writing tips – Page 36 – Jean's Writing

How to ease those writer’s aches and pains

Published on January 15, 2016January 14, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell6 Comments

I bet you’re just like me, trying to find ways to write and stretch the kinks out at the same time.

Ain’t easy is it?

I think writers suffer with these aches and pains because we sit too long-lost in our thoughts as we breathe life onto a blank page.

If you’ve sat at a desk any length of time, you know what I’m talking about.

I started sitting at a desk when all typing was done in triplicate on a Selectric Typewriter. My hands have more knots than a boy scout climbing rope. And don’t get me started about my neck and back.

But what’s a writer to do? Me I’ll take a little cheese with my whine…. LOL

All joking aside, as a young woman I didn’t worry about taking care of my joints. Wish I had. Like so many today, thought I was invincible. Now, its hot baths and lots of Ibuprofen.

Each year I’m amazed at the ever evolving technology. I can’t seem to take advantage of it as I should. Seems to change way too fast for me.

I watched a doctor recently dictate into his computer instead of writing or typing into my chart. Unfortunately, it took him three tries to get it right. As I watched, my first thought was, maybe I could use something like that to write with. My second thought was, I don’t have that kind of time. I’d throw my computer out the door if I had to repeat myself that many times. Not to mention, I’d probably forget what I was writing about by the time the software got a paragraph right.

Do any of y’all use voice software to dictate your writing?

So, apparently not all technology is for me. But, one gadget I do use is an alarm that buzzes me when I’ve sat too long. A small reminder to stand and move about a bit. It’s not as much of an intrusion as I first thought. If I’m in the middle of a good thought, I just hit okay and keep writing. The alarm will buzz me again soon.

I also love my ergonomic mouse with the little roller thingamajig on top.

Here are a couple of good articles that y’all might find helpful.

Writing: How to Take Care of your Hands and Wrists by Debbie Young

The Best Seating Solutions for Indie Authors at their Writing Desks by Debbie Young

This is for my sisters! And anyone else who enjoys Yoga.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppToA1N0CgE

You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

What makes your blog float to the top?

Published on January 14, 2016January 13, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell14 Comments

Is it a catchy title, fancy SEO or what?

Anyone know where to order a website life jacket?

Do you know what an SEO is?

This writer hasn’t a clue!

Learning to market and use SEOs is just one of the many things writers are faced with everyday.

In fact the more I write, the more I discover writers need to wear many hats.

Writers need to market what we write, whether it’s a blog post, a children’s book or a 600 page novel. If we want people to buy it, we have to sell it. It seems writing is also a business of sorts.

Writers have to be editors, before we send it to a proper editor. Writers have to be illustrators before we hire someone who can draw. And the list goes on.

Neil Patel said, “Your content marketing campaign will fail unless you integrate SEO.”
Read more at Business2Business. At his blog, Kissmetrics.com, he explains that marketing your blog is like having a conversation between two people. SEO meets Content. Their conversation gets Google’s attention.

Nope, still don’t understand.

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Branding?? Nope, no longer done in Texas. The cattle here are bar tagged just like everything at Walmart.

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Hey, but the Cowboys still look just as hot.

Steve Masters lists 5 Ways To Come Up With Original Blog Post Ideas Over at the business 2 business community blog.

So SEO and Branding are two jobs I’m just going to let dust cover for now. These two things are just way over my head.

How about you guys? Any of you pros at this SEO and Branding stuff?

Did this help? Anyone? Anyone still there?

All this info made my head hurt. I need a glass of Merlot. I’m going to go find something to do now that will let my brain rest. Maybe watch Judge Judy.

You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

Writers, do you need more info…

Published on January 13, 2016January 10, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell22 Comments

Writers, do you spend too much time on Google?

Searching for answers?

On how to self-publish your book? Or someone to review your book?

Now, thanks to the hard work of John Maberry your search will be a bit shorter.

Head over and read all of the links he has compiled on these and more subjects at his blog the Eagle Peak Press.

On the first post John gives you links for Advertising/Marketing, Email marketing, Miscellaneous promotion techniques, Press releases, special multifaceted sites, and various, Author blogs/sites of interest.

WEB RESOURCES FOR SELF-PUBLISHING AUTHORS DECEMBER 4, 2015 JOHN MABERRY

He this next post he lists links for Book design/production, General self-publishing tips and resources, and my favorite, Reviews of your book.

WEB RESOURCES FOR SELF-PUBLISHING AUTHORS–PART 2 DECEMBER 10, 2015 JOHN MABERRY

Some of the links are oldies but goodies, however, some were new to me.

I hope you find a few new surprises too. If you find a few good tips be sure and let John know. I’m sure he’ll enjoy hearing from you.

Thanks John! I love it when my readers share good info! Keep the good stuff coming guys.

Y’all can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey!

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

Publishing mistakes I made this year

Published on December 31, 2015December 31, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell21 Comments

First, let me say my mistakes were expensive.

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Now that I’ve got that off my chest I’ll try to share something constructive.

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I rushed the process.

Those who know me, stop snickering. I’ll admit patience is a problem for me sometimes. But after working on the same project over and over and over and over until I was sick of it and ready to put that baby to bed. I ended up submitting it three times due to errors found in the proof copy.

I didn’t understand the IngramSpark process before I started.

That turned out to be a very costly mistake. They use different templates than Createspace and well, everything is different. I’d read it was the easiest and cheapest self-publishing platform to use and it was.

So if you are looking for a step by step way to get a book self-published with little cost Createspace is the way to go.

I didn’t submit Tryouts for Ben to reviewers before publication.

This is something I didn’t realize. I know ignorance is no excuse, but it’s all I’ve got. Apparently many, not all but many reviewers want an advance copy of the book before it is released to the public. Go figure. In the link below Kristen Lamb explains how very important reviews are for writers, click and read. Review are our life blood.

When doing a book with illustrations or pictures use a heavier paper.

I’d read the suggestion somewhere by someone, don’t remember who or where but unfortunately didn’t. A mistake. The finished product, especially with the IngramSparks book would’ve looked much more polished.

I didn’t ask questions.

When in doubt, ask. That’s what the help line is for. The people at IngramSparks were very helpful. I should’ve called them sooner. Would’ve saved me $$$ and a lot of frustration.

Self-publishing a book without knowing anything about marketing.

And I still don’t have the vaguest idea how or where to start.

Did I learn anything? Yes.

I will probably make several mistakes but I do hope not the same ones.
Createspace is quicker, cheaper and easier than IngramSpark. However, I will continue to publish on both.
Ask questions!

How about y’all? Which platform do you use to self-publish? What has been your experience? I’d love to know.

The Ugly Truth of Publishing & How BEST to Support Writers by Kristen Lamb

Self-Publishing and Living the LLC Dream by Scott De Buitléir

How Much Does It Cost to Self-Publish a Book? 4 Authors Share Their Numbers by Dana Sitar

Leave a comment and tell me what you think. Together we can learn the latest writing tips, and look for me @jeancogdell on Twitter and jean.cogdell on Facebook!