Jean M. Cogdell

How to write in your own unique, exciting and special voice

Published on March 28, 2016March 20, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell15 Comments

Just peel down your undies and let your freaky self, fly free!

That’s where you’ll find your writing voice.

We all copy other famous writers. That’s how we learn to write.

Why? because horror writer’s want to write like King, romance like Michell and if you’re into vamps none other better to copy than Rice. At some point, a writer must find our own voice.

But sooner or later we all have to just be me. The reader wants to see who is behind the curtain in Oz.

How and where do we find this so called voice?

Down deep when we think no one is watching, that’s where.

Late in the night when we don’t give a damn what anyone thinks we write.

Ever had someone say, “That person sounds just like you.”

Of course, you are outraged because it’s your crazy Aunt Matilda going on about some nutter at the grocery store. No way do you sound at all like her. But when you’re letting your freak fly, you know it’s true.

One way you can figure out is to discover what your voice isn’t.

Voice isn’t:

Style, technique, branding or which person you write in.

It is:

You on a page. Your thoughts, fears, dreams, visions and feelings given to words on a page.

No one can tell it like you. There is only one of you. Remember that and be uniquely you in writing.

Want to know where I got all this info about finding my voice?

Read:

The Author’s Voice by Blogger: Rachelle Gardner

Remember there is only one you.

Have you found your writing voice yet?

Or are you still having trouble letting the real you shine?

Thanks for stopping by my blog.
You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

Writing in the first person can produce amazing results

Published on March 25, 2016March 20, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell41 Comments

Contrary to some critics first person point of view does work. I disagree with those critics (snobs) that argue writing in the first person is a sign of an amateur.

Writing in the first person is my preferred method. I know, I know, I’m not burning up the NYT Best Seller list. Well, not yet but give me time.

But there are many famous, and successful authors that have proved those critics wrong.

Dean Koontz, Saint Odd
Victoria Aveyard, Red Queen
Herman Melville Moby Dick
Sabaa Tahir, An Ember in the Ashes
Cynthia Swanson, The Bookseller
Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games
John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

And those are just a few!

I enjoy writing when writing in the first person more than third person and I seem to write better. Not sure why. Maybe it’s because I like to walk in the protagonist’s shoes, see through their eyes and feel what they feel. Age doesn’t matter to me. At least, I hope not.

However, on occasion, when I need distance between myself and the protagonist, I switch to the third person. In this instance, I don’t want to feel what my protagonist is feeling.

If you are like me maybe you need some tips on writing in the first person. I’m always working on improving my craft.

Today I learned a few dos and don’ts of writing in the first person:

Don’t just narrate how the character is feeling, involve the reader with the character’s environment.
Do put the reader in the character’s mind and body. What the character sees and hears so should the reader.
Don’t tell what is seen or heard, avoid words like I saw it puts distance between reader and story.

Do – write small. This has become my new mantra, meaning no detail is too small to develop.
Don’t skip the small stuff, it might prove important later. If not, you can cut it out and leave it on the editing floor.
Do avoid passive narration.
Do catch the reader up on past events up quickly and succinctly. Background of the character is important but no need to drag it out.
Do maintain a variety of self-expression that helps increase a sense that the character is real.
Do make sure the character’s personality is consistent with story background and class.

Want to know where here I got these great tips?

From Bridget over at Now Novel.

Click the link below to read her post for more.

First person narrative: 7 tips for writing great narrators

Which point of view do you prefer to write in?

Do you agree with the critics?

How to critique a scene without tears

Published on March 23, 2016March 20, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell14 Comments

I’m gonna confess something right up front.

I’m terrible at giving a good critique.

Critiques make me cry.

They are hard to give and hard to receive.

It’s hard for me to be honest and forthcoming about someone’s writing. To me, writing is so subjective. Finding grammatical errors is easy several software programs can do that but the nuances that make a good story better are hard to pin down and a good critique helps with that.

So today I was excited to learn a little about critiquing a scene.

Maybe if I practice on giving my writing good constructive criticism instead of nitpicking maybe I can get good at critiquing others writing.

Here is what I learned today from over at Writing/Romance.

Decide who the protagonist is.
Can you understand the protagonist’s goal?
Do you understand who is keeping the protagonist from their goal and why? (antagonist)
Do you understand the conflict? Who won?
What was your initial reaction to the story? Good, bad, indifferent…
What worked or didn’t?
Did you get bored at any point?
Did you get confused or lost?
Did you feel anything? Scared, moved, sad, angry, annoyed…
What did you love about the scene or story?

This tidbit was most helpful.

When giving a critique Never rewrite sections. A critique is not the same job as that of an editor.

With that in mind, I believe the job of critiquing a story or scene is to help the writer see things from a different perspective.

gagaimages__oPt

What has your experience been like with giving or receiving critiques?

Do you enjoy them?

Thanks for stopping by my blog.
You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

Do you want to know why honorable mention and not winner?

Published on March 21, 2016March 20, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell9 Comments

Me too!

I’ve received the Honorable Mention label a few times and truth be told it was exciting.

First time, second time, third time, but then…

Well, then I got the always a bridesmaid syndrome. You know what I’m talking about, right?

What was wrong with me? I mean my stories. Sorry, that sounded so whiny.

Thanks to David Farland latest email I got a few answers. Not satisfying answers but answers nonetheless.

Here’s what I learned from the Story Doctor.

It’s not me, it’s my writing. Ouch, that hurt.

Not because the writing is bad, it’s just not good enough for the judge. Ouch again.

Since there are no new ideas under the sun, I’d better make sure my take on whatever I write is fresh, unique and interesting. There must be something original that lifts it above others written on the same subject.

Beautiful writing does not make up for sloppy execution.

A dynamic beginning still needs a firm six-pack middle and a satisfying ending with a try-fail cycle that leaves the reader breathless.

Missing elements – no character is an island. They may live on one but they don’t live in a vacuum void of interaction with someone or something. Characters, think and feel about the things around them and that is what brings them to life. Judges need to see that.

David did give me some encouragement. He said if a writer is receiving Honorable Mention then we’re on the right track. Whew, there’s hope for me after all.