Jean's Writing

Today I’m thrilled to congratulate my favorite ape

Published on July 5, 2016July 4, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell5 Comments

And a hard-working ape he is!

Congratulations Chris to you and your sister! What a lovely gesture to your mother.

So all you writers/readers pass on the Ape’s good news.

A book is born!

Click on the following link and read the Ape’s story.

NEWSFLASH – Story Reading Ape Publishes Book…

Click image to read a sample…

I’d love to hear from you! Click the write me tab or contact me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! The lights are on and I’m waiting.

Please remember to share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook Facebook fans.

Thanks for keeping me on my toes

Published on July 4, 2016June 30, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell5 Comments

Today’s thank you goes to John Maberry, gentleman from N. VA, author, lawyer, and former government employee. Let’s not hold the last two against him. I’m sure those experiences are good fodder for a writer.

John pointed out that I left a few important tidbits in my post about the new Amazon “Instant Preview” for books.

Oops! He’s right and I’m sorry.

Here’s what I forgot to mention.

1. You can earn additional money.

Add your Amazon Associates ID to your book preview and you earn advertising fees. You read that right!

screenshot_Thu_Jun_30_14.39.38

Once you plug-in your Amazon Associates ID, you’ll see Link updated with ID under the box. So make sure you sign up and add your ID to the link. Every little bit helps!

2. This works on all ebooks.

Not just Kindle Unlimited. Tryouts for Ben is not listed with KU but when you click on this link, viola an “Instant Preview” opens. Wow!

3. Add your Associates ID to any book you “imbed.”

That’s right, you will receive advertising fees for helping out fellow authors. Writing a book review, add an “Instant Preview” with your ID and share the love!

Tell me, have you signed up for an Associates ID?

Do you remember to use it?

Big thanks to John for the heads up! Y’all stop by John Maberry’s Writing Website and say hey. Tell him Jean sent you.

I’d love to hear from you! Click to write me or contact me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! The lights are on and I’m waiting.

Please remember to share this post with your Twitter peeps and FacebookFacebook fans.

If not, now you may need one in the future.

Published on July 1, 2016June 30, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell11 Comments

So get prepared for your —

Beta Readers.

Yes, you read that right. Plural, you’ll need more than one.

Why? Because beta readers are different from editors or critique partners. They are readers. But they are an invaluable tool for a writer.

That’s why I’m passing on a great post by Jo Robinson as well as a couple of other great posts on the subject. Check out the links below.

Although, a beta reader can and should point out glaring typos and comma splices, that’s not their primary purpose.

No, the primary purpose of a beta reader is to give you a reader’s perspective of your book, what they might see and think.

A beta reader reads like a consumer not an editor.

With that in mind, I’d like to add my two cents.

Make sure you are clear on what you expect from the beta reader. Make a list of questions you’d like answered, but don’t make it too long. You don’t want it to look like a college assignment. There are a few basics every writer wants to know, but maybe you are looking for a particular reaction. If so make sure you ask a question that would reflect it.

Here are a few questions to get you started.

Did the story hook you?
How far into the story before you were hooked? 1st paragraph, 1st page, 1st chapter?
How quickly were you anchored in the story? Or did you get lost in a maze?
Did you relate, understand the characters?
Which character stood out the most?
Could you envision the characters and settings?
Any discrepancies or inconsistencies of details? Descriptions, sequences, places, details? (House on wrong side of road, hair color changed along the way)
Does the story and writing style fit the genre or age group aimed?
Did you skip ahead through any parts? Where?
Did you savor any passages? Where? Why?

Have you ever used Beta Readers?

What was your experience?

Want more questions? Go to the bottom of this post for a link to 15 more.

I’d love to hear from you! Click to write me or contact me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! The lights are on and I’m waiting.

Please remember to share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

BETA READERS by JoRobinson

What the Heck is a Beta Reader? Do I Need One? by SHEILA M. GOOD

15 questions for your beta readers – and to focus your own revisions by Jodie Renner

Keep the tips coming! You guys are the best!

Published on June 30, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

Being a writer is like working as Ring Master in a circus. Have to know how to juggle, keep the show moving and shovel elephant poo. So many jobs, so much to do and learn.

Staying ahead of the new gadgets and media stuff would be overwhelming without this community of writers. I can always count on y’all to step up, share and help with great tips.

Thanks for todays tip goes all the way to balmy Ohio and Jena Henry, a cool author, book reviewer and one of my fav readers who keeps me encouraged.

After reading my post on how to embed “Instant Book Preview” of your book on your website, and other social media sites, Jena stepped forward and clued me in on how to take it a step further.

Now you can click the “Share symbol” on your Kindle and send not only a quote, but an Instant Preview to a friend or the world. This is so cool because my sister and I were discussing a book earlier this week. Instead of trying to remember or explain what I thought was so great, I could’ve just shared a quote and an instant preview with her.

That’s right! Amazon has made sharing books you enjoy easier and faster.

However, I was disappointed to find my old Kindle Paperwhite (very first Paperwhite) doesn’t send an the instant preview, just the quote. Plus, it only sends the quotes to Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter. frog-sad

Maybe time to buy a newer version of Kindle e-reader. Well-played Amazon, well-played. frog-happy

The good news is that it works on Android apps and on the newer Kindles (I just sent an Instant Preview from the Kindle app on my iPhone, pretty slick.)

Jena was reading on her Kindle Voyager when she discovered the “share” symbol. And when she hit the symbol a preview link shows up with a photo of the book and the reader receives a free preview. And she could continue reading!

What do you think?

Another tool to promote your book as well as other writers?

I’d love to hear from you! Click to write me or contact me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean .cogdel l and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! The lights are on and I’m waiting.