Jean's Writing

When is the best time to use contractions?

Published on March 31, 2017March 30, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell25 Comments

Okay, first things first. If you’ve read any of my post you know…

I’m no expert.

But recently a fellow writer Jena C. Henry, be sure and hop over and check out her blog, posed a question.

When is the best time to use contractions?

I, in turn, agreed to toss the question out to my readers.

However, as this is my blog, here are my thoughts.

No rule says we must use contractions. I don’t want my writing to sound as if I’ve got a stick up my ass. Unless of course one of my characters is actually walking around with a stick, well you know. To me, writing with contractions makes the story and dialog sound less stilted and more inviting.

However, I don’t think a contraction is warranted in every instant. In other words, I believe this is just one of the many tools in a writer’s arsenal. Using them should be part of a writer’s personal preference or style. There are times when using a contraction can sound confusing and may take an extra beat for the reader to figure out what is happening. Any doubt- write it out. Remember, a good rule of thumb is to “write like you talk.”

Click here and grab this cheat sheet of Common Contractions.

Now Jena and I would like to hear your answers.

When should a contraction be used?

Do you use more, or less, contractions in your writing?

Do you think they are overused?

Should writers forgo them for a more formal style?

At the bottom of this post, I’ve linked a few articles with a bit more authority on the subject than me. So keep reading!

Leave me a comment – I love hearing from you!

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

Keep reading!

Using Contractions Correctly

Contractions by Neal Whitman, read by Mignon Fogarty, Grammar Girl

Contractions List: When To Use and When To Avoid by Joe Bunting

Do you want to write about fear?

Published on March 29, 2017March 28, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

Ever struggle with a scene?

Well, I’ve been struggling with a scene in a WIP that needs a light touch. I want to convey fear and terror without being overt about what’s happening.

And as usual, when I need help along comes one of my blogging/writing buddies.

Thanks, Dan Alatorre AUTHOR!

Recently, Dan posted a tease regarding a new contest. However, this isn’t what got my juices flowing. No, it was the video challenge. Hop over to Dan’s post and check out the video.

WRITING CHALLENGE: See It, Write It

Dan posed three questions about the video clip. I used #3 as an exercise to work on my scene problems. Helped me a lot to work on writing about anxiety and fear.

#3. The place where the nanny is crossing the street and the little girl almost gets run over – HOW would you set that up in a written story so we jump when we read it?*

Here is the result of my exercise. Please be kind.

We could make it if the girls didn’t dawdle. I gripped the hands of my small charges tighter and marched on aching feet toward the cross walk.

“Hurry along girls, before the light changes.”

I should stop at the market and get something for dinner. Mr. Singleton likes lamb chops.

“Nanny, Nanny, I got to pet a rabbit today.” Eve tugged on my hand.

“Hmm, that’s nice.”

“She did not.” Anna made a face at her younger sister.

“Did too.”

“Girls, that’s enough, we don’t have time.”

Maybe there’s something I could cook for dinner in the freezer.

Of course, the girls have homework. They always have homework. It’s Chatty-Kathy Highwaters fault I’m running late this afternoon. If she hadn’t insisted on telling me, and everyone within hearing, about her big pay raise, I wouldn’t be in such a hurry. Although I wouldn’t call five percent much of an increase for minding three kids.

“Oh, my God!”

The screech of metal against metal filled the air as two cars attempted to destroy each other.

I yanked the girls back onto the curb and out of the way of two damned fools, playing Speed Racer. They could’ve killed my babies. Where the hell is New York’s finest when you need them?

“Nanny, you’re hurting me.” Anna whimpered.

I eased my death grip on the girls and kneeled. Hands shaking, I fished a crumpled tissue from my pocket and dried their tears.

“How about we go for ice cream?”

So what if dinner is late tonight? I’ll think of something. For now, I’ll let the sweet taste of chocolate with sprinkles wipe this horror from their minds. No need to worry the Mister and Mrs. about what didn’t happen.

Have you ever used a writing challenge to help a WIP?

Do you find showing fear and terror difficult?

Did you try your hand at one of Dan’s questions? Which one?

Talk to me – I love comments.

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

Do you enjoy a little fun with words?

Published on March 27, 2017March 23, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

Then you might be a LEXOPHILE (LOVER OF WORDS.)

I love StumbleUpon. Never know what I’ll find when I push that orange button.

My latest find is LEXOPHILES (LOVERS OF WORDS.)

I smiled as I read through the list of puns and wordplay. Wish I were this imaginative. Of course, I’ve my husband and grandchildren to keep me in the pun game. They a never at a loss for a few.

Of the 46 listed, these are my 10 favorites.

#4. A backward poet writes inverse.
#13. You are stuck with your debt if you can’t budge it.
#17. A lot of money is tainted: ‘Taint yours, and ‘taint mine.
#21. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison: a small medium at large.
#24. If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine.
29. Marathon runners with bad shoes suffer the agony of de feet.
#32. She was only a whiskey-maker, but he loved her still.
#38. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.
#41. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.
#45. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.