Advice – Separating the Wheat from the Chaff

April 1, 2016August 17, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 17 Comments

Day 1: #atozchallenge

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We love receiving good advice, especially from the experts. But, therein lies the rub.

Who are the experts? When we first step out into the web as either a writer or a blogger, we’re hungry for advice; I know I was. Cow Pasture Chronicles was my second blog. I began blogging after the death of my best friend as a way to deal with her loss. You can find that blog, mistakes and all at, Friendship of a Lifetime. Those entries are full of grammatical errors, but they were heartfelt and served a purpose. Later, I decided to pursue my love of writing, and the Cow Pasture Chronicles was born.

At the time, I didn’t have a clue what the rules for blogging were (whether there were rules) or how to get started. With research and the support of my sister, Jean at Jean’s Writing, I’ve managed to get an okay grasp on what I’m doing (most of the time). But with millions of bloggers, how do you tell which advice to follow and which to toss?

Like everything else, with experience comes wisdom. Here are my top five valuable and proven expert sites I go to for advice.

For Writers:

For Bloggers:

The more writers you connect with, find, and follow, the more we learn from each other. We develop lists of favorite blogs based on enjoyment and in many cases, for the author’s expertise. However, sometimes it pays to take a second look at the source.

Red Flags:

When the “expert” seems more concerned with selling than connecting, take a second look. I don’t begrudge a blogger for wanting to earn money, however, spamming me with constant sells pitches or emails offering high-dollar courses, is a red flag.
Bloggers who tout themselves as “experts.” No doubt, some have lots of expertise (see the lists above), but some are just good at marketing. Do your research and check out their experience, credentials, and accomplishments.
What do other bloggers say about the advice they received?

My journey as a blogger and writer has given me the opportunity to meet many people. I’ve come to respect a number of them as experts and rely heavily on their advice. As writers, we’re all at different levels. I treasure the collaboration of others and love to receive feedback from the blogging and writing community. I merely caution you to do your homework. When looking for expert advice, be mindful and separate the wheat from the chaff.

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilagood, and Contently.

Bestest Friends

March 24, 2016October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 5 Comments

The Daily Post: Friend

Southern women are unique when it comes to friends – everybody we ever knew is our, “best friend,” no matter how long it’s been since we laid eyes on them.

My best friend of 37 years was notorious for making this claim. We’d run into someone and she turn to me, “Sheila, I’d like you to meet my best friend…”

It amazed me the number of women she introduced that way and as soon as they were gone, smile at me and wrap her arm around mine. “Of course, “you’re my bestest friend.” And, I knew I was.

She and I shared a long history of men, broken romances, college, and marriages (plural). We worked together, lived together, and literally helped deliver each other’s children. We finished each other’s sentences, shared an uncanny ESP –instinctively knowing when we needed to call. When we talked, we listened and we “got it.”

A “Bestest” friend is the kind that will look you in the eye and tell you the truth. One who is at your side through thick and thin, the good, and the bad. We watched each other grow up; make huge mistakes in life, held each others hands through the worst of it and cheered our successes. We competed (as women do) but always had each other’s back.

Whine companions, consultants, health advocates, advisors, cheerleaders, and friend. We were supposed to spend our golden years somewhere tranquil (the beach) laughing our asses off at all the things we’d done.

Our connection was visceral and unbreakable. We were supposed to grow old together, but it was not to be.

A friendship like ours comes along only once in a lifetime. Although, it’s been seven years, I miss my “Bestest” friend every day.

Do you have a “bestest” friend?

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilagood, and Contently.

Higher Ground

March 17, 2016October 21, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 33 Comments

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

Words: 97

Matilda took the pills and sat her cup aside. She gripped the sink’s edge to steady the relentless tremors.

Gazing out the window, she watched the ripples turn to rapids. Unprecedented flooding, forecasters warned, move to higher ground.

She’d lived by that river her entire married life made memories here.

Matilda, her gait unsteady, ambled to Fred’s recliner and dropped exhausted into the chair. Warning banners ran across the silent TV screen.

She closed her eyes against the sound of rushing water and pressed Fred’s picture to her chest. Hold on honey; I’m moving to higher ground.

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilagood, and Contently.

The Struggle of Backstory

March 14, 2016March 13, 2016 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 12 Comments

Many things go into the process of writing a novel. There are innumerable books and websites to help you bring the dream of your novel to fruition.

The dreaded backstory or info dump, is one of the elements that give many authors grief, including me.

As I began my journey, everything I read said to avoid info dumps and backstory. I wondered why. Isn’t the history of what drives your character the foundation of your story? It left me confused and, at times, discouraged.

I wrote and re-wrote chapters trying to make sure I wasn’t introducing too much or too early. Maybe that’s the newbie author in me but thanks to Lisa Cron from Writer Unboxed I finally have a grasp on the concept of when and how to use backstory effectively.

Backstory is important, even in the first chapter. The key is to make it seamless. Lisa gives numerous examples from published novels which clarified this issue for me better than anything I’ve read or studied to date.

So, if you’re struggling with the backstory issue, check out The Shocking Truth About Info Dumps.

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilagood, and Contently.