Writing – Page 73 – Jean's Writing

Do you have a favorite first line?

Published on May 8, 2017May 5, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell23 Comments

A killer sentence that enticed you to keep reading?

You know what I mean. One sentence that draws you to the next like breadcrumbs along a deserted trail. You just have to know what the hell is going on.

I’ve read tons about hooking the reader. Bet you have too. Some authorities insist the hook must be the first paragraph, others first page and still others maintain a writer can take an entire chapter to grab the reader.

But, there is something to be said about a great first line.

Google best or favorite first lines in a book and you’ll get lots of links to hundreds of classics. But what about more current books?

What book have you read recently that had a killer first line?

I’d love to know. Do share!

Here are some of mine.

“They say I died.” Fortier, Anne. Juliet: A Novel

“Moonlight played tricks with my eyes as we circumvented the graveyard like an obstacle course.” Constantine, Cathrina. Don’t Forget to Breathe

“When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold.” Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games (Hunger Games Trilogy, Book 1)

Do you think the first line is all important? Or do you think a killer first paragraph is more important?

How can we write a first line that grabs?

I’m still working on that myself so I was thrilled to read a great post on how to write the first line.

Check out 3 Ways to a Killer Opening Line by Diane O’Connell.

What did I get from the post by Ms. O’Connell?

The first line need not be a long complicated sentence.
Use surprise and confusion make the reader question what the heck you’re referring to.
A vibrant, enchanting prose can pull the reader into the story.
The first line can be used to connect the reader to the thoughts and words of your protagonist.
Experiment with first lines. Find a killer line and play with it, change it and get the feel for how the author accomplished the art.

I see another rewrite in my immediate future. Sigh…

What do you think? Does this one work?

“I’m no stranger to police stations, often stopping by to interrogate the front-desk Sergeant.” Cogdell, Jean M

As always, below I’ve added a few links about grabbing the writer.

Happy reading.

Talk to me – I love reading your comments.

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Please stop by and say “hey!” I’ll leave a light on.

How to start a novel: First sentences, first paragraphs

7 Keys To Write the Perfect First Line of a Novel by Joe Bunting

The 50 Best First Sentences in Fiction

What are your favorite opening lines from a book?

100 Best First Lines from Novels

Do you suffer from a fear of words?

Published on May 5, 2017May 5, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell17 Comments

Do you see your story in pictures or words?

Then you might be a visual writer.

After reading Nancy Friedman‘s post, I’m convinced. I’m a visual writer. Because I see glimpses of a story and then proceed to put the things I see into words. Not always an easy feat.

Writing pictures into words can be a problem if the writer has a fear of words.

I’m bad to write, in short, clipped sentences often failing to describe in detail what I want the reader to understand. Not good. So, I’m going to work on writing a little more prosaic.

If you ever find yourself at a loss for words?

You might be a visual writer.

If you ever have trouble with “what comes next” in a scene?

You might be a visual writer.

If you have trouble writing specific descriptions and hope the reader “gets it?”

You might be a visual writer. (this one is so me.)

So how do I use my visual ability to convey the right words at the right time and in the right order? How do I make sure my readers can see what I see?

Practice, practice, and practice. Practice with words.

Remember readers are not psychic. They cannot see a scene unless I paint a “verbal” picture.

PS: A little trivia. Logophobia, is a fear of words, talking. Also, who knew there is a Visual Thesaurus? Cool!

Go read Nancy’s article and tell me…

Are you a visual writer or a verbal writer?

Are the right words always at your beck and call?

Or do you struggle to describe the scenes dancing in your head?

Fear of Words (and Other Writer’s Blocks) by Nancy Friedman

Talk to me – I love reading your comments.

Please stop by and say “hey!” I’ll leave a light on.

How is your day as a writer?

Published on May 3, 2017April 30, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell26 Comments

Do you ever have a day like this?

You know the kind. One step forward and two steps back. Come on fess up.

I’ll admit some days this is more or less how I write. LOL

Research location. Where oh where to put this story? Oh, I’d love to visit Paris. I’ll check flights. Won’t take a minute.

Need to chat with my critique partner. Just one question. My we have a lot to catch up on.

Let’s see what everyone is doing. Just one quick look.

WTF did I write that for? Editing, editing, and more editing.

Maybe I need a little adaptation research.

**Happy hour! It’s five o’clock somewhere. Tomorrow is another day. Cheers!**

Hope you this brought a little fun to your week.

But do tell me. Am I wrong?

Do you write without distraction, nose to the computer?

Talk to me – I love reading your comments.

Please stop by and say “hey!” I’ll leave a light on.

Images courtesy of Pixabay and GIPHY

How to instantly improve your story

Published on May 1, 2017May 3, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell22 Comments

By putting a little zing in your writing with power words.

Super Heroes - Jean's Writing

Now I don’t mean to burst your bubble, but I’m not promising to instantly make you a NY Times bestseller. No, that’s gonna take a whole lot more information than I possess. However, should I ever be so fortunate as to ascend to such lofty heights, I’ll be in a better position to share the climb.

But back to improving. That’s where I’m at now. Tweaking and changing and learning how to better grab my readers. To that end, I’ve found a couple of terrific posts.

Use Power Words to Spice Up Every Page of Your Book or Website by Judy Cullins

317 Power Words That’ll Instantly Make You a Better Writer by Jon Morrow

In these articles, they write about using powerful, thought-provoking words that will not only grab but also hold the attention of a reader. Both Ms. Cullins and Mr. Morrow also provide an extensive list of “power words” that help us get started.

Words Have Power - Jean's Writing — **Use the right one!**

What did I glean from their posts?

Words have power but use the right ones.
Smart speakers, as well as writers, sprinkle power words without drawing attention to them.
Power words invoke emotion.
A story will be bland and dull without a few power words.
Not all power words are the same. Some invoke passion, others greed, fear, joy, or create comfort and curiosity.