Writers: Ping That Blog

Why You Should Ping Your Blog

Pinging your blog posts helps Google and other search engines find your page. It's almost like sending a newsflash to the local television station when you have a newsworthy event. Adding a page to your blog, or updating an old post, are newsworthy events in the world of blogging. You need to let the search engines know the new content, or revised content, is available so they will crawl your page and index it.

Indexing your site allows Google to locate your page when a user types in a key term or key phrase search parameter, such as 'werewolf romances.' If my page has content about werewolf romances, it will be returned in the search. Where it is returned depends on a lot of factors, including how well you selected and used your key terms (a totally different topic).

When you are trying to get your site to rank higher or have more visitors, you should also leave comments on other blogs. After the comment is approved, if it doesn't show right away, ping that page, too. You are helping search engines find links back to your pages, and helping the blog you commented on, too.

Need more information? How and Why to Ping Your Blog is a good article to learn more.

Later,

Draft Cover Reveal for Wolf's Mission: Book 3 of the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series

Wolf's Misson: Book 3 of the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack Series

Draft Cover Reveal

Book 3 of the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack series, titled Wolf's Mission, is started. At this point, I have five chapters done.

As soon as I get them back from my beta reader and make needed corrections, I will post the first two chapters.

In this story, Nate, the Alpha to the Texas Ranch Wolf Pack, and his changeling brother, Eli, are sent to rescue a werewolf secret agent captured by the Huntsmen.

The cover shown here is the fourth one I created. It is my favorite of all the covers I made, but it still needs some smoothing and blending. As soon as I have the final version, I'll be posting it here on my blog.

I didn't expect Wolf's Man (Book 1) and Wolf's Claim (Book 2) to do very well today, since it is July 4th. I was surprised to sell some copies and have some reads in Kindle Unlimited, too. It really made my day!

Happy July 4th!

I hope you have a great day with family and friends!

Later,

UPDATE:

The final cover is ready (as in I really think this is the cover I will be using for Wolf's Mission).

Let me know what you think of it in the comments below!

Get Caught Up on the Series!

Book 1: Wolf's Man
Book 2: Wolf's Claim
Book 3: Wolf's Mission
Book 4: Wolf's Huntsman
Book 5: Wolf's Reign (Coming Soon!)

Books for Writers: The Romance Writers' Phrase Book

The Romance Writers' Phrase Book

So, I've done it again. I cleaned off my desk. Bad mistake.

The one thing I need most at the moment is the one thing I can't find.

In 1984, I bought a new book that I have read and reread over and over. It is a writing book titled The Romance Writers' Phrase Book. It doesn't tell you how to write. What it does is explain what dialog tags are and how to use them. Then is gives pages and pages of examples. And it's not just for romance writers, either. All writers need to know how to use dialog tags.

The idea is to read the examples, then come up with your own tag in the same vein of thought. It works great, and I have over the years recommended the book to anyone who asked how to write tags or how to write in general.

I have reluctantly offered to share this book with very close friends or family over the years, and have always been nervous until it was returned. I think someday, I just need to break down and buy a second copy to share.

At this point, my copy is so well-used, I might need to get another copy, anyway.

My well-used copy.

Back to my point. I am a messy-desk-kind-of-writer. If it is too messy, I have trouble concentrating, though, so occasionally, I will clean it off. Then the tools, books, or items I need get put up (where I will remember them, but I never do), and then I can't find them.

I may have put it on the bookcase in the hall. Guess I will go check.

There are other books, such as The Writer's Guides by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi, that are a great help, too. If you need help with dialog tags, setting the mood, or adding descriptive details to your writing, you will find all of Angela Ackerman's books helpful.

Where ever you are in your journey to be a writer, whether you have published dozens or are still working on your first book or short story, these kinds of books are good tools. Over time, you, too, will have favorites.

What writing books do you prefer? Let me know in the comments.

Later,