Jean M. Cogdell

Do you struggle writing the perfect love scene?

Published on April 28, 2015April 28, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell9 Comments

X = X-rated Writing

I thought about X –marks the spot but chose X-rated because I struggle with writing sex and love scenes.

As a writer we can publish anything on the internet. There are no internet police. However, as I’m sure you’ve learned already publishing is another thing.

Naught or Nice?

Good writing, in my opinion, comes in all sizes.

Yes, even X-rated. The key phrase is good writing.

Good taste is subjective but good writing is not.

I try to choose my words with care. Because there is a difference between words that are graphic, explicit, dirty, sexy, suggested or imaginative.

I don’t think we should worry about offending, but need to strive to get the words right. Words and phrases that match the character and hook the reader. Does the character need a little spice in their life that’s the question and most times the answer is yes.

Writing great sex scenes, even X-rated, is an art just like writing great murder scenes. Both should be filled with mystery. Too much blood and gore in a murder can turn some readers off too.

As a Reader, I love to use my imagination and too much explicit detail can be a turn off. Think about all of those bodice ripping novel that fly off the shelves.

So tell me, how do you write your X-rated scenes?

Lots of details or lots of imagination?

Leave me some tips and help in the comments section. I need all I can get to let my freak fly.

Rachel’s Saga continues:

The cool air from the A/C felt wonderful. Rachel began to relax as soulful songs of love and betrayal filled the truck.

“Feel better?”

She jerked toward the driver. “Uh, yes, thank you. I’m sorry, what did you say your name was?” She asks.

“Didn’t. But people call me Jase.”

His eyes roamed from her face to the sweat stains. She pulled the white cotton shirt separating it from her skin.

“Were you walking in this heat long?” He asks.

“No, not too long.”

“You’re lucky I came along.”

He smiled and stretched his right arm across the back of her seat.

“No telling how long it’d would’ve been for somebody else stopped.” He said.

Rachel didn’t bother to respond. She needed to keep her wits and watch this snake. Rattlers weren’t the only ones that could strike when you least expected.

The truck hit a pothole and began to swerve. Rachel’s head hit the passenger window. They slid off the shoulder, gravel pinging the fenders as they came to a jarring stop her head slammed again and her vision blurred as blood dripped in her eye.

“You okay Darling? Didn’t mean to pull off so fast. Here, let me see.”

His arm reached for her.

I love comments, tell me what’s happening with you and if you’re not already, please follow @jeancogdell on Twitter!

Some reading on writing X-rated.

http://www.hopesandfears.com/hopes/now/internet/168345-primer-intro-guide-to-writing-erotic-fan-fiction-peg-50-shades

http://thewickedwriter.blogspot.com/2013/04/x-rated-scenes-to-z-blogging-challenge.html

http://denisefelt.weebly.com/writing-great-sex-scenes.html

http://www.writersfunzone.com/blog/2014/03/28/artist-entrepreneur-x-x-rated-artists-alphabet-guide-writing-art-aletta-de-wal/

4 Puzzle Pieces to Hook Your Readers

Published on April 27, 2015April 27, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell7 Comments

W = (Who, What, Where, and When)

Right up front give your readers what they want, information.

Show your readers an image that grabs hooks them from the beginning.

1. Who

Introduce your main character and make the reader care.
Show the reader who your characters are by their actions.
Make them care not only about who your MC is, but who they will become.
Help your readers connect with your character.

2.What

What’s happening to the characters, or their surroundings? (Jump right into the action.)
What are they thinking or saying? (Don’t censor them. When people think no one hears them, in their head.)
What is plausible? At least give your story some realism and believability.
Something interesting might happen, but for the story to hook your readers, what is happening must affect the characters.

3. Where

Where are your characters? Are they coming or going? (Literally or emotionally give the reader a hint.)
Where does the story take place? (The character should be there for a reason).
Does the where make sense?
Anchor your reader without excessive exposition or narrative that bogs down the reader.
Use sights, sounds, textures, temperature, tastes, and smells, but don’t get carried away with too many purple adjectives.

4. When

When goes hand in glove with where.
Time frame is important. However, you don’t always need to say at 3pm on this date, this happened.
Let the reader know when your character is living.
Don’t leave them floating like an astronaut without a clue as to when the events are happening.
Writing a historical novel? make sure to show the readers the time matches the characters.

Hitchcock’s. Axiom: A good story is life with the dull parts taken out.

The Saga continues:

Rachel’s eyes flickered from the handgun on console to the Winchester in the rack and back to the smile behind the wheel.

“Now don’t you worry ‘bout these ole things. Ain’t a pick-up in Texas don’t have a gun or two.”

She knew he was right and it wasn’t the guns that bothered her. What bothered her was that his slick smile didn’t reach those cold blue eyes.

“No problem, got my own.” Rachel said.

The smile dimmed for a second as he took in her sidearm and the small silver badge on her belt.

“Well, glad to be of service to one of Texas’s finest. Officer?”

“Randell, Rachel Randell. Thanks, how far are we from the next town?”

“Bout forty-five minutes from Wichita Falls. That where you headed?”

Rachel nodded. “That’ll do.”

As soon as she got a cell signal, she’d call the office, get new wheels and be on her way. This guy didn’t need to know her plans.

He leaned forward and turned up the radio. Country music filled the cab and Rachel hoped that meant the end to conversation or anything else. But she didn’t plan on relaxing, not with two extra guns and a stranger next to her.

Keep your eye on the prize

Published on April 25, 2015April 25, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell8 Comments

`V = Vision`

OMG! Will I make it to Z?

Gotta keep Z in sight! See the end Jean! Yes, I talk to myself. Doesn’t everyone?

For without a vision the writer, the character and the plot will all perish. So no matter how foggy the road, keep moving.

Vision:

a vivid mental image;
- he had a vision of his own death
the ability to see;
He saw with his own eyes the on coming car
the perceptual experience of seeing;
- the runners emerged from the trees into his clear vision
- he had a visual sensation of intense light
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses;
- popular imagination created a world of demons
- imagination reveals what the world could be
a religious or mystical experience of a supernatural appearance;

Pinterest is a great tool to keep your vision ever-present at your fingertips.

Build a private Pinterest board just for your WIP to help your vision.

Add pictures of houses, towns, people, animals, tools, cars or anything that will help build the world of your story.

`Flash continued:`

A cloud of dust and a Ford pickup pulled to a stop about ten feet from where Rachel stood. Covered in so much red Texas dirt it was hard to tell the color. Her feet didn’t care. As far as they were concerned, this rusted hunk of bolts was a shiny long ass limo. She jogged up to the open passenger door.

“Thanks, Mister. I thought the buzzards would find me before anyone else did.” She said.

One foot on the running board, her hand on the arm rest, she stopped and stared.

“No problem, glad to help a lady in distress.” He answered.

Her heart hammered a warning, but she had no choice but to climb in with the handsome devil and his Colt 45.

I love comments, tell me what’s happening with you and if you’re not already, please follow @jeancogdell on Twitter!

This Weeks 5 Star Book Recommendation

Published on April 24, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell5 Comments

Searching for a good book to read this weekend?

5gold-star3 If you’re ready to curl up with a good book here is another five-star recommendation from me.

Whether it’s a thriller, mystery, love story, historical romance, or YA dystopian series they all must have one thing in common, the theme must grip me. The story must grab me, hold me, enthrall me or cause me to suspend belief for a few hours. The books I give a five-star recommendation do that and more.

Before I Go To Sleep: A Novel [Kindle Edition] by S. J. Watson

This story is disorienting, unique, unusual unnerving and gripping. Be prepared, this is a long book and once you get into it, like me, you may read until the wee hours of the morning.

The story is about a woman who wakes every morning with no memory. She doesn’t recognize the person in the mirror or the man next to her in bed. Working with a doctor, she begins a journal, keeping track of her days, trying to unravel her past and the mystery of who she is. What she discovers is not what anyone expects.