#amreading – Page 34 – Jean's Writing

Old habits are hard to break

Published on November 21, 2014 by Jean M. Cogdell8 Comments

Do you stumble over Gerunds?

Read the November 19th post over at The Kill Zone to find out if you need to rid your story of a few Gerunds.

I loved The Kill Zone’s post titled Gerunds Be Gone.

The Kill Zone is one of my go to blogs for good info, and today when I opened this email they didn’t disappoint. Once more their post was filled with a great reminder to watch out for sneaking little “ing” beings that are as scary as Gremlins.

Hmm, makes me wonder about the name Gerunds…

Check out The Kill Zone and see if your writing is filled with the little devils.

For additional help you might want to check out editing software Grammarly or Ginger. I use both.

Sorry for the short post today.

I gotta go Gerund hunting.

Write your best Horror in 2 Sentences and Win

Published on October 29, 2014 by Jean M. Cogdell31 Comments

On The Porch

The attack came out of nowhere. Fear strangled my scream as claws raked over my skin.

Now your turn!

My inspiration came from a great meeting with my fellow SWAG (Sachse-Wylie Authors Group) members last week. So, in my last post I linked to the original Two Sentence Horror Story thread hoping to inspire my readers.

Ruth Glover ran with it, click and read her Halloween 2 Sentence Stories.

I’ve decided to go a step further.

Write and win!

The Challenge!

Submit:

Submit, in comments, your best original Horror story in 2 sentences with a link back to your website.

Vote:

Vote on your favorite!

WIN:

A $10 Amazon gift card.

Rules:

Submit an Original 2 sentence horror story
Link to your website (that’s how I’ll contact winner) and
Vote on someone else’s story by comment.

Winner:

One writer with the best ORIGINAL 2 Sentence Horror Story will be selected by the votes received.

Myself excluded. Get writing – and submit.

Challenge ends.

5pm Central Time October 30th, when the spooks come out!

Need more inspiration? Check out…

Two Sentence Horror Story

Flash Fun-Trust Me

Published on October 28, 2014April 16, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

This week is the week for scary fun.

Trust Me

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Yeah,” he said, looking for a place to pull off the road. The gravel crunched under the car as they eased along a country road. He parked, and the engine sputtered falling silent.

“Sure no one can see us?” She shifted nervously looking out the window.

“I’m sure,” he smiled, glancing up at the moon, “unless a werewolf shows up, I think you’ll be fine.”

Before she could protest, he pressed his lips to hers. She melted against the pressure of his tight embrace. Her eyes grew wide when she felt the sharp prick against her neck.

She pulled away, “you said I’d be safe.”

“I’m not a werewolf.” He shrugged as blood dripped from his smiling lips.

Originally posted in May 2012 in response to a photo prompt challenge.

Need inspiration? Check out…

Two Sentence Horror Story

Ten Quote Tuesday

Halloween prompt What’s your story?

Write Now

How can you help?

Published on October 14, 2014 by Jean M. Cogdell11 Comments

What is the difference between an Alpha Reader, Beta Reader or Critique Partner?

How can you help a writer?

Do you read a lot?

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 31: Employee Tilly Shi...

Do you have an opinion?

Then you have a lot to offer a writer and here's how.

Writers need feedback before a manuscript is completed. A reader is invaluable to a writer and even if you’re not a writer, you have an opinion.

Readers can provide all or just some of the critique points. Also, while they will discuss some of the good things they like about the story, the goal is to have a reader you trust that’s completely honest. One who is willing to point out problems and say “hey, this does not work for me.”

The Alpha Reader

An alpha reader can be anyone who enjoys reading, and doesn’t need to be a writer.
Alpha readers look at the big picture, help through roadblocks, and prod the writer so they can keep writing.
Act as a sounding board, checking for readability.
Lets the writer know if the first sentence, paragraph or chapter hooks them.
If story, main character and world is intriguing.
Addresses the larger elements of the story —the pacing, the tension, plot arcs, characterization, backstory, and theme.
Points out if the scene works; confrontation, motivation, pacing or confusing.
Likability of the characters and if any need to be fleshed out more.
Listen for the POV voice.
The feedback short, just enough to reassure you if the plot is on track, or to point out where the story went astray.
The Alpha Reader doesn’t: Give line comments, unless a single word or phrase derails a scene.

The Beta Reader looks for the same things as an Alpha Reader plus:

Beta readers welds a red pen checking for all types of problems (big and small), while encouraging the writer to produce the best story possible. The beta reader looks for all the things the alpha reader does but in more detail.
Does line by line editing, looking for errors in spelling, grammar, characterization, and continuity.
Character likability and POV voice.
Pacing, the tension, plot arcs, characterization, backstory, and theme.
Ability of plot to capture and hold their attention.
Discuss if the end was satisfying.
Overall impressions of what worked and what didn’t. What they liked and didn’t.
A beta reader gives the same kind of detailed feedback and tips that you get from critique partners, but the beta reading just goes in one direction—they beta read for you, but you don’t necessarily beta read for them.

A Critique Partner:

The critique partner (beta) reads and critiques your story, and you do the same for their WIP (not necessarily at the same time, though).
Critique partners give detailed feedback on not just plot and characterization, but on the craft aspects of writing—lack of conflict, violations of POV, etc.

Bottom line is you form a partnership with this person.