writing – Page 94 – Jean's Writing

Be a Peep NOT a Pain–How to Use Twitter Effectively

Published on January 12, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell

Ever wonder what’s the deal with #hastags and Twitter? Kristen Lamb explains everything in terms even I can understand.
Happy Tweeting!

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Last time we took a satirical look at Twitter with 8 Ways to Make People on Twitter Want to STAB US IN THE FACE. Here’s the deal, we are in sort of a New Gold Rush with this Digital Age publishing paradigm. That means “experts” are everywhere. But, just because someone claims to be an expert doesn’t mean their advice is worth more than the Vista Print cards their title is printed on.

This means it is incumbent on US to do our homework. Hey, yes, I am an expert, but to stay at the top of my game? I love learning new things.

Yet, here’s the deal. If someone is charging you to teach you how to blog, yet their blog has NO comments or single digit comments or they aren’t following their own advice (blogging when they feel like it)? Probably not the best expert to hand cash…

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A Wealth of Information

Published on January 7, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell5 Comments

If you’re like me, you are always looking for additional places to submit your writing.

Thanks to the Review Review I’m passing on the following links of

70 magazines and journals.

There is something for everyone.

Whether you’re a writer of fiction, non-fiction, flash or poetry, I hope you’ll find someplace to submit your work.

Happy Writing everybody!

Losing and Winning – I prefer winning

Published on January 5, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell10 Comments

Ouch! “We regret …”

How I hate those words. Don’t we all? But since I shared my excitement and success with you, thought it only fair to share my disappointment and failure. Rejections keep me humble, reminding me, I’m not all that, and sometimes I’m just plain dumb.

I’d little time to bask in the warm glow of publication when up popped the damned devil, Rejection.

All comfy in my pjs and slippers, I sat down to relax in front of the fire, sip eggnog and catch up on emails.

After all, the holidays are a time to kick back and relax. A time to chill and enjoy the fact Fiction Southeast had published my essay. Can you tell I was feeling a bit proud?

Well, everyone knows with pride comes the fall.

My eggnog grew warm as the cold wind of reality swept though my computer and I read the following line in an email.

Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately….

I sulked, ranted and raved over my good story, which they’d declined. Why the hell, was it rejected? Apparently, the judges didn’t know good writing from a hole in the ground.

Then the free critique offered by the magazine arrived. Gulp.

Time to eat crow. Dumb, dumb, and dumber, I’m such a dummy. I repeated as I banged my head on the desk.

The judges liked my story.

“This story is well written, with a good character dynamic.” However, I’d failed to comply with one of the rules. Me I disqualified myself! Non-negotiable. No exceptions.

Messing up or missing a rule equals rejection.

Guess the judges did recognize good writing and they also recognized a dumb one too. A writer that can’t follow instructions.

Stupid, stupid… I took another minute and banged head on keyboard.

One step forward and two back… that’s me.

Now that I need Ibuprofen for my headache I’ll take a deep breath and try again.

Back to the keyboard, writing, reading and studying. To improve my chances for publication I’m reading and rereading a few websites. However not sure anything can help me remember to follow the rules.

Banging head again, need a minute.

7 How to websites for writing, winning and publishing.

How the Seven-Point Story Structure Can Help Your Writing

Published on December 28, 2014 by Jean M. Cogdell

Stumped, trouble with your WIP, check out this blog from A Writer’s Path. These 7-points helped me jump start some turns and shake out some ideas, maybe they will do the same for you.
Happy New Year and Happy writing everyone!