Latest A to Z Post – Page 6

Good or bad, your book is judged by its cover

Published on April 2, 2016April 1, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell26 Comments

B = Book Cover & Design

Unlike what we learned in kindergarten, books are judged by their covers.

Yes, the first impression of your book cover influences the reader.

Some people are natural at putting forward that just stepped off the runway look, even at the grocery store. And there’s me in the produce aisle in my fluffy slippers. Hey, they’re warm!

I’m not homeless, just a little absent-minded. The lady shopping next to me, in four-inch Jimmy Choo’s, might be a model or she might be a femme fatale. Hmm, I feel a plot coming on.

But, back to the A-Z Challange and what I’ve learned over the past year from an amazing Web of Writing Bloggers.

Backward Six (see #10 below)

If you want someone to pickup, or click on your book, the cover and design better grab. The book cover needs to pull at them, make them want to look inside or at the least, flip it over and read the back.

So although we are taught at a young age not to judge people by their looks, readers do judge a book by how it is presented.

12 things I learned from you guys about book cover and design:

Looks are important. Forget what your mama told you about the inside being the most important part. If no one is drawn to open the book, they won’t read the story.
A book cover must look good as a billboard or thumbnail and everything in-between.
Artwork doesn’t have to be expensive to be good.
Clean and eye-catching is better than cluttered.
Not artistically inclined there is usually someone who can help. The world is as close as my keyboard.
Research other book covers that are similar. Which ones worked and which ones didn’t.
Art, image, and photo software need not be expensive. There are some that are free.
A trendy book cover can work. (This I’m gonna need to remember in the future.)
The book cover should go for an emotional response, then the reader will react.
The eye reads a book cover from top left to bottom right, and across to the left again. (Backward 6.)
The book cover is mine, even if I hire a pro, it presents my hard work to the world so I better make sure I’m happy with the end results.
And last, but not least, I learned that I’m not going to get it right on the first, second or maybe even the third try. But that’s okay.

DIY: How to Design an Indie Book Cover By Alex Palmer

10 Tips for Effective Book Covers By: dmatriccino

5 Tips for a Successful Cover Design

Designing a Book Cover That Tells Christopher Lentz

Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Let me know what you think about book and cover design.

Are you a DIY, or did you hire a pro, or do you fall somewhere in-between?

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.

A = Assembly Required to write a good story

Published on April 1, 2016April 1, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell18 Comments

All I learned about writing from the village of bloggers.

That’s my theme for this A-Z Challenge.

Well, let’s be truthful. No way could I cover everything this amazing community has taught me since I began this journey. But I’m going to try.

A=Assembly Required

That’s the first thing I learned! Just like that bike at Christmas, or a bookcase from Ikea, or writing a book there is always some assembly required.

How many times have we groaned after seeing those dreaded words on a box?

Also, it pays to follow instructions.

Now if anyone knows me at all, they know I’m more of an eyeball-it type of person. Not a read instructions type of person.

I mean come on, with a good saw and hammer I can make anything fit. Who cares if I’ve got an extra screw or two left?

But I’ll admit writing is a bit different. And thanks to so many good writers and bloggers on the world-wide web, I’m getting better every day.

Yes, I’m still more of a pantster but I’m also learning how to structure my scenes better so that the bookcase won’t be lopsided. Nothing worse than having to shove a block under one edge to keep it upright.

So what did I learn about Assembly required, or in writer’s jargon, Structure required?

Assembling a story does not have to dismiss my spontaneity or pantster style of writing.
It’s okay to sit down and just write the first draft.
That structure can be as rigid or as flexible as I want. After all, I’m the author, this is a world of my creation.
Help is available at the end of my keyboard. Reach out and touch someone.
That I must assemble scenes, multiple story lines, and characters into a mosaic of that become the story.
Then let an editor tear it down because I left out a screw or two and then I must reassemble it all over again.

When and if I’ve a beautiful finished and polished manuscript…..

It’s time to assemble the physical book.

Yes, some assembly required to be a writer.

More reading on story structure.

Story Structure in Short Stories

10 Simple Keys to Effective Plot Structure

The Secrets of Story Structure (Complete Series)

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.

Celebrating the finish line

Published on April 29, 2015April 29, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell10 Comments

`Z = Zero`

Zero, none and done.

It’s the Zero-hour, and here we are at the end.

We all made it to the finish. I’m so glad I participated. Had I missed this challenge I would’ve missed meeting so many great people. Because of this challenge I wrote with more discipline to meet my goals. Fingers crossed I’ve formed a new writing habit.

I hope we see each other again and often after we’ve finished the 2015, A to Z Challenge. I’ve clicked to follow many of your blogs and look forward to seeing your names in my inbox.

So here is the last segment of Rachel and who knows with my new found writing routines I might even finish the book. Thank you for all your kind comments and encouragement.

Rachel leaned forward, her cell phone pressed to the windshield. A soft sigh escaped when she read the words No Signal.

“So what’s your story, Jase?”

Jase stared for a second and then a slow smile crinkled on his tanned face.

“Well, we can listen to a radio playing more static than Garth Brooks or we can talk?” Rachel said, “We could start with what does Jase stands for?”

He reached forward and silenced the radio. “Jason Cole Branson at your service Officer.” He answered with a wink.

God, he was one cocky cowboys. At least she hoped that was his worst fault.

“Okay, tell me a little bit about Jason Cole Branson.”

He leaned across Rachel his right arm stretching toward the glove compartment.

“Whoa, what’re you doing?” She said.

Her hand slid to her belt comforted by the sidearm.

“Hold on, don’t go getting all excited. I’m not going to pull anything.” He said.

Jase shook his head in disbelief at this trigger happy woman. “You wanted to know who I am, well here.”

He tossed the leather wallet in her lap and slammed the compartment closed.

“You’re a sheriff?”

“Yes Ma’am, and if you’ll tell me what’s going on maybe I can help.”

For the first time all day Rachel felt relief. She wasn’t riding off into the sunset with some crazed maniac, but another fellow officer of the law.

Leaning back against the passenger door, she relaxed and began talking. Who knows, maybe she could use his help. At least his blue eyes and good looks would make for pleasant company.

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

Remember it’s your writing, be true to yourself

Published on April 29, 2015April 28, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell1 Comment

Y= Yours

Heading down the home stretch. Almost there, I think I can….

This is more a reminder than a writing tip.

A reminder to myself that what I write is mine and what you write is yours.

Your story, your theme, your novel, your draft, your characters, or your blog.

Everything you write is a part of you and is yours.

Be true to yourself.

I learn something new almost every day from great bloggers and writers. I work and strive to polish my writing into something worth reading, welcoming constructive criticism. Everyone loves to hear how their WIP is wonderful but no one wants to hear the bad. However, we need both.

Critiques are helpful, just remember the end product is yours. Don’t let anyone take and remake your baby into another writer’s vision.

Find someone you trust to beta read your work. Take their suggestions and apply what you want.

Always remember…

Good or bad, freaky or fabulous, beautiful or ugly, the writing is yours.

What’s happening to Rachel?

As his right hand brushed the hair from her eyes, his left reached toward the floor. Rachel’s sidearm pointed at his belt buckle before his hand cleared the leather seat.

“I wouldn’t.” She said.

“Whoa, I was just gonna get for a napkin or something.” He said.

Sure enough, he pulled a handful of Dairy Queen napkins from under the seat. He was quick thinking, she’d give him that, but his gun lay too close for comfort. Her gut said not to believe him, not for a minute.

“That’s right gentlemanly.” Rachel said, “But I’d leave that Colt on the floor where it fell.”

She took a napkin and blotted at the cut above her right eye.

“Now why don’t you explain what the hell just happened.”

“A damn pothole back there did a number on my front tire. I pulled off too fast. Think we got a flat.” He said.

The cab filled with hot air when he opened the driver’s side door. Rachel flipped down the visor to inspect the damage to her head. The cut didn’t look too bad, but she’d have a shiner tomorrow. One more thing for the guys back at the office to tease her about. The bleeding seemed to subside to a trickle, so maybe she could avoid stitches. Rachel opened her door and went in search of a snake in Levi’s.

They both stared at the front flat tire. He kicked it, muttered a few curse words and walked to the back of the truck. Jase stripped off his chambray shirt and laid it on the back seat of the extended cab.

“Will it take long?” Rachel followed him to the tailgate.

He didn’t even bother to answer, just manhandled the tires as if they were a child’s swim ring. She couldn’t help but be impressed with the muscles straining against his white tee-shirt.

Rachel was relieved changing the tire didn’t take as long as she feared. After buttoning his blue shirt, Jase tossed her a bottle of water from a small cooler.

“You’ve got a cooler? With water?”

“Yep.”

Jase drank the cold water down in one gulp.

“You gonna drink that or play with it?” He asks before tossing his empty into the floor.

It tasted amazing. God, she was so thirsty. Rachel didn’t understand why he hadn’t offered her water earlier. She couldn’t figure him out, but she would. They still had a ways to go. She checked for a phone signal. None.

No other options for miles, she climbed in the truck.