Tag: Writers

What are your most embarrassing moments as a writer?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell13 Comments

We’ve all had them.

Moments when dread and hope mingle to make for sweaty palm anxiety.

Loretta Livingstone was brave enough to share hers.

Mine, sitting for hours at a library book fair and selling precious few books. The upside, I did sell a few, my books are now part of the library system and I made some great connections.

Jean M. Cogdell at Sachse Book Fair
Sachse Book Fair

Another time I bought a butt-load of books for a major book festival, only to have Mother Nature send down a horrific hail storm and flood the streets. Needless to say, I along with most of the population didn’t make it to the festival.

I think you’ll find Loretta’s post refreshing and encouraging. Click and read her link below.

As a writer…

What was your most embarrassing or disappointing moment?

Did something good come from the experience?

Embarrassing Book Signings? by Loretta Livingstone

 

After leaving a comment, I hope you’ll head over and “like” my Facebook page at Facebook at jeanswriting . Or connect with me, click the “write me” tab.  Don’t forget you can also follow me on StumbleUpon,  on Twitter @jeancogdell , and Amazon.com.

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

Do blog makeovers need to be complicated?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell16 Comments

No.

Something as simple as a new or different font can give your blog a fresh new look.

Typing on laptop

A few days ago I wrote a post about trending fonts. I know, the idea of fonts trending was a surprise to me too. However, some seemed a bit intimidated about changing or tweaking their theme.

In WordPress, you can customize your theme. Changing the font is one of the simplest ways to make your blog them unique.

Did I explain it okay? 

What do you think? Are you ready to try?

Did it work?

PS: Lately, I’ve had a bit of trouble with my audio. Please let me know if it sounds wonky. 🙂

I like to hear thoughts. Leave me a comment and let’s talk.

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. 

Want to know more? Keep reading…

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org

WordPress Appearance Menu Information

 

What name should you publish under?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

If you are planning on self-publishing a name is important.

One of the first things I did was to set up a publishing name. Second Act Press. This has a personal meaning to only me and gives my books a bit of publishing weight.

Second Act Press - Jean M. Cogdell

With a purchased ISBN you can publish under your name or a DBA (Doing Business As) name. However, if you use one of the free ISBN offered through Createspace or another company, their name will appear as publisher.

Have you considered a publishing name?

Or have you not thought about one?

If you are writing a book, start thinking. It’s a big decision.

Want more tips? Keep reading.

What to name your publishing company by Rob Bignell

 

Leave me a comment and let’s talk.

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. 

Jean M Cogdell

How to recognize your fingerprints in a story

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell8 Comments

If someone dusted your story, would they know it was yours?

Fingerprint and keyboard

All writers have a unique pattern of word usage. Tweet it!

That’s right. Take a look at your writing. Do you use a certain phrase or word over and over? I gotta admit, this is something I haven’t thought about before. Sometimes I overuse words in a draft and will toss them out later. But, I’ve never given much thought to what words or phrase identify me.

Until I read an article by Ben Blatt.

Writers are creatures of habit and have a singular voice they will not or cannot change. We don’t like change any more than any one else. If we are comfortable with a word we use it like sprinkles on ice cream. What I discovered from Mr. Blatt is using a word often is not always bad. Famous authors all have a “tell”.

Now as with all things there is an app for that. LOL

Keep reading!

Can You Identify an Author By How Often They Use the Word “The”? By Ben Blatt

Authors leave a distinctive hidden fingerprint in their stories.

Do you know yours?  

Want to find out?

Thanks to Mr. Blatt you now can!

MoWa Literary Fingerprint – Author Identifier By Ben Blatt

Can’t wait to play with this!

What about you? What do you think?

Leave me a comment and let’s talk.

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.