Tag: writing

Do you know how to protect your blog content?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell15 Comments

Back it up!

What happens if your blog crashes?

We back up our computers, or should, but unfortunately most of us assume the internet keeps our web stuff safe. But what if?

You’ve spent months, maybe even years on your blog and what if one morning you woke up to find it gone?

Starting from scratch is a nightmare. Not to mention an overwhelming feeling of loss. All those posts, stories and articles gone, floating around in cyberspace.

So if you haven’t done it already, take a minute and back up your website to your hard drive.

Here is how-

  1. Go to WordPress Admin Page (dashboard.)
  2. Find “Tools”
  3. Under Tools open “Export” Page
  4. On the “Export Page” select “Posts”
    • Here you can select “All”
  5. You can also select “Pages,” etc.
    • Everything selected?

Okay, still with me?

Next, at the bottom of the page, click “Download Export File” Button

  • A message from WordPress pops up stating you will receive an email link to the file.
  • Once you receive this email. Simply click on the link and save to your hard drive.

Now when you back up your computer, your website is backed up too. Safe and sound.

Just don’t crash your computer the same day the internet is taken over by aliens from Mars.

If y’all are really good housekeepers, my apologies for this old information.

But for us sloppy people, it’s a good reminder to stay electronically organized. 

What about it folks?

Do you back up your blogs on a regular basis?

What about your computer? Do you back it up to an external hard drive? 

If so how often do you think is necessary for either process?
Once, twice a year or more often? Inquiring minds want to know.

Happy Leap Year Every One!

Talk to me in the comments section or 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.

 

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How to Make EVERY Page of Your Story Interesting

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

Kristen Lamb knocked it out of the park again with this post by Alex Limberg.

I mean, who doesn’t want to make every single page interesting?

I know I do!

Click, read and enjoy!

Source: How to Make EVERY Page of Your Story Interesting

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 do you need to win a writing contest?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell8 Comments

If I knew, for certain, I’d be a big winner!

I’ve come close a few times, but sigh… I’m still working on grabbing the brass ring. 

It’s another year and contests are starting to crop up again. But, if I’m to jump in those deep waters, I want to give myself the best chance of winning. That brings up the question. How?

What can we do to swing the odds in our favor in the face of fierce competition? 

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After you’ve written that story make sure you’ve hit all the basics. If you’re looking for an edge, check out the following tips.

  1. Engage the reader emotionally.
    • Give the reader a reason to love or hate the protagonist.
      • Even in a short or flash piece emotions should run hot.
  2. Be unpredictable.
    • Don’t be cliché, or if you must put an original twist on an old cliché.
  3. Don’t put the reader to sleep.
    • Keep them on the edge of their seat from line one.
      • I’ve been guilty of rambling on and on about something I thought was important but wasn’t.
  4. Give the reader a satisfying ending.
    • Don’t leave them hungry.
      • There’s a difference in a cliff hanger and a bad taste.
  5. Lead the reader down a clear path.
    • Don’t leave them wondering what the hell just happened?
      • (Oops, just used a cliché.)
  6. Let the reader breathe.
    • Fast, slow, short and long, the pacing helps go the distance.
  7. Know the rules.
    • And follow them.
      • I must confess, I’ve blown this more than once.

Want to read more about avoiding contest mistakes?

Click and read this post. Do You Make These 7 Big Mistakes When Entering Story Contests? By Dr John Yeoman, PhD, Founder of Writers’ Village

So, do tell. Are you going to enter more or less contests this year?

Are you too busy publishing or writing that great American Novel?

Have you won any writing contests lately?

What was your secret?top-secret-1076813_640 (1)

Tell us in the comments section and 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.

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Do you need help with structure?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell16 Comments

I do! And I’m still learning how to outline a story with a structure that doesn’t collapse at the first strong wind of criticism.

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Have you ever loved a story, but wondered why no one else did?

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Me too.

Often.

I’m a pantster. Nothing better than sitting down and letting my muse loose on the keyboard. Too bad, writing by stream of consciousness often ends, as do most streams, into a raging uncontrollable river. And where do rivers end? Into a vast ocean, that’s where.

Then after spending hours, days and sometimes months writing thousands of words, all I can do is try not to drown amid the ocean of a rambling story. So I give up and decide to fix it another day. I’ve no idea how this happened.

Does any of this sound familiar?

I’ve begun to fear; my problem may be lack of structure.

If you’re a pantster, don’t go to yelling just yet. I’m still a pantster but, I’m learning to use structure. Because I believe there’s a way to marry both the outline structure and write pantster style.

Got a story that just aggravated you almost to insanity? Nothing is working? Take it and try breaking it down into 3 simple acts and then break those acts down further.

Got an idea for a story? Start by simplifying it with 3 acts. Then one idea under each act and an idea under each one of those headings.

Here is the basic outline I’m working with.

Act I – Opening

  1.  Hook – conflict
  2. Protagonist in daily life before transformation
  3. Opportunity to change
  4. Resistance to change
  5. Point of no return
  6. Opportunity accepted

Act II – Entering the new situation

  1. Location
  2. Meeting friends, enemies, romance;
  3. Transformative experiences
  4. Problem brings them together
  5. Problem drives them apart
  6. Crisis Hits

Act III

  1. Terrible Secret Revealed

By breaking down the story little by little, I’m giving it time to grow and hoping to find more freedom and inspiration with smaller chunks.

One of my favorite books is Save the Cat Kindle Edition by Blake Snyder and although the book is primarily focused on script writing the principles can be applied to writing a story.

So tell me, do you use the 3 Act structure or a more indepth outline? 

Do you write with or without an outline?

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.

 

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