#amwriting – Page 131 – Jean's Writing

Start Every Story With A Bang

Published on June 16, 2015June 15, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell

Are you stumped?

A scene too slow? Too much back story? Is it putting you to sleep?

Does your writing need a jump-start?

I’ll admit, I’m bad. As a reader, if the story doesn’t grab me I don’t keep reading.

And damn it, I confess, I’m also as bad as some writers who write too much back story.Sometimes I get fall into the telling trap instead of showing.

When this happens, I get stumped. So don’t feel like you’re all alone.

I recently read a couple of great posts on grabbing your reader and keeping their attention. If I can build momentum and keep my attention while writing then maybe just maybe I can keep a reader’s attention too.

So if your interested in some good writing tips to spice up your writing with action —

Begin with How to Start Your Novel By Chuck Sambuchino posted at Writers In The Storm Blog then —

click on over to Darcy Pattison’s Fiction Notes and read Find Your Novel Opening: Quickly, Efficiently–and with MORE Creativity next–

head over to Blake Synder’s Save The Cat Beat Sheets and learn how screen writing can improve your story.

I love comments, almost as much as I love clicks, so after you pass this on to your Facebook and Twitter pals tell me what you think.

If you’re not already, please follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Are you easy to find?

Published on June 15, 2015June 14, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell6 Comments

How easy are you to find?

If someone wants to publish your story, essay or request a sample of your work how difficult will a sample be to locate?

Start by making yourself available.

I hate spam as much as the rest of the world. So we all have to take steps to protect from the dreaded spoofing emails. However, we must have a platform on the world-wide web.

Chuck Sambuchino wrote a great post for The Writer Life on 4 steps a writer can take to have a successful and professional platform.

Today’s Challenge.

Google your name, or the name of your blog.

Is your presence easy to find? If so, what stands out?

I love comments, almost as much as I love clicks, so after you pass this on to your Facebook and Twitter pals tell me what you think.

If you’re not already, please follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Is your website easy to read on a mobile device?

Published on June 10, 2015June 9, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell6 Comments

Is your blog mobile ready?

Whether, a book review, cooking, breaking news, mommy & me, or cute kitties blog, you need to make sure it passes the mobile ready test.

Shocker! I just found out mine wasn’t. Guess what I’m doing later today?

Mobile use has skyrocketed over the past years. People are on the go and using their smart phones to connect. Make sure they can read your blog in the doctors waiting room, the hairdressers chair or pool side catching a few rays.

How do you find out if your blog is mobile readable?

Google has a Mobile-Friendly Test page. Here you can put in your website and Google will let you know if your blog is mobile ready.

Follow the steps and get smart phone ready so people on the go can keep up with you and your blog.

Want to know how many people read your blog on their smart phones?

Go to Google Analytics click on the “Audience” section. Then select “Mobile > Overview.” Here you should find information on the amount of traffic your blog receives from a mobile device.

Whew! That’s done!

Can you read it now?

I love comments, almost as much as I love clicks, so after you pass my post on to your Facebook and Twitter pals let me what you think. If you’re not already, please follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter and jean.cogdell on Facebook!