Let's Play Review that Blog!

Review that Blog!

by Hilde Garcia

Hello Readers. Well, as promised, here is my review of the top three sites Google took me to when I asked the simple question "quick ideas for writing a blog post."  Remember, about 176 million links showed up, but I am going to focus on the top ten!

FIRST UP:

How to Brainstorm and Write an Epic Blog Post in 4 Simple

https://blog.bufferapp.com/brainstorm-write-epic-blog-post-4-simple-steps

Bryan Harris writes a fabulous post about how to write an epic blog in 4 simple steps. For full details, check out his post, but the gist of it is:

What if instead of writing blog posts you only answered questions?

An excerpt from his site:

If my wife asks me “Bryan, why do you think most people never act on their ideas?”

I would answer in less than 5 seconds with at least 3 minutes worth of dialogue.

No prep. No outline. No research.

However, if I were trying to write an article entitled “The 7 Reasons Your Idea Will Never Become A Business”


Gridlock. All dry. Words … are … hard.

There is something fundamentally different with writing about a TOPIC as opposed to answering someone’s specific QUESTION.

So, when you are stuck, try the following steps outlined by Bryan in his post:

Step 1: Don’t write, record

Step 2: Transcribe your audio

Step 3: Pretty it up

Step 4: Write 5 different headlines

Step 5: Publish

He has some great videos and an excellent easy to understand explanation about buffer analytics and how they can help you reach your audience more effectively.

Thanks Bryan.

NEXT:

20 Quick Tips on Writing Great Blog Posts | Darren Rowse ...

https://www.linkedin.com/.../20140602121530-3161863-20-qu...

Darren Browse has an amazing quick list of things that will give you a greaet blog post.  I like how #9 connects with Bryan Harris’ use of buffer analytics.  And I like how he ended this post with his own #15 suggestion- ask your reader questions.

I am personally taking #3 and #4 to heart and am re-promising myself to do #12, #17 and #19 better!  

1. Tell your story– it is one of the key things that will make your content stand out of the crowd
2. Share how you feel – it will take your readers to a deeper place and make it more relatable
3. You’ll never please everyone – the sooner you make peace with this reality, the better!
4. Write about things that matter to you – passion is infectious and your readers will catch ahold of it. Tell the world something important.
5. Inform, inspire and interact – aim to do these things every week (read more on this)!
6. Experiment with different styles of writing – it will help you find your voice
7. Mix up the length of your posts – short can be sweet but long can be epic!
8. When an idea strikes – drop everything and capture it!
9. Do everything you can to understand who is reading your blog – it will make you much more useful to them.
10. Before you publish – ask what you want your reader to do after reading your post – and edit accordingly. Calls to action are important!
11. Become hyper aware of problems – and obsessively write posts that solve them.
12. Put aside time to create quality content – it doesn’t just appear
13. Put aside time to edit and your posts – it will take them to the next level
14. Get a life – you’ll be a much more interesting writer if you’ve lived a little
15. Ask your readers questions – it will make them feel like they belong and you’ll learn a lot from their answers!
16. Take your readers on a journey – posts that build from one to another can be powerful. Build momentum and create anticipation and you'll hook readers for the long term.
17. Brainstorm regularly – generating ideas for future posts now can save a lot of pain later and help you keep things rolling. I highly recommend mind mapping.
18. Not every post needs to go viral – shareable content will help you grow but it may not serve your current readers best.
19. Write, Write Write – the more you practice, the better you will get
20. Publish selectively – you don’t need to publish everything you write

What quick blog writing tips would you add?

Thanks Darren, these are great.

AND FINALLY:

How I Write 8 Blog Posts a Week While Running 2 Companies

www.quicksprout.com/2014/.../how-to-streamline-your-content-creation/

Ok, so Neil Patel seems to be as busy as I am, so I checked out his blog to see how he stays afloat. 
For full details, check out his post, but the main points are:

From his post:
You’ll never succeed at content marketing if you can’t create content on a regular basis. In essence, you need to learn how to streamline your content creation.

The good news is it’s not that hard. I’ve figured out how to streamline my content creation process. It works so well that I write eight blog posts a week. I publish three times a week on Quick Sprout, and I guest-post five times a week.

Here’s how I streamline my content creation, and here’s how you can too:

Step #1: Generate a list of potential topics

Time limit: You should spend no more than ten minutes on coming up with content ideas.

Step #2: Create an outline

Time limit: You should spend no more than twenty minutes on creating an outline. If it takes longer than that, you are picking topics that you are not very familiar with.

Step #3: Write

Time limit: You should spend no more than sixty minutes on finishing your post. The writing portion typically takes me forty-five minutes, and then I spend fifteen minutes re-reading and adjusting the post.

Step #4: Proofread, add a picture and schedule

Time limit: You shouldn’t spend any time on this step. Hire someone to do Step #4.

Neil says that "It’s not that hard to streamline your content creation process. You just need to figure out how many times a week (or month) you want to publish content and stick with it.

Once you decide on the frequency of posting, make sure you create a few extra posts in addition to the required number. That way, if something doesn’t work out, you’ll have a few backup posts. Your readers will feel you are consistent even if you drop the ball with your content creation process."

My writing partners keep reminding me that I should use my teacher vacation days to write several posts as back ups so I don't drop the ball, but I can’t find my way out from the grading pile even during vacations!

However, what I did learn is that posting a blog isn't always about what you are interested in, you have to connect with your readers and two of these sites give me really concrete ways in which to do that. I like procedures and a solid process and these bloggers really have created a system that works for them, but has a universal appeal. I know that I for one, am going to try to recreate some of their tips for my own break throughs in the world of blogging.

I will be back soon with more reviews of links that will help you with THE BLOG.

And  a parting question:

What things do you do to generate your weekly blog posts?

See I am already employing number #15! Enquiring minds want to know! 

I dare you to reply.

25 Picture Book First Lines

This week the SCBWI San Fernando Valley Schmooze is focusing on picture books and first lines. I grabbed some favorites from my first line posts and I divided them between prose and rhyming Picture Books. The titles are linked to the books. I have fiddled with the spacing and font and today is one of those times Blogger hates me. So I apologize for the non-uniform look of the titles and links and fonts/. Think of it as Blogger's creativity shining through.
Please tell me your favorite. Want to share your best first line from your own work? Comments welcomed. Happy reading and writing.

Prose first lines

1. Everything was just dandy till that Emily Post book showed up.
Thanks a LOT, Emily Post! by Jennifer Larue Huget, Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger (First book)

2.  TUESDAY EVENING, AROUND EIGHT.

Tuesday written and illustrated by David Weisner

3.  In the biggest, brownest muddiest river in all Africa, two crocodiles lay with their heads just above the water. One of the crocodiles was enormous. The other was not so big.

The Enormous Crocodile. Roald Dahl Illustrated by Quentin Blake.

4.  In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines 

Madeline  written and illustrated by Ludwig Bemelmans

 5.  Out in the hottest, dustiest part of town is an orphanage run by a female person nasty enough to scare night into day.

Saving Sweetness by Diane Stanley Illustrated by G. Brian Karas 

 

6.  Five little puppies dug a hole under the fence and went for a walk in the wide, wide world. 

The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey - Illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren

 7.  My friend Lincoln says you have two dads. That’s right poppa and daddy.

A Tale of Two Daddies by Vanita Oelschlager Iluustated by Kristin Blackwood and Mike Blane

9.  Mama love to sing. Her singing was always a happy part of everyday life. But everything changed the day after my seventh birthday.

Floating on Mama’s Song by Laura Lacamara, Illustrated by Yuyi Morales(First book)

 10. I took the moon for a walk last night.

I took the Moon for a walk by Carolyn Curtis, illustrated by Allison Jay.(First book)

11.  Once upon a time Chicken Licken was standing around when a piece of something fell on her head.
 

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka, Iluustrated by Lane Smith. (As best as I can determine, this was his first book. Wow!)
 

On a cold afternoon, in a cold little town, where everywhere you looked was either the white of snow or the black of soot from chimneys, Annabelle found a box filled with yarn of every color.

ExtraYarn by Mac Barnette. Illustrated by Jon Klassen Extra Yarn is a also Caldecott Honors Book for 2012

 

12. Everyone was perfectly fine with the way things were. Everyone but Mr. Tiger.

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild written and illustrated by Peter Brown  2014 Cybil winner.

 

13.  Whenever the wind lifted off the river, and sent the trees to dancing, I itched to fly a kite.

I’d race to the great Niagara, plumes of mist rising from plunging waters, wind licking at my face.

 A boy like me knew, just knew which day would be perfect for flying kites.

The Kite That Bridged Two Nations by Alexis O'Neil, Illustrated by Terry Widener 2014 Crystal Kite Winner

14.  The Lion is known throughout the animal kingdom as the “King of Beasts.” 
The Great White Shark is the most feared predator in the ocean. 
And the Timberwolf’s howl strikes terror into the hearts of fuzzy woodland creatures everywhere. 
But even SAVAGE CARNIVORES get their feelings hurt.

Carnivores by Aaron Reynolds, Illustrated by Dan Santat  

15.  Peter snuggled into Uncle's lap as the carriage clattered through the valleys of Switzerland. Baby Annette slept in Mother's arms, a small pink blossom against a wall of black.

The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus, illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jen Bryant. 2015 Caldcott Honor Book

16.  He was born on an island far away where imaginary friends were created."

The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, Written and Illustrated by Dan Santat

 

 Picture Books that Rhyme

1.  Not last night but the night before, three black cats came knocking at the door.

Not Last Night But The Night Before by Colin McNaughton, Illus by Emma Chichester Clark

 

2.  One morning at the breakfast table, when I read the juice box label, (thinking it was tightly closed), my daddy’s pants got orange-hosed. 

 

I Always ALWAYS Get My Way by Thad Kranesky, Illus by David Parkins (Thad is a first time picture book author. It was published in 2009) 

When I grow up, I'll live in a tree.
Just my cats, Quentin, Quigley and me.
 

Growing Up Dreams by Susan J. Berger, Illus by Samantha Bell

 

4.   Beep Beep. Sheep in a jeep on a hill that’s steep

Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw, Illustrated by Margaret Apple (First Book)

 

5.  In a House on a hill there’s a wild little child not ready to close her eyes.

She burrows in blankets and talks to her toys and listens to lullabies.

 

Hillside Lullaby by Hope Vestergaard Illustrated by Margie Moore

 

6.  Many places make a home – a heap of twigs, a honeycomb.

A castle with a tower or two, an aerie with a birds-eye view.

 

 Castles Caves and Honeycombs by Linda Ashman Illustrated by Lauren Stringer
 

 

7.  See the piggy, see the puddle, see the piggy in the middle of the muddy little puddle.

See her dwaddle, see Her diddle, in the muddy muddy middle.

See her waddle, plump and little, in the very merry middle.

 

The Piggy in the Puddle by Charlotte Pomerantz Illustrated by James Marshall
 

 

 8.  In a wee little house in a wee little hole, lived a wee little mouse and a wee little mole.

 

One Dark Night by Lisa Wheeler Illustrated by Ivan Bated.(This was Lisa Wheeler’s first book. She has written many wonderful books. I wanted to blog the first line of the first one.)


9. Dusk creeps in and day is done.
The last few rays of stubborn sun
Cling to the hilltop, tree and town.
We wish that we could push it down.

 Bats at the Ballgame Written and illustrated by Brian Lies  

Dispatch #35: Imaginary Book Cover

Imaginary Book Cover

by Lupe Fernandez

I finished a final draft – and when I mean a final draft, I mean it could always use another look – of a YA contemporary comedy. I see the characters and the locations. I smell car exhaust and recirculated air. I hear class bells and phones ring. I touch a girl’s hand and a computer keyboard. I taste an energy drink and cheesy chips.

But I wonder what the book cover looks like?

Of course, publishers, marketing staff and sales personnel determine the face of the book cover. However that day is years and many edits away. In the meantime, I recalled an exercise I learned in a UCLA Extension writing course.

“Writers! Make Your Own Book Cover.”

Movie Poster

Say what?

The imaginary book cover will not be included in a query or cover letter. It won’t get past this blog post. But this book cover will keep my spirits up during those long months of submission, rejection and submission.

My manuscript I Was a Teenage Lawyer borrows its title from a 1957 teen/horror exploitation movie called I Was a Teenage Werewolf starring a young Michael Landon, aka Pa from the TV show Little House on the Prairie., and distributed by American International Pictures.

Wedding Photo

At a SCBWI event, I told a fellow writer about my funny title.

“You have the last name as one of AIP’s producers,” I told her.

“That was my grandfather,” she said.

In 1957, my mother, recently immigrated to the United States, saw her first American film in a theatre outside Fremont, Ohio. That film was I Was a Teenage Werewolf.

Coincidence?

Naw.

Never.

On second thought, I could use the luck.

First Lines from the Encino Charter School Book Fair

By Susan. J Berger

I participated in the Encino Charter School Book Fair. LOTS of local authors, and a Pancake breakfast. Jason Preston did a wonderful job of organizing the event and I got to talk to lots of readers and authors.

Between sales and reading of my own books, Jamie's Dream and Earthquake, (I forgot to get anyone to take a picture of me with my book covers.)
I wandered the room picking up first lines. Because I REALLY love first lines. There were lots more authors here. Illustrators too.  I wish I could have gotten to all of them.

 All of these books are available both as eBooks and print books.

Something was eating my socks.

The Monster That Ate My Socks by A.J. Cosmo

I loved this story,. It has over 667 customer reviews.

Visit A.J. Cosmo's Website

He has self published over forty books and has no second job. Imagine that? He makes his living as a writer/illustrator. (my dream.

It is difficult to describe the depths of my despondency that late  October afternoon of October 1861 as the open air carriage carried Poppa and me through the wrought-iron gates of White Magnolias and up the gravel drive toward the main house.

Anni's Attic by Anne Loader McGee

This looks like a fun read. I enjoyed Anne's The Mystery of Marlatt Manor ad so I put this one on my TBR list.

The boy opened his eyes Tia sky the color of melted butter and a sense of inexplicable terror.

The Lost Planet by Rachel Searles.

That is an AWESOME first line!

Do you ever wonder what animals do

when they gather in groups of more than two?

An Ambush of Tigers: A Wild Gathering of Collective Nouns   by Betsy R Rosenthal

Thus is Betsy's latest book which isn't out in hardback till April 1st. She has lots of others.I love this book because it reminds me of An Exaltation of Larks.

           

England 1348

Once upon a time in a cozy wooded town,

Lived a little boy whose mother was buried in the ground.

Fiddler In the Darkness by David Gutterman. Illustrated by Elwira Pawlikowska-Modzelewska.

Beautifully illustrated PB about love and loss.

My Grandma is not your average Grandma. Sure she has white hair, violet framed glasses, comfy square shoes and bakes spectacular chocolate chip cookies. But don't let that fool you. My Grandma has SECRETS.

Grambo by Beth Navarro. Illustrated by Betsy Hamilton.

I Pre-ordered Grambo and I loved it. Lupe  interviewed Beth Navarro before Grambo came out.

"Penny for your thoughts." Casey Grant asked. Normally I would be nervous talking to the prettiest girl at Jackson Middle School and I'm not just talking about sixth graders, either. But I was too distracted. I was standing by my locker and couldn't remember my combination. I tried to read my own mind, but that doesn't ever seem to work.

ESPete Sixth Grade Sense by Arnold Rudnick.

I am a sucker for ESP. When I was younger, my ambitions were to be rich, thin and telepathic.

I had a fantasy girlfriend I met in a dream. She had orange hair and dark skin.

The Abduction of Joshua Bloom by Michael L. Thal.

This looks like a great book. The first line doesn't let you know that this is Sci Fi Suspense for teens or late mid grade, so I thought I would tell you.

My lucky sneeze

Come to think of it, the day my brother tried to eat his first-grade teacher turned out. To be the same day that my dad brought me home a very, very strange cat.

The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams by Rhonda Hayter.

I handed Rhonda cash for the book on the basis of that line. I have a stack of TBR's right now, and I can't wait to get to this one.

Justin and his mother were on their way to a party. I the back seat, Justin carefully held a big plate of cookies as they passed the bike store and some people waiting for the bus.

The Smile that Went Around the World.

by Patrice Karst. Illustrated by Jana Christy.

This book is truly delightful. 

I hope you find one that catches your fancy. Happy Reading.