#amreading – Page 16 – Jean's Writing

Keep the tips coming! You guys are the best!

Published on June 30, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

Being a writer is like working as Ring Master in a circus. Have to know how to juggle, keep the show moving and shovel elephant poo. So many jobs, so much to do and learn.

Staying ahead of the new gadgets and media stuff would be overwhelming without this community of writers. I can always count on y’all to step up, share and help with great tips.

Thanks for todays tip goes all the way to balmy Ohio and Jena Henry, a cool author, book reviewer and one of my fav readers who keeps me encouraged.

After reading my post on how to embed “Instant Book Preview” of your book on your website, and other social media sites, Jena stepped forward and clued me in on how to take it a step further.

Now you can click the “Share symbol” on your Kindle and send not only a quote, but an Instant Preview to a friend or the world. This is so cool because my sister and I were discussing a book earlier this week. Instead of trying to remember or explain what I thought was so great, I could’ve just shared a quote and an instant preview with her.

That’s right! Amazon has made sharing books you enjoy easier and faster.

However, I was disappointed to find my old Kindle Paperwhite (very first Paperwhite) doesn’t send an the instant preview, just the quote. Plus, it only sends the quotes to Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter. frog-sad

Maybe time to buy a newer version of Kindle e-reader. Well-played Amazon, well-played. frog-happy

The good news is that it works on Android apps and on the newer Kindles (I just sent an Instant Preview from the Kindle app on my iPhone, pretty slick.)

Jena was reading on her Kindle Voyager when she discovered the “share” symbol. And when she hit the symbol a preview link shows up with a photo of the book and the reader receives a free preview. And she could continue reading!

What do you think?

Another tool to promote your book as well as other writers?

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

Go check out Jena’s website The Golden Age of Charli and tell her Jean sent you.

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

Read more about this new “Share Instant Preview” at the links below.

Great Books, Great Conversation

Amazon upgrades Kindle quote sharing with Instant Previews BY JAMES RISLEY

AMAZON’S NEW INSTANT PREVIEW FEATURE SHARES THE PERFECT QUOTE AND A PREVIEW OF THE KINDLE EBOOK By Kristofer Wouk

Do you need inspiration for your story?

Published on June 27, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell1 Comment

To keep your writing fresh?

Don’t know about you, but I’m always searching for ways to get inspired. Because if I’m inspired, that inspiration will be reflected in my writing.

A few days ago I wrote a post, How to make progress on your novel without writing, about breaking through sluggish points in writing when you’re not sure what comes next.

Ways to step away from writing without leaving the manuscript behind. I loved y’all for leaving so many wonderful comments and suggestions. great-idea-1426607_640

One reader, Phillip T Stephens suggested–

“Read novels similar to your own and see what other novelists did. Joyce said all artists steal. The key is how well we do it. Did another author solve your problem? Great. How can you adapt that to your novel in a new and interesting way? Did another author come up with a really crappy solution? Even better. How can you spin that terrible solution into the perfect solution for your novel? cactus-1063094_640

“Binge-watch movies and series to prime your creative pump or recharge your batteries.” popcorn-1433326_640

I took Phillip’s suggestions to heart and started reading other murder mysteries to find where the author placed their “inciting incidents,” where the story speeds up and then slows down to give the reader a second to catch their breath. Phillip’s idea is a great way to understand the pros use movement and pace in a story like yours.

What do you think?

Have you ever binge-watched a series or movies?

What about spending a day just reading or even a week? (I love taking a few days to binge read.)

Here are a few more ways to study a favorite novel or movie.

A favorite movie? Try SlideShare. or IMDb.

A favorite book? One similar to your WIP? Try SparkNotes or Pink Monkey.

Need more? See if one of these meets your need:

Shmoop, JiffyNotes, BookRags, Bookwolf, GradeSaver, WikiSummaries.

Okay, here are my questions of the day–

Do you use Cliffnotes for your research?

Can you share other websites or sources for research?

How do you research a new project? Or a WIP that’s ground to a halt?

I’d love to hear from you! Click to write me 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 share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

Do you like to read the same type of books all of the time?

Published on June 16, 2016June 16, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell18 Comments

What about writing?

Do you write in the same genre all the time?

gen·re

noun

a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. category, class, classification, group, set, list; type, sort, kind, breed, variety, style,model, school, stamp, cast, ilk

I love to read all sorts of books, from children’s picture books, bridge/crossover books for young readers, YA, thrillers, horror, romance and even a well-written erotica. So why would I want to pigeon-hole myself in my writing?

Writing is what makes me tick.

I grow, as a writer, every time I write something. Whether it’s a post, prompt, short story or picture book I can feel my wings spreading.

However, there are pros and cons to writing in multiple genres.

Pros:

To find your voice.
To find your audience.

Cons:

Failure to do anything well.
Failure to build an audience.

Only you can decide when the time is right to dabble in other genres or to concentrate on just one.

But don’t let fear stop you.

There are many authors who cross genres. Some use a nom de plume, others don’t. I think it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we write what makes us happy.

Ian Flemming famous for the James Bond books and films also wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Bet you have that song dancing in your head now. LOL Who would’ve guessed the same author that gave the world Gold Finger and 007 also gave us the flying car.

Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Adrian Hall an... — . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

James Patterson is another writer that comes to mind. From the Alex Cross Series, The Women’s Murder Club Series, to the YA Maximum Ride Series is another versatile author.

What is the genre you prefer to write? Or read?

Tell me I’d love to know. You can find me in the comments section or click to write me or at Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! The lights are on and I’m waiting.

Please remember share this post with your Twitter peeps andFacebook fans.

Want more? Keep reading below.

WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM MULTI-GENRE AUTHORS By: Jessica Strawser

10 FAMOUS AUTHORS WHO MADE UNLIKELY GENRE JUMPS By Emily Temple