New Great Offers for Writers to Help You Finally Get Your Projects Started AND Finished

Today I have several new offers for you from Writers' Store and Writers' Digest.

Their products are already helping thousands of writers all over the world and really are great to own and to use.

If you've been promising yourself that there's a novel you're going to write or a screenplay your going to finish or any other writing project that you just can't seem to get around to completing, then download (or buy and have shipped) any of these (or other) writing resources and FINALLY get things started and finished.


Save $20 on Character Writer 3.1 software at the Writers Store
What’s the one element that can make a story a megahit? A complex and compelling character at the center of the action is the thing that can blast a story into the blockbuster stratosphere. You can quickly create characters that connect with Character Writer 3.1, a development program that combines the power of the Enneagram personality-typing system with story-generating tools to help you create fully realized characters and perfectly organized plots, all in one easy-to-use interface.
On sale 5th April to the 20th 2015

Free Shipping on the new book A Writer's Guide to Persistence at Writer's Digest Shop!
Persistence is often the key ingredient between authors who successfully publish and those who don’t. A Writer’s Guide to Persistence teaches authors how to sustain their writing habit, weather rejection, avoid discouragement and embrace the writing journey. The writing and publishing world is rapidly changing, causing many writers to be distracted from their true writing purpose. This book is chocked full of writing resources including advice and experiences from bestselling authors.
Free shipping from 7th to 20th April 2015

Save 84% on Write & Sell Your First Novel Premium Collection at Writer's Digest Shop!
There IS a formula for writing a novel that sells! Learn the insider secrets from agents, editors and authors for writing a novel that hooks readers from the very first sentences. In this value pack, you’ll find 10 resources to help you write a breakout novel and get published. You’ll find out how to skip the slush pile and attract agents and publishers alike by editing your work to fit within today’s publishing landscape.

Shop the new edition of Hollywood Screenwriting Directory at the Writers Store
The product of The Writers Store’s three-plus decades working directly with the people behind the world’s favorite films, The Hollywood Screenwriting Directory is a specialized resource for discovering where and how to sell your screenplay. Always on the pulse of Hollywood, this Spring/Summer edition boasts updates on over 50% of the previous directory listings. Plus, you’ll find all-new points of contact for Execs, including more email addresses and Facebook profiles, and a new sample Submission Release Form.

Writing a Novel for Screenwriters Premium Collection (Windows Version) for Just $99 at Writers Store
Translate your screenwriting skills into a novel that sells! With this specialized bundle designed to help the first-time novel writer, you'll find concrete, proven strategies to take you on a journey from idea to published manuscript. In this value pack, you'll find 11 resources including project management software to help you stay organized and on task. Available in April 2015 Only!
Writing a Novel for Screenwriters Premium Collection (Mac Version) for Just $99 at Writers Store

I Feel Like I'm Working For Google

For the past few days (well, a week really) I've been busy working away making all my websites "mobile responsive."

This means that they have to be flexible, and morph into shape to fit any screen size from mobile phone to desktop computer.

I have several websites so it's taking me quite some time to do it. So far I've already completed half of my sites (phew! She wipes the virtual sweat from her brow) but it's taking a lot of work and a lot of working out.

The reason I'm doing it is because Google says I have to.

On 21st April 2015 they are bringing in new rules about search results and say that they won't include  non-mobile-responsive websites in their mobile results.

The reason I want keep my rankings in the Google search results, is that for several keywords I'm on page one of search results and for one, at least, I'm number one. (Yay! Go me!)

So this past week of working flat out, and with the pressure from Google, who keep emailing me about my website problems, I feel like I'm working for them. And they are bad payers because I'm not earning more money for all my extra effort and I'm not getting my own work done either.

On the other hand, making my websites mobile responsive is something that I've been thinking about for a while now. Thinking, but not doing anything about it.

But now the pressure is on. I have to get things finished in less than 2 weeks - or else.

And it's not just mobile responsiveness that Google is looking at. They are also concerned about sites with too many broken links amongst other things.

You can read more about Google's new rules at http://www.webpronews.com/things-to-avoid-for-googles-mobile-friendly-update-2015-03.

And if you have websites, or just one website, and you want people with mobile phones to be able to find your site using the search engines, then you'd better make sure it's fluid and that all your pages are completely up-to-date with no issues.

If you have a WordPress site, you need to make sure that you're using a theme that is mobile responsive.

If you're like me and you use HTML static web design, then you need to redesign your site to make it change layout for different media (screen size).

I use Adobe DreamWeaver for all my website designing, except for this blog because it's owned by Google and so they keep the design up to date for me so that they don't break their own rules.

DreamWeaver has built-in "fluid grid" web page software which basically means that when I build a webpage for mobile viewing, the design automatically filters though to the other 2 screen sizes - desktop and tablet. So all I have to do is a bit of tweaking here and there to get my web pages exactly how I want them on all 3 screen sizes, and it can all be done without coding.

But in the meantime, I'm missing being a writer because although web page designing is something I can do (although this type of designing has been quite a bit of a learning curve), it's not my favourite job. That's why I count myself fortunate to be able to use Adobe DreamWeaver software to make the task quicker and easier.

And speaking of which, it's time for me to get back to work and make my web page designs really sing.

Good luck with your own websites.

:)

Google Demands Responsive Websites or Sites Won't be Indexed

Google is currently pushing all website owners to make their websites responsive (or fluid) so that they can be viewed on all Smart Phones.

What Google considers a Smart Phone is any phone running on Android, iPhone, or Windows Phone operating systems with web browsers that work similar to desktop computer browsers and are able to display webpages that conform to HTML5 specifications. In other words, most modern phones.

They will also penalise websites that have what Google considers to be "common mistakes" which includes slow-loading mobile pages and making Flash video the majority of a page’s content.


But they do provide a page where you can test your website to see if it comes up to their new standards at.

https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/

The biggest push of all is that the deadline for getting websites up-to-date and Smart Phone responsive, is 21st April 2015.

So that's less than 3 weeks from now.

And what is it that they plan to do to hurt websites owners without responsive websites?

They won't include your website in their mobile search results.

My problem with all this, is that only one of my websites is responsive. And that's this one.

So now my challenge is to redesign all my websites (and I have several) by 21st April.

Google keeps emailing me and listing all the problems with my current websites (thanks Google).

And I don't want to lose my spots in the search results because for many keywords and key phrases, I'm on the first page of Google results, and for one I'm actually at the number one spot.

Which means, that to stay afloat in the crazy ever-changing online world, I have to knuckle down and work hard to bring my websites kicking and screaming into responsive design.

Sadly, the only way to do this is to let all my other work slide for the time being while I crack on with this.

Hopefully, I'll have it done in one week (ha, ha, ha...I'm so damn funny sometimes) so if you don't get any emails from me or blog updates in the near future, that's why.

Damn you Google!!!!

But I guess it was only a matter of time until this all caught up with me because I really should have taken care of this problem months/years ago. I've been thinking about it for a while now. But that's all I've been doing. Thinking.

And as they say, a goal without action is simply a dream.

So now here I go with my first of many website redesigns.

See you on the flip side.

You can read more about this Google Push at

http://insideout.com/blog/2015/03/24/google-mobile-friendly-algorithm-is-your-website-ready/

And if you have any websites that aren't mobile responsive, now would be a good time to change that.

4 Discounted Resources For Writers

Here is the latest batch of ever-popular, discounted offers from Writers Store and Writers' Digest. These resources are helping hundreds of thousands of writers all over the world and are becoming even more popular because they are so useful.

Take a look at some of them and see for yourself.

Save 75% on Writing and Selling Christian Fiction at Writer's Digest Shop
Writing Christian fiction is equally challenging and rewarding. The Christian fiction genre places great responsibility on its authors while at the same time provides a sense of accomplishment that is arguably unmatched in any other genre. In this specialized value pack, you’ll find three resources chocked full of exercises and instruction on writing Christian fiction.

Get 50% off OnDemand Webinars with coupon code Save 50 at Writer's Digest Shop!
Writers Digest has the best online writing seminars, classes & tutorials online. Whether you're looking for advice from experts on how to write a fiction book, how to write a screenplay, or how to use the best writing software to outline your next novel, our writing webinars can help you improve your writing skills across a multitude of styles & genres. Valid 27th March to 31st March 2015.

Get $20 off Writing Mysteries & Thrillers That Sell with offer code THRILL20 at Writer's Digest Shop
Writing mysteries and thriller novels can be a very lucrative career. Mysteries and thrillers are one of the most exciting forms of fiction being written today, with millions of readers eager for new stories. Your readers seek accuracy, compelling characters, and suspenseful plots. With this collection, you'll learn how to add these elements to your writing and keep your readers turning pages all night long.

On Sale! Write a TV Pilot in 90 Days package at the Writers Store
It’s no secret that some of today’s best storytelling is happening on the small screen. Looking to jump in to this exciting new world of TV, but are uncertain of how to start? Give the Story Specialists 90 days, and they’ll help you complete a polished, viable TV pilot and Show Bible you can use to break into television writing.