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Do you want something to give you pure enjoyment?

Published on September 9, 2016August 23, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell

**Then try reading a complex, witty and Flat-Out lovely book.**

Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park is tagged YA but I flat-out loved this book. Her writing style is funny, quirky and pure enjoyment.

Imagine what might happen if your daughter left for college in Boston and due to one mistake after another finds herself homeless. No dorm room, no apartment.

But like all Mom’s, you’d ride to the rescue as did Julie’s mother. Lucky an old college friend agrees to put Julie up until an apartment becomes available. Well, best-laid plans went out the window as Julie settles in and falls in love. Oddities pile up and wounds open but Ms. Park reminds us that all it takes to set things back to normal (whatever that entails) is Flat-Out-Love.

If you are a member of KindleUnlimited it is available to read for free.

I give this lovely book 5 Stars

Click image to read a sample

Tell me what good book have you read lately?

I’d love to hear from you! Click the “write me” tab or contact me on Twitter @jeancogdell,Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! The lights are on, and I’m waiting.

Please remember to share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

Do you know how to write a sensual scene?

Published on August 26, 2016April 15, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell18 Comments

Well, I didn’t but I’m learning!

First, let me say I’m a big fan. So I was thrilled to find Diana Gabaldon had written a book on writing.

“I Give You My Body . . .”: How I Write Sex Scenes (Kindle Single) by Diana Gabaldon

This book did not disappoint! And believe me, I’ve read a few “how-to” books that did.

Writing love or sex scenes can make the best of us a bit squeamish at times. Ever feel as though the scene is overdone or too juvenile? Take heart, in her book Ms. Gabaldon shows not tells us how to write with humor and candid language that doesn’t turn our script into a purple nightmare of adjectives and adverbs.

Maybe you’re not a fan of historical fiction, or maybe you’ve no plans to add a sex scene to your novel, but every writer can learn something from her secrets for showing character emotion.

For the soul of a story is the characters. Their emotions are what connects the reader. Ms. Gabaldon breaks down scene by scene her secrets for drawing the reader in and letting them feel what the character is feeling.

A must-have for your writing library.

"I Give You My Body . . .": How I Write Sex Scenes (Kindle Single) by [Gabaldon, Diana] — Click image to read a sample

Do you have a favorite “how-to” writing book?

I’d love to hear about it! Do tell!

Click the “write me” tab or contact me on Twitter @jeancogdell,Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! The lights are on, and I’m waiting.

Please remember to share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

Reading the right stuff can make you a better writer

Published on August 24, 2016August 24, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell13 Comments

This is not “breaking news.”

Every writer understands the importance of reading and keeping, those reference books close by.

However, are you reading the right books or stories?

I know, I know there are only so many hours in the day.

Yes, there are days when reading or writing is just not in the cards. Yesterday, allergies had my eyes swollen to mere slits so sitting in front of the computer or even reading a book was impossible.

We all have our favorite genres. Me I love YA books. I’m a big Harry Potter and Hunger Games fan. But I also love historical novels like The Outlander Series, or on a cold winter weekend I enjoy a good Steven King that will keep me up all night, but then I’m gonna need a light humorous read like those written by Janet Evanovich to shake out the hee bee jee bees. So you can see my tastes are as varied as an all you can eat buffet.

But what about contests?

Books that I enjoy reading for pleasure are not going to help me with a short story or flash fiction contest.

Stop don’t hit that enter key yet!

Read these tips first, maybe they’ll help:

Read, reread and then read again the contest and submission rules.

I know sounds logical but you’d be surprised how many times I’ve missed something in the rules section.

Read about the contest judge.

Read everything you can about the judges. If they have a website, if they have published articles, stories or books then read them. These things will give you an insight into the style they enjoy. Judges are objective but they are also human.

Read stories and articles published on the magazine website.

Study what type of stories the editors gravitate toward.

Read past winning stories.

Not just the last one but go back a couple of contests. This may require you buying the editions. The investment will be worth it.

Now after all of this homework, you may discover this isn’t the right place for your story.

Writing for contests and magazines can be rewarding and fun but it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s a good place to hone your writing skills and grow a thick skin as the rejection slips fill up your email box. I opened up a file folder to save all mine in, as a reminder to stay focused.

I enjoy writing short stories and love Flash Fiction but I no longer devote so much of my writing time to submitting to every contest that pops in my email box. Like I said there is only so many hours in a day.

Do you read and research before submitting to a contest?

Do you have any winning tips to share?

What is your experience with writing contests?

Do you have a favorite magazine or website you like to enter?

Check the links at the bottom of the post, because if you’re ready I’ve added some links that host writing contest. I’m sure there are tons more, but this should get you started.

Let me know if you enter!

I’d love to hear from you! Click the “write me” tab or contact me on Twitter @jeancogdell,Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! The lights are on and I’m waiting.

Please remember to share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

WOW Women on Writing Deadlines

FlashFiction Online

2016 DWL SHORT STORY

Mashstories.com

Shortstops Competitions

Let's Write a Short Story! by [Bunting, Joe] — Click to Read Sample

Crafting Novels & Short Stories: Everything You Need to Know to Write Great Fiction by [Editors of Writer's Digest] — Click to Read Sample

Everyone enjoys a little haunting every now and then.

Published on August 12, 2016August 3, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

And that’s what you get a story you won’t be able to turn loose long after reading the words “The End.” Jennifer McMahon leads us all down a rabbit hole of lies and deceit in this disturbing haunting, psychological thriller, and paranormal page-turner.

Many kids have big imaginations and imaginary friends to keep them entertained. Parents think it’s cute, and give little thought to any of their imaginings being real.

But if you lived near Reliance, a village that mysteriously disappeared one day, you might believe in the paranormal too. You might surround your bathtub with iron to keep away the things that live among the shadows.

Fifteen years after Lisa told everyone she was crossing over to the world of the fairies to meet the Fairy King and disappeared, her brother Sam wants to find the truth.

In Don’t Breathe a Word: A Novel by Jennifer McMahon introduces us to a family ravaged by loss.

Like me, you will not be able to put this book down until you find out what really happened to Liza.