How to start a simple blog for writers

If you’re a writer and you’d like to start posting your content online for the world to read, it is a good idea to start a simple blog and learn as you go.

I’ll keep this short and sweet because I know you creative types hate research and want to get back to creating.  I get it.  

Set up Gmail account

Set up BLOGGER a.k.a. (YourName/blogspot.com)

Click “New Blog” in the top left corner

Name your Blog -  sample - “Thoughts of an indie creative”

Watch some YouTube videos about how to configure your Blog

Click "New Post" in the top left corner

Write something short, sweet, and awesome! (Tag me, I want to read it!)

Always add proper labels (a.k.a. Tags) on your post
Share it on Google+

It’s not perfect, but you can start sharing your stories with the world and see who likes it.

There are many different blogs, but I like Blogger because Google owns it and it helps with Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) when people search for your content.

Thank you for taking a read!

Very Respectfully,

George Ohan

Producer

Puerto Rico

Defend La Playa - Art project - Toa Baja, Puerto Rico

RANDOM THOUGHTS BELOW:

"Defiende La Playa."  I saw several signs like that posted on 4^th of July in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico and I was inspired to see what they were about.  It turns out that a small group of people are trying to save their beach from plans of a boardwalk being built on it.  As an indie artist I took this opportunity to create an art project to help spread the word of what’s going on.  My good buddy Mr. Jax was on location making sure that everything was under control while I was working.

Whoever posted those signs inspired me to have many thoughts and things to happen very quickly…..  The next morning after seeing those signs I went back to the beach and started this project.  I encourage anyone to take action on the things that you’re passionate about.  You never know who will be inspired by your passion and enthusiasm about something.  It took me 4 hours to gather: coconuts, bamboo, palm tree leaves, and other beach wood to use as the materials needed to create my art project.   Thank you for the exercise mystery sign poster!  Over 20 people stopped and asked me what I was doing, so I had a chance to explain to them about “Defiende La Playa.”  I also took this opportunity to ask them to join us at Team Red, White & Blue, Puerto Rico and help out with a trash pick-up day at the beach.   

*I taught my rescue dog Jax how to swim in the ocean for the 1^st time today. 

LIFE LESSON FROM NATURE:  Seeing new trees blooming from coconuts in the sand really got me to think about trusting the universe to do exactly what she does best.  Producing life and showing us how faithful she will always be.  Faith.  Those coconut shells are very hard, so the amount of work it would take for one to break through and become a tree is massively difficult….. but, there were 100’s of coconut trees thriving, just like every person should be doing.  THRIVING!  Trust in the universe.

I chose to create the project in Spanglish to show Americano support for the cause.   That’s why it says “Defend La Playa” instead of Defiende.  The best part was being able to photograph the creation after I finished.  I had one of those weird photographer moments when I realized that I forgot my wide lens at home, but I got over it and made it work with what I had.   Overall, I had a GREAT day!  I will say that this project was hard to do.  At the end of the day I was mentally and physically drained, but I feel very accomplished for completing something that I started. 

A guy named Kenneth told me that he was inspired to join a clean up day at the beach after he saw me building my project.  In exchange I let him know my goal was to have at least 1 person ask me about what I was doing out there.  It was cool to see “Art” working full circle.  I know that my project will be washed away by the ocean, but that was going to be my excuse for not building it.  I asked myself, will it make a difference while it exists?   Until it exists, we would never know.  So, I went to work with passion. Now the image of my piece will exist as a piece of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico history.

#DefiendeLaPlaya #DefendLaPlaya #ToaBaja #PuertoRico ToaBajaPR

We gotta start somewhere......

I wanted to quit and act like I never even started this project when I realized this was going to take commitment.  My integrity didn't allow me to do it.... AAAAND, Mr. Jax was watching me.

Ok Ok now we're getting somewhere!

Only the strong survive

The universe does it again.  :-)

Spelling with coconuts...

Mr Jax watching over the stash.

He was feeling himself!

His good side.

DEFEND La PLAYA

#Bamboyz 

Selfie - Artist - George Ohan

Defend La Playa

Traveling the Earth screening my films! GI Film Festival

The GI Film Festival was a great time this year!  I am proud to say that I knew a lot of the people on and off the big screen.  (VFT members - Veterans in Film & Television) The military veteran community and its supporters are a class act!  I can’t remember the last time when I met so many fascinating people in such a short amount of time. 

Many times as we are producing our films there is no telling what will come of the project, but the GI Film Festival gives veterans like myself a quality platform to screen our work and tell the stories that our community cares about.  I saw so many fantastic films in one week, but If I had to name two films that you MUST see….. KAJAKI & BATTLE SCARS.  You wont be disappointed.

I’d like to personally thank the Co-founders of the GI Film Festival, Mr. Brandon Millet & Mrs. Laura Law-Millet.  They are a great example of leadership in the veteran community.   The entire staff was a pleasure to work with especially Carizza Gutierrez and Miss Linda!  I am a huge supporter of veterans, their families, and civilians building partnerships in our communities.  The GI Film Festival helps to bridge a gap between civilians and veterans by using art and digital media as the common ground of understanding.

Very Respectfully,

George Ohan

Producer

(559) 451-1370

georgeohan@gmail.com

I had 2 films that were selected for GIFF 2015:
The Flag -
http://politichicks.com/2015/04/interview-with-john-duffy-director-of-short-film-the-flag/

Just Another Dance With My Father -
https://www.facebook.com/JustAnotherDanceWithMyFather

#GIFF15
http://giff15.com/

Photographer put on the spot by ex-cons, Hollywood, CA

Hollywood, CA - Interior - InsideOutWriters HQ - Vermont Ave.

I wrote a poem...... It's a couple of paragraphs down, but you don't want to miss the good stuff (do you!?) so you should keep reading.....  Ok?!

A large unlikely group of people gathered together for a writing session in Hollywood and they were prepared to be brutally honest with each other.  I was there volunteering time, taking photos and video of this meeting for my buddy Mr. Jimmy Wu, Case Manger, IOW. The footage of this live event was to create a going away video for Sister Janet Harris.  (Look into her!!  Very impressive woman!!)

The instructor, Mr. Gary Gilbert (was fantastic!) quoted a few people and different songs and ended with a quote from Jill Scott.  I can't remember it exactly but it was something along the lines of, "Does a good man exist?"  Since I was in the room I was asked to participate in the writing exercise along with everyone else, including Miss Wendy P. Killian, Esq., Executive Director, IOW.

This was the first time I can remember writing and reading out loud what I wrote in a group setting like this (besides school).  It was an interesting experience because everyone also had to do the same thing and share their honest thoughts.  Everyone in the room was equal.  Some of the poems that I heard were absolutely amazing, I was blown away at the talent that existed in that room. The cool part was that these people were not professional writers, they were just people sharing their real life experiences.

http://www.insideoutwriters.org/mission/

https://www.facebook.com/insideoutwriters

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A good man is easy to find.  Just look in front of you.

A good man exists; Don't believe the non-sense.

A good man is ready, willing, and able to guide his own life by asking for the help of better men.

A good man never gives up.

A good man always looks for a better way of doing things.

A good man speaks up for weaker people.

A good man will not settle for second best.

A good man knows what he's worth, therefore will not offer himself to every woman.

A good man is willing to be patient with the things he cannot understand.

A good man respects people from all walks of life.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I hope you enjoyed it!  :-)

Very Respectfully,

George Ohan

(Below you can read all about IOW)
****I SUPPORT their mission!!!****

http://www.insideoutwriters.org/mission/
https://www.facebook.com/insideoutwriters

The mission of InsideOUT Writers is to reduce the juvenile recidivism rateby providing a range of services that evolves to meet the needs of currently and formerly incarcerated youth and young adults.

Using creative writing as a catalyst for personal transformation, these young people are empowered with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully re-integrate into our communities, becoming advocates for their future.

InsideOUT Writers (IOW) was founded in 1996 and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 1999. IOW grew out of the vision of juvenile hall chaplain, Sister Janet Harris, former Los Angeles Times journalist, Duane Noriyuki, and several other professional writers who volunteered to teach creative writing to youth incarcerated in Los Angeles County’s Central Juvenile Hall. The founders’ sensitivity and respect for the power of the written word fostered an environment of trust and camaraderie whereby students’ creativity flourished in spite of the harsh and oppressive conditions of detention.

What started as three weekly classes at Central Juvenile Hall has grown to 39 weekly classes in four juvenile detention facilities (Central, Los Padrinos and Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Halls and Camp David Gonzales). IOW also offers a class at LA County’s Men’s Central Jail for former juvenile hall students who are now serving time in the adult prison system.

As a complement to the writing classes, IOW also convenes annual Writers’ Retreats at each juvenile detention facility and publishes In Depth, a quarterly literary journal of students and alumni writings. Since 1996, more than 11,000 youth have participated in over 15,000 classes.

In 2009, recognizing the need for comprehensive re-entry programs and services, IOW expanded its work to include efforts to support former students upon their release from detention. The Alumni Program provides a continuum of care to Writing Program students who have been released from detention and seeks to ensure they are empowered with the skills and knowledge necessary to be self-sufficient agents of change in our communities. Through the Alumni Program, young people receive services and participate in programming designed to support their on-going development of pro-social attitudes and behaviors that will serve them well as they continue in their transition from incarceration.

The Alumni Program is comprised of six interconnected components: 1) case management; 2) life skills enrichment sessions; 3) a mentoring program; 4) writing circles; 5) community engagement and 6) cultural events & field trips. The goal of the Alumni Program is to reduce participants’ likelihood of re-offending and to increase their skills and capacity to become self-sustaining, productive members of our communities. Since its establishment, the Alumni Program has served more than 100 young people and has partnered with over 125 local community organizations to provide dynamic programming and services to meet their needs.



#PR2025 PR2025

Successful end to a great tour! Attitude is everything! - (5 of 5)

Eight Delta Marketing Group - #EDMG

www.EightDeltaGlobal.com

Author: George Ohan

Blog 5 of 5

Arriving:  Sharm El Sheik, Egypt via Cairo – 2:15 PM, November 23, 2014

Walking through security in Egypt was actually fun!  The Egyptians were generally happy-go-lucky and laid back at the airport security terminals.  We needed to buy our $25 “Visa” stamp for our passports to enter the country.  I had exchanged some US dollars for Egyptian Pounds in Jordan, but oddly enough the Egyptian place that sells Visa stamps only accepts US cash.  They didn’t even take their own government’s money to sell us a Visa to enter their country.  (I did NOT anticipate that.)

Two Lieutenants from the US Army came to escort us to our (undisclosed) next performance location.  We stopped at a McDonald’s on the way because everyone was starving and we weren’t feeling very adventurous with local food so soon after landing in country.  This place was a tourist trap for sure… People were trying to hustle camel rides (A man and his camel actually tipped over into the middle of the street), hand made jewelry was being sold, and the employees of McDonald’s offering food delivery on their beat up red and yellow scooters.

We had to pass a couple of really solid and thorough military security checkpoints on the way to our lodging.   We KNEW that we were definitely on an Army base!  This definitely was not Aviano Air Force Base Italy, Amman Marriot, Tel Aviv David Intercontinental; this was straight up US Army barracks style accommodations.  (We loved it!) I had to go buy shower shoes at the Force Exchange (FX) before taking a shower……..(Note: the day prior, I was taking a warm bath at a 4 star hotel, soaking in sea salt from the Dead Sea! Ok!?!)

“Oh yeah, this is Army right here….”, (Alabama accent) says Mr. Jody Fuller.  He is the king of hilarious one-liners, delivered at the right time.  Jody is a life-long stutterer and he has really turned one of his life’s biggest challenges into one of his life’s greatest advantages. This is probably why it is MORE funny when he nails the timing on his jokes!  Just take my word for it….. You’ll have to see it.  Jody is a comedian, speaker, and writer that performs gigs for military organizations and private corporations across the globe.  Once you get to know this guy, you can’t help but want to be his friend.  His love and passion for Auburn University and Opelika, Alabama is far beyond anything I could describe with words.  Anyone with that amount of love and passion for anything is worth being friends with!  Jody mentioned to us that his wife and step-daughter had won a horse riding or judging competition and he was really excited to get back to celebrate the victory with them.  Mr. Jody Fuller was a solid leader throughout this trip.  He would ask me specific questions to get me to think about our next move and he continuously gave me positive feedback about doing a good job.

(Jody….. U.S. Army, MAJ Fuller, is a Logistics Officer with three tours in Iraq, which was definitely helpful for my situation) 

Once we got settled in and we were given a mini tour of the military compound there was work to do: Contact was made with Los Angeles HQ, Armed Forces Entertainment had been updated with the latest show info, itineraries were verified with airlines, batteries purchased for my camera, bags properly pre-packed, and everything was ready for the evening show!  Sound check was at 1800 Hours, so we had some free time to hit the beach!  Jody and I were escorted down to the Red Sea with a US Army Staff Sergeant, while P.J., Benari, and Key were preparing to come down a little bit later.  We had heard some amazing stories about snorkeling in the Red Sea, but nothing could have prepared us for this!  (Google Search, Snorkeling in the Red Sea) We put some fins and goggles on, then our adventures started.  We saw: sting rays, eels, starfish, surgeonfish, yellow, blue, everything fish!  These fish are inquisitive and kept bumping into our snorkeling masks.  I have to admit I was shit*ing myself on a few occasions!  Jody was so damn excited.  When the other guys came down, he was the unofficial tour guide of the Red Sea.  He guided everyone to the stingray with the tail, and the stingray without the tail.  He was the first one to spot a 9-foot eel with a HUGE head.  Jody took Key Lewis and his GoPro to the best spots and he would not stop asking everyone if they had seen the BLUE and YELLOW STING RAY.  Awesome time!  The GIs of Comedy were floating around in Kayaks and snorkeling in the Red Sea.  Some of the Soldiers that had escorted us there warned me not to buy the CAMEL MILK from the Egyptian guys shop on the shoreline… Camel Milk….?  Why would I buy that!?!?

SUCCESS NOTE: Our host organizations usually had an itinerary or agenda ready for us upon arrival.  This is where I felt like things could have gone bad if I didn’t pay attention to timelines, general attitudes, and energy levels.  As a manager, my top priority was to keep the talent fresh and ready for peak performance at all times.  I was able to accomplish this by COMMUNICATION.  I would speak to the guys first and find out what they wanted, then I’d talk to our hosts to make something work for all of us.

That night the guys rocked the house!  Benari and Jody had audio issues again, but they muscled through it and kept the show moving.  US Army officer (Jody Fuller) and Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (Benari Poulten) were both faced with similar challenges on stage.  They were true professionals and stepped up to show the troops that they knew what to do when faced with adversity. 

The GIs of Comedy, Thom Tran, and Armed Forces Entertainment have really created a unique opportunity for our veterans to be true inspirations for our currently serving troops.  Traveling around the world, bringing joy to their brothers and sisters, these guys really are still serving.

Next stop: Los Angeles, Hollywood, California, U.S.A.

When we finally made it through U.S. Customs I felt GREAT!!  I did it!  I took four military veterans to Europe and the Middle East, did a bunch of good things, and got them home safely!  George Ohan, the TOUR MANAGER!  Loving life!  Thank you for reading this short 5 blog series to have an inside look at some of our adventures.

By the way….. Jody Fuller wrote a cool little story about his experiences for his hometown newspaper.  You can find the link below.  Enjoy!

http://opelikaobserver.com/2014/12/the-show-must-go-on/

Very Respectfully,

George Ohan

Senior Partner

Eight Delta Marketing Group

559-451-1370 cell

George@EightDeltaGlobal.com

Instagram - @GeorgeOhan

YouTube - /OhanGeorge

#EDMG #EightDeltaMarketingGroup #EightDeltaGlobal #GIsOfComedy #ArmedForcesEntertainment #LifeAtLAFS #AFE #VFT #GeorgeOhan #Ohan #EntertainmentBusiness #Military #Veteran

www.EightDeltaGlobal.com

*BLOG 5 of 5 series

*SUCCESS NOTE, might be one of the steps that I personally took to get to where I am.

www.GIsOfComedy.com - All purchases will help to support non-profits that benefit military families