Endings and New Beginnings

I recently made a decision to put my newsletter on hiatus for 2020. Just this morning I decided to not publish any of my blogs on a set schedule (I have been doing them all once a week). I will publish when I have something to say, which saves me time looking for something to say! 

Wishing everyone here in the U.S. a very Happy Thanksgiving!

(c) November 2020 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction prohibited without written permission of the author.

What To Look For When Following A Blog

Why should we want to follow someone else's blog? Perhaps they offer information that is pertinent to what we are doing. Perhaps they offer information that we are simply interested in. In the end, it should be information written in a style that we can connect with, and that enriches our life.

Some of the things I look for are: 

• Is the blog focused on a defined audience?
• Is the voice consistent from blog to blog?
• Is the page that the blog is on organized in a logical manner? Does it present well? Do the links work? Is the color scheme a match for the material being presented?
• Is the blog coming out on a consistent bases (i.e. daily, weekly, monthly).
• Does the blogger sound like they know what they are talking about?  

As a writer, I follow a couple of blogs religiously. One of them is written by Nathan Bransford (an author and former literary agent) NathanBransford.com, and the other is LadiesOfMystery.com, a blog written by a group of female mystery writers.

What blogs do you follow, and why?

(c) November 2019 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction prohibited without written permission from the author.

Season Based Writing Themes

As a writer, I am always looking for a theme for my stories and books. There is a natural cycle to the world, and addressing this cycle gives me natural themes - Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. Each season has perceptions that are attached to it - some are universal, some are personal. All can be the basis of a good story.

Each holiday out there - whether it is religious based, seasonal based, country or culture  based - has a deep level of stories/themes that we can base our work on.

If we are writing short stories, this is one thing. If we have an idea for an upcoming holiday, we can get the story written, and get it out there in time for the holiday.  If we are writing a book - that takes a little more planning. I had to change the focus of one of my books because I was going to use a Christmas theme, but the timing wasn't right for getting it written, edited, out there, and promoted.

Don't be afraid to use any theme that you want to - they all have something to say!

(c) November 2019 Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction prohibited without written permission of the author.