Creative writing – Page 116

Start Every Story With A Bang

Published on June 16, 2015June 15, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell

Are you stumped?

A scene too slow? Too much back story? Is it putting you to sleep?

Does your writing need a jump-start?

I’ll admit, I’m bad. As a reader, if the story doesn’t grab me I don’t keep reading.

And damn it, I confess, I’m also as bad as some writers who write too much back story.Sometimes I get fall into the telling trap instead of showing.

When this happens, I get stumped. So don’t feel like you’re all alone.

I recently read a couple of great posts on grabbing your reader and keeping their attention. If I can build momentum and keep my attention while writing then maybe just maybe I can keep a reader’s attention too.

So if your interested in some good writing tips to spice up your writing with action —

Begin with How to Start Your Novel By Chuck Sambuchino posted at Writers In The Storm Blog then —

click on over to Darcy Pattison’s Fiction Notes and read Find Your Novel Opening: Quickly, Efficiently–and with MORE Creativity next–

head over to Blake Synder’s Save The Cat Beat Sheets and learn how screen writing can improve your story.

I love comments, almost as much as I love clicks, so after you pass this on to your Facebook and Twitter pals tell me what you think.

If you’re not already, please follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Are you easy to find?

Published on June 15, 2015June 14, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell6 Comments

How easy are you to find?

If someone wants to publish your story, essay or request a sample of your work how difficult will a sample be to locate?

Start by making yourself available.

I hate spam as much as the rest of the world. So we all have to take steps to protect from the dreaded spoofing emails. However, we must have a platform on the world-wide web.

Chuck Sambuchino wrote a great post for The Writer Life on 4 steps a writer can take to have a successful and professional platform.

Today’s Challenge.

Google your name, or the name of your blog.

Is your presence easy to find? If so, what stands out?

I love comments, almost as much as I love clicks, so after you pass this on to your Facebook and Twitter pals tell me what you think.

If you’re not already, please follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Are you using Scrivener?

Published on June 13, 2015June 12, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell13 Comments

Maybe you’re still using MS Word?

If you’re interested in trying something different read —

Writers in the Storm blog posted a listing of the Top 10 Scrivener Features for Writers.

I use both. Each program does something different. For short stories I use MS Word but for longer pieces I love Scrivener.

I also recommend reading Writing a Novel with Scrivener by David Hewson, he makes it simple.

Also if you want to figure out how to use Scrivener to outline that novel. Check out this tutorial by Erin Bowman.

There are dozens of YouTube videos to help a writer, so go crazy.

I love comments, almost as much as I love clicks, so after you pass this on to your Facebook and Twitter pals tell me what you think. If you’re not already, please follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

How to Deal With Rejection Syndrome

Published on June 11, 2015June 10, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell6 Comments

Fight It Baby!

Ach! Another rejection.

Of course, after I reread the submission, I would’ve rejected the piece myself.

What on earth possessed me?

Oh well, next…

Write, submit, tweak, write, submit, and repeat.

Or something like that.

I recently read a great article that implied women are wimps when it comes to re-submitting.

Ladies – man up!

Submit Like A Man: How Women Writers Can Become More Successful

Stop getting your feelings hurt! Rejections are all subjective. (or so I keep telling myself.) Judges are human after all and need coffee to wake up each morning too. Hmm, unless we are dealing with vampires. Stay on topic Jean.

What I’m trying to say is, caviar is just fish eggs for some people.