in the pudding, as they say. ScribeFire definitely works and I will likely be using it in the future on a regular basis. All in all, a very nice tool for blogging. Take care and happy writing, everyone.