#amwriting – Page 9 – Jean's Writing

Do you need to add a villain to your story?

Published on December 4, 2017November 28, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

Then you need to understand your villain.

We’ve heard lots about a protagonist’s motivation and character but often times we forget that the villain is just as important.

I don’t know about you but I struggle with making sure I understand my villain’s motives, back-story, and desires.

How do I go about giving the necessary importance to a villain without overshadowing the protagonist?

Well, when I needed this information, a post from Now Novel popped into my email with all the right answers. There are examples and suggestions to make sure your villain is scary as hell.

What did I learn from this post about bad guys?

All villains have a history. Don’t forget to incorporate it into the story.
- Their backstory explains how they became a villain.
Show why the villain has power and influence over the protagonist.
- Are they scary, intimidating, powerful…
Explain how the villain gets away with their devious actions.
- Sneaky, great liars, pretty, convincing…
Let your villain be vulnerable.
- Everyone, even bad guys have a weak spot, find and exploit.
Give the villain a story arc.
- Do they grow worse, or better over the story?
Understand Villain’s motivation.
- Is it greed, jealousy, hatred…

Click the link at the bottom and read the entire post from Now Novel.

What did you think? Get any ideas for your villain?

Do you have trouble writing about the bad guy?

Leave me a comment, I’m dying to hear from you.

Creating villain motivations: Writing real adversaries at Now Novel.

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Writers, did you make it to the finish line?

Published on December 1, 2017December 2, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell17 Comments

Did you write during the NaNoWriMo challenge?

I’ve never participated in NaNoWriMo but I’m curious about those who have. Knowing how other writers handle the pressure of spitting out 50k words in 30 days fascinates me. Because I agonize over every sentence and rewrite too many paragraphs. Y’all gotta tell me your secret. How do you manage to write so fast?

You’ve probably heard about the terms, plotter, and pantser, but me I’m a plodder. Often taking one step forward and two steps back. I write one word at a time, plodding along as if I’ve all the time in the world. Sigh…

I really need to learn how to speed up my writing and not get squirrelly over every jot and tiddle.

Do tell!

How many words do you write every day?

Did you finish the challenge?

Did you quit? Why?

How do you manage to balance life responsibilities and the pressure of NaNoWriMo? Especially over the holidays!

Did participating in NaNoWriMo lead to a successful novel?

Don’t want to write a long comment?

That’s okay. Just type- “I DID.”

I’m also curious as to how many writers participated in NaNoWriMo, successfully or not.

See, I have lots of questions, and can’t wait to hear about your experience.

For those of you who’ve been living under a rock and don’t know what NaNoWriMo is all about, I’ve added a few links.

National Novel Writing Month

Online Creative Writing Courses for NaNoWriMo Participants …

Participating in NaNoWriMo 2017? Caution! – Jerry Jenkins

NaNoWriMo Is Big for Writers—and It Helps Publishers, Too

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How to avoid the danger of a lawsuit

Published on November 29, 2017November 29, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell3 Comments

Get it in writing!

Are you in danger of being sued?

Don’t take a chance! Read the fine print and know what you’re signing.

One of my favorite bloggers, Jane Friedman, has provided us with much-needed information for writers. Who to contact, when we need to contact someone, and how to get permission. Are there any fees involved?

Don’t let your hard work get tied up with a lawsuit.

When in doubt, get permission.

Click the link below, and read her very important post.

What did you think? Learn something new?

Have you ever sought permission from someone?

Have you ever been issued a cease order or been sued?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on her article. Leave me a comment.

A Basic Guide to Getting Permissions + Sample Permissions Letter By Jane Friedman

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Do you know how to prepare a grand opening?

Published on November 27, 2017November 28, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

How to write a grand opening?

Come one come all, to the BIG GRAND OPENING!

Snagging your reader in the very first chapter is important. We’ve all heard about hooking the reader, but it’s more than a hook. A writer needs to entice the reader to do several things.

Pick up the book.
Read the covers.
Buy the book.
Read the first chapter, the second chapter and keep reading to the end.
Tell their friends!

How can we accomplish this?

By wowing the reader from page one!

Think about the sample clerks at a grocery store.

They set up a nice station with decorations and signs to grab your attention. Lovely samples are arranged for tasting. However, if you want to gag at the smell or the first nibble, no way in hell are you going to invest in a purchase. But if it’s good, they’ll buy the package and share with friends.

Or, how about a new restaurant opening.

Big banners announce the opening. Fliers go out in your neighborhood. Pictures of beautiful dishes appear in social media. You’re excited to try the new place. Now if you get there and the restaurant doesn’t live up to the hype, you won’t be back. But if the staff is friendly and welcoming, if the food tastes as good as the pictures, and the price is as advertised, not only will you return but you’ll tell all your friends.

Now, I don’t know about you but that is how I want readers to react to my stories.

Good presentation, a beautiful cover and tantalizing summary will only get us so far. We want our readers to not only invest in our books but to enjoy the journey. And recommend our books to friends!

Recently, I read a great article by Tina Ann Forkner on the Writers in the Storm Blog.

Ms. Forkner explains how a writer can prepare a grand opening in a story. The past few weeks I’ve been working and reworking the first two chapters. So finding her post couldn’t have come at a better time for me. Why? Because I want to grab the reader and tempt them to keep reading.

What I learned…

A sense of place involves the vibe, feeling, senses of the setting.
- Can the reader see themselves there with your characters?
Make sure your characters are engaging.
- Will the reader want to know meet them?
Life doesn’t happen in a vacuum.
- Action, even the small ones will make the scene more enticing.
Organize the opening.
- No one will want to eat samples all jumbled up in a big mess.
- Give enough information, in the right order to light a pathway for the reader.
The all-important hook.
- Leave a sign, a question, or desire to turn the pages. Like a billboard advertising next week specials that lure patrons back for another dinner.
- Give your readers something to look forward to in the next chapter.