Tag: Facebook

Do you have a favorite point of view?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell14 Comments

In what POV do you write?

Which do you prefer, 1st, 2nd or 3rd?

one-way-street-1317579_640
Image source

I find that most of the time I gravitate toward 1st, especially when writing children’s books. But sometimes I let the character pick.

Sound crazy? Sometimes I think so. But if I start out in one POV and it doesn’t flow, gets difficult, I change to another. This gives me a different perspective. Let’s me see my characters from a different angle. Often times, my first instinct was right and I go back to the original POV and see what stopped the action. Usually, it wasn’t the POV it was something else that needed fixing.

Doing this exercise helps me see what needs adjusting. Where I went off the rails. I’m not saying one is better than the other because I write in both. To me, the story and the characters determine which POV  I use.

What I like/dislike about 1st and 3rd POV:

  • I like the intimacy of 1st.
    • This can be a two/edged sword.
  • The objectivity of 3rd.
    • Not into the omnipresence/God-like view.
  • Freedom of being all knowing in 3rd.
    • The responsibility of being all knowing.

So I guess that means there is no right or wrong point of view. But how to decide? Me, I let my characters show the way.

Do you think a writer should stick to one POV in all of their stories?

How do you decide which POV to use?

Want to know more about Point of View? Click on the links below.

I love comments, so tell me what you think about POVs. 

Go here to “like” my Facebook page. Facebook at jeanswriting . To connect with me, click the “write me” tab or follow me on StumbleUpon,  on Twitter @jeancogdell , 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.

3rd Person vs. 1st Person – Which Is Best? – Novel Writing Help

What Point of View Should You Use in Your Novel?  (First Person? Third Person?) By: 

First or Third? by  TARA K. HARPER

Do you need to jumpstart after a dry spell?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell10 Comments

What to do, what to do?

communicate-1151283_640

That’s how I’ve felt for several days. Like Sisyphus pushing my writing up a hill only to have it roll back down again. It’s exhausting not to mention frustrating.

I don’t know about you but when I take time away from writing, for whatever the reason, the stories stop. It’s as if my characters go on vacation too. And when they show back up it is at a most inconvenient time, like in the middle of the night.

Writing my blog, my book, short stories, my journal… Whew! Sometimes it’s all too much but I love it! Crazy right?

However, if I stop the well runs dry. So how do I prime the pump?

I’ve had to get inventive to get my imagination going again. Believe me, it’s not always easy.

Here’s what I do to get my ideas popping.

frog-1672887_640
Image Source
  • Read!
    • Any and everything, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, Emails (you get the idea)
    • Favorite books, new genres, something different-uncomfortable
  • Watch a good movie
    • Yes, good movies come from good writers
  • Make notes
    • My memory isn’t what it used to be, sigh…
  • Send emails to myself when I find a good article
    • See above note about memory
  • Write
    • Anything, even if it’s gibberish, edit later
    • write somewhere different, maybe outside

Still can’t write?

Well, here is one of my favorite exercises.

Open a book, any book. Copy the first paragraph. Now rewrite the paragraph making it your own. Change the character, the setting, the action, everything until it is completely different. This never fails to get my imagination going.

What do you do to keep the writing flowing?

To jumpstart your writing process after a break?

Please do share. I’d like to know. Tell me in the comments section.

Go here to “like” my Facebook page. Facebook at jeanswriting . To connect with me, click the “write me” tab or follow me on StumbleUpon,  on Twitter @jeancogdell , 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.

Want to know more about getting your writing groove back on? Keep reading!

dog-734689_640

When the Stories Have All Stopped By Kimberly Brock 

25 WAYS TO GET YOUR CREATIVE GROOVE BACK AS A WRITER

How to Return to Writing After a Long Break

Why you may want to delete Facebook

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell9 Comments

I’m deleting one of my Facebook accounts. 

Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed with all of my social media accounts. This is an attempt to make it a little less stressful.

social-media-961769_640
Image source

Last week I wrote a post about deleting one of my Facebook accounts. How to merge your Professional page and Newsfeed PUBLISHED ON January 6, 2017

Unfortunately, I don’t think I explained the reasons or process very well. So I’ll give it another go.

First, to avoid more confusion, I’ll refer to Facebook as “Facebook Account” and not page.

Why? Because it’s not really a page. Facebook Home/Newsfeed is the main page. But I’m going to talk a lot about pages and want to show you the difference.

I’ve had two Facebook Accounts forever. Like many of you, I’ve had a personal Facebook account for family and friends plus a professional Facebook account for my writing interests.

But more and more, I’m asked which account people should “like.” Many of my friends and family want to keep up with my process as a writer in addition to my personal exploits. (Love that word, exploits.)

Okay, back to why I’m deleting my personal Facebook account.

  • Time is the number one reason.
    • My time as well as the readers.
  • Clarity
    • Some people find it confusing that I have two Facebook Accounts.

Why keep my Professional Facebook Account?

  • I have pages on this account and don’t want to duplicate them on the one I use for personal.
  • More control.
    • I can post in one place.
  • If I want, I can add all types of pages.
    • Author page
    • Want to profile one of your characters? Make a character page.
    • Website page

Pages are different from your Newsfeed or Home page. Why would you want a page added? Lots of reasons.

  • To showcase your books.
  • To reference your website.
  • A bio page.
  • Personal page for family.

Bottom line, one Facebook account can cover all of my needs. Plus I won’t have to keep up with where and what I posted last.

Think you might want to add pages?

It’s easy! Watch!

Is this a little clearer?

Are you going to try?

Will just one Facebook account simply your life?

Let me know what you think.

Go here to “like” my Facebook page. Facebook at jeanswriting

More links for your reading pleasure at the bottom.

Leave a comment or click the “write me” tab or find for me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jeanswriting 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.

Create a Professional Facebook Profile

How do I convert my personal account to a Facebook Page? 

How to Create a Facebook Business Page in 5 Simple Steps [Tutorial]

Related articles

How to merge your Professional page and Newsfeed

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell18 Comments

Okay, I’ve confessed before to making tons of mistakes in writing, publishing and social media. But, I keep on moving forward.

Although I sometimes feel as if I’m navigating an Internet minefield blindfolded.

  • Set up too many email accounts.
    • Yahoo, MSN, Gmail and I even found a couple on each site. Sigh…
  • Opened 2 Facebook accounts.
    • Thought I needed a personal one and one for writing platform. Not…
    • Plus a professional page attached to one of them. Ugh…
  • Twitter
    • Set up not one, not two but three tweet managing programs.
      • At last, I settled on Tweetdeck, but I’m sure the other accounts are still floating around in the great big worldwide web.

So why am I telling you all of this?

Because I’ve discovered as with most things less is more. And I’m starting with Facebook. So here goes.

  • First, I’m deleting my “personal” Facebook account.
  • Second, I’ll post on my Writer’s page and let it link to my “News Feed” home page.
    • How? I’ve discovered a little tip. (Now don’t rain on my parade if you discovered this years ago.)

See here is the thing, if you write something on your Home/News Feed it doesn’t necessarily show up on your “Writers or Professional” page.

But here’s the good news. You can change your settings on Facebook so that whatever you write on your “professional” page and then the post will show up on both. That way no matter which one your readers click on they can see your comments.

Why would you want to do this?

Because by posting on your “Page” first instead of on Newsfeed/Home, you can schedule comments!

Yay, another tool to make life a bit calmer and easier.

As you can see, both look different.

jeanswriting-1
Jean’s Writing “Page.”
jeanswriting-2
My “Timeline, Newsfeed, home” Page

Want to give it a try?

Click on the link for step by step instructions.

How to adjust NewsFeed Preferences.

Okay, now you can tell me. Is this old news?

Have you already synced your Facebook page with NewsFeed?

If not, are you ready to give it a try?

Leave a comment or click the “write me” tab or look for me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jeanswriting 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.