#AtoZChallenge – Page 7 – Jean's Writing

Want to write every day?

Published on March 7, 2016March 4, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell7 Comments

Well, I do!

But some days I get distracted and can’t think of any good ideas. Or my muse leaves me high and dry. Or my WIP is just boring. Or, well, you get the point. But I’m beginning to think the only bad idea is one not written.

So time to add more writing discipline in my life.

I signed up for the A to Z Challenge again.

Not sure if I’ll make it to the end, but I’ll try. As the saying goes, nothing ventured.

I hadn’t intended to participate this year, but an article in the Huffington Post changed my mind. Life has thrown me a few curves this winter and I’m going to have my hands very full for the next few months. However, I don’t want my writing to suffer. What better way to keep the imagination juices flowing than to continue to write every day. Even it is only a few words on a blog.

The article is from a business perspective, but I think writers should think more like professionals than hobbyists. Writing is not easy.

30-Day Challenge: Business Idea-a-Day by Joel Holland

I really liked his second suggestion, carry a notepad. I’ve put on in my purse. It’s also small enough to fit in my pocket too, no excuse not to carry with me everywhere. Bought mine at the dollar store. LOL

But there are so many cute notebooks available that can inspire.

Why a notepad? To jot down ideas!

They are all around us. Song on the radio, crazy billboard, scary driver, screaming toddler, sale, wild eyed politician, funny joke, a lovers embrace, the list could go on and on. We just need to open our mind and let it float.

So, no matter how nutty your idea may seem, take Mr. Holland’s advice.

Number 7: Don’t over think it!

Just write. Chances are if you thought about that, someone else did too. After all, there is nothing new under the sun.

I’m really bad to over think things. I get an idea and think it to death before I write about it. Then my bright and shiny idea begins to look like mush, totally unrecognizable from my original concept. Don’t let that happen.

Write your thoughts down while they are fresh and sun-kissed.

Tell me how do you get your ideas flowing?

How do you keep them fresh?

You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

Writers looking for writing inspiration?

Published on May 1, 2015June 20, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell3 Comments

Do you have writers burnout?

Need a little writing help with a plot or character?

Check out these great generators to kick-start your writing.

Need to generate everything but the kitchen sink to get your story started.

Click on this Writing Exercises website that has it all from a Children’s Section, Plots, Towns,
Characters, First Line, Theme, Names, Dialog and more generators to get you started.

Writing Sci-Fi?

English: Icon for lists of science fiction authors — Wikipedia

You can find random generators for story concepts for everything Sci-Fi from monsters, the undead, silly spells, evil creatures, or humorous space aliens at the Seventh Sanctum

Generate an entire short story?

A romantic/fantasy blurb? This generator over at Plot Generator might be for you. There you can find inspiration for Pen Names, Letter writing and much more.

Problems with Blank Page?

Over at the Writers Plot Idea Generator you might like the Blank Page Eliminator, Plot Twist Generator or the Fun stuff.

Now you might be wondering where I found all these amazing Generators. I like to give credit where credit is due. I didn’t pick them out of thin air, or Google air. LOL

After surviving the A to Z Challenge left me with a bit of writers burnout and I needed to recharge. Scouring Amazon for something to read I found a short book and after reading it for free on Kindle Unlimited, I bought it for my library.

Nine Day Novel: Writing Fiction: How to Structure and Write Your Fiction Novel Faster (Fiction Writing Basics Book 1) by Steve Windsor

Now as a disclaimer, I haven’t yet put into practice Mr. Windsor’s technique, but there are some really good tips in this book. I hope you enjoy the websites and book as much as I did.

Happy writing.

Kindle Price:	$2.99
Kindle Unlimited:	Free

Celebrating the finish line

Published on April 29, 2015April 29, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell10 Comments

`Z = Zero`

Zero, none and done.

It’s the Zero-hour, and here we are at the end.

We all made it to the finish. I’m so glad I participated. Had I missed this challenge I would’ve missed meeting so many great people. Because of this challenge I wrote with more discipline to meet my goals. Fingers crossed I’ve formed a new writing habit.

I hope we see each other again and often after we’ve finished the 2015, A to Z Challenge. I’ve clicked to follow many of your blogs and look forward to seeing your names in my inbox.

So here is the last segment of Rachel and who knows with my new found writing routines I might even finish the book. Thank you for all your kind comments and encouragement.

Rachel leaned forward, her cell phone pressed to the windshield. A soft sigh escaped when she read the words No Signal.

“So what’s your story, Jase?”

Jase stared for a second and then a slow smile crinkled on his tanned face.

“Well, we can listen to a radio playing more static than Garth Brooks or we can talk?” Rachel said, “We could start with what does Jase stands for?”

He reached forward and silenced the radio. “Jason Cole Branson at your service Officer.” He answered with a wink.

God, he was one cocky cowboys. At least she hoped that was his worst fault.

“Okay, tell me a little bit about Jason Cole Branson.”

He leaned across Rachel his right arm stretching toward the glove compartment.

“Whoa, what’re you doing?” She said.

Her hand slid to her belt comforted by the sidearm.

“Hold on, don’t go getting all excited. I’m not going to pull anything.” He said.

Jase shook his head in disbelief at this trigger happy woman. “You wanted to know who I am, well here.”

He tossed the leather wallet in her lap and slammed the compartment closed.

“You’re a sheriff?”

“Yes Ma’am, and if you’ll tell me what’s going on maybe I can help.”

For the first time all day Rachel felt relief. She wasn’t riding off into the sunset with some crazed maniac, but another fellow officer of the law.

Leaning back against the passenger door, she relaxed and began talking. Who knows, maybe she could use his help. At least his blue eyes and good looks would make for pleasant company.

I love comments, tell me what’s happening with you and if you’re not already, please follow @jeancogdell on Twitter!

Remember it’s your writing, be true to yourself

Published on April 29, 2015April 28, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell1 Comment

Y= Yours

Heading down the home stretch. Almost there, I think I can….

This is more a reminder than a writing tip.

A reminder to myself that what I write is mine and what you write is yours.

Your story, your theme, your novel, your draft, your characters, or your blog.

Everything you write is a part of you and is yours.

Be true to yourself.

I learn something new almost every day from great bloggers and writers. I work and strive to polish my writing into something worth reading, welcoming constructive criticism. Everyone loves to hear how their WIP is wonderful but no one wants to hear the bad. However, we need both.

Critiques are helpful, just remember the end product is yours. Don’t let anyone take and remake your baby into another writer’s vision.

Find someone you trust to beta read your work. Take their suggestions and apply what you want.

Always remember…

Good or bad, freaky or fabulous, beautiful or ugly, the writing is yours.

What’s happening to Rachel?

As his right hand brushed the hair from her eyes, his left reached toward the floor. Rachel’s sidearm pointed at his belt buckle before his hand cleared the leather seat.

“I wouldn’t.” She said.

“Whoa, I was just gonna get for a napkin or something.” He said.

Sure enough, he pulled a handful of Dairy Queen napkins from under the seat. He was quick thinking, she’d give him that, but his gun lay too close for comfort. Her gut said not to believe him, not for a minute.

“That’s right gentlemanly.” Rachel said, “But I’d leave that Colt on the floor where it fell.”

She took a napkin and blotted at the cut above her right eye.

“Now why don’t you explain what the hell just happened.”

“A damn pothole back there did a number on my front tire. I pulled off too fast. Think we got a flat.” He said.

The cab filled with hot air when he opened the driver’s side door. Rachel flipped down the visor to inspect the damage to her head. The cut didn’t look too bad, but she’d have a shiner tomorrow. One more thing for the guys back at the office to tease her about. The bleeding seemed to subside to a trickle, so maybe she could avoid stitches. Rachel opened her door and went in search of a snake in Levi’s.

They both stared at the front flat tire. He kicked it, muttered a few curse words and walked to the back of the truck. Jase stripped off his chambray shirt and laid it on the back seat of the extended cab.

“Will it take long?” Rachel followed him to the tailgate.

He didn’t even bother to answer, just manhandled the tires as if they were a child’s swim ring. She couldn’t help but be impressed with the muscles straining against his white tee-shirt.

Rachel was relieved changing the tire didn’t take as long as she feared. After buttoning his blue shirt, Jase tossed her a bottle of water from a small cooler.

“You’ve got a cooler? With water?”

“Yep.”

Jase drank the cold water down in one gulp.

“You gonna drink that or play with it?” He asks before tossing his empty into the floor.

It tasted amazing. God, she was so thirsty. Rachel didn’t understand why he hadn’t offered her water earlier. She couldn’t figure him out, but she would. They still had a ways to go. She checked for a phone signal. None.

No other options for miles, she climbed in the truck.