I was at a meeting today where the guest speaker was giving strategies to effectively writing blogs. As a person who juggles four (yes, four) blogs, I was an interested participant. I learned something I never knew…
When I copy and paste my post that I wrote in a Word document into this template, if I don’t save that document into a plain text or notebook format, I can pick up some crazy characters on my blog post. You may have noticed some either here or on my newsletters. I never knew how that happened.
My instructor gave me the solution, which I detailed above. Here it is again. If you type out your blog first on a Word document, when you save it, make sure instead of saving it as a word document, you save it as plain text or notebook format. There is a drop down button at the bottom of the “Save As” box. This will keep you crazy character free. A big thanks to her for that useful information.
Dan
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Here’s an easier solution.Write you doc in word and do your writing and editing in Word.When you are ready to post, load up notepad, simply copy and paste your Word doc into Notepad, then copy and paste from Notepad into your blog – all formatting is then lost.Ok – maybe it’s not easier, but it works for me (Grin)Craig
A better solution would be to use a desktop blog editor such as Ecto, Windows Livewriter, MarsEdit, and others. Some are freeware and some require payment, although most in the latter category offer a trial period, usually 30 days.There are a number of benefits to using a desktop editor; chief among them (in the context of your post, anyway) is the ability to upload your work directly to your blog without going through the whole cut -n- paste drill
I agree with each of the attached comments; however, as in the context of the class he participated in all were authors. Authors squeek, rattle and roll out the door once you get out of their Word comfort zone. Additionally, many of the authors plan to expand the blog topics later into articles for publication or even chapters in their book. They want to save their blog entries in their personal files for later use. Other editing tools exist but authors and speakers become as nervous as a 9 tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs if they have to venture out of their technology comfort zone! Shannon Evans, Authormarketingtools.wordpress.com
Shannon – Point taken, but remember – many writers had the same reaction when they had to give up their trusty typewriters lo those many years ago. Since you specifically referred to Word, I recommend you give Windows Live Writer a test spin. The interface is very similar to MS Word and, like all desktop editors it saves a copy on your computer of everything you write. Not trying to tell you your business, mind you; just suggesting that sometimes we have to let the rocking chair’s runner land on the cat’s tail in order to help the cat understand that change can be good….
Thanks – I am going to check out Windows Live Writer – it looks pretty good.Isn’t it interesting how we all have completely different strategies to get our blogs posted?