Blog – Page 18 – Jean's Writing

How to understand the secrets that bend a life

Published on October 3, 2016June 5, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell16 Comments

Ding, Ding, Ding!

That was a bell going off in my head after I read a recent post on Writers Helping Writers.

I’ve read many books and blogs on writing. Lots of them talk about understanding what makes the protagonist tick. What secret from their past bent their life?

After all, we are all a product of our environment. Right? Well, our characters are just like us. They too are bent by their childhood, relationships and traumas. But how do you show that? By figuring out what made them the way they are.

I know it sounds about as easy as becoming a rocket scientist. But stay with me.

This post below gave me insight into how to uncover secrets about my protagonist but, most important how to use them to tell her story.

Lisa Cron gives 3 simple steps to help us break down our main character’s beliefs. So I took those steps and this is what I did. Be sure and click on the link below, read Ms. Cron’s article for

So after following her steps I had a breakthrough with my WIP. Here is a brief glimpse of how I used her 3 step method.

#1: I sat down and thought about something she believed that could be wrong. When did this belief start? What happened to make her believe this way? How has this belief led to problems? Have her beliefs proved false?
#2: Jotted down times when her beliefs led her astray. When they tangled up her life and how I could incorporate these events into the story.
#3: Then I wrote a short scene that started her on her road to believing and behaving the way she does. (Now I doubt I will use this scene in its entirety but bits and pieces may show up in other scenes. What it did do was help me flesh out my protagonist.)

Be sure and click on the link at the bottom of this post and read Ms. Cron’s article for the entire picture. You’ll be glad you did.

So tell, what did you think about beliefs and misbeliefs?

Does your protagonist have secrets you need to uncover?

In the post Become a Story Genius: How Your Character’s Misbelief Drives The Plot by ANGELA ACKERMAN welcomed story coach Lisa Cron to talk about new book, Story Genius and how defining the why behind this struggle is the key to unlocking a powerful story.

Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel (Before You Waste Three Years Writing 327 Pages That Go Nowhere) by [Cron, Lisa] — **Click Image for Sample Read**

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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What would happen to your story in a fire?

Published on September 30, 2016September 26, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell36 Comments

Or a flood, or should someone steal your computer?

I don’t know about you but, I’d have a freaking heart attack! laptop-fire

We’ve all know to back up our work. I do this religiously to an external hard drive. A hard drive that is in my closet, that would burn up with my laptop and house in a fire.

Geesh! Give me a minute while I bang my head on table.

September 15, 2016, the Associated Press reported about a fire. Nothing unusual about fires, they happen every day. Unless you are the victim. As was the case for Gideon Hodge a novelist that realized his only copies were on a laptop inside.

Mr. Hodge rushed past firefighters into the blazing inferno to save his computer.

superman-meme

Man dashes into house to save laptop, 2 completed novels from fire in New Orleans’ Broadmoor neighborhood BY MATT SLEDGE

So all of this got me to thinking. I better find a better way to back up my work. I have a lot of finished and unfinished stories on my computer.

But which is the best storage service to use?

I’ve used Google Drive for docs and pics I wanted to share but not for storage. I may give this another look as it is super easy to use. Google Drive is encrypted using SSL, the same security protocol used on Gmail and other Google services. 15 GB of storage won’t last forever but I can buy more as needed.

I’ve also used Dropbox in the past. It too is very easy to use and crosses many platforms. Dropping between my MS laptop to my Ipad with no trouble at all. The free version is only 2GBs but here again, I can buy more if I need it. Dropbox also allows you to encrypt each file for security.

I’ve tried Evernote for small things. I don’t know how it would work for larger items such as a manuscript.

For now, I’m leaning toward Google Drive.

But there are a lot more out there, including tips for Mac users. Check out this post:

Ask the Writers: Which Cloud Storage Service Do You Use by Laura Tucker

What about you?

Do you have a safety net for your writing?

Don’t let all of your blood sweat and tears be lost forever.

Which one do you use?

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Sometimes the simple tips are the most useful

Published on September 7, 2016August 25, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell12 Comments

Don’t over complicate your writing process.

Sometimes I think I make writing harder than it needs to be. A recent post by Tiffany Sun at The Writing Cooperative reminded me of some simple tips.

Now don’t get me wrong, if writing were easy everyone would be on the NYT list. I don’t mean that but often I get frustrated trying to put something into words on this dang screen. That’s when I need to remember a few basics.

Tiffany lists twelve hacks that are just good common sense writing. I hope one of them speaks to you.

#11 is my favorite. Not sure I could type without seeing the words, however, this did give me ideas. Because perfection haunts me and often stops the flow. If that ever happens to you stop staring at that white screen, turn it off or at least dim it so that you can’t see every typo, every grammar mistake, and relax. thinking computer -1020137_640

Turn off those grammar correction tools until you’re ready to edit. And then just write!

Click the link and read her simple tips, maybe one will help next time you get stumped.

12 Writing Hacks You Need to Become a Great Writer

Which of her “hacks” give you food for thought?

Do you have a “tip or hack” that reminds you to keep it simple?

I’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment!

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.

What do you think about blogging myths?

Published on September 5, 2016August 23, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell6 Comments

Do you believe everything you read?

Sometimes it’s hard not to. I mean those wrinkle creams pictures look amazing.

Okay, sometimes maybe I take the internet and especially Facebook posts way too serious. Guess it’s time to consider the source, and do a little homework.

JANICE WALD wrote a post listing 20 myths about blogging. Now I’m not sure I agree with them all but yeah I agree with some.

Here’s my take on her list of myths:

Thumbs up, I agree it’s a myth. Thumbs down, I disagree, it’s a fact.

Keyword certainty. Definitely a myth. We all know nothing is certain but death and taxes.
Posting every day is not difficult. Fact. Yes, I believe it’s hard, especially if you are writing other things, like say a novel.
Write to beat writer’s block. Can be- fact. I think writing helps some writers beat the blank sheet but it certainly doesn’t work all the time for everyone. See #1
For the best promotion, pay for it. Myth for sure! I don’t like the pay to promote services, sounds phony.
Write whatever you want, forget about an audience. Hmm, maybe, maybe not, but if you don’t enjoy what you’re posting I bet dollars to donuts you’ll soon quit. This goes in my fact column.
Always promote new content. Put this in the myth column. Updating and adding new info to old posts is just smart. Everything changes.
You can’t know the best time to post. She suggests this is a myth and that you can determine the right time to post. I disagree. I rarely read blogs, emails or Twitter at the same time every day. The world is a busy place.
Blogging can help your writing. For me, this is a fact. Because I believe, writing of all types encourages creativity.
You can blog fast. Oh, this is so a myth. If you believe this I’ve got a bridge…
Blogging is lonely. Sometimes but it doesn’t have to be, I agree this is a myth. I’ve met some lovely people.
No way you’ll predict which posts will be successful. I think this is not a myth but a fact. Some of my most successful blog posts have been complete surprises.
Your “about page” should be about you. Well, I’m on the fence about this one. Each blog is as individual as the people who read or write them. I think this is might be the case for certain bloggers. But it’s a personal call. For me a fact.
Google penalizes duplicate content. Yay! A myth. Glad to hear Google is way too busy to worry about little ole me.
Google penalizes link swapping. Myth. And I just learned a new term. Gotta check it out. Janice gives a good link for more info.
Google penalizes link backs to your older posts. Myth, and if you don’t know how to do this Janice has a link.
Hop from WP.com to a self-hosted site and lose your followers. Whew! Glad to know this is a myth. You may need a little help but it can be done.
To have a successful blog approach it like another job or chore. This myth made me laugh. I’ve enough chores thank you very much. When it’s no longer fun, quit.
Churn out post after post and you’re a blogger. Boy oh boy is this ever a myth. There’s a lot more to blogging than that. See #17.
People don’t read content on the internet. Aren’t we all glad this is a myth? Busy people spend what little time they have using the internet to stay informed and connected.
Blogging advice is a waste of time. For my take on this myth, see #19. LOL

Now head over and read what JANICE WALD had to say about these myths and find all the great links about blogging.

20 Blogging Myths That Will Make You Blog Worse

We all want to debunk blogging and writing myths. So tell me…

Which myth gets under your skin?

Know one Janice or I missed?

Let’s talk about it in the comments section.

Want to reach me? 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.