#amwriting – Page 57 – Jean's Writing

Are your adjectives in the right order?

Published on September 21, 2016September 16, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell22 Comments

Ever wondered why a certain sentence doesn’t work?

You’ve written beautiful adjectives to describe your heroine but the sentence comes off too much. The words trip across your tongue as if your mouth is filled with marbles.

After reading a tweet that went viral, I now understand why this happens.

The adjectives must be in the correct order.

Opinion-size-age-shape-color-origin-material-purpose and last NOUN.

When we talk the words usually flow correctly. We don’t even notice it. But when writing sometimes a word ends up in the wrong place.

What is the tweet that gave me this ah-ha moment?

A tweet by Matthew Anderson. Matthew tweeted a screen shot from a book he was reading.

The excerpt is from The Elements of Eloquence: How to Turn the Perfect English Phrase.

To read more about Matthew’s tweet and how to write the perfect phrase go to The Daily Buzz link below:

Do You Know This Crucial Piece of English Language Advice? by ALAN JUDE RYLAND

Have you ever encountered a problem with the order of adjectives?

Have you read either book?

What do you think about this rule? Does it make sense?

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.

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How to decide on the best book cover

Published on September 19, 2016February 19, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell9 Comments

The cover of your book is a big decision.

We all want our book to stand out, to shine brighter than all the other books. Right?

But should you design your own or hire a designer?

I used Canva for one book, but I’m considering hiring a designer for the next book. Why? Because the more I read about book covers, the more I’m convinced a book benefits from a professional’s touch.

I think Bryan over at Become a Writer Today, has some terrific tips for a successful book cover. The idea of making a Pinterest board of covers is a great idea. With this type of board, whether you design your own or hire a pro, you have an idea for what is selling. I’d never thought of that, but that is now on my to-do list.

Click on the link below and read all of his tips.

Publishing a Book? Then You’ll Need a Eye-catching Cover by Bryan

Tell me…

Did you design your cover?

Or did you hire a pro? How did you find a professional designer?

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 need time to recharge and find new inspiration?

Published on September 15, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell5 Comments

I did.

Setting up my blog to continue without me for a few weeks was time-consuming but worth it. Automation is a wonder thing. Knowing my blog could continue, even in my absence, made letting go easier.

I want to thank everyone for sticking with me during my break. The time with my family was precious, and I can’t wait for our next visit to Paris.

My daughter is a great hostess although she almost walked us to death. She filled our days with seeing the best of the city, good food, and great wines. There is so much to see and do we needed another couple of weeks to see it all.

chateau_de_vincennes_13a-jpg — Chateau_De_Vincennes Photo by JM Cogdell

chateau-de-vaux-le-vicomte-15 — Dancing Horses at Chateau De Vaux-le-Vicomte Photo by JM Cogdell

Want to see more lovely Paris pictures, you should check out my daughter’s blog, A Francophile in France.

After a few days, my husband and I gave her a break and took a quick hop, on Eurostar, over to London.

london-regents-prk-train-station-2 — St Pancras International Train Station Photo by JM Cogdell

I’d never been and loved every minute of it. London is a lot bigger than I expected and as we wandered the city had a tendency to get lost. But that only made the adventure more fun.

Powering down for three weeks is not easy for this type A writer. Internet access was spotty at best, and I must admit to feeling a bit of withdrawal the first few days.

But letting go and just being in the moment with family was wonderful. Plus filling my time with reading books instead of writing sparked inspiration. I recommend everyone take a bit of time to recharge and enjoy life.

So how did you recharge this summer?

Did you take time away from writing and blogging to enjoy life?

Do you find it hard to let go and unplug?

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31 Black and White Photos Show King’s Cross-an inner city area of London in the 1950s

Have you found a home for that story?

Published on September 14, 2016August 25, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

Or need the inspiration to submit?

aware-1353780_640 A story that is! Geesh, get your head out of the gutter guys. We’re talking writing here. LOL

Keep reading and maybe one of these markets will be a perfect fit.

Writing Magazine are holding another of their popular annual writing competitions. Their Adult Fairytale Competition is open for entries for stories of between 1500-1700 words. The closing date is …

Source: Markets For Writers

The fairytale one perked my interest.

Okay, did you find anything to your liking?

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.