#amwriting – Page 3 – Jean's Writing

Writers, do you know how to overcome that blank page challenge?

Published on March 7, 2018April 5, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell15 Comments

Do you know how to start writing a new chapter?

Sometimes I do. So I was thrilled to find an oldie but goodie article by Darcy Pattison at Fiction Notes.

I recently arrived at chapter 8 of my WIP, and then blank page syndrome (BPS) hit with a vengeance. Even my well thought out outline couldn’t spark inspiration.

But thanks to Darcy, I got my mojo back and I’m plugging right along now. Then it occurred to me, I couldn’t be the only writer to suffer from BPS and that Y’all might have the same issue from time to time. If that’s the case, maybe her simple and practical tips will help you too.

What helped me move past blank page…

Use the senses. When putting myself in the protagonist’s shoes, reach out and think about what he is seeing, smelling, hearing, etc.
Add action. Now that I’ve identified what he senses, move him into an action. For instance, if he is smelling something: Smoke – runs from building or turns off oven.
Start with dialogue. Get conversations going. I can always add something before that later.

Reminders to consider when writing a new chapter…

Waking up. Although this is a basic no-no, again it’s okay to get the juices flowing and can be changed in the final draft.
Backstory. This can get boring but again, I can cut in the end. Just write.
Dull vocabulary. Don’t bore the reader in the first paragraph, after all my goal is to keep them reading through to the next one.

Are you ever intimated when beginning a new chapter?

Does an outline inspire you to start the next chapter?

When hit with a case of BPS, how do you overcome?

Any cure tips you can share for BPS?

Get inspired to turn a blank white page into ribbons of black. Take a minute and read Darcy’s post.

Starting a New chapter: Defeating the Blank Page By Darcy Pattison

Want another good writing article? Keep reading.

8 Ways to Write a 5-Star Chapter One By Elizabeth Sims

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This easy editing tip will blow your mind

Published on February 26, 2018April 5, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell8 Comments

Want to know what knocked my socks off this week?

An Excel Stylesheet.

Yep, good old Excel. Okay, maybe I’m impressed easier than you.

**A stylesheet can make your novel appear more professional.**

Why? Because writing a massive novel is hard and keeping track of names, places, hyphens and more can get confusing. This is where a stylesheet comes in handy. And most editors require one. Who knew? Well, turns out knowing about something and knowing how to put the information into practice is two different things.

I’ve written about stylesheets in the past but until recently I didn’t understand how to put into practice what I’d learned. But, turns out it’s not that difficult.

What you put add to a stylesheet is up to you. You can keep it simple or add a column for everything under the sun.

Stylesheet purpose?

To prevent mistakes that stand out like a pimple on your nose.

Ever read a book and a name changed midway? Cathy, Kathy, Kathie or Katy? Glaring mistakes like that will pull your reader out of the story in a flash.

I’m compiling my stylesheet as I write. This will help me find where an unusual word, phrase or name first appeared. When I’m ready to rewrite or edit, my stylesheet will help keep everything consistent.

No matter your genre, this can be an invaluable tool. Fantasy, keep those made up countries and goblin are spelled correctly. Historical, names and places may have been spelled different a hundred years ago.

Want to know how easy it is to mess up? Even in this short blog post, I wrote stylesheet as one word in some places and as two words in other. Good grief! Now imagine catching that mistake in a 70,000-word novel.

Here is a snapshot of my writing stylesheet.

When my book is finished, I’ll print out my spreadsheet and refer to as I edit. Easier than trying to remember, flipping back and forth through a document. At least I hope so.

Why compile a stylesheet as you write?

Connie Jasperson said it best in a terrific post.

“I learned this the hard way. Making a stylesheet for a book after it has been written is a daunting task, and most editors will ask you for one when they accept your submission. Some editors refer to this as the ‘bible’ for that manuscript because all editorial decisions regarding consistency will be based on the spellings and style treatments you have established for your work.” Click here to read the entire post.#amwriting: ensuring consistency: the stylesheet, 2/14/2018 BY Connie J. Jasperson

Want more? Check out this article. Stylesheets—The Setup and the Benefits, July 12, 2011 by Beth Hill

Want to get really geeky? Read Chicago Manual of Style, Chicago Manual Of Style Guidelines (Quick Study), or the Associated Press’s Stylebook (available on Kindle Unlimited.)

Okay now tell me, please…

Do you use stylesheets?

Have you used one in the past?

Do you think a stylesheet will help you avoid mistakes?

Had you heard about stylesheets before today?

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What is the best secret to writing something original?

Published on February 21, 2018February 27, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell21 Comments

Use a formula.

Yep, you heard me right. Sounds contradictory I know. Why? Because we are creatures of comfort and formulas work.

I mean, who doesn’t have a favorite comfort food, favorite chair, a feel-good movie, or book? We enjoy the familiar.

A genre formula is a writer’s best friend.

Sticking to a genre formula lets the reader know what to expect. You know what to expect when you pick up a book by Stephen King, Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson or Danielle Steel.

Putting your own unique spin, touch or style is what makes a reader recognize your uniqueness.

Sort of like spaghetti sauce. Everyone knows it’s made with tomatoes, meat, and spices. But how the cook puts it all together will determine the flavor.

**Remember, how you execute a story is what makes it unique.**

You (the cook) make the difference.
Different isn’t always a good thing.
Readers want genre fiction they recognize and a world they feel comfortable visiting.
A little originality goes a long way, too much can be unnerving, even disturbing to some people.
Genre formulas and templates are a writers friend. Like a recipe for a cook.
Know the formulas.

Even if you write in more than one genre, it’s important to know and understand the formulas.

You are the secret ingredient.

Want to know more about genres? Click on the links below.

Okay, time to talk:

Which genre do you write?

Do you know and understand the formulas?

Do you use a template for your writing? Formula outline for the genre?

Are you comfortable with one genre over others?

What do you think?

Genre Writing and Formulas By Rob Parnell

Advice for New Authors: Five sure-fire ways to find your book’s genre By Helena Halme

How To Write A Bestseller – According To The Formula By Peter Winkler

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How to produce a beautiful cover for your book

Published on February 19, 2018February 19, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell5 Comments

After writing, editing and formatting, what’s next?

Picking the perfect cover.

While no easy task, it doesn’t have to break the bank. So in case you missed this great post from Fiction University, I’m attaching a link below.

J. Kathleen Cheney gives sound advice on when and where you can design your own cover. And more important when you might want to bite the bullet and pay for a professional.

In her article, Ms. Cheney also provides links and suggestions on how you can produce a great book cover for your next project.

Love Canva. It’s one of my favorite programs. Very user-friendly and short learning curve. And best of all you can art for FREE or only $1.00.
Her idea of checking out the competition is great. That is definitely going on my to-do list for next book.
Get a critique on the cover from your friends, family and writing group. Big one!
Suggestions on how and where to look for professional covers.
My tip: I prefer paint.net or sumopaint.com to Adobe.