Hi, my name is Jean M. Cogdell, and I’m so glad you stopped by for a visit.
If you have a creative spirit, you’ll feel right at home here at Jean’s Writing. On this website, I strive to share tips and inspiration to move us both up to a new level of creativity.
Beginner or pro doesn’t matter, together we will explore ways to become better writers, bloggers as well as how to produce a professional product. I hope you’ll find something to encourage you on your journey.
My desire to become a better writer led me to the world-wide-web. There I discovered hundreds of knowledgeable writers and bloggers willing to share their ability. Well, let me tell you, that day of discovery I became a kid in a candy shop.
Keeping up with all that information became quite a challenge. So, I started chronicling tips, tricks and information on my website to keep track of all this terrific information. Learning on the go. Kinda like a first-grader writes spelling words over and over before the big spelling test. Writing about the things I learn sears them in my brain. Anyway, that’s my hope.
Between the inspiration, support of my family and my deep southern roots, the stories pour out faster than I can write the nouns and verbs in the right order. The problem I have is how to write the stories true, and put my heart on the line.
Through this wonderful journey, I’ve met talented writers, illustrators, and editors who’ve helped me complete three children’s books, publish several short stories and set up my publishing company, Second Act Press.
My current work in progress is a suspense thriller. It’s slow going because I edit and rewrite as I go. I know, I shouldn’t, but it is what it is. One day I’ll type the end.
Click my Posts Page to read the latest tips and tricks. And be sure and click follow this blog button in the right column, that way you won’t miss a single post. You never know which one will send your creativity soaring.
Want to know more about me the person?
- Favorite people are family, which consists of 5 grands, 2 daughters and one amazing husband. Without their support, I would never have considered a second act.
- Enjoy traveling. Especially considering half of my family live in France. However, my joints don’t enjoy the long, cramped plane rides.
- Love Blue Bell Ice cream, Diet-coke, favorite dinner is Tex-Mex, occasionally indulge in fried chicken livers (a Southern thing,) good red wine or a well-made dirty martini.
- A game of Texas Holdem at a good casino is fun (only if I’m winning of course.)
- Music is a balm for the soul and never found a type I didn’t enjoy. But country music is my favorite.
- Love dancing the Texas Two Step.
- Karaoke is fun, but no one invites me to sing since I can’t carry a tune in a bucket, it’s best I stick to telling stories.
- My favorite pastime is reading! Nothing better than curling up with a good book. Except when I’m cheering on a little league baseball game.
- I grew up in a small South Carolina town in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains.
- But I now call Texas home.
- Writing prompts are fun ways to sharpen my writing, and I’m grateful for all the bloggers who provide so many interesting choices.



If you’d like to read some of my short stories, be sure to click on my published page.
Don’t forget to click over and read some of my latest posts.

Professional Bio:
Note:
I started my websites to share information free of charge in a way that both informs and entertains the reader. All I ask, in return is a citation to this source. I do my best to provide quality. However, I don’t guarantee, nor accept legal liability arising from or connected to, accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any material posted or on any sites linked to this website.
Please view my personal websites.
http://www.mantrimark.wordpress.com
http://www.mantri1948.simplesite.com
http://www.mantrimark.com
Twitte: @mrkndyl68
Please read my posts. Thanks.
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Thanks for stopping by Mark, I do so admire anyone who can write Haiku. When I try, it sounds like writings of a manic toddler. Welcome to Jean’s Writing.
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How my Poetry, stories, quotes are useful to you.
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Excellently well. Congrats. Good work. Thank you.
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Thank you
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Hi Jean,
I’m originally from Texas. Lived in San Antonio and graduated from UTSA. Where in Texas are you? I’ll be following you now. Drop by my site and I would love to hear your thoughts. HUGS
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Welcome Chuck! I’m in a small suburb North of Dallas. From your comment I assume you no longer live in SA? Too bad I love SA almost as much as Big D. LOL
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I miss Texas. My parent when alive lived in Ft. Worth. I lived in Dallas in 1970. I left Texas in 1983 to live with the love of my life. We always planned on moving back to Texas, but we never did. Now retired, I will only visit.
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Thanks Jean! I shall report the ‘danger’ warning… xx
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Hola Jean, Great to have ‘met you’ on Twitter. Don’t be fooled by the ‘hola’…Although I’m retired in Spain (17 years and loving it) my grasp of the language is questionable. You sound like one fun lady! ME? In brief: Married (also wonderful!),three grown sons (ditto), 3 daughters-i-l. Sadly no grandchildren, but one gorgeous ‘grand-dog.’ A huge German Shepherd called Brandy whom we dog-sit!.Writing and reading are as natural as cleaning my teeth…Poetry,articles,short stories and books (five; sixth one being processed: THE MOON IS WEARING A TUTU. Yes, it’s humorous (hopefully!) Write posts on my blog now and then: https://www.joylennick.wordpress.com/ Do look! Oh, and I was born in England. Best wishes and good luck with all your books. Sincerely, Joy
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I’m so glad you found my blog Joy. I’m gonna hop over today and check out yours. Sounds as if you’ve been a very busy lady. We visited London for the first time last year and Spain is on my bucket list along with a couple of other places. So many, so little time… LOL
Thanks again for taking the time to reach out.
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Joy, I tried to click on the link you gave me and my computer indicated danger. Oops, however I clicking on your name worked just fine. Just wanted to give you a heads up that something might be amiss with your link.
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Hi Jean, so pleased to have found your blog via Chris’s reblog at the Story Reading Ape. 🙂
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Me too Marje! Hope you’ll stop by often. I’ll keep a light on. 😉
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Hi Jean. I like what I see and look forward to learning and reading your blog. It looks full of all kinds of goodies.
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Thank you Lisa. I’m so glad you stopped by!
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Hi Jean, I’m pleased to have stumbled on your blog!
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Me too! Welcome!
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Glad to have stumbled across this blog. Have a blissful Sunday Jean 🙂
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I’m glad you stopped by too Andy!
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I found you at Pat Garcia’s blog. I am blinded by the brilliance of what you can do and what you are actively accompishing. At age 84, I am relatively new in this field. Please see Google at “Joseph Rubin Southfield Publisher.”
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Hi Jean, I found you at Mostly Blogging! I’m enjoying your site. I have an art blog you might enjoy as well as a fitness blog. Hope to see you there. 🙂
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Thanks Joan, I’ll head over there today and check it out.
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Found you through Mostly Blogging. You have a beautiful site!
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Thanks! So glad you found me!
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Whoa! Hold on now, don’t go blaming me… LOL
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I have nominated you for the One Lovely Blog award. I can see you have been nominated twice before!! Your site is very helpful and informative. I hope you accept. There is a logo you can put on your blog if you like and suggestion to post a post about it if you want. This isn’t associated with any organisation that I know just something bloggers are doing to recognize blogs they like. Please let me know and I can get everything over to you 🙂
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Thank you so much for thinking of me and my blog. I joyfully accept! I enjoy reading your blog and I’m thrilled you find mine helpful. Thanks again.
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That’s great Jean!!
Ok, so you can either download the badge from my site and the instructions are on my response to the award as well if you feel like doing a post and award others; but you can also just put the badge on your site. The main thing is that your site is great and this One Lovely Blog award recognizes that. Or you can email me at elsa@elsaholland.com and I can send an email with attachment and info set out 🙂 Congratulations and thanks for a great site!!!
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Hi Jean,
As I wish to let others know how much I enjoy reading your blog, I have nominated you for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award.
You can check out the nomination in my post http://wp.me/p3O5Jj-k4 .
Participation is your choice. If you wish to nominate bloggers who inspire you, the rules are provided there.
Thanks for sharing so much wonderful content on your blog.
Best wishes, Norah.
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Thank you Norah, I’m all a-fluster and honored.
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Thanks for the recent link!
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your welcome, love your blog
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