Writing – Page 165 – Jean's Writing

How to look good on video

Published on August 26, 2015August 26, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

We’ve talked about making your best video.

And what programs make work the best.

But what about looking our best?

Rachelle Gardner came through with some really good and common sense tips to help us look good on video.

Wish I’d read her blog post before I made my videos.

Read her blog post, How to Look Good on Your Webcam and make a better video.

Please share my post with your Facebook and Twitter friends.

If you’re not already, I’d be much obliged if you would follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Are you staying current?

Published on August 25, 2015August 24, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell7 Comments

What’s current in your genre?

Do you know?

Want to write YA?

Find out what they are reading and writing. Stay Young at Heart

A good place to start is WattPad.

One of my granddaughters, a writer of fanfiction, turned me on to Wattpad. There you can see what’s trending with the YA group, find contests and even test the waters, if you’re brave enough.

Are you writing murder and mayhem? Romance? Hot XXX? Or Children’s books?

So maybe you need to find out what is trending in those genres. A good place to start is with the best sellers list. Check out what everyone is saying about the top ten on Amazon, Goodreads and Barns & Noble.

I don’t have a crystal ball, and I’m not suggesting that you try to guess what the next big thing will be. However, I do believe it’s good to stay current.

For instance, LOL is now old school. Sigh, I was just getting used to using it. LOL RIP

Reading and writing are an important part of my life and I’m always looking for ways to improve. Staying current and reading good writing, no matter the genre never fails to help.

Do you think it’s important to know what everyone is reading?

How do you stay current?

How do you keep your writing from getting stale?

Let me know in the comments section and then share this post with your Facebook and Twitter friends.
If you’re not already, I’d be much obliged if you would follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Do you know what to say?

Published on August 24, 2015August 23, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

How do you write a good bio without sounding like a politician?

As a woman who grew up in the South, I was instructed to be modest and not brag about myself. That boasting was vulgar.

So how in the hell can I write a good bio that will not seem either vulgar, boasting or worse come across as fake.

To make it worse each publication wants a different type of bio. Some want 50 words, others want to know everything about you. Sometimes the bio needs to be in first person, other times it needs to be written in third person. Sigh.

So I want to give a big shout out to Rachelle Gardner: Literary Agent, Editor & Publishing Coach, for her post on how to write a terrific bio.

No publishing credits?

You still need a bio and Rachel has suggestions to get you started.

Head over to her blog and read How to Write a Terrific Author Bio for some great tips. I don’t know about you, but I needed every one of them.

Please share my post with your Facebook and Twitter friends.

If you’re not already, I’d be much obliged if you would follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Do you use an editor?

Published on August 21, 2015August 21, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell10 Comments

Have you ever used an editor?

I have a great critique partner, whose help is invaluable. However, after reading the story behind Go Set a Watchman, I finally grasp the importance of a good editor.

Selecting an editor that specializes in the correct genre is important too.

I can’t think Editor Margaret Welwood enough for showing me how good a story can be with the right editor.

I found Margaret though a referral from Tom Blubaugh, on Linked In, so a big thanks to Tom for sending me to the right person.

Margaret not only found grammar issues, wrong comma here etc., but she helped be see flaws within the story and fix them. The end result was a polished product I could be proud of.