Tag: Blog

Do you need to know what to expect?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

When you ask someone to read your book?

Well, Evie Gaughan writes on her blog what to do and what to expect for writers.

Reviews: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly 

I couldn’t agree more with her points. Begging for reviews is terrible practice but reviews authors must have.

So how do we keep our dignity?

  • Remember our manners. Say please and thank you.
  • Be gracious, we’re asking a big favor and may not always like the answer.
  • Tell the reviewer how important they are. Authors need reviews.
  • Agreeing to read our books is deserves our gratitude no matter what.
  • Let the reviewer know you value their time.
  • After going for the ask, let it go. Forget about it.

What do you think?

Are we becoming too rude with our expectations?

How do you find reviewers?

Talk to me – I love comments.

Please head over and “like” my Facebook page at Facebook at jeanswriting . Or to connect with me, click the “write me” tab. Don’t forget you can follow me on StumbleUpon,  on Twitter @jeancogdell , and Amazon.com.

Please stop by and say “hey!”  I’ll leave a light on. 

If you love new blog tips, this is for you

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell3 Comments

Never again have to dig through dozens of blog post to find the most popular ones.

All you have to do is stick them on top for all to see. 

Okay, maybe this trick is new only to me.

Maybe y’all knew this all along but be kind and pretend so I can enjoy my excitement for just a second. I just love new tips!

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I was so excited when I opened up my favorite Ape’s website and read how to add sticky notes to my website. Hey, it’s the little things in life. LOL

So, just in case I’m not the only blogger in this big worldwide web that doesn’t know how y’all can head over to the Ape’s and read How to make a WordPress Sticky Post?

First, try on my blog, eureka! Success!

Is this a trick you could use?

Did you already know about sticky notes for WordPress?

Did you try it? 

Talk to me – comments are my all time favorite things.

Please head over and “like” my Facebook page at Facebook at jeanswriting . Or to connect with me, click the “write me” tab. Don’t forget you can follow me on StumbleUpon,  on Twitter @jeancogdell , and Amazon.com.

Please stop by and say “hey!”  I’ll leave a light on. 

Do you think it’s important to hook fast?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell25 Comments

A reader that is.

How soon should a reader expect to feel the tug of a hook? That ah-ha moment that keeps them turning the page?

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First paragraph, page, or chapter?

At times I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I’ll mess with an opening until I feel that tug myself. Then I can continue writing. Often I’ll rewrite the beginning of a story a dozen times before I feel happy with it. I’m not talking about grammar mistakes. Those are easy fixes by an editor. I’m talking about that “feeling.”

There are a lot of do’s and do not’s but the most important rule to me is “feeling” that tug. That knowing hook.

I’ll be buzzing right along in the middle of a scene when bam, I know something is wrong. The line broke. I have to go back and fix my hook and bait. Wiggle the line until once again I feel that familiar tug.vintage-1817338_640How about y’all? Do you write until the opening tugs at you to go on or do you just wing it?

As always I’ve left you some great reading at the bottom of my post. Let me know what you think.

Leave me a comment – I love comments.

Please head over and “like” my Facebook page at Facebook at jeanswriting . Or to connect with me, click the “write me” tab. Don’t forget you can follow me on StumbleUpon,  on Twitter @jeancogdell , and Amazon.com.

Please stop by and say, “hey!” I’ll leave a light on. 

How to Find the Start of Our Story

10 Ways to Start Your Story Better

How to Set Up a Story’s Hook

The 21 Best Tips for Writing Your Opening Scene

Image Source from Pixabay.com 

Are you ready for the unvarnished truth?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell10 Comments

About blogging?

road-humps-ahead-246_960_720Not many of us know what lays ahead of us when we begin blogging. The bumpy road is a surprise and we are never ready for all the strange things we encounter.

However, the following post The Ugly Side of Blogging by Elena Peters, is a must read for anyone ready to take the blogging plunge. Or a confused blogger.

Ms. Peters lists 21 truths about blogging that many of us didn’t see coming before we were hit like a truck running a red light.

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  • #4 – Please, I have fiddled with my format, theme, and pictures so much this blog had an identity crisis to rival Sibil.
  • #5 – As a writer, don’t most writers think about quitting every single day? Maybe it’s just me.
  • #7 & #15 & #17 – Lies, Free & Trust. Oh yes. The internet is floating in lies, freebies, and people to be trusted. Right, best keep a lifeboat handy when you launch into the deep waters of blogging. And one last thing, before you pay big bucks for a writer’s course, make sure it’s sold by someone who as actually written a good book.

I enjoy blogging. It’s fun to put my thoughts out in the world and see what pops back to me but I’m not making any money. That would be lovely but not necessary.

Now selling my books, that’s a different balloon of another color. I’d love to make money with my books.

Did any of Ms. Peters “truths” speak to you?

Which ones?

Any surprises?

Have you been burned since you began blogging? How?

Leave me a comment – I love comments.

Please head over and “like” my Facebook page at Facebook at jeanswriting . Or to connect with me, click the “write me” tab. Don’t forget you can follow me on StumbleUpon,  on Twitter @jeancogdell , and Amazon.com.

Please stop by and say, “hey!” I’ll leave a light on.