writing tips – Page 57 – Jean's Writing

Are you using Scrivener?

Published on June 13, 2015June 12, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell13 Comments

Maybe you’re still using MS Word?

If you’re interested in trying something different read —

Writers in the Storm blog posted a listing of the Top 10 Scrivener Features for Writers.

I use both. Each program does something different. For short stories I use MS Word but for longer pieces I love Scrivener.

I also recommend reading Writing a Novel with Scrivener by David Hewson, he makes it simple.

Also if you want to figure out how to use Scrivener to outline that novel. Check out this tutorial by Erin Bowman.

There are dozens of YouTube videos to help a writer, so go crazy.

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!

How to Write Yummy Scenes

Published on June 2, 2015June 1, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

I don’t like change.

Gonna be up front about this, I don’t like change and I like things simple and familiar.

Yep, I’m a creature of habit.

Take the grocery store. Why do they have to rearrange the aisles every six months? Just about the time I’ve got shopping down to a science, and can race through the aisles like an Indy 500 driver, the manager decides to move around every damn thing. Why? For the love of God, why?

And adding insult to injury, the store puts in new displays that now makes finding my favorite brand of coffee a new version of finding Waldo. Seamless rows blending Starbucks, Folgers and various boxes in a rainbow of colors that even my reading glasses can’t decipher.

A great article by Michelle Russell over at Write to Done got me to thinking.

If I want readers to come back for more, maybe my writing should be like a box of chocolates, delicious, delectable, yummy and easy to get to.

chocolate baby

Maybe they don’t want scenes that are complicated or hard to follow, that cause them to sit back and scratch their head in confusion.

Just maybe, like me, they prefer reading scenes that are addictive, pleasant, compelling, enjoyable and easy to read.

I don’t know about you but I’m gonna try to write more lip smacking good scenes for my reader to enjoy.

What do you think?

Head over to Write to Done and let me know what you think about Ms. Russell’s article, because… you know I love comments, and if you’re not already, please follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Choosing a P.O.V.—What is BEST for YOUR Story? Structure Part 9

Published on June 1, 2015June 1, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell

If you’ve ever been confused about POV in your writing, today’s Kristen Lamb Structure Part 9 post will help set your mind at ease. Take it away Kristen.

I love comments, tell me what’s happening with you and if you’re not already, please follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Kristen Lamb's Blog

This is my Upside-Down-Face

P.O.V. is a word that throws many new authors into panic. What is THAT? Prisoners of Vietnam? Pets of Vegans? Pals of Viagra? P.O.V. stands for Point of View. Traditionally, I’ve not included this lesson in my teachings on structure, but I am amending that since P.O.V. will affect structure.

The structure of a novel written in first person is very different than a novel using multiple third-person P.O.V. characters. Scenes will need a different kind of balancing, so choosing a P.O.V. should not be taken lightly. Yes, often choice of P.O.V. will come from author voice, but not always. Sometimes genre might influence our decisions as well.

Thus, today, we are going to whiz through Kristen’s P.O.V. Spark Notes.

***Just a quick reminder though. Comment over at my new Dojo Diva blog and there is a separate contest for comments with better odds of winning…

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