So, fun fact. I’d procrastinated for months about learning the new WP editor, which is my own fault. We’d been traveling for the weekend and got home late on a Sunday night in early October, and I needed to prepare the Bad Moon Rising post for the next day. My classic editor was gone. Disappeared. Poof. Son of a %*#$@! I tried everything I could think of to get it back, locate it, beg for it – you get the picture. So that was my baptism into using Gutenberg. I’ve gotten the hang of it now, but hubby said even the neighbors heard my rants.
I mentioned last week I wasn’t doing NaNo, but was participating in a four week virtual writing retreat hosted by authors C.J. Redwine and Mary Weber. It’s been fantastic! Every Tuesday evening we have a virtual workshop and so far we’ve covered ideas, seven plotting methods, building an atmospheric world, authentic dialogue, and character webs. During the week there are writing sprints, prompts, Q&A, etc. I’ve “met” several other writers, one who actually lives in my town. My writing has been more disciplined, and I’m beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel for the first draft. Yay!
For all you YA fans and writers out there, November 13th and 14th is the Y’All Write book festival. It features some amazing authors, and I’ve already registered for nine panels – so that’s my Friday and Saturday. Check out the website HERE.
Just a reminder about the giveaway I’m participating in. Eighteen speculative fiction books spanning loads of subgenres! Five random winners will be chosen November 30th. To enter and learn more about the featured books, click HERE. Good luck!
Books and Such 
I think everyone cursed whenever they made the switch. I accidentally hit the switch button (or WP did it for me) a long time ago on my site and the aforementioned language occurred. Now I love it. There’s only one thing I don’t like about it, and it’s a feature that barely makes me grumble. Something I can hand-code in HTML if it really bothers me (which it seldom does).
Glad you found a local writer. That’s wonderful! And good luck with the giveaway!
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I’d still been able to use classic editor for so long, but WP made the decision for me without warning. I still haven’t explored everything I can do, but figure I’ll stumble across some new features.
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If you’re in the “all posts” screen, you should see a “classic editor” option under the post you want to edit. You have to create the post first. Unless they’ve taken that option away. It used to be there. I haven’t used that feature in so long, I don’t know if they’ve eliminated it now.
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I saw that after I’d created the post and thought maybe I’d have to go back to it, but not so far. Nice to have the option.
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I’m happy you’ve been enjoying your retreat, Teri. I feel your pain with WP. I don’t like change that involves learning something new when I don’t have the time. Have a great day!
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And that’s what I told myself for months, Jill. I’ll give it a shot with the next post or I’m too busy today, I’ll try it out this weekend. I’m a procrastinator, so I should have seen it coming, lol.
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Change is always hard, isn’t it? The retreat sounds wonderful! Glad you are finding it so helpful ❤️
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I’m just sad we’re going into the fourth and final week, Tessa – those workshops have been so helpful with new techniques.
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I’m not a fan of changes. Glad you’re adjusting. Sounds like you’ve kept yourself busy.
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I’d heard such horror stories about the new editor, but surprisingly it wasn’t as bad as I’d thought. After the first hour, anyway, lol.
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It seems to be functional, if a bit maddening.
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They changed Blogger recently too. I let it happen when they switched me back in the Summer since I knew I’d have to get used to it eventually, but still haven’t accepted it as being a good thing. The old one worked just fine, and now I’m having to change how I do things to make them happen with the new one. Why do they have to keep changing everything? Haven’t these people ever heard of the saying, “If it aint broke, don’t fix it,” at all?
Anyway, glad you’re enjoying the writing retreat. Have fun at the book festival this weekend. I think it’s cool these things can now be done virtually… A very good thing these days.
I think I entered the giveaway… Assuming the thingy worked, since it and Jaws (my screen reader) don’t get on very well.
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I agree with the ain’t broke deal completely, Tori. Sometimes it seems like changes are made just for the sake of changing. I’m really looking forward to the book fest panels this weekend – lots of great topics. Good luck on the giveaway!
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Your writing retreat sounds fantastic. Yeah, the WP editor . . . okay, it’s simpler, but I miss the flexibility of the old one. Have fun with the rest of your virtual retreat!
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The retreat has been amazing, Priscilla. The last workshop is tomorrow evening and it’s on conflict – excited about that one.
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Exactly. I haven’t looked into the new editor stuff for WP yet. I just can’t deal with computer-y stuff right now!
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Hope they don’t change you without notice like me, Sue. It was a pain. I could have handled it better if it wasn’t on a late night after we’d traveled. Maybe.
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I was lucky and had no problems making the switch to the new editor, I actually elected to change over. Your writing retreat sounds wonderful. I would love to participate in something l8e that.
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It wasn’t as difficult to switch over as I’d thought, but I still haven’t explored all the options I have. Guess I’ll get around to it. Next time they have this retreat (maybe another in the spring), I’ll let you know, Robbie. Participants are from all over – one is in Turkey.
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Thank you, Teri. That would be lovely.
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I actually like the features on the new editor, especially the different image layouts. Glad you’re enjoying the retreat and moving forward with your WIP, maybe I need a retreat! 🙂
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My learning curve wasn’t as steep as I’d thought, and I have to admit the image layouts are pretty cool. So relieved to see the light at the end of the tunnel on the WIP – even had some new ideas today.
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I don’t like the block editor for a lot of reasons that’s why I still choose “Classic” under the “All Posts” tab. Congrats on your writer’s retreat. Sounds like fun. Have a great week, Teri
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I don’t even have that option anymore – or I can’t find it. All my ways around the block editor disappeared at once, lol. Thanks, John!
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Hmmm.
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Fabulous news on your writing progress, Teri. The Writer’s Retreat sounds informative, and it seems to be getting the energy going. And yes, my classic editor vanished a couple of weeks ago. I think I had the “deer in the headlights” look on my face as I stopped breathing. But honestly, the basics aren’t too bad. Though I wish the happiness engineers would lay off my happiness for a while! Happy Writing.
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I’ve really enjoyed this retreat and it’s given me the kick in the behind that I needed, Diana. And I know that look – I had it right before the expletives started flying, lol.
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Have you figured out how to use the classic editor? I refused to use the new editor so when they finally forced me to switch I immediately figured out how to use the classic one.
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Other than for editing, I couldn’t find an option to use the classic editor again. I tried googling it, but my option was gone completely. I’d honestly expected the change to be more difficult, but WP sent me a short tutorial video and that answered my basic questions. Good luckl, Misty!
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For me all I had to do was click the little plus sign in the top left corner and type in classic and then choose it.
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Sure wish I would have had that plus sign that night. On the other hand, I’d probably still be procrastinating, lol.
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