tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44651235493280088632024-03-03T00:55:02.455-08:00Lauren WayneBehind-the-scenes look at blogging & writingLauren Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.comBlogger222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4465123549328008863.post-74203555523837228272019-02-11T14:13:00.000-08:002019-02-11T14:13:56.197-08:00When a mummy episode is a fairy episode<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtjV9X7I2CNU_FguZKxuYGtsppio7Cekm6BaMzoAbzBUdZl_WTaG9ibr2Y71oETf-9bPVWVqMv97YpLrnxs8PZiE4zDAXogHngxNUuRnSJLOqu2Hl6wAyUiDJ5KqPI3MCnIWUuCpuoOlj/s1600/20190211_140940.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtjV9X7I2CNU_FguZKxuYGtsppio7Cekm6BaMzoAbzBUdZl_WTaG9ibr2Y71oETf-9bPVWVqMv97YpLrnxs8PZiE4zDAXogHngxNUuRnSJLOqu2Hl6wAyUiDJ5KqPI3MCnIWUuCpuoOlj/s1600/20190211_140940.jpg" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="751" width="520" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Hobo Mama wants you to know she's a professional blogger! Look at how professional she's being!" border="0" src="http://images.hobomama.com/hm-disclosure-short.png" height="24" title="Hobo Mama wants you to know she's a professional blogger! Look at how professional she's being!" width="309" /></a></center><br />
<div dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.laurenwayne.com/2013/03/the-mummy-episode-tv-trick-to-watch-for.html">Mummy Episode</a> sighting! I found a way to watch the Acorn TV series of Agatha Raisin novel adaptations and saw <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KQNP8LR/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07KQNP8LR&linkCode=as2&tag=hobmam-20&linkId=25896899dbfb8de8603ef8d9a449a4fa">"The Fairies of Fryfam"</a> last night. It's been a long time since I read the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050Q5W4I/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0050Q5W4I&linkCode=as2&tag=hobmam-20&linkId=e64f9671eee517a89212396774bc3174">M.C. Beaton novel</a>, but I know for sure I was pronouncing the town name wrong. I'm not equally sure if the ending was the same.</div><div dir="ltr"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr">Agatha goes to a small town with a mystical obsession with fairies. Agatha sees twinkling lights and hears bright laughter in her garden near a wishing well, but the closemouthed townsfolk won't tell her anything. </div><div dir="ltr"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr">I don't think I'm spoiling anything (much) to say that at some point, her compadres lie in wait for the fairies and discover young boys operating Christmas lights and hiding behind the well to laugh at the newcomers. Toward the end of the episode, though, a villager says that the boys just try to obscure the fact that there are real fairies to give a plausible explanation to outsiders. Um, ok.</div><div dir="ltr"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr">The last scene is a zoom to the wishing well, where tiny lights fly out and around to the sound of tinkling laughter.</div><div dir="ltr"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr">FAIRIES ARE REAL.</div><div dir="ltr"><br />
</div><div dir="ltr">Definite <a href="http://www.laurenwayne.com/2013/03/the-mummy-episode-tv-trick-to-watch-for.html">Mummy Episode</a>, though with a fairy twist. Set up a logical world where there's a discernible explanation for every phenomenon...and then throw it away at the last minute.</div><br />
Still a fun watch and read, though! <br />
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<a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KQNP8LR/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07KQNP8LR&linkCode=as2&tag=hobmam-20&linkId=e2fe8053364ad04dccdd4f186c44bf4f"><img align="left" height="250" border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B07KQNP8LR&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=hobmam-20" ></a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050Q5W4I/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0050Q5W4I&linkCode=as2&tag=hobmam-20&linkId=a2fec58effe07049f6c3983b8a47b114"><img align="right" height="250" border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=B0050Q5W4I&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=hobmam-20" ></a><br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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Annual reminder: <b><i>As you buy the items on your holiday list this year, keep your favorite bloggers in mind!</i></b><br />
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If you're shopping online at Amazon.com, you can <b>shop through your favorite writers' affiliate links</b> and give them a little holiday gift, too!<br />
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Buying through an affiliate link <b>works just the same for you</b> as shopping by going directly to the Amazon site. You don't pay any more than you would otherwise, but the store itself funnels a few cents over to the blogger as a thanks for the referral.<br />
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<blockquote>Do you know bloggers who are struggling this season to make ends meet? Are there writers you'd love to reward for being particularly timely and touching in what they share with readers? <b>Do you just want to spread the holiday love and cheer?</b><br />
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Then make it a point to <b>shop through an affiliate link this season</b> and throughout the year!</blockquote><br />
To make it easy for you, we have a <b>linky list of bloggers' Amazon affiliate links</b>. <br />
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If you're a blogger, <b>sign up with your links!</b><br />
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To <b>help you remember to shop through an affiliate link</b>, bookmark a few! Simply drag two or three favorites into your bookmarks bar, and name them "Amazon." Now anytime you want to go to Amazon, click on one, and you'll be set to give that blogger a little tip for being awesome!<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
<b>Need more info on affiliate-link shopping?</b> Check out our <a href="#faq">frequently asked questions</a> below!<br />
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<a name="linkies"> </a><br />
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<h3>Affiliate linkies!</h3>The linky lists have a permanent home <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank">on Hobo Mama's Support Bloggers page</a> if you want to add your own link.<br />
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But I'm reproducing the list here for your shopping convenience!<br />
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<h4>Amazon Associates links</h4><i>To enter: </i>Put your blog name in the Title field and your affiliate link to the Amazon homepage in the URL field.<br />
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<i>To use: </i>Click on one of these links every time before you check out at Amazon!<br />
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<!-- start LinkyTools script --><br />
<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=172787" type="text/javascript"></script><br />
<!-- end LinkyTools script --><br />
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<i>If you need any of your links edited or removed, let me know <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/contact-hobo-mama.html" target="_blank">through my contact form</a>.</i><br />
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<br />
<a name="faq"> </a><br />
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<h3>FAQ</h3><br />
<b>1. How do affiliate links track my purchase?</b><br />
When you click an affiliate link, your browser stores a cookie that tracks any purchase you make from that point to the cookie's expiration date. Amazon's cookies expire quickly, after 12 hours. Other stores have cookies that last 30 days to 90 days (usually). You'll reset a cookie if you click on someone else's link before checkout as well. It's best to <b>click the affiliate link you want just before checkout</b> to make sure it's active and the one you want.<br />
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<b>2. Do I pay extra when I shop through an affiliate link?</b><br />
Not at all! The store pays the affiliate fee out of its own earnings, as a thank-you for the blogger's referral of a customer.<br />
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<b>3. Is my shopping experience different if I shop through an affiliate link?</b><br />
Nope! Once you click the link, you're on the shop's website, same as always. You can browse around, update your account, enter any coupon codes … same as before! The tracking cookie is invisible and doesn't affect your shopping or checkout experience at all.<br />
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<b>4. Shouldn't I just shop through my own affiliate links?</b><br />
You can't make sales through your own affiliate links on Amazon. Other stores might have different policies, but Amazon simply won't track them. If you're found illegally manipulating accounts to do it, you can be kicked out of the Amazon Associates program for good. So it's worth it to shop through some other lovely person's link and <b>spread the wealth</b>!<br />
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<a href="#linkies">Back to the linkies! <sup>↩</sup></a><br />
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<h3>Share!</h3>Feel free to display a button in your sidebar, pin to Pinterest, share on Facebook, and just generally <b>let everyone know to shop through YOUR affiliate links!</b><br />
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I'm even including a little blog post right here you can share on your blog, in HTML, to attract your readers to shop through <i>your</i> affiliate link. (You are of course welcome to edit it!)<br />
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<i>Blog post:</i><br />
<div align="center"><form><textarea rows="6" cols="60" readonly="readonly"><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://images.hobomama.com/support-blogger-3.jpg" border="0" class="alignright" align="right" width="250" alt="Shopping this holiday season? Do it through a blogger's affiliate link! -- SpiritGrooves & Hobo Mama"/></a><p><b><i>As you buy the items on your holiday list this year, keep your favorite bloggers in mind — including me!</i></b></p><p>If you're shopping online, particularly at Amazon.com, you can <b>shop through my affiliate links</b> and give me a little holiday gift, too!</p><p>Buying through an affiliate link <b>works just the same for you</b> as shopping by going directly to the Amazon (or other shop's) site. You don't pay any more than you would otherwise, but the store itself funnels a few cents over to me as a thanks for the referral.</p><p>If you want to reward the writers you love and spread the holiday love and cheer, make it a point to <b>shop through an affiliate link this season</b> and throughout the year!</p><p>To make it easy for you to find my link and those of other fabulous bloggers', <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><b>Lauren at Hobo Mama</b></a> has a <b>linky list of bloggers' Amazon affiliate links</b>, as well as a <b>linky of affiliate links to other popular online stores</b>. You can find those lists at <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><b>Hobo Mama's Support Bloggers page</b></a>.</p><p>If you're a blogger, <b>sign up there with your links!</b></p><p>When you're shopping on Amazon, just before you check out, head on over to the page on <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><b>Hobo Mama</b></a> and find my blog's name in the linky list. Click, check out, and you'll be giving me a sweet little tip!</p><p><b>Thank you so much for your support of my writing!</b></p></textarea></form></div><br />
<i>Pin:</i><br />
<center><a data-pin-do="embedPin" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/198088083593900040/"></a></center><br />
<i>Images:</i><br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3zykoMIJRT4haN12sTGag2fB6sxRdfcpK0I5AfJ0GsiXwar81PvR__GcEVwRyESE8STMmkeXQmchpBMi3FtCixHyFni9pYIsQv987MCNn_4WsECv4RQc8Tt-_CuWX-sGlJBQ53po3Q06/s1600/tip-your-blogger-pin.png" title="Shop through this easy list of Amazon affiliate links to spread the love!" width="250" border="0" alt="Shopping this holiday season? Do it through a blogger's affiliate link! -- SpiritGrooves & Hobo Mama" /></a> </div><br />
<div align="center"><form><textarea rows="5" cols="20" readonly="readonly"><center><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img title="Shop through this easy list of Amazon affiliate links to spread the love!" alt="Shopping this holiday season? Do it through a blogger's affiliate link! -- SpiritGrooves & Hobo Mama" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD3zykoMIJRT4haN12sTGag2fB6sxRdfcpK0I5AfJ0GsiXwar81PvR__GcEVwRyESE8STMmkeXQmchpBMi3FtCixHyFni9pYIsQv987MCNn_4WsECv4RQc8Tt-_CuWX-sGlJBQ53po3Q06/s1600/tip-your-blogger-pin.png" width="250" /></a></center></textarea></form></div><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://images.hobomama.com/support-blogger-3.jpg" title="Shop through this easy list of Amazon affiliate links to spread the love!" width="250" border="0" alt="Shopping this holiday season? Do it through a blogger's affiliate link! -- SpiritGrooves & Hobo Mama" /></a> </div><br />
<div align="center"><form><textarea rows="5" cols="20" readonly="readonly"><center><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img title="Shop through this easy list of Amazon affiliate links to spread the love!" alt="Shopping this holiday season? Do it through a blogger's affiliate link! -- SpiritGrooves & Hobo Mama" src="http://images.hobomama.com/support-blogger-3.jpg" width="250" /></a></center></textarea></form></div><br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://images.hobomama.com/support-blogger.jpg" title="Shop through this easy list of Amazon affiliate links to spread the love!" width="250" border="0" alt="Shopping this holiday season? Do it through a blogger's affiliate link! -- SpiritGrooves & Hobo Mama" /></a> </div><br />
<div align="center"><form><textarea rows="5" cols="20" readonly="readonly"><center><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img title="Shop through this easy list of Amazon affiliate links to spread the love!" alt="Shopping this holiday season? Do it through a blogger's affiliate link! -- SpiritGrooves & Hobo Mama" src="http://images.hobomama.com/support-blogger.jpg" width="250" /></a></center></textarea></form></div><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://images.hobomama.com/amazonbutton220.jpg" title="Shop through this easy list of Amazon affiliate links to spread the love!" width="150" border="0" alt="Shopping this holiday season? Do it through a blogger's affiliate link! -- SpiritGrooves & Hobo Mama" /></a> </div><br />
<div align="center"><form><textarea rows="5" cols="20" readonly="readonly"><center><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img title="Shop through this easy list of Amazon affiliate links to spread the love!" alt="Shopping this holiday season? Do it through a blogger's affiliate link! -- SpiritGrooves & Hobo Mama" src="http://images.hobomama.com/amazonbutton220.jpg" width="150" /></a></center></textarea></form></div><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://images.hobomama.com/linkshearts240.png" title="Shop through this easy list of Amazon affiliate links to spread the love!" width="150" border="0" alt="Shopping this holiday season? Do it through a blogger's affiliate link! -- SpiritGrooves & Hobo Mama" /></a> </div><br />
<div align="center"><form><textarea rows="5" cols="20" readonly="readonly"><center><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img title="Shop through this easy list of Amazon affiliate links to spread the love!" alt="Shopping this holiday season? Do it through a blogger's affiliate link! -- SpiritGrooves & Hobo Mama" src="http://images.hobomama.com/linkshearts240.png" width="150" /></a></center></textarea></form></div><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://images.hobomama.com/amazonaff220.jpg" title="Shop through this easy list of Amazon affiliate links to spread the love!" width="150" border="0" alt="Shopping this holiday season? Do it through a blogger's affiliate link! -- SpiritGrooves & Hobo Mama" /></a> </div><br />
<div align="center"><form><textarea rows="5" cols="20" readonly="readonly"><center><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img title="Shop through this easy list of Amazon affiliate links to spread the love!" alt="Shopping this holiday season? Do it through a blogger's affiliate link! -- SpiritGrooves & Hobo Mama" src="http://images.hobomama.com/amazonaff220.jpg" width="150" /></a></center></textarea></form></div><br />
<div align="right"><i>Tip jar photo courtesy <a href="http://www.learningvideo.com" target="_blank">Dave Dugdale at www.learningvideo.com</a></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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This is a random irritation that frustrated me for a long time with <b>Photoshop Elements on Mac</b>. I'd make changes to an image and receive this error upon trying to save: <b>"Could not save [file name] because the file is already in use or left open."</b><br />
<br />
I searched forums for the answer to this problem and settled on a workaround of saving-as another file name, then deleting the original version. Doable but clumsy.<br />
<br />
Till the day I had a eureka moment that was <i>so</i> simple and <i>so</i> satisfying.<br />
<br />
Want to know where the file was "in use or left open"?<br />
<br />
<b>It was on my Finder.</b><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Cp5W7g_AvhtFCtmenukEuQaa1SMo4-Gls7MtqrMzPjOhxhW-iodJzFYo496niRMDwQiqLotIeNmlMkLs4m4lH6jdydsjxNlMexpSK3LKshQSYScsvPZTZdvG4eNCdPHUuU7b_LnjeSeB/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-07-10+at+2.16.27+PM.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Cp5W7g_AvhtFCtmenukEuQaa1SMo4-Gls7MtqrMzPjOhxhW-iodJzFYo496niRMDwQiqLotIeNmlMkLs4m4lH6jdydsjxNlMexpSK3LKshQSYScsvPZTZdvG4eNCdPHUuU7b_LnjeSeB/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-07-10+at+2.16.27+PM.png" data-original-width="415" data-original-height="400" width="415" /></a></center><br />
In other words, I had that file selected in a folder, and <b>its little preview was showing in the thumbnail window</b>. This is obviously why it's a common error for people to receive, since we click on an image to open it but then don't think to deselect it before working on it in Photoshop!<br />
<br />
Anyhoo…click off that photo, and problem solved. I'm serious — just <b>click anywhere else in that folder, or close it, or whatever, and you'll be able to save the image</b>. <br />
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Strangely, you won't get the error if you have multiple images selected (even including the one in question), so you're golden if you open several to edit at once.<br />
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Hope this helps someone else who's Googling this nonsense!<br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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<br />
<hr width="80%"><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGJcwIcijSZZdiErxX3bSwpygR054NmX4keLB2ta0_-uaqhqI1W76TrFDE9hr8TTaB4XvzIfleDGleiFLRpdhUtCqQ3bfAVMevblEB4jp6Ps6zIehj33KFi6UxdEUrl3LI6nHY4BLrK8g/s1600/photobucket-3rdpartyhosting.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGJcwIcijSZZdiErxX3bSwpygR054NmX4keLB2ta0_-uaqhqI1W76TrFDE9hr8TTaB4XvzIfleDGleiFLRpdhUtCqQ3bfAVMevblEB4jp6Ps6zIehj33KFi6UxdEUrl3LI6nHY4BLrK8g/s1600/photobucket-3rdpartyhosting.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pirate's sign that you must<br />
pay the ransom or forfeit your photos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>A few days ago, without any advance warning, <b>Photobucket sneakily changed its terms of service to disallow third-party hosting</b>, or <a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotlinking" target="_blank">hotlinking</a>, on nearly all of its plan tiers. Most people use Photobucket explicitly <i>for</i> the ability to link from images on Photobucket to other locations such as blogs and forums, so this seems like a baffling move.<br />
<br />
Until you realize the scam that's afoot: <b>The only way to get your images to show up again is to pay Photobucket $400</b>, upfront, as an annual subscription to its most expensive plan.<br />
<br />
Ah, I see. It's a <b>ransom demand</b>.<br />
<br />
I'm livid. I'd been using Photobucket to host my images on my Blogger blogs for ten years. For several of those years, I paid Photobucket an annual subscription for the benefits of unlimited bandwidth and extra storage.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
A couple years ago or so, though, <b>Photobucket's user interface went downhill</b>. They removed the function of searching through your own images, which made no sense to me and rendered my use of their site much more frustrating. I wrote them, and they suggested it would come back, but it never did. <br />
<br />
They added in extra javascript and popups instead of straightforward html, making it ever more complicated to accomplish what I wanted to on their site, which was to get the links to post my images. (N.B.: Photobucket always prominently offered various ways to directly link out images, including forum and html code, so <i>obviously</i> they were a hotlinking service.)<br />
<br />
Lately, it's gotten even worse with the intrusion of ads, ads, ads. Not just a couple in the sidebar, but the kind that jump out at you, cover your whole screen, autoplay videos, pop under and surprise you later, pop up while you're trying to click on something so that you end up clicking the ad instead, etc. I'd be shocked if I didn't download a virus or three thousand while I was browsing their site.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, then, for my more recent posts, <b>I had gotten fed up with Photobucket</b> and started hosting my newer images directly on the Google/Blogger interface. It wasn't ideal (there's no easy search function there, either, for one), but at least I no longer ran into bandwidth or storage issues. Eventually, I decided to pinch pennies and cancel my Photobucket subscription altogether since I was no longer using it for new photos.<br />
<br />
Then, last week, I opened up my blog and saw: Ack! Everything was black-boxed. My header, my sidebar icons, my profile picture. It was awful. I tore into my templates and quickly uploaded any image I could find to Blogger, then repasted all the links until my templates were fixed. But, I realized I was still staring into the abyss of <b>hundreds of blogposts, thousands of images, that all needed to be reuploaded and recoded</b>. It was enough to make me want to cry.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgFBej7SeBzGMX9mwfmcJZOVMMYImzbWGBwn0s-hcv8kc7AjfBB957SWy4jYFqyAcfCw90VXjQzWVYx3SdiVVl5cYGpaVpswRQO5JIMVOgq3p7ypFdjGOsbzk2X0nDXpyStaHcI6TVaaU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-26+at+6.10.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="448" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgFBej7SeBzGMX9mwfmcJZOVMMYImzbWGBwn0s-hcv8kc7AjfBB957SWy4jYFqyAcfCw90VXjQzWVYx3SdiVVl5cYGpaVpswRQO5JIMVOgq3p7ypFdjGOsbzk2X0nDXpyStaHcI6TVaaU/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-26+at+6.10.32+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My blog of doom</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Well, at least I could get my images off Photobucket, right? Nope. You heard me. <b>I can't get <i>my own photos</i> off Photobucket.</b> A decade's worth of blog photos are being held hostage. When I try to download them, this is what comes out:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Qz_pOU0qIXod4OpSWM4jwX8g2qdDPJfccblFDCa7xTCw6VU-kdLarHhWhKSh-7aySJ11AQHCTUYscGrAL4Vt6iYNM6_M_pvEu0EOBXZjqYAdZBLbOmAAGRBmPPeygfnwfOmbmWTEdBEv/s1600/2017-06-25+06.39.14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Qz_pOU0qIXod4OpSWM4jwX8g2qdDPJfccblFDCa7xTCw6VU-kdLarHhWhKSh-7aySJ11AQHCTUYscGrAL4Vt6iYNM6_M_pvEu0EOBXZjqYAdZBLbOmAAGRBmPPeygfnwfOmbmWTEdBEv/s1600/2017-06-25+06.39.14.png" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can download Photobucket's warning<br />
but not my own photos.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
It's just the black box of death, over and over.<br />
<br />
I've written Photobucket customer support. I've written them on Facebook. I've Tweeted at them. I've gotten someone on Facebook to promise a response, and that's the extent of it so far after three days. Three days of knowing my site archives look a ragged mess, and that I'm missing out on pageviews, subscribers, and revenue while readers take a gander at my posts of black-boxed nightmares. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwNfeq73Mh0Uik7CmENjUuCfUL3075J9querBFu2ZqwvEc4ctd_MrAdxPsvGrlygPxsVJm6ug-kAta4dsSBodilLu95CNkWcCJ8_nC77eg6-E6EhyYlOZusl0dNj2LpOXTJcgu8e8j1MN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-26+at+5.52.59+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwNfeq73Mh0Uik7CmENjUuCfUL3075J9querBFu2ZqwvEc4ctd_MrAdxPsvGrlygPxsVJm6ug-kAta4dsSBodilLu95CNkWcCJ8_nC77eg6-E6EhyYlOZusl0dNj2LpOXTJcgu8e8j1MN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-26+at+5.52.59+PM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, did you make us a tutorial? So glad you<br />
included such nice photos to go along with it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
My best option going forward is manyfold.<br />
<ol><li>First, <b>I petition Photobucket until they relent and give me access to my photos</b>. It doesn't need to be for all time, just for 24 hours or however long it takes me to download all my albums.</li>
<li>If #1 doesn't work, then I scour my own hard drives and <b>round up as many images as I think are on my blogs</b>. I've already failed at locating some, and I'll likely end up with others that are superfluous, so this is not the preferred course of action.</li>
<li>Then I purchase a web hosting plan. I have a personal one, but I'll have to open a business account, to keep things separate. If anyone has a reliable hosting service they like, let me know! <b>I upload all the images to my new web host</b>. I guarantee I can find one that costs less than $400 a year <i>and </i>that has better functionality than Photobucket.</li>
<li>I transfer my blogs to self-hosted WordPress. This is the step that has me sighing deeply into my soul. I'm not blogging as much anymore, and I'm happy on Blogger. It makes no sense to uproot everything at this stage to a service that requires me to take a more active role in the backend of the website. BUT, <b>WordPress has a plugin that will allow me to find and replace all my Photobucket URLs and change them to my new host URLs</b>. That way, I won't be stuck recoding every post and every image by hand, which would take more hours than I want to count. I've been wanting to switch my blogs over to a responsive template, so this will be the impetus to make the change.</li>
</ol><div>That's just four steps, but it's actually a hundred when I break them all down into sub-steps. For instance, I have to find a template I like, research the transfer process, tweak all the code on the new site, research hosting platforms and choose one, and so on. I'm very annoyed that Photobucket is forcing my hand in all this, and I hope they at least give me access to my photos so I don't have that burden on top of everything else.</div><div><br />
</div><div>If you're wondering, there's no option to pay for a single month's access. It's $400 or nothing. I flat out refuse. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I suspect they're on the brink of bankruptcy, hence the dreadful ads, and this is <b>their last-ditch attempt to generate some unholy revenue</b>. </div><div><br />
</div><div><i>How this affects you, if you're a reader and not a Photobucket user yourself:</i> Please be patient as I go through the steps of recovering and replacing the black boxes with proper photos. I'm limiting promotion of my archive posts since I don't really want people to see them right now! I have no idea how long it will take to get everything up and running on the new platforms, so here's hoping it goes smoothly enough.</div><div><br />
</div><div><i>If you're a blogger:</i> Beware of relying on any one service. Any of them can fail, price themselves out of reach, or change their terms of service. Keep backups of your photos and posts, and be prepared to make decisions to move to another service as needed. Though I hope this sort of highway robbery never happens to you!</div><div><br />
</div><br />
I'll let you know how the situation goes, and if Photobucket ever gets back to me! <!-- <b>If you want to @ them for me, feel free:</b><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/photobucket" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/photobucket</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photobucket/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/photobucket/</a><br />
<br />
<center><blockquote><a target="_blank" href="https://ctt.ec/x67Gb"><img src="http://clicktotweet.com/img/tweet-graphic-4.png" alt="Tweet: Hey, @Photobucket, why are you holding users' photos hostage? Let them download their pictures! @Photobucket_CS @Hobo_Mama #blogging" /></a><br />
<a target="_blank" href="https://ctt.ec/x67Gb">Tweet: Hey, @Photobucket, why are you holding users' photos hostage? Let them download their pictures! @Photobucket_CS @Hobo_Mama #blogging</a></blockquote></center>--><br />
<br />
<hr width="80%"><br />
<b>UPDATE July 3:</b> Photobucket continues to be <b>no help at all</b>. I bet they're flooded with customer service requests. Serves 'em right.<br />
<br />
I crunched the WordPress numbers (paying someone to transfer, buying a theme, paying for a host, etc.) and couldn't justify it when I'm not even blogging that much anymore. That plan is still the easiest if you can afford it. I recommend <a href="https://onestarrynight.com/services/">One Starry Night</a> to help you transfer from Blogger to WordPress. She might also be willing to manage getting your photos and URLs successfully transferred if you can't figure out how to do it yourself. Her prices are definitely reasonable for the work she does.<br />
<br />
But my bank account said no, so <b>here's my sadder, harder plan</b> as it stands:<br />
<br />
<ol><li>I don't think I explained this adequately, but <b>Photobucket had blocked access to the desktop version of my account</b> with a huge pop-over notification that I had to pay for more storage. There was no way to close out the notification or get around it, only click the link to go to the upgrade page. When I'd previously downgraded to a free account, my storage was full. However, the only way to delete photos was to pay for another year. (Whut.) There's no way to delete photos on the mobile app. (Whut.) So I had to pay for a year of storage that I don't want. (Blargh.) So I did, and then I was able to get in and <b>download all my albums</b>. If you already can, that's your first step! It took a LOT longer than I thought it would, especially since some albums were so large.</li>
<li>The albums download as .zip files. Usually that's fine and my Mac's built-in archive utility can handle it. But the <b>big albums were downloading as <i>corrupted</i> zip files</b>. I eventually downloaded a free app from the Apple app store called The Unarchiver, and that was able to open the partially downloaded zip files up to the images that were corrupted. I then had to figure out which images were downloaded and which not and delete the ones that had (manually selecting them in Photobucket a page at a time), then do another download round. I hope most of you don't have to deal with this nonsense, but if you have lots of pictures (I had thousands), that was what worked for me. Some albums took 4-5 rounds of downloading, unzipping, deleting, then downloading again.</li>
<li>Once I'd gotten all my photos downloaded, I <b>opened up an account on <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/s3/">Amazon S3</a></b> (Amazon Simple Storage Service). I got tired of reading hosting service reviews and decided to give Amazon a try since I like and trust them for other needs. (I have no affiliation with this service of theirs.) I honestly found S3 pretty confusing, but it's an option. (I was going to link to the post that helped me navigate S3, but it's returning an error. Oh, well. You can Google search the topic of <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=amazon+s3+blog+image+hosting">"Amazon S3 blog image hosting."</a>) The <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/s3/pricing/">pricing</a> starts out with a 12-month free tier and then charges over that based on what you use in terms of storage and bandwidth. </li>
<li>What I most liked about Amazon S3 was that it was easy to <a href="https://carltonbale.com/how-to-alias-a-domain-name-or-sub-domain-to-amazon-s3/"><b>create an alias domain for all my image files</b></a>, so now my images that were hosted at Photobucket now all have the URL http://images.hobomama.com/image-name.jpg. If I decide Amazon isn't for me, I can switch to a different host in the future but keep the alias (I think/hope). Amazon doesn't easily have folders for images, so if that bothers you, it's not your best choice. As I understand it, you can rename your <i>images</i> with a "folder" name in this way: folder/image-name.jpg. That sounded like more work than I wanted to put in, so I uploaded everything to the same bucket so they can all just have the same beginning URL.</li>
<li>I'm <b>staying on Blogger</b> and going through old blogposts that had Photobucket files to <b>do a find/replace for any Photobucket URLs to replace with the above image alias URL</b>. To begin with, I'm scrolling through my ten years of blog posts in Blogger and selecting <b>the posts that have the most pageviews</b>, particularly ones I know are still popular based on comments, Pinterest pins, and affiliate earnings.</li>
<li>If I get tired of doing this all myself, I might <b>hire a freelancer on Upwork</b> I've worked with before to finish out the recoding. For now, I'm going with cheap.</li>
<li>I wrote Photobucket to <b>end my paid subscription</b>, and they said they did, and <b>they haven't</b>. You know what, though — they're dead to me. I've unauthorized the subscription in PayPal so hoping it won't autorenew. They'll probably be out of business by next year, anyway, hey? I'll take off the suggestion to Tweet at them about my account, since I've gotten my own nonsense sorted as much as I can for now.</li>
<li>Optional last step for me: If I find my Amazon S3 prices are prohibitive, I can pick out my most accessed blogposts and gradually switch over those photos to Blogger's servers. That should help cut down on my bandwidth charges.</li>
</ol><br />
Wishing you all well if you're going through this mess, too! <br />
<br />
If you need a free, free, free hosting solution that allows hotlinking, people have recommend <b>TinyPic</b>.com and <b>Flickr</b>.com. I've personally used (am using in some cases) Flickr, and it's fine. However, I fear for the future of any service, particularly one tied to Yahoo. By which I mean, you could use either of those for now, but if you're putting in a ton of time and work to transfer lots and lots of photos to them, you might be doing it again in a few years.<br />
<br />
If you're on Blogger or Wordpress.com, you can upload your images directly into your blogposts. However, this doesn't make it easy to reconfigure old image URLs.<br />
<br />
It all stinks — sorry. <b>Blame Photobucket</b>.<br />
<br />
<i><br />
P.S. I had to <b>uninstall IntenseDebate comments</b>, because they weren't playing nice on all platforms. I tried to reply to any before uninstalling, but that's where they've disappeared to if you were wondering.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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</script></div>Lauren Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4465123549328008863.post-21573838279670587812017-02-06T09:00:00.000-08:002017-06-23T16:09:11.351-07:00What it means to be a refugee, in poetry<center><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Hobo Mama wants you to know she's a professional blogger! Look at how professional she's being!" border="0" height="24" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4p21sBhcROkeFat3sI3-21jEwbrfKMOQ5cwoumvuyFkf6NfMbv9G6FW840LSirXJNg1chyphenhyphenFvx67H-3ZlT8HBND80jKZaTJlc-WCHI6qVjRgyJo2WvaXctykG_TQeP1JaNlsSl7HIpHWh/s1600/hm-disclosure-short.png" title="Hobo Mama wants you to know she's a professional blogger! Look at how professional she's being!" width="309" /></a></center><br />
Because there seems to be confusion about the difference between immigrants (documented or no) and refugees, I want to share a poem (h/t to <a href="https://plus.google.com/+ShannonHillinger">Shannon</a>).<br />
<br />
<h3><a href="http://seekershub.org/blog/2015/09/home-warsan-shire/">“Home,” <br />
by Warsan Shire</a></h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXLayMgW3YP0VJbARKNf4wIklXmeQMOgVLMwyVX-6YtUqugbUGs9sqiThXVFxt7CDjEHdfaczH1x4KCopgBkA4pYJOVYYm04Bjbb2MhcZk014ytxgM6bCSO_fGi6Zx_h8XALEZRl7OwuY/s1600/Asimah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXLayMgW3YP0VJbARKNf4wIklXmeQMOgVLMwyVX-6YtUqugbUGs9sqiThXVFxt7CDjEHdfaczH1x4KCopgBkA4pYJOVYYm04Bjbb2MhcZk014ytxgM6bCSO_fGi6Zx_h8XALEZRl7OwuY/s1600/Asimah.jpg" /></a></div>no one leaves home unless<br />
home is the mouth of a shark<br />
you only run for the border<br />
when you see the whole city running as well<br />
<br />
your neighbors running faster than you<br />
breath bloody in their throats<br />
the boy you went to school with<br />
who kissed you dizzy behind the old tin factory<br />
is holding a gun bigger than his body<br />
you only leave home<br />
when home won’t let you stay.<br />
<br />
no one leaves home unless home chases you<br />
fire under feet<br />
hot blood in your belly<br />
it’s not something you ever thought of doing<br />
until the blade burnt threats into<br />
your neck<br />
and even then you carried the anthem under<br />
your breath<br />
only tearing up your passport in an airport toilets<br />
sobbing as each mouthful of paper<br />
made it clear that you wouldn’t be going back.<br />
<br />
you have to understand,<br />
that no one puts their children in a boat<br />
unless the water is safer than the land<br />
no one burns their palms<br />
under trains<br />
beneath carriages<br />
no one spends days and nights in the stomach of a truck<br />
feeding on newspaper unless the miles travelled<br />
means something more than journey.<br />
no one crawls under fences<br />
no one wants to be beaten<br />
pitied<br />
<br />
no one chooses refugee camps<br />
or strip searches where your<br />
body is left aching<br />
or prison,<br />
because prison is safer<br />
than a city of fire<br />
and one prison guard<br />
in the night<br />
is better than a truckload<br />
of men who look like your father<br />
no one could take it<br />
no one could stomach it<br />
no one skin would be tough enough<br />
<br />
the<br />
go home blacks<br />
refugees<br />
dirty immigrants<br />
asylum seekers<br />
sucking our country dry<br />
niggers with their hands out<br />
they smell strange<br />
savage<br />
messed up their country and now they want<br />
to mess ours up<br />
how do the words<br />
the dirty looks<br />
roll off your backs<br />
maybe because the blow is softer<br />
than a limb torn off<br />
<br />
or the words are more tender<br />
than fourteen men between<br />
your legs<br />
or the insults are easier<br />
to swallow<br />
than rubble<br />
than bone<br />
than your child body<br />
in pieces.<br />
i want to go home,<br />
but home is the mouth of a shark<br />
home is the barrel of the gun<br />
and no one would leave home<br />
unless home chased you to the shore<br />
unless home told you<br />
to quicken your legs<br />
leave your clothes behind<br />
crawl through the desert<br />
wade through the oceans<br />
drown<br />
save<br />
be hunger<br />
beg<br />
forget pride<br />
your survival is more important<br />
<br />
no one leaves home until home is a sweaty voice in your ear<br />
saying-<br />
leave,<br />
run away from me now<br />
i dont know what i’ve become<br />
but i know that anywhere<br />
is safer than here<br />
<br />
<blockquote><a href="http://amzn.to/2l8tgrg"><b>Warsan Shire</b></a> is a Kenyan-born Somali poet and teacher who lives in London and Los Angeles. She is the author of <a href="http://amzn.to/2l8y3ct"><b>Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth</b></a> and is included in <a href="http://amzn.to/2kHLvmx"><b>The Salt Book of Younger Poets</b></a>. She received the Brunel University's African Poetry Prize and was the 2013 Young Poet Laureate for London.</blockquote><br />
<div align="right"><i>Photo credit: Nóra Bartóki-Gönczy (Own work), <br />
Syrian refugee woman with her sick child <br />
[<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>], <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAsimah.jpg">via Wikimedia Commons</a></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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</script></div>Lauren Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4465123549328008863.post-78568044706848830942017-01-02T05:00:00.000-08:002017-01-02T05:00:16.079-08:00Another think coming vs. another thing coming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlYn6Rn_MK3EZofevxJu58LNSLnP14FLg4dVVxHuFYF0TmO2bIFnTK0PxXfXHPwREdu7EEgBOff9-ZMFSpvb5EvQ5fpkegvd_jv1J9AJLi4iAfxzYPvIJiHW4FdwZXW8EVOCDBy6hUHwL/s1600/deeply-thoughts-1393141-639x446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlYn6Rn_MK3EZofevxJu58LNSLnP14FLg4dVVxHuFYF0TmO2bIFnTK0PxXfXHPwREdu7EEgBOff9-ZMFSpvb5EvQ5fpkegvd_jv1J9AJLi4iAfxzYPvIJiHW4FdwZXW8EVOCDBy6hUHwL/s1600/deeply-thoughts-1393141-639x446.jpg" width="100%" /></a></div><blockquote>The copy editor is in.<br />
I'm presenting occasional posts on the use of English,<br />
not to be pedantic but just for the fun of language.</blockquote><br />
This is one that bothers me when I see or hear it wrong because the original is <b>so sly and humorous</b>, and the "correction" is so dull.<br />
<br />
This is the phrase in use: <br />
<br />
<blockquote>"If he thinks he's going to get out of paying for that llama, <b>he's got another think coming!</b>"</blockquote><br />
Too often lately I see it instead as "If he thinks … he's got another <i>thing</i> coming."<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Saying someone has "another think coming" is goofy, but <b>that's the point</b>. The right way to say it would be "another thought coming," of course, which is where the misapprehension begins. People hear "another think" and autocorrect it in their brains to something that's actual English and end up with "another thing."<br />
<br />
But "another thing," while a decently grammatical sentence, is vague. <b>What specific "thing"</b> does such a person have coming?<br />
<br />
Oh, I know! <b>A <i>think</i>!</b><br />
<br />
Let's save the time on making that bridge and just use the original delightful expression.<br />
<br />
What's your take on it? <b>Penny for your thinks.</b><br />
<br />
<i>Feel free to <a href="http://www.laurenwayne.com/p/contact-lauren-wayne.html" target="_blank">let me know</a> your conundrums or pet peeves.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i> <div style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Photo credit: </span><a href="http://www.freeimages.com/photo/deeply-thoughts-1393141" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;" target="_blank">Johanna Ljungblom</a></i></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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</script></div>Lauren Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4465123549328008863.post-29813473093436753782016-10-31T05:00:00.000-07:002016-10-31T05:00:21.240-07:00Why does my autocorrect think I'm typing that?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RAY3Yo4EMVsSvalD_FCpF58Ml6ujXOKyYckLuzdlrc1EhjxE2K9arn3-bDkGs7q9Ce4LdbuS6jekI4k_DqJF_-XFrgnrYeiSXNnHq4BOgXXuIUaQXF7zvpRRNlEnOcb8QaYmQ-Mcjf9H/s1600/20161030_172210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RAY3Yo4EMVsSvalD_FCpF58Ml6ujXOKyYckLuzdlrc1EhjxE2K9arn3-bDkGs7q9Ce4LdbuS6jekI4k_DqJF_-XFrgnrYeiSXNnHq4BOgXXuIUaQXF7zvpRRNlEnOcb8QaYmQ-Mcjf9H/s1600/20161030_172210.jpg" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good job on guessing I meant "before"<br />
instead of "veggie" this time, Swype. For once.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I have Swype on my phone, and I've purposely turned off the thing where it autocorrects what you're typing, because — I don't need that stress, or that level of hilarity.<br />
<br />
But, it still misinterprets what I Swype so, so much.<br />
<br />
And <i>I don't get it</i>.<br />
<br />
Wouldn't it learn that there are certain words you use more than others?<br />
<br />
For instance, how often do I write "ashtray" over "already," Swype? How often? Huh? Here's the answer, Swype: I <i>never</i> mean "ashtray." Never.<br />
<br />
As a parenting blogger, I write about my children a lot. But apparently Swype thinks I'm gaga about my "cistern." This is literally never the case.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0Q8KcsaLyw71hT5Pwz3VYTer6-LtegAdkATLcyzCgzOIEuKCgEvXzqPELggPxSQdjyxa1_X7n-YoGbtQHWF0RH8hIq7WqBXHQlNeZ8ZieLio_mjZard8153oCZBQ_3NiKc2hEJBS3rMN/s1600/20161030_172223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0Q8KcsaLyw71hT5Pwz3VYTer6-LtegAdkATLcyzCgzOIEuKCgEvXzqPELggPxSQdjyxa1_X7n-YoGbtQHWF0RH8hIq7WqBXHQlNeZ8ZieLio_mjZard8153oCZBQ_3NiKc2hEJBS3rMN/s1600/20161030_172223.jpg" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I guess it could be worse<br />
and people could think I'm obsessed with collagen?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Another curiosity is consistently substituting "top" for "to." It doesn't make my sentences funny, just weird. And "to" is arguably one of the most common words in the English language, much more so even than "top." Has Swype not figured this out?<br />
<br />
But what slays me. Slays me! Is that Swype always assumes when I type "with" that I meant "26th." "26th"! I deleted it from my Swype dictionary so it would stop suggesting it. Now it suggests "27th" instead.<br />
<br />
When I want to tag my boys on Instagram with the hashtag "brothers," Swype assumes I'm captioning "burgers." Every time. Swype, seriously — check out my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hobomamacom/" target="_blank">Instagram feed</a> and see how many brothers vs. burgers pics I post.<br />
<br />
Strangely, though, Swype has simultaneously decided I love vegetables. Whenever I try to type "before," it offers the stand-in of "veggie." Mm-hmm, that's exactly what I meant.<br />
<br />
More understandable mistakes — though irritating for their frequency — are "our" for "or" and "get" for "her" and "done" for "some." Perhaps I just need to practice my accuracy.<br />
<br />
I just posted my 26th photo of burgers on my veggie cistern. Enough ashtray!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5uEKiTMeDb3yjdMbSC5AMaEge9ZQ3hi5ndBv0s0wMCGCWMysFJOYhgJEUjDVIvTPP4VHE0VMmPSXX67cdT2X_PSPr46Hwq2Q5JTyzUW6t7tFOhbzzHZWf8eBBS91Ha4gpWHLYslwZDyc/s1600/20161030_171618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5uEKiTMeDb3yjdMbSC5AMaEge9ZQ3hi5ndBv0s0wMCGCWMysFJOYhgJEUjDVIvTPP4VHE0VMmPSXX67cdT2X_PSPr46Hwq2Q5JTyzUW6t7tFOhbzzHZWf8eBBS91Ha4gpWHLYslwZDyc/s1600/20161030_171618.jpg" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I typed "brothers"! I swear!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<i>What does your autocorrect always get wrong?</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<p> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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<br />
Set writing goals together, and pay in money that you'll forfeit if you don't hit your target — or win off each other if you do!<a href="#1" name="top1"><sup>1</sup></a><br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXQPqYYwfouf0JrQEMDYe18L2URJgw_Nql5S_u1QUeqLc_94hURDh6Q2wVwVB2THmZhNglDu9teGkRsr4zCHSnHkO3J3GktAi_O22k7Geq5Glzs079Yk_iblDMGHpuPWh8jy99gyjDSAD/s1600/writing-challenge-group-fbad2.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXQPqYYwfouf0JrQEMDYe18L2URJgw_Nql5S_u1QUeqLc_94hURDh6Q2wVwVB2THmZhNglDu9teGkRsr4zCHSnHkO3J3GktAi_O22k7Geq5Glzs079Yk_iblDMGHpuPWh8jy99gyjDSAD/s1600/writing-challenge-group-fbad2.png" width="95%" /></a></center><br />
<h3>How to start your own writing challenge group:</h3><ol><li>Get a <b>group of friends together who are writers</b> — Facebook groups work well for this.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Decide on a <b>challenge length</b>. It could be one week or one month or some other length.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Choose the <b>amount of money you'll ante up</b>. About $20 US seems right to motivate but not impoverish.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Someone is in charge of <b>holding the kitty</b> and being the <b>challenge cheerleader</b>. Everyone pays in, usually through PayPal.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>You each <b>publicly set a challenge goal</b> and then <b>check in and cheer each other on</b> every day. <br />
<br />
</li>
<li>By the end of the challenge, you each <b>declare whether you met or missed your goal</b>. The honor system prevails.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li><b>Losers forfeit their money</b>. Winners get their money back <b>plus a share of the losers' money</b>.<br />
<br />
</li>
</ol><br />
For instance, assuming a $20 buy-in from 6 participants, if two fail, the other four collect back $30 each. A nice little prize for completing your writing goal!<br />
<br />
And even if you fail, <b>you got to work on your writing</b> and you're several steps closer to your goal than you were before, so despite the loss of funds, it's still not really losing!<br />
<br />
<h3>Some tips on starting your own writing challenge group:</h3><a name='more'></a><br />
<ol><li>Post on your Facebook profile, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLaurenWayne/">writers fan page</a>, or writing groups you're part of that <b>you'd like to connect with other writers seeking accountability and motivation</b> to meet writing goals. Aren't we all? You should get some takers!<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Start a <b>closed or secret Facebook group</b> and add interested parties. Here's a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/help/220336891328465">chart of Facebook group privacy settings</a> to help you choose. Basically, public means anyone can find it and join and see what's going on, closed means anyone can find it and ask to join but can't see what's going on until added, and secret means no one can see it unless invited by a current member.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>In your group description and in a pinned post at the top, <b>state the group's theme</b>, something like: <i>This is a pay-to-play writing challenge accountability group. Participants pay in to the current challenge via PayPal and set their own writing goal. Losers forfeit their money. Winners get theirs back plus a share of the losers' money.</i><br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Make sure to <b>avoid unnecessary PayPal fees for the kitty holder</b>. Participants should send PayPal money as a gift with a PayPal balance or bank transfer. If you have participants from multiple countries, the kitty holder should reside in the predominant country. PayPal fees and exchange rates can mess things up otherwise. You might want to set a policy that participants not in the same country not participate monetarily or give their money only in the event of a loss (though you'd need to trust them to follow through).<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>To set the challenge length, you can do a poll to let the majority decide, or you can mix it up as you go. <b>Having a variety of lengths can help satisfy multiple goal needs</b>. Challenges could be as short as a few days or as long as a couple months. The best lengths tend to be, my opinion, 1-2 weeks: long enough to get going on a project, not so long that you lose motivation or get distracted by other life needs.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Have a thread for goals before the challenge begins. Remind participants that <b>their goals can be whatever they want</b>: Maybe it's to complete a chapter in their novel, send off a certain number of queries, publish three blog posts, research on a particular topic, finish up a book proposal, or journal for twenty minutes a day. Goals can be as challenging as the participants need them to be, and focused on any aspect of writing. Sometimes as writers, we need just a little kick in the pants to get started, and then we'll do more than we intended! If participants set a daily time goal, such as "write for one hour a day," then they should decide upfront if time can be banked or whether it's sudden death: In other words, can they make up for one day with extra time another day, or do they have to complete that much time every 24 hours or lose? Different participants will appreciate different motivational strategies.<br />
<br />
</li>
<li>Have daily check-in threads. Be sure to <b>tag all stated participants</b> so that they'll be alerted by Facebook to check in. Unless you're Facebook friends with them, you'll likely have to tag from your computer rather than a mobile device (or, at least, that's been my experience).<br />
<br />
</li>
<li><b>Cheer on each other's successes, and encourage each other in the struggles and failures of being a writer</b>. Share each other's blogposts, writing news, and social media updates to make more of a community.<br />
<br />
</li>
</ol><br />
Most of all, have fun, and <b>enjoy the camaraderie of working toward a goal with fellow writers!</b> <br />
<br />
I'm in the middle of a challenge right now, and one of my goals was to write <a href="http://www.laurenwayne.com/2016/06/why-blogging-is-dead-and-why-it-is-not.html" target="_blank">two</a> posts for this blog. Ta da! <b>This writing challenge idea really works.</b> I don't want to lose my twenty bucks!<br />
<br />
<b>Have you ever participated in a writing accountability group? What motivates you to keep on track with your writing?</b><br />
<br />
<center><a data-pin-do="buttonPin" data-pin-count="above" data-pin-save="true" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laurenwayne.com%2F2016%2F06%2Fmotivate-your-writing-goals-with-challenge-group.html&media=https%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-7ANuzCZjhOE%2FV13h-E5-ffI%2FAAAAAAAALW8%2FP6Aiye55C40t_WF1KWPspwbqhdFr3_2vACLcB%2Fs1600%2Fwriting-challenge-group-pin.png&description=Great%20idea%20to%20keep%20up%20those%20writing%20goals!%20Pay%20to%20play%20in%20a%20writing%20accountability%20group%3A%20Hold%20regular%20challenges%20to%20meet%20writing%20goals.%20Forfeit%20your%20money%20if%20you%20lose%2C%20or%20take%20home%20a%20share%20if%20you%20win"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_red_28.png" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKVue5HTo_yzHQAlyNBLA3EeM24B4n-goLIdXgAxIHEKgPGglhGKqOhJ1rcVO8Z8bf_91VJsaRIR1XGT1G3yma_cFhni-N1w13yX0UGuOpiFMlwImajga7zzTHqLdRsOh5Gof6-I3nXYk/s1600/writing-challenge-group-pin.png" width="300" /></a></center><br />
<hr width="80%"><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
<br />
<a name="1"><b>1 </b></a>I don't know the legalities of this in every region, but I'm hoping it's generally okay to do a little friendly gambling. if you're concerned, you'll want to check your local laws. Here's a <a href="http://www.gambling-law-us.com/State-Law-Summary/" target="_blank">handy chart for U.S. states</a>.<a href="#top1"><sup>↩</sup></a><br />
<br />
</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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<br />
Here are the reasons why we (and perhaps you) feel that way, and at the end, the ways <b>blogging is continuing on into the future</b> — altered but still alive.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMukxyN-vHyzEd8IThr2FyKoKgo8_6HTD6UGX6irw0nccgGRxlR7IhgfLUdbZOsCKuA4SAVj4vNkciJJgvtFxZuDgIiG9xKfaTZ5jBhFLAYAQFSJ2UR1xg7oK6r6zCOLF-EH9Gh5F3jW3/s1600/blogging-dead-fb.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMukxyN-vHyzEd8IThr2FyKoKgo8_6HTD6UGX6irw0nccgGRxlR7IhgfLUdbZOsCKuA4SAVj4vNkciJJgvtFxZuDgIiG9xKfaTZ5jBhFLAYAQFSJ2UR1xg7oK6r6zCOLF-EH9Gh5F3jW3/s1600/blogging-dead-fb.png" width="520" /></a><br />
</center><br />
<h3>WHY OLD-SCHOOL BLOGGING IS DEAD</h3><h3>We used to blog for community — now we blog for search engines.</h3><br />
I remember when I got my first commenters on my blog and how thrilling it was. I joined blogging carnivals, posted others' blog buttons, and chatted with authors and readers on <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom">Twitter</a>. <br />
<br />
I came to know my audience from their commenting and sharing, and they were real people to me. I could put names to many of them.<br />
<br />
The change isn't just the audience growing larger, it's that <b>it's grown quieter</b>. The community (mine, at least) has dissipated. Comments and shares have moved to social media and, often, behind my back (not in a bad way, just in a private way). <br />
<br />
I check my analytics and see: People are still reading. But they're not necessarily interested in ME. No, I don't blame them (I'm not that narcissistic), but it's a sign that they're not dedicated followers of my blog but rather <b>searchers who've stumbled on a single post of interest to them</b> and then backed away once the information was secured. These readers aren't <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/search/label/wordless%20wednesday">watching my children grow up</a> or asking my opinion on things. My folksy, homey posts go virtually unseen. Instead, most visitors come to read a few evergreen fact posts: DIYs mostly. I'm not bitter, and I welcome any readers, but it's a sign of the change.<br />
<br />
<h3>Commenting has moved to social media.</h3><br />
And <b>specifically to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLaurenWayne/">Facebook</a></b>, where it is now incredibly hard for a blogger to get posts seen without paying advertising money, and sometimes even with. I don't bother much anymore with posting links on Facebook, because the views are abysmal (1-10% of my followers, if I'm lucky). If it's something very important to me, I'll occasionally pay to promote it. I've mostly stopped sharing other people's fine links on Facebook, even though I used to love doing so, because no one will see them, and it just hurts my overall page metrics, making it even less likely within the Facebook algorithm that my posts will be seen in the future.<br />
<br />
People definitely do a lot of their link <i>reading</i> on Facebook, so this seems counterintuitive. If so many people are reading shared links on Facebook, then surely sharing links on Facebook still works? But it doesn't for most links, only for a (relatively) few viral ones, usually from big-name news sources or very lucky bloggers. (I've had a post or two go viral on Facebook, and it's always been a surprise.) Unless a link gets a lot of traction immediately, Facebook buries it in the feed, so bloggers can no longer rely on their business pages to drum up traffic.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<h3>Mobile views have changed blog reading behavior.</h3><br />
People are more and more reading blogs on their phones or tablets, where <b>logging in to comment is clumsy and usually too much trouble</b>. It's easier to use the default apps (Facebook, Twitter, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hobomamacom/">Instagram</a>) where you're already spending your time.<br />
<br />
<h3>RSS feeds and feed readers are slipping into obscurity.</h3><br />
I blame Google Reader's demise for this, because I love to do so. Fewer people are subscribing to blogs, and so fewer people are reading them regularly. See above re: mobile usage. It's <b>easier for people to check out the links friends and family curate for them</b> on Facebook and Twitter than to seek out their own.<br />
<br />
<h3>Bloggers change and grow, and their blogs become obsolete.</h3><br />
In my parenting cohort in particular, I've witnessed <b>massive attrition</b> as bloggers' kids grow past the baby and toddler years. There's so much to write about those years. Writing about older kids is tricky on multiple levels. For one, they might not want you writing about or posting pictures of them. For another, life becomes more varied the older your kids get. One family might be into soccer, another into gaming, another into camping. There's more unity to those early years of child development.<br />
<br />
While bloggers could keep talking about topics that they're not currently experiencing, that's hard for those of us with a more personal bent to our blogging. Plus, it's <b>hard to maintain enthusiasm</b> to blog about topics you've moved past. Speaking of which:<br />
<br />
<h3>Bloggers run out of things to say, and readers run out of reasons to read.</h3><br />
I know that a lot of my identity at <a href="http://www.hobomama.com">Hobo Mama</a> is bound up in being a breastfeeding advocate. Whenever I think I really should, then, write another breastfeeding post, I think, "And say what that I haven't said already?" I've gotten my messages out (out of my system, out into the public view), and I no longer feel that urgency to continue repeating myself.<br />
<br />
Similarly, I think my first audience is experiencing their own children growing past the baby and toddler years, and they've read about everything they need to about that. I've heard similar refrains from bloggers on other topics, and readers of same: <b>They've fulfilled that need and want to move on to other voids</b>.<br />
<br />
<h3>Monetizing has led to inauthenticity.</h3><br />
I've heard this complaint as well — that bloggers seeking sponsorship deals have injured blogging by <b>interspersing so much selling with their writing</b>. Since sidebar ads are fading as an option for earning money, more and more bloggers have been posting about products in thinly veiled sponsored-content posts. I'm <a href="http://www.laurenwayne.com/2013/07/why-monetizing-mom-blog-is-ok.html">not a snob</a> about <a href="http://www.laurenwayne.com/2013/07/how-i-make-money-blogging.html">earning money as a blogger</a>, but I can see how readers get turned off by seeing honest posts about, say, child-raising turn into a series of irrelevant links and untargeted sales pitches.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>WHAT YOU CAN DO TO KEEP BLOGGING ALIVE</h3><b>So where's the hope?</b> Certainly there are still bloggers out there, and new bloggers starting up every day. In what ways is blogging still viable, and how can we adapt and figure out ways to blog within the new system?<br />
<br />
I'm assuming here that you're blogging for more than just fun, that you want to say something with your blog and/or make some money with it. Obviously, if blogging is a side hobby that you can take or leave, you have precisely that choice before you. For those sticking it out, here are my tips for the changing landscape:<br />
<br />
<h3>Take advantage of the social media conversation.</h3><br />
You can't beat 'em, so join 'em. Get where your fans and readers live, and talk with them there. Some blogs still get a ton of comments, and blessings to them, but don't fret if your comments are silent. <b>Find the conversation elsewhere</b>.<br />
<br />
<h3>Try microblogging on social media.</h3><br />
Post snippets and summaries of your content on longer-form social media, including Facebook, Instagram, <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LaurenWayne/posts">Google+</a>, and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/hobomama/">Pinterest</a>. If that's as far as anyone goes, <b>at least you're getting your content out there</b>. A percentage, though, will click through your links to read the whole shebang.<br />
<br />
<h3>Find or keep your passion.</h3><br />
If 90% of your readers come to your cat-care site for that one-off post you wrote about unclogging toilets, you have two choices: You can decide to be "professional" and write more toilet tutorials. Or you can keep writing what you want to, and let the people who want to find you do. <b>It really is up to you</b>.<br />
<br />
<h3>Tool your topic to maintain its fit.</h3><br />
Along the same lines, if your blog isn't fitting you so well now, <b>rebrand</b>. You can tweak slightly and gradually, as with a parenting blogger including more and more recipes and cleaning tips. I've seen several parenting blogs transition into a <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/search/label/unschooling">homeschool focus</a>, for instance. Or you can go for broke and start from scratch. Switch from writing about shoe trends to start that blog about auto repair. Be prepared to shed some readers and followers, but you'll make new ones in your new niche.<br />
<br />
<h3>Monetize wisely.</h3><br />
By this I mean not just to beware of turning readers off with too much sponsored content — I mean reevaluate your whole monetizing strategy. Static sidebar ads are diminishing in popularity with the rise of savvier and mobile readership. While there are things you can do to get ads in people's vision still (ad-friendly responsive layouts, overlays, in-text partnership mentions, and so forth), I think it's even more important to <b>cast a wider net</b>. Consider the greater task of converting readers into customers if making money blogging is important to you. Consider supplemental sources of income, such as <a href="http://www.laurenwayne.com/p/my-books.html">ebooks, print books</a>, subscription services, consulting and coaching, podcasts, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQufr1ecbKntJaziycPd3Q">YouTube channels</a>, product lines, and the like.<br />
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<h3>Accept the search engine elements.</h3><br />
Take advantage of sites like Pinterest <a href="http://www.laurenwayne.com/2016/03/optimizing-your-blog-images-for-pinterest.html">showcasing your evergreen, popular content</a>. Use searchable hashtags on Twitter and Instagram to find suitable followers for your topics. Keep SEO in mind when crafting your posts. Include nice images for sharing. In looking back at my earliest days blogging, I did nothing visual. No pictures, no formatting, nada. <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2007/10/me-and-you-against-world.html">I just wrote</a>. It was nice. But those days are over if you want people to share. That's how it is, so either <b>write to be found</b>, or write for yourself.<br />
<br />
<h3>Make your choice.</h3><br />
On that note, you don't have to play the game. If blogging is becoming unfun for you because you feel like you can't write how and what you want, then maybe it's time to quit the game of it all and <b>just <i>write</i></b> or share your thoughts and life for the sheer pleasure of it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Let me know in the comments (surprise me!) what you think: Is blogging dead? Or has it just changed? Are you (still) blogging or thinking of starting?</b><br />
<br />
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<a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Hobo Mama wants you to know she's a professional blogger! Look at how professional she's being!" border="0" height="24" src="http://images.hobomama.com/hm-disclosure-short.png" title="Hobo Mama wants you to know she's a professional blogger! Look at how professional she's being!" width="309" /></a></center><br />
A gentle reminder that the deep discount on <a href="http://amzn.to/1RUBMPk" target="_blank">my three parenting ebooks</a> <b>will be over tomorrow</b>. The countdown is on!<br />
<br />
Right now they're at these prices:<br />
<b><ul><li><a href="http://amzn.to/1Vksfq8" target="_blank"><i>The Natural Parent's Guide to Babywearing: Baby Carriers Made Simple</i></a> — $4.99</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/1SJjQKz" target="_blank"><i>What Will We Learn Today?: Easy Homeschooling Activities</i></a> — $2.99</li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/1qebOAl" target="_blank"><i>Poetry of a Hobo Mama: The First Three Years</i></a> — $4.99</li>
</ul></b><br />
<br />
On May 16, they'll revert to their list prices, so <b>save now while you can</b>!<br />
<br />
I'll include a summary and reviews below so you can learn what people think of them!<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<h3><i>The Natural Parent's Guide to Babywearing</i></h3><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IFR1220/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IFR1220&linkCode=as2&tag=hobmam-20&linkId=HGIX2NXHOV3ZFIXD" target="_blank"><img src="http://images.hobomama.com/babywearingcover3.png" alt="The Natural Parent's Guide to Babywearing" width="150" align="right" class="alignright" /></a>Baby carriers and baby carrying made simple.<br />
<br />
<p>This book is a Babywearing 101 class, giving an introductory overview of babywearing, along with troubleshooting ideas for special circumstances. We'll talk about the benefits of babywearing, types of common carriers, how to babywear safely, pictorial how-tos for how to tie and wrap the most popular carriers, tutorials for making your own carrier, and a list of helpful resources for information and support on your babywearing journey.</p><br />
<center><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IFR1220/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B00IFR1220&link_code=as3&tag=hobmam-20&linkId=HGIX2NXHOV3ZFIXD" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1val4TQeZFHaCiNjWGVoqknL3vzRmw6cB_h57Hh7CFzatdYcrQCp568CDnjC5rL7XmjEKJnxgO4srcSsHTkefazghgO9ysftWV7MpW4g1VlI_nRBpSaDlAgF50o-9jy79_1ZVMCXOgHu/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-05-10+at+8.08.04+PM.png" width="500" /></a></center><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IFR1220/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B00IFR1220&link_code=as3&tag=hobmam-20&linkId=HGIX2NXHOV3ZFIXD" target="_blank"><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/associates/remote-buy-box/buy4._V192207739_.gif"></a><br />
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<br />
<h3><i>What Will We Learn Today? Easy Homeschooling Activities</i></h3><a href="http://amzn.to/1RUsItJ" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycJd9mokVwz7tjuKBkQexHSeVVRKWmRYdNwzwCZgWobwNq4w2nSNw-X2kyPhCp2UvpGhCPTF8kpxan12bT57P5uGpqIQYicwoorsD6ZH0vQlYgzCaK67hjrwViZOIja_iQ-2aGlTR6PQ1/s1600/what-will-we-learn-today.jpg" alt="what-will-we-learn-today" width="150" align="right" class="alignright" /></a><i>What Will We Learn Today?</i> is an ideabook of more than 550 quick and simple homeschooling activities.<br />
<br />
This is an ideabook of more than 550 fun and creative ideas that teach and reinforce learning under eight key curricular subjects. Whether you're homeschooling, unschooling, or regular schooling, your preschool and school-age kids will enjoy these quick and fun activities that engage their minds and creativity.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/1RUsItJ" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6lY36MatCWZf4wy9rIWILkmHowjb9p5CMqvYa0qIUf6onGwdQ5I2ydOc9zisk3ikLwft0DFm4uJ1lI-hF899o62qV2EoKkRP7tIS27N4ZSfYDu8PwmuaOQBhmksQaoZo8ifREDzxvOU2/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-05-10+at+8.13.23+PM.png" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/1RUsItJ" target="_blank"><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/associates/remote-buy-box/buy4._V192207739_.gif"></a><br />
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<h3><i>Poetry of a Hobo Mama</i></h3><a href="http://amzn.to/1qebOAl" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img class="alignright" align="right" alt="Poetry of a Hobo Mama: The First Three Years" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1453670645.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" width="150" title="Poetry of a Hobo Mama, by Lauren Wayne" /></a>Enjoy <a href="http://amzn.to/1qebOAl" target="_blank"><i><b>Poetry of a Hobo Mama: The First Three Years</b></i></a>.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>I sling my baby like a bindle on my back,<br />
tramping along the tracks<br />
countless feet have worn before.</blockquote><br />
<i>Poetry of a Hobo Mama</i> contains <b>three years' worth of parenting poetry</b>, written from the time Lauren and her husband, Sam, were preparing for Mikko, through watching him grow to three years old. She has included poems that speak of their <b>natural parenting journey</b> — breastfeeding, the family bed, elimination communication, and natural birth among them.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/1qebOAl" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57mE8SoJZlsKPwjjbxmnRzYoKEbHoI9WIdA7_Nd_WQDI2vMkA25OiYBLTbji7nne37UEaijBQf_NTqNetlYdVEB1texqwxFBDwqthCM8Cb3vCkms1sFUmeJhHtTpxL0lVzMjncPMxNMD-/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-05-10+at+8.15.48+PM.png" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1qebOAl" target="_blank"><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/associates/remote-buy-box/buy4._V192207739_.gif"></a><br />
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<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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<br />
<a href="http://www.hobomama.com/p/support-bloggers.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Hobo Mama wants you to know she's a professional blogger! Look at how professional she's being!" border="0" height="24" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2tUwEZhuUBn1C6oravZ-bncKi-9JGtVPQVJNIxgqMNmBeymLWcCOgN26YjoeofxThwq6aZN378Gr6ZcsKSkyiMdVvBwkVRaIpLh5zC48FO0W5aOvjqNuNKAZW8-g-MaLzJoy3CECNZ44U/s1600/hm-disclosure-short.png" title="affiliate disclosure" width="309" /></a></center><br />
I've enrolled <a href="http://amzn.to/1RUBMPk" target="_blank">all my parenting ebooks</a> into a special promotion at Amazon called Kindle Countdown Deals. Starting today, <b>each one is available starting at only $0.99 for a limited time</b>. You can see the time left on the countdown timer. <b>For the next week, each will gradually rise back to list price</b>, so grab them at a discounted price while you can!<br />
<br />
Here's where to find them:<br />
<b><ul><li><a href="http://amzn.to/1Vksfq8" target="_blank"><i>The Natural Parent's Guide to Babywearing: Baby Carriers Made Simple</i></a></li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/1SJjQKz" target="_blank"><i>What Will We Learn Today?: Easy Homeschooling Activities</i></a></li>
<li><a href="http://amzn.to/1qebOAl" target="_blank"><i>Poetry of a Hobo Mama: The First Three Years</i></a></li>
</ul></b><br />
<b>Run, run, run, and get the discounted prices!</b> Unless you want to learn more about each of them first — in which case, read on.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<h3><i>The Natural Parent's Guide to Babywearing</i></h3><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IFR1220/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IFR1220&linkCode=as2&tag=laurenwayne-20&linkId=HGIX2NXHOV3ZFIXD" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBgXz_bCFteucDaBOOhRdnyCzlahhm-0C-NiCojNxe_qMochQyaBJbch9z-VEcjQ_9dFebZq62hXa6Gbl3ll9TeF3WIqO3VjwLaPR0Nk4-X57Yen3-cQEds-UYqDRqxURpeUBUm2DIjbh/s1600/babywearingcover3.png" alt="The Natural Parent's Guide to Babywearing" width="300" align="right" class="alignright" /></a>Baby carriers and baby carrying made simple.<br />
<br />
<p>Babywearing gives you a convenient way to carry along a little one, keeping your child engaged while allowing you as the parent or caregiver to continue with the routines of life — walking, using your hands for tasks, and even breastfeeding — while keeping your child secure.</p><p>This book is a Babywearing 101 class, giving an introductory overview of babywearing, along with troubleshooting ideas for special circumstances. We'll talk about the benefits of babywearing, types of common carriers, how to babywear safely, pictorial how-tos for how to tie and wrap the most popular carriers, tutorials for making your own carrier, and a list of helpful resources for information and support on your babywearing journey.</p><br />
From <a href="http://anfsdc.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><b>Erin</b></a> on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Natural-Parents-Guide-Babywearing-ebook/product-reviews/B00IFR1220/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending&tag=laurenwayne-20">Amazon</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>I recommend this book to any parent, grandparent, caregiver, or sibling interesting in learning more about babywearing. It's extremely detailed and is worth five times the price for which she is asking! This book will completely solve any of your babywearing woes. As I've read through it, it has already answered all of my questions and more.</blockquote><br />
<b>Excerpts from <i>The Natural Parent's Guide to Babywearing</i></b><br />
See the post <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2014/04/how-to-use-ring-sling.html" target="_blank">"How to use a ring sling"</a> for a look into the book!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IFR1220/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B00IFR1220&link_code=as3&tag=laurenwayne-20&linkId=HGIX2NXHOV3ZFIXD" target="_blank"><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/associates/remote-buy-box/buy4._V192207739_.gif"></a><br />
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<br />
<h3><i>What Will We Learn Today? Easy Homeschooling Activities</i></h3><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycJd9mokVwz7tjuKBkQexHSeVVRKWmRYdNwzwCZgWobwNq4w2nSNw-X2kyPhCp2UvpGhCPTF8kpxan12bT57P5uGpqIQYicwoorsD6ZH0vQlYgzCaK67hjrwViZOIja_iQ-2aGlTR6PQ1/s1600/what-will-we-learn-today.jpg" alt="what-will-we-learn-today" width="300" align="right" class="alignright" /><i>What Will We Learn Today?</i> is an ideabook of more than 550 quick and simple homeschooling activities.<br />
<br />
Are you a homeschooling parent, or do you want to be? Maybe you wonder how learning can fit into everyday life. Or maybe you’re sure it can, but some days you and your child simply run out of ideas of what to do that’s not the same old-same old.<br />
<br />
That’s where this book comes in. It's an ideabook of more than 550 fun and creative ideas that teach and reinforce learning under eight key curricular subjects. Whether you're homeschooling, unschooling, or regular schooling, your preschool and school-age kids will enjoy these quick and fun activities that engage their minds and creativity.<br />
<br />
<b>Excerpts from <i>What Will We Learn Today?</i>:<br />
</b><br />
<blockquote><b>Language Arts:</b> Have your child help you shop for groceries. Hand the list over — for a pre- or beginning reader, draw little images of all the items you need next to the words. Have your child read the list to you as you go and cross off what you've found.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<blockquote><b>Mathematics:</b> Take the cover off an (unplugged) electric fan. Tape a different number to each blade, and put a piece of tape marking the top of the fan. Spin the fan by hand, and have your child make bets on which number will be at the top. Keep track of which number actually makes it to the top each time. Work out the probability of which number will be at the top — and the advisability of gambling on roulette…</blockquote><br />
<blockquote><b>Science:</b> Make raisins dance. Fill a glass with water. Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and stir until it dissolves. Drop in 3 or 4 raisins. Slowly pour in 1 tablespoon of vinegar, and watch the raisins dance! Mixing baking soda and vinegar creates a chemical reaction that causes carbonation (carbon dioxide bubbles) in the water. Normally raisins would be too heavy to float or dance in the water, but the lighter-than-water bubbles adhere to their surface and carry them up. When the bubbles reach the surface and pop, the raisins sink again. Once the raisins are too soggy with water, they'll be too heavy to keep dancing.</blockquote><br />
<blockquote><b>Life Skills:</b> Walk or drive somewhere while letting your child navigate with a map or GPS device. Your child can tell you which way to turn and help you look for signs and landmarks.</blockquote><br />
<blockquote><b>Social Studies:</b> Pretend you're from a different decade or century. Go through your house or neighborhood marveling together at all the newfangled things you can spot. Try to compare them to objects familiar to your own time.</blockquote><br />
<blockquote><b>Health & Fitness:</b> Toss a raw egg back and forth to each other outside as gently as possible, taking a step back with each successful catch. Try to get as far away from each other as possible before the egg drops or breaks.</blockquote><br />
<blockquote><b>World Languages:</b> Learn the body parts for the song "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" in your target language, and get singing and moving!</blockquote><br />
<blockquote><b>Arts & Music:</b> Visit an art museum and head first to the gift shop. Let your child choose a postcard of one of the artworks from the museum, and then go on a scavenger hunt to find it. Read any information about the work to your child, and talk together about what you like about it.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/1RUsItJ" target="_blank"><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/associates/remote-buy-box/buy4._V192207739_.gif"></a><br />
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<h3><i>Poetry of a Hobo Mama</i></h3><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxvrXboPPsFsz7VHugr8fIvZoLIwSu-wI4Dcj_lbVyQh3z6OfSHN2dCpYq007eguv1-ue5UW8EmmTFJTyn5uDNtu3LLKLL1_IVFjIuqNf9GyXXEbrmNK9daZZIE9D0P4VhJ1PaBoskRDK/s1600/phm-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img class="alignright" align="right" alt="Poetry of a Hobo Mama: The First Three Years" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1453670645.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" width="300" title="Poetry of a Hobo Mama, by Lauren Wayne" /></a>Enjoy <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Hobo-Mama-First-Three/dp/1453670645?ie=UTF8&tag=laurenwayne-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><i><b>Poetry of a Hobo Mama: The First Three Years</b></i></a>.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>I sling my baby like a bindle on my back,<br />
tramping along the tracks<br />
countless feet have worn before.</blockquote><br />
<i>Poetry of a Hobo Mama</i> contains <b>three years' worth of parenting poetry</b>, written from the time Lauren and her husband, Sam, were preparing for Mikko, through watching him grow to three years old. She has included poems that speak of their <b>natural parenting journey</b> — breastfeeding, the family bed, elimination communication, and natural birth among them.<br />
<br />
<b><br />
From <a href="http://www.authenticparenting.info/2012/04/giveaway-poetry-of-hobo-mama-7-winners.html" target="_blank">Laura of Authentic Parenting</a>:</b><br />
<blockquote>Her book guides us from miscarriage, onto birth and into parenting, with the full scale of emotions it brings. And emotional it is, her poetry. I was often brought to tears, only to suppress a giggle at the next page. From pumping, to PPD, to renewed fertility, Lauren shuns no topic.<br />
<br />
This is poetry straight from the heart, with all the flaws and failure, all the successes and joys parenting brings. Sometimes raw and crude, other times gentle and loving, but always recognizable.</blockquote><br />
Read <a href="http://www.sortacrunchy.net/sortacrunchy/2012/04/holding-my-childs-hand.html" target="_blank"><b>an excerpt from <i>Poetry of a Hobo Mama</i></b> here</a> and <a href="http://touchstonez.com/2011/08/22/astronaut/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/1qebOAl" target="_blank"><img src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/associates/remote-buy-box/buy4._V192207739_.gif"></a><br />
<br />
This sale ends in a week, and the price goes up incrementally, so run to grab them now at this low price!<br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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</script></div>Lauren Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4465123549328008863.post-53577406242081339922016-04-27T14:17:00.001-07:002016-04-27T14:17:16.748-07:0028 blogging tasks you can do from your phoneDo you spend more time near your smartphone than your computer? <b>You can still get plenty of work done on your blog when you're on the go with these mobile-friendly tasks!</b><br />
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If you're anything like me — juggling paying work, parenting, home life, errands, fitness — you might find limited time to sit down at an actual desk to blog or work on your blog-related tasks. So here's a roundup of <b>plenty of things you can do while you're on your smartphone or tablet</b>.<br />
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<i>A few of these links are affiliate links, but most are just free apps. I use what I recommend.</i><br />
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<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5C3YBTMw039FqBxx9awB2BsouqKZ4Yd8gWANUp0tCuRGtOsiwXXtLM1qUx5M4I4CXiuVf93L0vEPX4wtN-lr1m_axC0SRezYTXK4Z0-TEj_0kgIHhwiiCk5Zt5y2TENUsMpBhDKLa9EWA/s1600/phone-blogging-tasks-fb.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5C3YBTMw039FqBxx9awB2BsouqKZ4Yd8gWANUp0tCuRGtOsiwXXtLM1qUx5M4I4CXiuVf93L0vEPX4wtN-lr1m_axC0SRezYTXK4Z0-TEj_0kgIHhwiiCk5Zt5y2TENUsMpBhDKLa9EWA/s1600/phone-blogging-tasks-fb.png" width="100%" /></a></center><br />
<ol><li><h3>Draft a blogpost.</h3>If you're a minimalist blogger (mostly plain text), you might be able to post from your smartphone using one of the blogging apps (<a href="https://apps.wordpress.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">WordPress</a>, <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.blogger&hl=en">Blogger</a>, Tumblr on <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tumblr&hl=en">Android</a> & <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tumblr/id305343404?mt=8">iOS</a>), using email uploads (<a href="http://www.bloggerdiy.com/2013/10/publish-post-via-email.html">Blogger</a>, <a href="https://en.support.wordpress.com/post-by-email/">WordPress.com</a>, <a href="https://codex.wordpress.org/Post_to_your_blog_using_email">self-hosted WordPress</a>), or navigating to the site on mobile. <br />
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For me, I find the apps and mobile experience inadequate for all the images and coding and customization I love to cram into my posts, so I prefer to finalize things on desktop. BUT, I can absolutely WRITE a blogpost draft while I'm out. I just prefer to do it in email. I use <a href="https://www.google.com/inbox/">Gmail's Inbox app</a> and like that it saves my drafts well. I just pop my own address into the to field, make the subject line my title, and then <a href="http://www.swype.com/get-swype.html">Swype</a> away in the text field. I'm Swyping this right now, matter of fact. I'd like to experiment, once I figure out the <a href="http://amzn.to/1NAKyGp">best headset</a>, with dictating blogposts while I walk, using Dragon Dictation, the native Google voice-recognition on my phone, or another speech-to-text capability. (Here's <a href="http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-i-wrote-1000-word-blog-post-in-10-minutes-ht">how one person does this via Evernote</a>.)<br />
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<li><h3>Edit your drafts.</h3>If you have a blogpost draft you want to edit, email it to yourself or upload it to <a href="https://drive.google.com/">Google Docs</a> and use the Google Drive app (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.docs&hl=en">Android</a> & <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-drive-free-online-storage/id507874739?mt=8">iOS</a>) to access it. It has a nice autosave feature, and it will sync with your desktop version of course.<br />
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<li><h3>Check and reply to email.</h3>I find being on my phone actually makes this easier, because brevity feels right. Bam. Email done.<br />
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<li><h3>Read other blogs.</h3>I use <a href="http://feedly.com">Feedly</a> for my subscriptions now, and I've learned the <a href="https://blog.feedly.com/2015/08/13/tips-and-tricks-for-using-feedly-mobile/">mobile gesture shortcuts</a> to make the process easy. Save for later articles you want to read in depth or share, or just do it now if you have the concentration time.<br />
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<li><h3>Share posts — your own or others.</h3>Your phone will let you pin, tweet, post on Facebook. Go for it. I prefer <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=363437&u=328369&m=37818&urllink=&afftrack=lw">Hootsuite</a> to manage my (way too many) social media accounts, so I've paid for Pro. You might could get by with Free. I embrace the <a href="https://blog.hootsuite.com/autoschedule/">Autoschedule feature</a>. That way, you can tweet up a storm at whatever random spare moment you have, but those tweets will filter out to your followers gradually at the best times.<br />
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<li><h3>Instagram your life.</h3>Share the photos from your phone or better ones you uploaded to your phone or Google Photos earlier. With the new <a href="http://blog.instagram.com/post/141107034797/160315-news">Instagram algorithm</a> (love it or hate it), it shouldn't matter as much when or how often you post. Find new people to follow (you'll likely get some follows back) by searching the hashtags you love and use. Browse everyone else's pics and give some love.<br />
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<li><h3>Listen on Twitter.</h3>I have specific streams saved in <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=363437&u=328369&m=37818&urllink=&afftrack=lw">Hootsuite</a> for <a href="https://blog.hootsuite.com/use-hootsuite-social-listening/">this purpose</a>: one natural parenting-related for <a href="https://twitter.com/Hobo_Mama">@Hobo_Mama</a>, one writing for <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom">@LaurenWaynecom</a>, and one homeschooling for <a href="https://twitter.com/piratefamilyfun/">@PirateFamilyFun</a>. I look for interesting things to retweet or reply to. If your Twitter list is manageable, you can browse live tweets. If it feels out of control, maybe you want to <a href="https://support.twitter.com/articles/76460">prepare some Twitter lists</a> (easiest to do ahead of time) to group your following into handy categories. These can be either public or private. As long as the categorization is flattering, most tweeters appreciate being on a public list.<br />
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<li><h3>Reply to tweets.</h3>Thank retweeters, answer questions.<br />
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<li><h3>Record a podcast.</h3>I hear tell <a href="https://nutritiousmovement.com/13-ways-to-make-your-walk-more-nutritious/" target="_blank">Katy does this</a>.<br />
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<li><h3>Vlog and walk.</h3><a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2016/02/exercise-doesnt-exist-argument-natural-movement.html">So healthy</a>! So outdoorsy! Just don't run into anything.<br />
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<li><h3>Comment on blogposts.</h3>Maybe. This can, admittedly, be kind of annoying from your phone, but it depends on the commenting system. You can also reply to comments on your own posts.<br />
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<li><h3>Pin on Pinterest.</h3>I find the Pinterest app (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pinterest&hl=en">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pinterest/id429047995?mt=8">iOS</a>) pretty much as easy to use as the desktop version. The long clicking takes some getting used to, but then it's simple enough. Pin, pin, pin. With the smart feed algorithm on Pinterest, it <a href="http://www.elevatormusik.com/2016/02/pinterest-myths-you-need-to-stop-believing.html">shouldn't matter as much if you're pinning in a hurry</a>. As you're pinning things you love, take the time to follow boards and users that pop up as suggestions — you'll likely get some relevant followers back.<br />
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If you use <a href="https://www.tailwindapp.com/i/hobomama">Tailwind</a>, there's <a href="https://www.tailwindapp.com/mobile-app/share-to-tailwind">an easy way to schedule pins on iOS</a>. Scheduling on Android <a href="https://www.tailwindapp.com/dashboard/settings/publisher/mobile">requires setting a secret email address</a>, which is a little fiddlier, so I hope they come up with a better solution soon.<br />
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If you're pinning to group boards, I recommend the scheduler <a href="https://BoardBooster.com/invite/MBM9E">BoardBooster</a> — you pin to a secret board that's on the same topic as the group boards. Then BoardBooster sends those secret pins out to the group boards on the prearranged schedule you've set (e.g., one pin per day), so you don't run afoul of group board rules. BoardBooster has a mobile site to set things up, but the beauty is you can use the scheduling features from the native Pinterest app, taking advantage of those secret boards.<br />
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<li><h3>Post to Facebook.</h3>I like the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/help/440342779314597">Pages Manager</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mobile/">Facebook</a> apps for business and personal posting, respectively. Which is good, because that's what there is. No, but seriously, they work well and make posting, scheduling posts, interacting with likes and comments, and even managing Facebook ads easy. Actually, there's now a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/business/news/ads-manager-app">Facebook ads manager app</a> if you want to go there.<br />
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<li><h3>Research.</h3>For a blogpost topic or a blogging topic. Save your finds in <a href="https://www.evernote.com/referral/Registration.action?sig=0077f0c4060353490651e94f7c503323&uid=8362298">Evernote</a>.<br />
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<li><h3>Watch videos.</h3>If you're in a quiet space or have headphones, it can be a great way to zone into a blogging tutorial or other media to follow.<br />
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<li><h3>Catch up on podcasts.</h3>Same.<br />
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<li><h3>Brainstorm new posts.</h3>Fill in your editorial calendar with help from something like <a href="http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/create-robust-editorial-calendar-ht">Google</a> <a href="http://www.amyporterfield.com/2012/10/google-calendar-editorial-calendar/">Calendar</a> or <a href="http://www.pageonepower.com/linkarati/create-free-editorial-calendar-google-docs">Google Sheets</a>.<br />
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<li><h3>Flip over Flipboard.</h3>Read and share articles, and add your own on <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=flipboard.app&hl=en">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/flipboard-your-social-news/id358801284?mt=8">iOS</a>. (If you want to follow, apparently <a href="https://flipboard.com/@LaurenWayne8rvv">this is me</a>? Who knew.)<br />
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<li><h3>Get your Google+ on.</h3>Plus one <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+LaurenWayne/posts">some great posts</a>, post your own, and join groups and add to circles from the app.<br />
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<li><h3>Link up on LinkedIn.</h3>To be frank, I never use <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenwaynehobomama">LinkedIn</a>. But <a href="https://mobile.linkedin.com">there is an app</a>, so if that's your thing, link yourself in.<br />
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<li><h3>Snap to it on Snapchat.</h3>What do bloggers do on Snapchat? <a href="http://bloggingedge.com/blog/how-to-use-snapchat-as-a-blogger/">Heck if I know</a>, but <a href="https://www.snapchat.com/download">there's an app for that</a>.<br />
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<li><h3>Send out a newsletter.</h3><a href="http://eepurl.com/oUSgf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mailchimp</a>, which is what I use, has a mobile-friendly site. Check to see if your newsletter service does. Even if you want to fine-tune it on your computer, you could get a solid draft saved.<br />
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<li><h3>Catch up on your reading.</h3>If you want to review a book for your blog, see if you can get an e-version that will travel with you wherever you go and can be accessed whenever you have spare moments.<br />
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<li><h3>Interact with blogging groups on Facebook.</h3>I'm a member of several blogging and writing groups on Facebook. Some are for mutual post sharing, so I use my phone to read, comment, and share other members' posts. Some groups are more varied or social in nature, so I interact on my phone. The Facebook app (or mobile site) makes this a simple and enjoyable way to stay connected with bloggy friends.<br />
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<li><h3>Check your analytics.</h3><a href="http://google.com/analytics/">Google Analytics</a> works ok on mobile. While you're checking out what's blowing up, go ahead and schedule a few shares of your most popular posts.<br />
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<li><h3>Check your AdSense or other revenue.</h3>Here's the <a href="http://google.com/adsense/m/">mobile address</a>. It's fun to obsess!<br />
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<li><h3>Comment on YouTube videos.</h3>The Creator Studio app (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.youtube.creator&hl=en">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/youtube-creator-studio/id888530356?mt=8">iOS</a>) has an easy interface that allows you to approve comments on your YouTube channel, reply, share your videos, schedule or publish a video, and check your earnings.<br />
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<li><h3>Network.</h3>If you're the type of blogger who has interviews to do and video calls to make, you could do that in an office, or you could do it at the beach, if you see what I mean.<br />
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I hope this list gives you some ideas the next time you're out and about without your laptop but with your trusty tablet or smartphone. Leave your own ideas in the comments! <b>You can get a multitude of tasks done in captured moments</b> that will further your blog, make you feel productive, and allow you to focus on other tasks the next time you're desk-bound.<br />
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<center><a data-pin-do="buttonPin" data-pin-color="red" data-pin-count="above" data-pin-tall="true" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laurenwayne.com%2F2016%2F04%2Fblogging-tasks-you-can-do-on-mobile.html&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-l0jV7fltBu4%2FVyEmeLz3bEI%2FAAAAAAAALPo%2FinF3Iw0CJE8RVPtD0fiXPG-vReabz6kcgCLcB%2Fs1600%2Fphone-blogging-tasks-pin.png&description=These%20are%20great%20ideas%20for%20how%20to%20get%20work%20done%20on%20your%20blog%20while%20you're%20on%20your%20phone.%20All%20mobile-friendly%20for%20easy%20multitasking!%20%3E%3E%20LaurenWayne.com"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_red_28.png" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhms4qmZa0Rsuj-PFkjHRABcZxiRUBseBodIeujFOG8S6YQyuH14Klmd08ejdCq6c78WAsf7_XlYbTacH2ufnebQDETnxwdY7t-7QsEobeBiEwrL-QXDL965Kq30uvq3tRJxXWrqVEwbdgD/s1600/phone-blogging-tasks-pin.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhms4qmZa0Rsuj-PFkjHRABcZxiRUBseBodIeujFOG8S6YQyuH14Klmd08ejdCq6c78WAsf7_XlYbTacH2ufnebQDETnxwdY7t-7QsEobeBiEwrL-QXDL965Kq30uvq3tRJxXWrqVEwbdgD/s1600/phone-blogging-tasks-pin.png" width="400" /></a><br />
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</script></div>Lauren Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4465123549328008863.post-50707138314492225732016-04-25T05:00:00.000-07:002016-04-25T05:00:05.073-07:00Lauren's link love: YA vs. middle grade, commercial vs. literary, writing camp, & Twitter tips<h3><a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" class="alignright" src="http://static.tumblr.com/fkm6sn6/59Xlce272/header_white.png" height="125" width="125" /></a>Links to share, collected at <b><a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom" target="_blank">@LaurenWaynecom</a> on Twitter</b>:</h3><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Key Differences Between Middle Grade vs Young Adult | <a href="https://twitter.com/marielamba">@marielamba</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianKlems">@brianklems</a> <a href="https://t.co/mtIRPG99GA">https://t.co/mtIRPG99GA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/childrensbooks?src=hash">#childrensbooks</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/704351866260496384">February 29, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<h4>Like I need an excuse.</h4><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Put Down the Broom: Tidying Up Can Hamper <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Creativity?src=hash">#Creativity</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/PassiveVoiceBlg">@PassiveVoiceBlg</a> <a href="https://t.co/JE5gHZMvan">https://t.co/JE5gHZMvan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/704487650464555010">March 1, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<h4>A question many of us have:</h4><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Where Do You Draw the Line Between Commercial and Literary Fiction? <a href="https://t.co/MTPaXxNUYP">https://t.co/MTPaXxNUYP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a> <a href="https://t.co/QChnpQVNMl">pic.twitter.com/QChnpQVNMl</a></p>— Angela Ackerman (@AngelaAckerman) <a href="https://twitter.com/AngelaAckerman/status/704798141187543040">March 1, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<h4>Anyone going to camp in April?</h4><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sign-up for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CampNaNoWriMo?src=hash">#CampNaNoWriMo</a> & complete your <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a> project in April! <a href="https://t.co/1btdIVIFB9">https://t.co/1btdIVIFB9</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/704804710168002561">March 1, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How to Get Noticed on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Twitter?src=hash">#Twitter</a> -- 15 Tips for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Writers?src=hash">#Writers</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/TiceWrites">@TiceWrites</a> <a href="https://t.co/RW1951HKsp">https://t.co/RW1951HKsp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bloggingtips?src=hash">#bloggingtips</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/704846228484464641">March 2, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<h4>I'm so there!</h4><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Literary Tourist Sites - Vacations Inspired By <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Books?src=hash">#Books</a><a href="https://t.co/2w0puobDfT">https://t.co/2w0puobDfT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/reading?src=hash">#reading</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/705214899698458624">March 3, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I need this mug in a togo cup so I can take it to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/starbucks?src=hash">#starbucks</a> with me while I write. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a> <a href="https://t.co/a4fTmVswHg">pic.twitter.com/a4fTmVswHg</a></p>— HeyJamie (@HeyJamie) <a href="https://twitter.com/HeyJamie/status/700497622038138881">February 19, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><3 this: How I Make a Living as a Writer (and You Can, Too) by <a href="https://twitter.com/jaltucher">@jaltucher</a> <a href="https://t.co/8agyxAXaio">https://t.co/8agyxAXaio</a> (Hint: It involves a LOT of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a>.)</p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/703397924353523712">February 27, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<h4>Need an editing app? So did Hemingway, apparently.</h4><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hemingway Takes the Hemingway Test - will he pass? <a href="https://t.co/k5O9LyFtc5">https://t.co/k5O9LyFtc5</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/editing?src=hash">#editing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/703355154972733440">February 26, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How to Edit Your Book in 4 Steps by Mike Nappa at <a href="https://twitter.com/WritersDigest">@WritersDigest</a> <a href="https://t.co/HgL9egfIG3">https://t.co/HgL9egfIG3</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/editing?src=hash">#editing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/703759045472231426">February 28, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">8 Books That Have Revolutionized My Writing <a href="https://t.co/vmMeB1WC9U">https://t.co/vmMeB1WC9U</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/screenwriting?src=hash">#screenwriting</a> <a href="https://t.co/NVDjoZBkeQ">pic.twitter.com/NVDjoZBkeQ</a></p>— Angela Ackerman (@AngelaAckerman) <a href="https://twitter.com/AngelaAckerman/status/703697381053882369">February 27, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Writers, here’s how unstable characters make readers feel better <a href="https://t.co/N5rG8Vhqc5">https://t.co/N5rG8Vhqc5</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmWriting?src=hash">#AmWriting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writingTips?src=hash">#writingTips</a></p>— Drew Chial (@DrewChial) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrewChial/status/703672321442238464">February 27, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<h4>Same.</h4><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Riding the waves of life over here. :) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/parenting?src=hash">#parenting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amediting?src=hash">#amediting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dreambig?src=hash">#dreambig</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/quote?src=hash">#quote</a> <a href="https://t.co/9eG7xCq4D5">pic.twitter.com/9eG7xCq4D5</a></p>— Katrina Ariel (@KatrinaAriel) <a href="https://twitter.com/KatrinaAriel/status/703633251559186434">February 27, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<h4>Not specific to ebooks, but I thought it was relevant:</h4><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Amazon?src=hash">#Amazon</a> good for the online market? <a href="https://t.co/WqKT4KWEAl">https://t.co/WqKT4KWEAl</a> "Amazon raised the bar on how an e-commerce site should operate" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ebooks?src=hash">#ebooks</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/704345517036343296">February 29, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">To write | <a href="https://twitter.com/PassiveVoiceBlg">@passivevoiceblg</a> <a href="https://t.co/jMjSkpsY91">https://t.co/jMjSkpsY91</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/quotes?src=hash">#quotes</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/704335797458235392">February 29, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How to Write a Query Letter | <a href="https://twitter.com/NathanBransford">@NathanBransford</a> <a href="https://t.co/lnRwW9u7XI">https://t.co/lnRwW9u7XI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amquerying?src=hash">#amquerying</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/702265454442770432">February 23, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Making a Dark Character Likable through Vulnerabilities <a href="https://t.co/bSjjORvlsX">https://t.co/bSjjORvlsX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a> <a href="https://t.co/7uGHjDwS2J">pic.twitter.com/7uGHjDwS2J</a></p>— Angela Ackerman (@AngelaAckerman) <a href="https://twitter.com/AngelaAckerman/status/700570554563239937">February 19, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fiction Writing: What Makes Readers Care About Your Characters? <a href="https://t.co/TlbqcTPLgO">https://t.co/TlbqcTPLgO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a></p>— Alan Felyk (@AlanFelyk) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlanFelyk/status/702683685812891649">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Call it a Toni Morrison celebration: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BannedBooksWeek?src=hash">#BannedBooksWeek</a> 2016 will honor diverse writers <a href="https://t.co/zra8MSA2No">https://t.co/zra8MSA2No</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/702676996132831233">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Exercises to help every writer beat writer’s block <a href="https://t.co/JwuBYx4JIU">https://t.co/JwuBYx4JIU</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmWriting?src=hash">#AmWriting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writingTips?src=hash">#writingTips</a></p>— Drew Chial (@DrewChial) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrewChial/status/702690793618853889">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What I Want My Non-Blogger Readers To Know | <a href="https://twitter.com/writtenbyjenn">@WrittenByJenn</a> <a href="https://t.co/9ab4ZydVU4">https://t.co/9ab4ZydVU4</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blogging?src=hash">#blogging</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/703036860642283520">February 26, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<h4>True story.</h4><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a> inspiration for you: I thought I had SO MUCH left to do on my book. Once I got butt in seat it was...2 hrs. Sit. Write.</p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/702992837294624768">February 25, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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<blockquote>I'm reprinting this from <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2016/03/cats-are-girls-all-other-animals-boys.html" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> in the hopes that children's authors take note: <b>We need more variety in our characters</b>, on so many levels. One is in animal-gender form.</blockquote><br />
All cats are girls, and all other animals are boys.<br />
<br />
You'd think this was <b>biologically improbable</b>, but it's true. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EC7S4O/?tag=laurenwayne-20" target="_blank"><img align="right" class="alignright" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2r7alUTF5lkMOR4Txakh40eyNHC1G1ZjlZnYE2GRr8aDY2OKg-mX_TWMwUxBfO4dwRLVyqYprKCP0dDCH5ukmbLIOJ8CSRTPECJghsxKClbUcGfdLtcHBMHe6zfIHh_9vuq_KKZI8ewhh/s640/pets-tails-cover.jpg" width="200" /></a>Witness the admirably entertaining <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EC7S4O/?tag=laurenwayne-20" target="_blank"><b>Pet's Tails</b></a> <b>touch-and-feel book</b> by Jellycat, written by Anne Wilkinson. Every single pet on every page is a boy:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>"I love my budgie — his tail is a beautiful blue."<br />
<br />
"I love my stick insect — his tail is like a twig."<br />
<br />
"I love my fish — his tail goes swish-swish."</blockquote><br />
I commend Wilkinson on her extensive research that <b>correctly identified the masculinity of nearly all pets</b>.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakD7zak7LaFVX_717rfBQMTM1TGU3mc_y2KISLoogMTnXtFduyECTtEszfW-E_kdEA9VkhYfl5znFwfoZQkJ1XrSce1afeLMwMcH14lQqPS1E4BsuZKijfWqdcj7qkhgcks8UOSnahnyp/s1600/pets-tales-page.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakD7zak7LaFVX_717rfBQMTM1TGU3mc_y2KISLoogMTnXtFduyECTtEszfW-E_kdEA9VkhYfl5znFwfoZQkJ1XrSce1afeLMwMcH14lQqPS1E4BsuZKijfWqdcj7qkhgcks8UOSnahnyp/s640/pets-tales-page.jpg" width="95%" /></a></center><a name='more'></a><br />
And then, suddenly, on the last page, for the final animal:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>"I love my kitten — her tail is fluffy."</b></blockquote><br />
<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeNnhli6paZu_cDcL1KTy-M4GdPNLgiB4m_qLu-FkqtOMTBO2-IwnibUjJitR_BuDX9bbyjEg5RIisgD9RCt24wnMQBPUEVvEcQrhYq6B2TTMuM2bxpPjzDxqTbdvAI4XyTVRcNyiG5n_/s1600/pets-tails-cat.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeNnhli6paZu_cDcL1KTy-M4GdPNLgiB4m_qLu-FkqtOMTBO2-IwnibUjJitR_BuDX9bbyjEg5RIisgD9RCt24wnMQBPUEVvEcQrhYq6B2TTMuM2bxpPjzDxqTbdvAI4XyTVRcNyiG5n_/s640/pets-tails-cat.jpg" width="95%" /></a></center><br />
"<i>HER</i> tail"!<br />
<br />
That's seven boy animals to one girl. Though, honestly, considering that <i>only</i> cats are female, statistically speaking <b>it's a miracle a girl slipped in</b> at all!<br />
<br />
Ok, I kid, but this happens so often in children's literature and other media that <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FemaleFelineMaleMutt" target="_blank">it's a trope</a>. <b>Cats are girls, dogs are boys … and so is everything else</b>. That's why it seems jarring for people that the dinosaurs in <i>Jurassic Park/World</i> are females. Dinosaurs for sure were <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/11/24/dinosaurs-are-for-boys-girls-allowed/" target="_blank">all boys</a>, weren't they?<br />
<br />
When I read this book out loud to my kids, I try to vary the genders a little to <a href="http://jezebel.com/5794888/cats-are-for-girls-dogs-are-for-boys" target="_blank">do my part</a>.<br />
<br />
I also have long rejoiced in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1442485213/?tag=laurenwayne-20" target="_blank">tales of Bunnicula</a>, with their sarcastic male cat protagonist.<br />
<br />
<b>How often have you seen this cats-are-girls convention vs. otherwise?</b><br />
<br />
P.S. Our two cats are girls. Because that's all there is. Or so I've been told.<br />
<br />
<center><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKU9i3Afpq3cbO1UCHdGSHmwM-5P0pxYUZxzmslJDnW0EBwDlY2cFrU-rhnXHzzg7PwOb6jjsuBKSN8C6nDxUmDvVOFb77Kg0s_1KbXbXU7mSa_MWeLChL3ZaGbPsWdCwt2kUsDGVI_r9/s1600/2016_02_23_1851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUKU9i3Afpq3cbO1UCHdGSHmwM-5P0pxYUZxzmslJDnW0EBwDlY2cFrU-rhnXHzzg7PwOb6jjsuBKSN8C6nDxUmDvVOFb77Kg0s_1KbXbXU7mSa_MWeLChL3ZaGbPsWdCwt2kUsDGVI_r9/s640/2016_02_23_1851.JPG" width="80%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why are you dressing me in a skirt? <br />
I defy your gender stereotypes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What Agents, Editors & Publishers Look for in a Query Letter | <a href="https://twitter.com/brooke_warner">@brooke_warner</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/BlogHer">@BlogHer</a> <a href="https://t.co/eRE1VtK6qw">https://t.co/eRE1VtK6qw</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/querying?src=hash">#querying</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/700774507653505026">February 19, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When inspiration strikes, don't wait. Just write...but pull over first. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/poetry?src=hash">#poetry</a></p>— Christine Marie (@AWritersWay) <a href="https://twitter.com/AWritersWay/status/700191075793838081">February 18, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<h4>In thinking of how to use YouTube as an author:</h4><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How to Create Blockbuster YouTube Channel Success in Any Niche via <a href="https://twitter.com/MarketingProfs">@marketingprofs</a> <a href="https://t.co/NdmQ8enVlM">https://t.co/NdmQ8enVlM</a> <a href="https://t.co/EPmR4Icydk">pic.twitter.com/EPmR4Icydk</a></p>— CoPromote (@copromote) <a href="https://twitter.com/copromote/status/699458464465207297">February 16, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<h4>Secrets to querying literary agents:</h4><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"3 most crucial elements to a novel selling: the writing, the writing, the writing," from <a href="https://twitter.com/thewritelife">@thewritelife</a>: <a href="https://t.co/AzDZIR8sra">https://t.co/AzDZIR8sra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/702224103055486976">February 23, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My word count would be high, I bet<br>If there were no internet.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amprocrastinating?src=hash">#amprocrastinating</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/micropoetry?src=hash">#micropoetry</a></p>— Dean Gloster (@deangloster) <a href="https://twitter.com/deangloster/status/700755888647200768">February 19, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Writing?src=hash">#Writing</a> blog suggestions to follow from <a href="https://twitter.com/NathanBransford">@NathanBransford</a> & commenters: <a href="https://t.co/ks4xSX4trd">https://t.co/ks4xSX4trd</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/702630417439055873">February 24, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” -Suzy Kassem [Photo] | <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelHyatt">@michaelhyatt</a> <a href="https://t.co/bhORJUIbOi">https://t.co/bhORJUIbOi</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/702164936336793600">February 23, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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</script></div>Lauren Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4465123549328008863.post-84461295300244742752016-03-31T05:00:00.000-07:002016-03-31T05:00:12.892-07:00How to change your Google spreadsheet's language & related formatting settingsI was having a problem with a <b>Google Sheets spreadsheet</b> and am writing this post in case anyone is having a similar one. It's that type of nitpicky problem that wasn't a huge deal but was affecting my workflow — my spreadsheet thought I was in the UK when I'm really in the US.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbF4s4_-q9fOjTHGgVBfTZFAyqNWJyjyVV9Cesohtnai9ZY6RCZhaHKsehO19dG456r3cTkWet7O6546PUoZTj94680QFYsuHTXAdE9XZixyPTdaiGU2IXbGReDqcdjZIKD2fMUQEwsnt4/s1600/spreadsheet-language.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbF4s4_-q9fOjTHGgVBfTZFAyqNWJyjyVV9Cesohtnai9ZY6RCZhaHKsehO19dG456r3cTkWet7O6546PUoZTj94680QFYsuHTXAdE9XZixyPTdaiGU2IXbGReDqcdjZIKD2fMUQEwsnt4/s1600/spreadsheet-language.png" width="520" /></a></center><br />
<b>What difference does it make if a spreadsheet thinks I'm writing in UK English vs. US English?</b> Well, for me, it came down to the dates column. It really, really wanted my dates to be in this format: DD/MM/YYYY. Whereas we weird Americans tend to like it this way: MM/DD/YYYY, with the month first. I automatically type them like so: 3/16 (for March 16), expecting the spreadsheet to autoformat my entry to 3/16/2016. But…it wasn't. It just sat there: 3/16, and left aligned, as if I'd typed in text instead of a numeric value. If I typed in the words March 16, then it autoformatted it to 16/03/2016, which, though accurate in its own way, was not what I wanted.<br />
<br />
So! I tried a couple things first that didn't solve it entirely. First of all, under Format --> Number --> More Formats --> More date and time formats…, I was able to find a way to change that column specifically to be the date format I prefer. But, it didn't "stick." Anytime I typed in a new date, the sheet still didn't seem to know what to do with it. I worked around it by copying and pasting the correctly formatted dates, but that was inadequate.<br />
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I also went to my universal Google account settings and found that, somehow and sometime, I had indeed been set to UK English, so I switched that back to US. I refreshed my spreadsheet and hoped that would be the end of it. Nope, still UK. I restarted my browser. Nope.<br />
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Then, I found it: <b>File --> Spreadsheet settings…</b>. Hurrah! <br />
<br />
You can set your <b>locale</b>, and sure enough, mine was set to United Kingdom. As the Google help notes, <b>"This affects formatting details such as functions, dates, and currency."</b> I'd indeed noticed instead of a dollar sign ($) in my toolbar, there was a pound symbol (£). <br />
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You can also change your <b>time zone</b> (useful to know if you're trying to keep track of specific times entries were added to your spreadsheet) and your <b>display language</b>.<br />
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<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrhNrbWZWtSTsFK_uvi9NRZdD6PeFcyhdIKbN96MIuNI524XGPXe2Din1RqgXHsVtzTfRnb-mjboGkH8p_3bZTvU1lyqGGdwrvlpcqum8iU333ZGtPRqInF-jwNF1A_Zpkh2WtZPAT4pZ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-03-21+at+12.36.10+PM.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrhNrbWZWtSTsFK_uvi9NRZdD6PeFcyhdIKbN96MIuNI524XGPXe2Din1RqgXHsVtzTfRnb-mjboGkH8p_3bZTvU1lyqGGdwrvlpcqum8iU333ZGtPRqInF-jwNF1A_Zpkh2WtZPAT4pZ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-03-21+at+12.36.10+PM.png" width="400" /></a><br />
<i>Click to embiggen.</i></center><a name='more'></a><br />
Don't get me wrong — I love the UK, but I need my spreadsheets to function the way I'm expecting them to on this side of the pond. Hope that helps someone else who was frustrated by the wrong date formatting, currency settings, or whatever else was bugging you!<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">You had me at spreadsheet: How To Keep Track of Query Letters <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amquerying?src=hash">#amquerying</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a> <a href="https://t.co/eBJ9TbpH8Q">https://t.co/eBJ9TbpH8Q</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/699687353951059968">February 16, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jennifer Represents...: A whole lot of info about Picture Books <a href="https://t.co/6eBeTiphCr">https://t.co/6eBeTiphCr</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/literaticat">@literaticat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/699728745809190913">February 16, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Reality check from Barbara Kanninen - Can I Make a Career out of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Writing?src=hash">#Writing</a> Picture Books? <a href="https://t.co/espboodckQ">https://t.co/espboodckQ</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/699772809174765568">February 17, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Having fun with <a href="https://twitter.com/Twitalyzer">@Twitalyzer</a>. You like to investigate yourself? Here you go: <a href="https://t.co/Hs4Z6cC1kz">https://t.co/Hs4Z6cC1kz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/twitter?src=hash">#twitter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bloggingtips?src=hash">#bloggingtips</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/699815371176411136">February 17, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Conversation With Library Journal Self-E by <a href="https://twitter.com/Porter_Anderson">@Porter_Anderson</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/JaneFriedman">@JaneFriedman</a> <a href="https://t.co/RRcgFt5gjV">https://t.co/RRcgFt5gjV</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/selfpublishing?src=hash">#selfpublishing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ebooks?src=hash">#ebooks</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/700135175167074304">February 18, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">But then writing is for a <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/masochist?src=hash">#masochist</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writinglife?src=hash">#writinglife</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/schedule?src=hash">#schedule</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/plot?src=hash">#plot</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/story?src=hash">#story</a> <a href="https://t.co/JcdTRmKDiD">pic.twitter.com/JcdTRmKDiD</a></p>— Jill Flanagan (@JillofAll) <a href="https://twitter.com/JillofAll/status/699356837574025216">February 15, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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Many bloggers report amazing traffic from Pinterest if you leverage the platform just right, garnering viral repins and multiple clicks through to a blog. Here are ways to <b>fine-tune your blog images to be Pinterest-friendly</b>.<br />
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<ol><li><h3>Include an image in every post.</h3>If you want to be pinned, this is a must. Technically, a pinner can skirt around this by uploading an image to use as a placeholder for your post, but how dedicated are your readers really? Even if you're a writer, a words person, not a graphics person (I get it — I do!), you need an image in your blogpost. And even if you're not on Pinterest yourself — even if you never set foot in the app or have an account — your blogposts could be gaining traction there as soon as someone pins them. So <b>it's worth making your posts pinnable!</b> The minimum size, by the way, is 100X200 pixels, which is teensy and not going to play well on Pinterest. Read on.<br />
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</li>
<li><h3>Use the standard Pinterest size for best results.</h3>The largest pin size is 735 pixels wide, and the longest pin that can be read in mobile without clicking on an "expand pin" button is 1102 pixels long. So there's your <b>optimal pin size: 735x1102</b>. (You can round it to 1100 if that's easier to remember, and it doesn't actually need to be exact.) That's the width that will pop up when you click on a pin on desktop. You can technically make your pins infinity long, so if you have more to include (such as in an infographic or a step-by-step pictorial tutorial), then go for it. The whole length will be shown on desktop, but be aware that the whole length won't show automatically on mobile without an extra click.<br />
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<center><i>Examples of how pins look on desktop & mobile:</i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf2zJCgdnOthab2D67YH6kNVD_XGeOcM_z1psrcF9J7WnVBBpqr4cWDvrRwwXfBE14qpowhkvwLIoTvvNr-qjXuH-AmnQ2AnbM6PVtjmGDZWquLCvswgbihA-W0EgVrtLquRBTjAI2L9z/s1600/pinterest-pins-desktop.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBf2zJCgdnOthab2D67YH6kNVD_XGeOcM_z1psrcF9J7WnVBBpqr4cWDvrRwwXfBE14qpowhkvwLIoTvvNr-qjXuH-AmnQ2AnbM6PVtjmGDZWquLCvswgbihA-W0EgVrtLquRBTjAI2L9z/s1600/pinterest-pins-desktop.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pins can show as super long on desktop.</td></tr>
</table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTzsDIiufHfT9b3fBe6X1M1lZOmlnVAxE3iK-vlAj3dsBAVGeEn3MbhX7LHoBDgCJrEActakpGsyc3_QfR5Q_E3Dy_pCvniGbqWRBr76NnNOvDuoCqgJt_XVICVpcwFZ3pT-nbtAMUFLP/s1600/pinterest-pins-mobile.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTzsDIiufHfT9b3fBe6X1M1lZOmlnVAxE3iK-vlAj3dsBAVGeEn3MbhX7LHoBDgCJrEActakpGsyc3_QfR5Q_E3Dy_pCvniGbqWRBr76NnNOvDuoCqgJt_XVICVpcwFZ3pT-nbtAMUFLP/s1600/pinterest-pins-mobile.png" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Longer pins will be truncated on mobile.</td></tr>
</table></center><br />
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</li>
<a name='more'></a>
<li><h3>Think vertical.</h3>You've probably grokked by now from the optimal pin size that <b>vertical images get noticed more</b> on Pinterest. The scrolling experience favors longer pins. You <i>can</i> pin horizontal images, but as you're thinking of optimizing your posts for Pinterest, include vertical options for avid pinners.<br />
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</li>
<li><h3>Keep important text & images at the top.</h3>Because the full length of a long pin might not be seen on mobile, make sure you <b>keep your captivating visuals and text toward the top of the image</b>.<br />
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</li>
<li><h3>Include text on your image.</h3>I realize this can be sort of a pain for those of us who love our images clutter-free and/or don't think we have time to finesse an image each time we post. But <b>popular pins tend to have text that easily identifies the core message of the post</b>, so it's worth the effort to do it right. <br />
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The <b>three easiest options I've found for designing pins</b>, all free and all online:<br />
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<ul><center><i>Click any image to embiggen.</i></center>
<li><a href="https://www.canva.com" target="_blank"><b>Canva</b></a> — Free to use, with optional add-ons like stock photos and professional designs, typically $1 apiece. Has ideal sizes for all manner of social media posting as well as print and other design templates. A lot of really sharp options, from overlays to fancy fonts to shape cutouts and photo frames and more.<br />
<center><i>Example from Canva:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyu2x_QgFZ8Y_raGNF0Hcs0X2U3nfCYVo1_opU0n0Gxe4TdcLz9TCYwFyJoEs7oIMr8JMU_thuEQS2JsQh55t0WSPrsBWt0YBQga7lhyphenhyphenxgPhKNta7rUpHS8dRfcLohZHOjC9yRs_DsApq4/s1600/Sew+a+Cozy+Throw+Blanket.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyu2x_QgFZ8Y_raGNF0Hcs0X2U3nfCYVo1_opU0n0Gxe4TdcLz9TCYwFyJoEs7oIMr8JMU_thuEQS2JsQh55t0WSPrsBWt0YBQga7lhyphenhyphenxgPhKNta7rUpHS8dRfcLohZHOjC9yRs_DsApq4/s1600/Sew+a+Cozy+Throw+Blanket.jpg" width="250"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2010/12/sew-cozy-throw-blanket.html" target="_blank">Link to post</a><br />
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</i></center></li>
<li><a href="http://www.picmonkey.com" target="_blank"><b>PicMonkey</b></a> — Free to use, with additional pricing for Royale membership. Unfortunately, the ideal pin templates are locked within Royale. But, you can get around this by designing your own Pinterest image size: Click the little lock icon on the bottom of your collage to unlock proportions, and then type in 735 and 1102 in the width and length. <br />
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<center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQ0r9cfsz7Nt2Db2z2GAA3Jbdcsksp3MJrrHgemdAcGL0c1TcWMHumAwW1uwtGio0BaVFF8BlGNYoIqusTmKjIDjxDzckqtYLAIjdCqnc84vRl63TGwnMFr4FMKMZaLLKmTYk3G7IOoyx/s1600/picmonkey-resize.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQ0r9cfsz7Nt2Db2z2GAA3Jbdcsksp3MJrrHgemdAcGL0c1TcWMHumAwW1uwtGio0BaVFF8BlGNYoIqusTmKjIDjxDzckqtYLAIjdCqnc84vRl63TGwnMFr4FMKMZaLLKmTYk3G7IOoyx/s320/picmonkey-resize.png" /></a></div></center><br />
You can create some really nice collages with your own images. Drag-and-drop editing is easy to get used to. Ads in the free version make it a little laggy, performance-wise.<br />
<center><i>Example from PicMonkey:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGIYdsmIo6zVg7zwCYIOrR0qS7KvYQwMvmtSKIZScPq0AwzzXjpflx2ddpR3Z_2Zu1hTyTP7-FSc4GgLgyOpixVtY9AOWqeXEwSJDGbsSYMwWSoqkIaC2HgXipuDjN8ifUGOyq7mZojUN/s1600/big-sibling-books.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGIYdsmIo6zVg7zwCYIOrR0qS7KvYQwMvmtSKIZScPq0AwzzXjpflx2ddpR3Z_2Zu1hTyTP7-FSc4GgLgyOpixVtY9AOWqeXEwSJDGbsSYMwWSoqkIaC2HgXipuDjN8ifUGOyq7mZojUN/s1600/big-sibling-books.jpg" width="250"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2011/01/big-sibling-books-to-prepare-for-baby.html" target="_blank">Link to post</a><br />
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</i></center></li>
<li><a href="https://buffer.com/pablo?utm_campaign=app_composer#" target="_blank"><b>Pablo by Buffer</b></a> — Free to use and includes a ton of free stock images for when you don't have a great image in mind for your post. I use this a lot for this blog (such as this very post!), because posts about blogging and writing don't always lend themselves to pinnable images. You can upload your own images as well, though just one (no collages). Pablo is by far the fastest of these three options — they boast that it will take you 30 seconds to make your social media image, and I agree it can be just that quick. Because of this, it's the simplest option: You use it to put readable text over an image, period. You get to choose from three sections of text, so you can include, for instance, a heading, subheading, and watermark (with logo) for your blog. There's not a ton of customization available, which makes it both limiting and comfortingly straightforward. I really love how you can fairly automatically reconfigure the same design for each of the different sizes — Pinterest, Facebook/Twitter, and Instagram — and then download each one to use in your post sharing.<br />
<center><i>Example from Pablo:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAeZt_NJr4TqlQQ_1pkZjXfgsYL3L1cP1bIbRHNPK0s0FvjyD8zIqZMAKTJdjGQvMWy-kxVATzf8jlrFTlSjoilqPKAtQrOSijA5E3swD_xx6F2JJ_Tcd60Y7mRIe05SJjOnEZn3WqDN8i/s1600/easter-natural-pinterest.png" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAeZt_NJr4TqlQQ_1pkZjXfgsYL3L1cP1bIbRHNPK0s0FvjyD8zIqZMAKTJdjGQvMWy-kxVATzf8jlrFTlSjoilqPKAtQrOSijA5E3swD_xx6F2JJ_Tcd60Y7mRIe05SJjOnEZn3WqDN8i/s1600/easter-natural-pinterest.png" width="250"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2016/03/36-natural-candy-free-easter-basket.html" target="_blank">Link to post</a><br />
<br />
</i></center></ul> </li>
<li><h3>Post your full-size image.</h3>One thing I've noticed as I've ramped up my pinning is that even if your image is the optimal size, if you don't have it <i>within your blogpost coding</i> as that ideal size, Pinterest mobile won't read it as a large image. For instance, if you upload an image as medium size because that's all you need to display for your post, Pinterest will find only the medium option on your page when it goes to pin. So even if your original pinnable image is 735 pixels wide, Pinterest might see only 300 pixels. Here's how to fix that:<br />
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<center><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuczflURz_-5tBM1LouSrPpnM8mxU4mlkEwGzNJstMmvyRofcbgrKqVd-2mfxd8z7UmiyTg_uTNotOSxXWxpe-cfj0jTZN8kNcBEi2sV-_d2OKhe5sL2WnM2ix-1aNzhEwvb1_xc_LXqk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-03-22+at+12.27.56+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheuczflURz_-5tBM1LouSrPpnM8mxU4mlkEwGzNJstMmvyRofcbgrKqVd-2mfxd8z7UmiyTg_uTNotOSxXWxpe-cfj0jTZN8kNcBEi2sV-_d2OKhe5sL2WnM2ix-1aNzhEwvb1_xc_LXqk/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-03-22+at+12.27.56+PM.png" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Blogger, upload as "Original size."</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK5VNiOEZ9q2udccD8ve6ycXvq89RXkVKx2TuE8q0EZRBa3eON70Vhbbg-pbWV0jNS_RsBhAO7SLqRodNPzUPzz1OuVwjGnJoIQSkzFj46_bpm6Kmr8CvUQba5QkvlRKtb9ay_uGlfn-B/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-03-22+at+12.57.44+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK5VNiOEZ9q2udccD8ve6ycXvq89RXkVKx2TuE8q0EZRBa3eON70Vhbbg-pbWV0jNS_RsBhAO7SLqRodNPzUPzz1OuVwjGnJoIQSkzFj46_bpm6Kmr8CvUQba5QkvlRKtb9ay_uGlfn-B/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-03-22+at+12.57.44+PM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In WordPress, upload as "Full Size."</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNNiFlVke8u4yQHdGptIXlpXrxqDntEUYgGyVccZdS3nrh84QOa2Jpbqo8Pa_y5kLDgmFiWBGlEipsxO3LuHRY5ZizeTvnzIH_jDTfdkDJIXKsT13RtZemeihZ5z6JMW4ZPq5H1LJkgiV/s1600/resizing-image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNNiFlVke8u4yQHdGptIXlpXrxqDntEUYgGyVccZdS3nrh84QOa2Jpbqo8Pa_y5kLDgmFiWBGlEipsxO3LuHRY5ZizeTvnzIH_jDTfdkDJIXKsT13RtZemeihZ5z6JMW4ZPq5H1LJkgiV/s640/resizing-image.png" width="100%" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can double check in Blogger that the <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img src="</span> shows a URL with <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">/s1600/</span> within it. Then, in either <a href="http://www.laurenwayne.com/2010/03/how-to-edit-html-in-blogger.html">Blogger</a> or <a href="http://www.laurenwayne.com/2010/04/how-to-edit-html-in-wordpress.html">WordPress</a>, change the display size in HTML mode to whatever width fits your blogpost, such as <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">width="300"</span>. I also recommend <b>removing the <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">s</span> on <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">https</span> if there is one</b> — there are scattered reports that the secure version of an image is unpinnable for some users.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></center><br />
<b>Note that, to keep your site easy to load, you do not need to upload all your photos to maximum size, only the pinnable image(s)</b>. For instance, if you have one image you really want pinned, make that one original size and the rest can be resized during uploading to fit your blogpost dimensions as usual.<br />
<br />
<br />
</li>
<li><h3>Optional: Post a hidden image as your top option.</h3>This is a sneaky trick that requires HTML editing and might or might not be deprecated in the future, but I find it handy to force the image I want pinned (and/or to show up as the default social-media post). This step is necessary only if you have multiple images on a page and the top image is not the best one to pin. You can post your pinnable image at the top but hidden from view.<br />
<br />
Why would you do this? When someone's pinning, the images typically show in the order they're in on the page. If you put your super-duper pinnable image at the end of a loooong recipe with a ton of images, a pinner might never get to the text-overlay image you'd prefer. <b>Put it at the top, and pinners will see it first. Make it easy for them to share the best image!</b><br />
<br />
To do so, post your image as usual, and add <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">style="display:none"</span> within the img code. So this would be an example img code:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyu2x_QgFZ8Y_raGNF0Hcs0X2U3nfCYVo1_opU0n0Gxe4TdcLz9TCYwFyJoEs7oIMr8JMU_thuEQS2JsQh55t0WSPrsBWt0YBQga7lhyphenhyphenxgPhKNta7rUpHS8dRfcLohZHOjC9yRs_DsApq4/s1600/Sew+a+Cozy+Throw+Blanket.jpg" width="300" style="display:none"></span><br />
<br />
Note the s1600 for the full-size Blogger image, and the <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">http</span> instead of <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">https</span>. I included a <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">width="300"</span> even though it's not strictly necessary just in case the <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">display:none</span> fails somewhere and it <i>does</i> display. I want it to look as intentional as possible in a worst-case scenario.<br />
<br />
Note: You could also use this hack to place multiple pinning images on your post without cluttering up the page. That will give pinners their choice of targeted pinnable images without making your post look like pin spam.<br />
<br />
<br />
</li>
<li><h3>Use alt text to your advantage.</h3>This has changed since the last (long-ago) time I wrote about Pinterest. It used to be possible to use your alt and title information within your image codes the way they were intended: Alternate (alt) text told what the image was, very literally, for the use of search engines and accessible readers (for instance, a text-to-speech engine "reading" the images for the blind), and title showed up when you hovered over an image. Pinterest used to snag title first, then alt, and then the post and blog title. Now it doesn't seem to bother with title, and it prefers alt, and it will default to post and blog title if there's nothing in alt. Anyway! <br />
<br />
What this means for you is <b>you have two options</b>:<br />
<br />
<ul><li><b>Don't fill in your alt tags, but make sure the title of your post is optimized.</b> Without alt tags in your images, Pinterest will grab your blog title and then your post title to fill in the description box, like so: "Lauren Wayne: Optimizing your blog images for Pinterest: 9 tips {Updated!}." Very simple and straightforward and a worthy option. In fact, <b>I recommend removing any alt text that's irrelevant for pinning</b>, just in case someone wants to pin an image. Some image uploaders will add alt text as a default, often duplicating the name of your image file. Go into HTML view and make sure you delete any alt text that's less than optimal.<br />
<br />
<center><i>Example:</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YLb1vOYxmyL4etCaD6LTOG_UxYbzF9Suo_StCDWBSGPnm1zvdVQ2bI3LK2qHFULamZC1ygZJg77XYj6zgwB0qBAQNafVePOKG4uIeehyphenhyphenGfAJh64J96kKfQ-VIBCOHRGCE-eConYWyNhc/s400/KidzBop1.jpg" alt="kidz-bop-lyrics-image-1" /></span><br />
<br />
<i>See that <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">alt="kidz-bop-lyrics-image-1"</span>? That would make a stupid Pinterest description. Just delete that line till it looks like so:</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YLb1vOYxmyL4etCaD6LTOG_UxYbzF9Suo_StCDWBSGPnm1zvdVQ2bI3LK2qHFULamZC1ygZJg77XYj6zgwB0qBAQNafVePOKG4uIeehyphenhyphenGfAJh64J96kKfQ-VIBCOHRGCE-eConYWyNhc/s400/KidzBop1.jpg" /></span></center><br />
</li>
<li><b>Fill in your alt tags with awesomeness.</b><br />
As an extra step, use the alt text to make sure your pinnable image(s) have an optimized description built in. You can use extra keywords, a conversational tone, personal notes, or whatever you think will help your pin get repinned. This is especially helpful if your post title is more artsy than informative. Remember you don't have to just duplicate the text that's already on your pinnable image. For instance, you could write <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">alt="Hilarious! You've got to read the changes Kidz Bop made to these popular lyrics to make them safe for kids. Post at HoboMama.com."</span> You get the idea. (You know you want to read that post now — <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2016/03/funniest-inexplicable-kidz-bop-lyric-changes.html" target="_blank">here you go</a>.) Keep in mind that Pinterest desktop will show about 500 characters, but Pinterest mobile will show about 125, so <b>make sure you keep your important info upfront</b>.</li>
</ul><br />
<br />
</li>
<li><h3>Optional: Add a dedicated Pin It button to posts.</h3>Head to <a href="https://developers.pinterest.com/tools/widget-builder/" target="_blank">Pinterest's developers page</a> to <b>make a prefilled pin code</b> to encourage visitors to, you know, Pin It. Scroll down and see the options. First up are the color and design of the pin, and then the parts you fill in: URL of your blogpost, URL of your image, and description. Then just select and copy the code that shows up in the big box to the right and paste it into your post where you want your pin to show up. (That shorter pinit.js code should be <a href="https://developers.pinterest.com/docs/widgets/getting-started/" target="_blank">in your template</a>.) I recommend using the smaller version above or below the image you want pinned as a cue to do so, or the larger version as a standalone at the end of a post to encourage readers not to leave before they pin. Here's what those look like:<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ174ACgBaYD6ylgnNJYB-PHEtZ9bQc0_eDthwEvFefyL4C1MFxuaRXZchnRUR89kN4_qNSUQiWED-vXvo-30_GIntiGxHkTHOD1av0QdBz8tz7dnU6zHp-Xob6Z5YEmqP4MSWpf-qk9dK/s1600/pin-it-above-image.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ174ACgBaYD6ylgnNJYB-PHEtZ9bQc0_eDthwEvFefyL4C1MFxuaRXZchnRUR89kN4_qNSUQiWED-vXvo-30_GIntiGxHkTHOD1av0QdBz8tz7dnU6zHp-Xob6Z5YEmqP4MSWpf-qk9dK/s1600/pin-it-above-image.png" width="520" /></a> <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs56cX8tLlGEEHnwbGTOjEqbKKG3L8Ke1eBtdfZB4-NDbyTt0GMNHdJ8KgvTDIA3qbMH5NvMl9jyOZDh_kRmyRvf5Co5BhoaKz33rCanrnvHZN9U8sb7QAoo4Q8YaZjL1VhM9Z6qk9N3_c/s1600/pin-it-large.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs56cX8tLlGEEHnwbGTOjEqbKKG3L8Ke1eBtdfZB4-NDbyTt0GMNHdJ8KgvTDIA3qbMH5NvMl9jyOZDh_kRmyRvf5Co5BhoaKz33rCanrnvHZN9U8sb7QAoo4Q8YaZjL1VhM9Z6qk9N3_c/s1600/pin-it-large.png" width="250" /></a></center><br />
This is a little time-consuming to do, so you might want to prioritize your most pinnable posts. Visitors can still pin organically as they choose, but <b>it encourages visitors to pin the image and description you'd prefer (and to pin at all)</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
</li>
</ol>Hope these tips help you as you build your blog's Pinterest presence! <b>Leave your own advice in the comments.</b> And don't forget to <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/hobomama/" target="_blank">follow me on Pinterest</a> (here's my <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/hobomama/write-like-a-hobo/" target="_blank">blogging & writing board</a>) and pin this post! <center><a data-pin-do="buttonFollow" href="https://www.pinterest.com/hobomama/">Lauren Wayne</a> <a data-pin-do="buttonPin" data-pin-color="red" data-pin-count="beside" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laurenwayne.com%2F2016%2F03%2Foptimizing-your-blog-images-for-pinterest.html&media=https%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-NVeB29cBlHs%2FVvHH6F60KbI%2FAAAAAAAAK6I%2FrX3QirYBi10LWP4YNN5TnSMjYHVRNbNMg%2Fs1600%2Foptimizing-pinterest-pin.png&description=How%20to%20size%20and%20style%20your%20blog%20images%20to%20get%20the%20most%20repins%20and%20clicks%20on%20Pinterest%20%3E%3E%20LaurenWayne.com"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pinit_fg_en_rect_red_20.png" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmKOEiiPHo20ypzdfzqrfaeh1e2jlLZl7LU_YFK1gNp4milsiu-z09vAUwrO6X_goo1uwbOR-iPDqQM41b-sdAoTjLQWq8i1gE9_yRS5VxiGfYZf28gCNGj3g8hl4QpLZeHGw8nbvG3iI/s1600/optimizing-pinterest-pin.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmKOEiiPHo20ypzdfzqrfaeh1e2jlLZl7LU_YFK1gNp4milsiu-z09vAUwrO6X_goo1uwbOR-iPDqQM41b-sdAoTjLQWq8i1gE9_yRS5VxiGfYZf28gCNGj3g8hl4QpLZeHGw8nbvG3iI/s1600/optimizing-pinterest-pin.png" width="300" /></a></center><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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</script></div>Lauren Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4465123549328008863.post-70200471719536193472016-03-21T07:00:00.000-07:002016-03-21T07:00:00.277-07:00Lauren's link love: How to get your children's book published, editing checklist, bump your follower count, & the proper use of cheese<h3><a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" class="alignright" src="http://static.tumblr.com/fkm6sn6/59Xlce272/header_white.png" height="125" width="125" /></a>Links to share, collected at <b><a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom" target="_blank">@LaurenWaynecom</a> on Twitter</b>:</h3><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">6 Guaranteed Ways to Get More Followers on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Facebook?src=hash">#Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Twitter?src=hash">#Twitter</a>, and Google+ | <a href="https://twitter.com/kevanlee">@kevanlee</a> <a href="https://t.co/0d7jw6m0su">https://t.co/0d7jw6m0su</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blogging?src=hash">#blogging</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/696737915838173184">February 8, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kazuo Ishiguro Has a Brilliant Response to People Who Think Genre Fiction Doesn’t Matter by <a href="https://twitter.com/charliejane">@CharlieJane</a> <a href="https://t.co/qaPfY6OEZa">https://t.co/qaPfY6OEZa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/697554432767238144">February 10, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When stuck, eat a piece of cheese. It won’t get you unstuck, but it will make you feel better.</p>— Ksenia Anske (@kseniaanske) <a href="https://twitter.com/kseniaanske/status/697878312769564673">February 11, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">IG Update! How to Use Hashtags on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Instagram?src=hash">#Instagram</a> Now <a href="https://t.co/dtgBHdF7V5">https://t.co/dtgBHdF7V5</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bloggingtips?src=hash">#bloggingtips</a> by <a href="https://twitter.com/Louise_Myers">@Louise_Myers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blogging?src=hash">#blogging</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/698645348848439296">February 13, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<h4>Gratuitous baby:</h4><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Happy Valentine's Day! <a href="https://t.co/iVEMB2hBFU">pic.twitter.com/iVEMB2hBFU</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/699044605082398720">February 15, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Late night read 🌓 How to shake your creative block for good <a href="https://t.co/uxYHacpXkT">https://t.co/uxYHacpXkT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FemaleBloggerRT">@FemaleBloggerRT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a> <a href="https://t.co/xVcBrv2yPq">pic.twitter.com/xVcBrv2yPq</a></p>— Carly✏BetterWithAPen (@CarlyumzWrites) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlyumzWrites/status/699356445167521794">February 15, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">An Editing Checklist For Writers - Writers Write <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writingtips?src=hash">#writingtips</a> <a href="https://t.co/FMIRAH74Rh">https://t.co/FMIRAH74Rh</a></p>— Kathryn Para (@paracommunicate) <a href="https://twitter.com/paracommunicate/status/699356333196218368">February 15, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How to Get Your Children’s Book Published: Agent <a href="https://twitter.com/literaticat">@literaticat</a> Answers Top 10 Questions - <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBookDoctors">@TheBookDoctors</a> <a href="https://t.co/orIVtTuNqP">https://t.co/orIVtTuNqP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/699640810174836736">February 16, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pry that book from my cold, dead hands...a reader's grave <a href="https://t.co/KZ4m7bORZp">pic.twitter.com/KZ4m7bORZp</a></p>— Aunt Agatha's (@AgnewRobin) <a href="https://twitter.com/AgnewRobin/status/697744880118984704">February 11, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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</script></div>Lauren Waynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07500733577920040395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4465123549328008863.post-52259994254431031802016-03-17T07:00:00.000-07:002016-03-17T07:00:16.421-07:00Things I am doing instead of queryingI am supposed to be querying my cozy mystery novel, <i>Poisoned, by God</i>. <b>I have sent a query out to one agent</b>. One.<br />
<br />
Here are the other very important things I have been doing instead:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvlxoum7z1o_CXZCCWBxoM7DAn7lgbd_ro-KFiXlQJwTviG8mMYiNq-7ZOf9MygSAEtKDvVOl3fr5E3KRysB8YAqvV2Q-KVrV6tJoLykUToJdRzNvCbQ5HnmDvMQEeBieHKc7AiPn2QvC/s1600/querying-procrastination-pin.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvlxoum7z1o_CXZCCWBxoM7DAn7lgbd_ro-KFiXlQJwTviG8mMYiNq-7ZOf9MygSAEtKDvVOl3fr5E3KRysB8YAqvV2Q-KVrV6tJoLykUToJdRzNvCbQ5HnmDvMQEeBieHKc7AiPn2QvC/s1600/querying-procrastination-pin.png" width="350" /></a></div><ol><li>I have gone through old blogposts on this blog and made <b>Pinterest-worthy images</b> for them with <a href="https://buffer.com/pablo?utm_campaign=app_composer#" target="_blank">Pablo by Buffer</a>, my new favorite thing. (See the image on this post as an example. It's free!)</li>
<li>I have gone through super-old posts on <a href="http://www.hobomama.com" target="_blank">Hobo Mama</a> to <span style="font-size: large;">clean up code</span> and add in affiliate-link warnings when needed for FTC compliance. (I'm still working on this.)</li>
<li>I have <b>written six blogposts</b>.</li>
<li>I have come up with two ideas for middle grade fiction series, and one for a literary novel.</li>
<a name='more'></a>
<li>I have researched Pinterest schedulers. Thoroughly.</li>
<li>I have futzed around with same.</li>
<li>I have updated my Feedly with <b>tons of new RSS feeds from writing and publishing blogs</b>.</li>
<li>I have copied the links over into my blog list in the sidebar. (Enjoy!)</li>
<li>I have read and shared many of these newly discovered articles on social media, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/hobomama/write-like-a-hobo/" target="_blank">pinning</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom" target="_blank">tweeting</a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLaurenWayne/" target="_blank">Facebooking</a> to beat the band.</li>
<li>I have <span style="font-size: large;">played a lot of Minecraft</span> with my four-year-old.</li>
<li>I have edited and sent photos to our relatives of recent excursions.</li>
<li>I have <b>edited my toddler's birth video</b>. What? He's only 16 months old.</li>
<li>I have organized blog shares and challenges on Facebook groups.</li>
<li>I have interviewed the founder of BoardBooster, one of the Pinterest schedulers I was talking about earlier.</li>
<li>I have cleaned the baseboards, wiped down table sides and legs, scrubbed the kitchen floor on my hands and knees, and thought about <span style="font-size: large;">what else I want to deep clean</span>. I am not a neat freak.</li>
<li>I've figured out complicated ways to semi-automatically Tweet my archives.</li>
<li>I have researched what headset will allow me to dictate writing into my phone as I walk.</li>
<li>I have walked for a couple hours nearly every day.</li>
<li>I have watched multiple documentaries about animals mistreated in captivity and <b>wept bitter tears</b>.</li>
<li>I have read books about building my writer platform and querying literary agents.</li>
<li>I have signed up for a WritersMarket.com account.</li>
<li>I have <b>considered author organizations and literary conferences</b>.</li>
<li>I have edited and posted a new video for our family <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQufr1ecbKntJaziycPd3Q" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a>.</li>
<li>I've experimented with Facebook ads.</li>
<li>I've fiddled with my newsletter email collector.</li>
<li>I've <span style="font-size: large;">brushed the cats</span>. A lot.</li>
<li>I have used dear old Pablo to make a bunch of <b>writers' quotes into inspirational images to share</b>, and scheduled their sharing.</li>
<li>I've installed a new update of Quark so I can edit my ebooks.</li>
<li>I've worked on my homeschooling ebook that needs a few edits before I can put it back up for publication.</li>
<li>I've <span style="font-size: large;">done our taxes</span>.</li>
<li>I have tried recoding all my blogs into <b>responsive templates</b> and gotten frustrated by the back end of it.</li>
<li>I've brainstormed what I want my new logos to be.</li>
<li>I've edited my About Me page.</li>
<li>I've put up a new author photo.</li>
<li>I <span style="font-size: large;">wrote this post</span>.</li>
</ol><br />
These are all worthy tasks. Strange that they became so urgent at the very time I'm supposed to be making headway on querying agents, hey? I think I might need to <b>stop being so productive…</b>.<br />
<br />
<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Most Anticipated Children’s and YA Books of Spring 2016 <a href="https://t.co/Prw4EKzo60">https://t.co/Prw4EKzo60</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/694321860448772096">February 2, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">How to Write Better Using Humor <a href="https://t.co/5iD9f05Q7Z">https://t.co/5iD9f05Q7Z</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/694342099785900032">February 2, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Scrivener?src=hash">#Scrivener</a> Tips from Joseph Michael | <a href="https://twitter.com/thecreativepenn">@thecreativepenn</a> <a href="https://t.co/tQHqQGZuwi">https://t.co/tQHqQGZuwi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/694352072905506817">February 2, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">91 Free Twitter Tools and Apps That Do Pretty Much Everything via <a href="https://twitter.com/kevanlee">@kevanlee</a> <a href="https://t.co/oLhGCuVzVH">https://t.co/oLhGCuVzVH</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/695429177365803008">February 5, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Using <a href="https://twitter.com/ImAmandaJulius">@ImAmandaJulius</a>'s tips to get more <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Twitter?src=hash">#Twitter</a> followers (accidentally or on purpose): <a href="https://t.co/jvfLK0mzxC">https://t.co/jvfLK0mzxC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bloggingtips?src=hash">#bloggingtips</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/696833517746024449">February 8, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">3 Secret Ways To Use <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hashtags?src=hash">#Hashtags</a> You've Never Tried Before <a href="https://t.co/KvWULZRMcq">https://t.co/KvWULZRMcq</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/697502149647974400">February 10, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Backing up everything to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GooglePhotos?src=hash">#GooglePhotos</a> & I love love love these charming little animations & collages that give me a trip down memory lane.</p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/694202447020085248">February 1, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<i>Random plug, but I really do love <a href="http://photos.google.com" target="_blank">Google Photos</a>! (And they're not paying me — as if!) Free, unlimited backup of your life's worth of photos along with fun little surprises like so:</i><br />
<br />
<center><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMf8mEfLDITloyMM1rladtlbevR-w-LAYMYyDV0WDaj5HuC-SLr4fHcUgLFQAwkhtwjoOh29ZuRT3NjpoShCqn-hQoDqqt_aHvUEISOV5zmAZHXtii1R1eNS-I9S6cqTpd5uF258IVU8B/s400/20150415_6019-ANIMATION.gif" /> <br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKzn50cVXDjG85Mh4vahBKhdLANE8bbVJQIbb7grygcnURIsD536Q1RaocZtOJHuEHfUDh5UmNr8a0cPCU836bpuMCroN3CuXHGDQL3VZxbxzqlCuL5UyBUUkK25xT2YrIP42vvpRxdOS/s400/20150617_195524-ANIMATION.gif" /> <br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22Zm4yh732_iE9aba-7GgrVHYR94koEm-fgnOpXsmmqkdHL4DQc8KAH_SmXRgnaC-L-vErv0KFu6MZQM2DYJPLWZRX_VOQjBjDO-0tNIypY5mXaSHWUNsaOQ-QUKgvUrv0Kdx0XeK5WDW/s400/20151023_1746-ANIMATION.gif" /> <br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiD5y7uKX3jOnzTXNKEaCvq5RxTxd1_W5zq_UQKNzlheUqNYCgK7ar09fci9wdF2bFKBEx4CKHmRLnd1zBMNa_qcHRSHJjL25Cr8K9ZRpN5DtA1XMMDQX1D2k3nPGJwGL_M1UhZJoNWr9/s400/20151023_155908-EFFECTS.jpg" /> <br />
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW8N3Y2P6cTT7Jw3-stZ1BgJVX_205OxFWdW6J2pG3Xq-eXCWy7zgtkVHNgakNkVsCdeJciJR5fze1fNYF3KWfhy6QdqoLfKcrgSBaw0Xb94sBA4KjZuouEesqEy417i-WBSti8G_dJ-Ez/s400/20120228_8049-COLLAGE.jpg" /></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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<br />
<h3>It's all in the details</h3>It covers <b>all major forms of writing</b>, from article writing to nonfiction to short stories to novels to children's books, scripts, and poetry, and it details not just how to present your manuscript itself but also <b>all the essential elements that go along with it</b>: a query letter, a book proposal, an author bio, a synopsis, and more.<br />
<br />
You might think the book would gloss over details, like that you'd have to infer from a generalized description of fiction submissions how to cater for a particular genre, but <b><i>this book is all about details</i></b>. I love books that are all about details! Are you writing a mystery novel? Covered. A graphic novel? Covered. An author-illustrated (or not) picture book? Covered. Need to know how to submit the acknowledgements page for your nonfiction book? Covered. An endorsements page for your novel? Covered. How about your radio commentary? Dude, it's covered.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<h3>Guiding your submission process</h3>By far my favorite element of the book, though, is not the (admittedly dull) renderings of various manuscript formats — it's the query letters sprinkled throughout, marked up by agent and editor responses, to show both good and bad examples of how to submit your manuscript professionally. These are an <b>invaluable mini-course in proper querying</b>.<br />
<br />
<center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJByelIUJBOzrlGsbvw9gFfkabZvSbhXlxUL6GLzeP_XtkG2iFcoj9dKNwGXjLaS1MMqBFCsqTUIGfDKcGrGoHr-zjqIQzMaAj44H6dR6Siz0XVVod_7vzn2RgN5WdIlJpT0FrMtbWtRM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-03-06+at+5.36.15+PM.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJByelIUJBOzrlGsbvw9gFfkabZvSbhXlxUL6GLzeP_XtkG2iFcoj9dKNwGXjLaS1MMqBFCsqTUIGfDKcGrGoHr-zjqIQzMaAj44H6dR6Siz0XVVod_7vzn2RgN5WdIlJpT0FrMtbWtRM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-03-06+at+5.36.15+PM.png" width="95%" /></a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_PE6cWjHCHFrQciI_tXAX5RRVT3osuGARc0VgT1WmmRfXhqkgGDgL79egqG1sRST4fvR28D0FkS8ZT5zLRt7EcN4ZPG91FajQ4GG8TgRXEA1cxQnZC6xccCguDsSXUgpmz3liKJ_OBtQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-03-06+at+5.36.33+PM.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_PE6cWjHCHFrQciI_tXAX5RRVT3osuGARc0VgT1WmmRfXhqkgGDgL79egqG1sRST4fvR28D0FkS8ZT5zLRt7EcN4ZPG91FajQ4GG8TgRXEA1cxQnZC6xccCguDsSXUgpmz3liKJ_OBtQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-03-06+at+5.36.33+PM.png" width="95%" /></a></center><br />
The book also <b>guides you through the process of querying and publishing</b> by giving you templates for follow-up cover letters, inquiries about payments, and all the arcane ephemera that can accompany a writing submission, and by letting you know exactly which of those ephemera are expected for each genre submission and at which point in the relationship with the agent or publisher. Of course, you should always check agents', magazines', and publishers' specific guidelines for what to include, but this book will get you well along the way to having all of the things they might ask for (query, bio, synopsis, sample pages, table of contents, etc.) available, ready, and polished.<br />
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At the end, the book even gives <b>tips on keeping track of submissions, contacts, and income and expenses</b>, and it <b>provides forms</b> you might need, such as release forms and permission to use copyrighted material in your work. As I said, this book is <i>thorough</i>.<br />
<br />
<h3>The brave not-so-new world of electronic submissions</h3>The third edition was published in 2009, and it does <b>cover electronic submissions</b>, though I'd say <b>it could do a much better job in future editions of emphasizing electronic formatting over paper</b>. Right now, the book tells you how you might reposition elements for electronic submissions, but I'd like to <i>see</i> it. I honestly can't imagine choosing to submit somewhere nowadays that doesn't allow or, indeed, prefer e-submissions or e-queries.<br />
<br />
For instance, my understanding is that the common font choice has changed from Courier to Times New Roman (or similar), and since most agents or publishers will delete attachments, things like double-spacing, headers, and page numbers are now not as important as simply a neat presentation that works well in email. I'd be curious, too, whether there's any traction in say, sharing a link to a Google Doc or other modern improvement on the manila envelope-cum-SASE. That said, savvy readers can gather the <i>point</i> of what to include (detailed contact information, etc.) and adapt it for email — <b>I'd just like to see electronic submissions illustrated on the page in the next edition</b>.<br />
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<h3>Get your work ready to submit!</h3>I recommend <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/158297571X/?tag=laurenwayne-20" target="_blank">Formatting & Submitting Your Manuscript</a></i> to help you gather what you'll need, format it correctly, and get everything ready to go.<br />
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And then the hard work <strike>begins </strike>continues — <b>actually submitting it!</b> Good luck!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">5 Ways to Use <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Instagram?src=hash">#Instagram</a> as an Author | Jane Friedman <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/writing?src=hash">#writing</a> <a href="https://t.co/W3OsTNpeHH">https://t.co/W3OsTNpeHH</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/691713598389907456">January 25, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Writing?src=hash">#Writing</a> is as hard as breaking rocks. Sparks and splinters fly like shattered steel. Clarice Lispector <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting?src=hash">#amwriting</a> <a href="https://t.co/pX2yIvxqx5">pic.twitter.com/pX2yIvxqx5</a></p>— The UnNovelist (@TheUnNovelist) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheUnNovelist/status/692167701247164416">January 27, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">7 Web tools that check for empathy, inclusivity and more <a href="https://t.co/HMUnAIf6hV">https://t.co/HMUnAIf6hV</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/692741645985513472">January 28, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Your NaNo Novel Is a Hot Mess! How to Edit Your Book <a href="https://t.co/cGTAoBPMz1">https://t.co/cGTAoBPMz1</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/693119151792115712">January 29, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Oxford Dictionary Manages To Make Innocuous Words Wildly Sexist <a href="https://t.co/KhOrlSm4Hr">https://t.co/KhOrlSm4Hr</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/693248636705181697">January 30, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RT <a href="https://twitter.com/DIYauthor">@DIYauthor</a>: 3 Keys to a Solid Author Press Kit <a href="https://t.co/tD1md6S8vK">https://t.co/tD1md6S8vK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Publicity?src=hash">#Publicity</a> <a href="https://t.co/AlMbW4w6IJ">pic.twitter.com/AlMbW4w6IJ</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/693476352264146945">January 30, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Making a Book from Scratch <a href="https://t.co/UgIadTioov">https://t.co/UgIadTioov</a></p>— Lauren Wayne (@LaurenWaynecom) <a href="https://twitter.com/LaurenWaynecom/status/693526762672750593">January 30, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<center><iframe width="520" height="293" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H1f3FolwFxk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></center><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type='text/javascript'>
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