#amwriting – Page 40 – Jean's Writing

Can a bad idea make a good story?

Published on March 10, 2017March 8, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell15 Comments

Of course! At least I think any idea can make a good story.

Because are there really any bad ideas? Or just bad execution?

We all have that one friend who when they start with, “Let me tell you…,” we cringe. Yet a different friend can call, and we can’t wait to hear the ending of “Let me tell you…” Because this person will leave us laughing or crying.

What’s the difference? One is dry as dust with the telling, and another is entertaining.

A few weeks ago I posted about fleshing out ideas. But I was assuming the idea was a good one.

But what if your idea doesn’t sound all that good to other people? What then? Do you throw it out and search for another subject?

No, not necessarily. Everything is in the delivery.

After reading How to Develop Any Idea Into a Great Story at Writers Digest, I began to understand more about why some of my story ideas seem to die on the vine.

I need to feed them differently, shine light from a different angle, but rework the idea until it sizzles with energy.

Here are the things I gleaned from the article.

Bend it by-
- Getting primal, give your character an inner yearning that drives him.
  - Now take that urge and bend it to an uncomfortable level.
- Taking the familiar, turning it on its head, make a paradox. A lover of women who kills women
- Have fun with a little crazy. Who is the crazy one?
Amp it with-
- Emotions/feelings
- Action
- People
- There are no minor characters. Make sure the story gives each character their due.
- Inflict Pain. Add a truth teller, a flesh ripping, spine-tingling character.
- Let your characters feel pain.
- Remember blood is thicker than water. Family trumps all. Add conflict of kinship.
Drive it-
- 0-60, hit the gas. Start with blood, guts, tears, fears, danger, broken lives and don’t slow down.
- Let the normal dissolve and barrel like an out of control train toward disaster.
- Make your victim complicit in her dilemma.
- Give your protagonist an impossible choice.
Strip it-
- Quality over quantity
- Don’t tell the emotions, let the reader feel the emotion.
- Use small, everyday things to bring the story to life.

What do you think? Can a bad idea really be turned into a good story?

Have you ever taken a bad idea and turned it around?

Do you have an idea that’s sitting on a back burner?

I’ve got a notebook full!

Need more tips to turn your idea around?

Keep reading – great articles below.

Leave me a comment – I love comments.

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How to turn an idea into a story (Free workbook) Tera Lynn Childs

How to Turn an Idea Into a Story – Luc Reid

How to brainstorm your story idea into a working concept – Veronica Sicoe

How to avoid being a question junkie

Published on March 8, 2017March 6, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

Don’t ask too many questions.

We’ve heard it many times, “There are no stupid questions.”

Teachers tell this to their students, and parents to their kids all to encourage curiosity. But, sometimes we need to stop asking and start writing.

My name is Jean, and I’m a “question” junkie.

Maybe I’m all alone in the world, I hope not. But here is how I became hooked on questions. It first started with “what about.”

I started a novel around a couple of years ago when up popped “what about.”

What about a cute little girl book? After all, I’d already written one children’s book, Tryouts for Ben. Made perfect sense to write another.

Ooh, yeah I can do that. So I set aside my novel and wrote A Most Reluctant Princess.

The results were everything I’d hoped. Happy and satisfied I went back to work on my novel. Well, you guessed it another “what about” reared its head and I bit.

What about a cute little boy book to mirror the little girl book?

Great idea! I’d written a picture book so it shouldn’t take as long to write another. Wrong, it did.

I finished A Reluctant Little Prince and couldn’t be more proud.

So back to my novel I went. And this time I’m on fire, burning up the keyboard. Until you guessed it, another question appeared, and I couldn’t resist.

Hmm, can’t find a journal you like, then “what about” introduced me to his younger brother “what if.”

What if suggested I take a break from the novel and write my own journal. Cool idea!

Okay, wrote and published my journal. Looked pretty damn good too. I’m psyched, ready to get back to my novel, the ideas are popping around in my head like Orville Redenbacher.

But “what if” was just getting started.

Did I mention all the ideas popping around in my head? Well, every time I’m on a roll, typing and talking to my characters, “what if” buts in with another thought. What if this or that happened? It could be interesting.

Next thing you know, I’m off chasing squirrels with my characters. If I keep this up, they’ll develop personality disorders, and I’m gonna have to spring for a psychologist. Not sure where I could fit a shrink in the plot. Hmm, wait a minute maybe if…

I understand that “what if” and “what about” and other questions are useful tools for writers. They help us move from scene to scene, but these dudes are driving me batty. I need a little quiet to finish what I’ve started.

Thanks for listening. It felt good to clear the air. Now I need to go comfort my protagonist. At this point, she’s unsure whether to save or kill someone in this chapter.

Anyone else with these writing issues?

Do the abundance of possibilities give you whiplash?

Any other junkies that get bogged down with questions?

PS: Sorry about all the Gifs

But as I was writing this post “what ifs” cousin, “look how cute” dropped by. Sigh… I really must do some writing today.

Keep reading – great links ahead about good questions for writers.

Leave me a comment – I love comments.

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

5 Key Questions to Ask as You Write Your Novel

Novel Writing: 10 Questions You Need to Ask Your Characters

7 Questions to Ask Yourself as You Write Your Novel Christine Barcellona

Do you think it’s important to hook fast?

Published on March 6, 2017March 5, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell25 Comments

A reader that is.

How soon should a reader expect to feel the tug of a hook? That ah-ha moment that keeps them turning the page?

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First paragraph, page, or chapter?

At times I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I’ll mess with an opening until I feel that tug myself. Then I can continue writing. Often I’ll rewrite the beginning of a story a dozen times before I feel happy with it. I’m not talking about grammar mistakes. Those are easy fixes by an editor. I’m talking about that “feeling.”

There are a lot of do’s and do not’s but the most important rule to me is “feeling” that tug. That knowing hook.

I’ll be buzzing right along in the middle of a scene when bam, I know something is wrong. The line broke. I have to go back and fix my hook and bait. Wiggle the line until once again I feel that familiar tug. vintage-1817338_640 How about y’all? Do you write until the opening tugs at you to go on or do you just wing it?

As always I’ve left you some great reading at the bottom of my post. Let me know what you think.

Leave me a comment – I love comments.

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

How to Find the Start of Our Story

10 Ways to Start Your Story Better

How to Set Up a Story’s Hook

The 21 Best Tips for Writing Your Opening Scene

Image Source from Pixabay.com

Are you ready for the unvarnished truth?

Published on March 3, 2017March 1, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell10 Comments

About blogging?

Not many of us know what lays ahead of us when we begin blogging. The bumpy road is a surprise and we are never ready for all the strange things we encounter.

However, the following post The Ugly Side of Blogging by Elena Peters, is a must read for anyone ready to take the blogging plunge. Or a confused blogger.

Ms. Peters lists 21 truths about blogging that many of us didn’t see coming before we were hit like a truck running a red light.

#4 – Please, I have fiddled with my format, theme, and pictures so much this blog had an identity crisis to rival Sibil.
#5 – As a writer, don’t most writers think about quitting every single day? Maybe it’s just me.
#7 & #15 & #17 – Lies, Free & Trust. Oh yes. The internet is floating in lies, freebies, and people to be trusted. Right, best keep a lifeboat handy when you launch into the deep waters of blogging. And one last thing, before you pay big bucks for a writer’s course, make sure it’s sold by someone who as actually written a good book.

I enjoy blogging. It’s fun to put my thoughts out in the world and see what pops back to me but I’m not making any money. That would be lovely but not necessary.

Now selling my books, that’s a different balloon of another color. I’d love to make money with my books.

Did any of Ms. Peters “truths” speak to you?

Which ones?

Any surprises?

Have you been burned since you began blogging? How?