Favorite Tips

Published on August 18, 2014August 18, 2014 by Jean M. Cogdell3 Comments

Favorite Tips for writers and bloggers

My email inbox looks like a kids bright, colored star chart. Seems I can’t read just one, of the many wonderful bloggers that pop up daily, without saving the link and assigning it a color-coded star.

Because each tip I read seems better than the last, and who knows, the next newsletter or blog post, might hold the best tip ever to make me a better writer…

In fact, I wrote a post, in this very blog, regarding my weakness.

Does that make me an email hoarder? My fingers trembled over that last word. Hope your computer screen didn’t shake.

So today, before hitting delete, I decided to share a few of my favorites. This post would be too long to list them all. But it’s a great place to save them, other than my inbox.

10 greatest hits from my star spangled gmail inbox:

Copyblogger, “Keep it simple, but not simplistic.”
Brainstorms & Bylines, Summer Market Roundup
Writers Village, Six Mistakes That Even Top Authors Make
Anne R. Allen’s Blog, How to Write for the 21^st Century Reader
Jodie Llewellyn, What words will improve your writing?
Story Fix, A Better way to open your novel
Ash Ambirge Why Your Writing Sucks
The Kill Zone, Where Good Plots Go to Die
The Write Practice, Write a Better Backstory
Janice Hardy’s Fiction University, Five Ways to Kick Your Writing up a Notch

What are some of your favorite links? I’d love to read them.

The Prescription

Published on August 8, 2014August 8, 2014 by Jean M. Cogdell8 Comments

The Prescription

Marge couldn’t believe he’d written a prescription for walking. A hundred degrees outside and walking was his answer. She stared as the offending script hit the trash can. God, she hated exercise. But, she’d try anything at least once.

When she stepped outside, the unbearable air slipped around her head like a plastic bag. However, she doggedly placed one foot in front of the other, determined to finish a mile. Her only company the damn buzzing, blood sucking mosquitoes.

Marge cursed Doc Ralston as the parched ground crumbled beneath her feet and her ankle snapped. God, she hated exercise.

This was my contribution to the:

100 Word Challenge For Grownups #143

…the parched ground crumbled beneath…

Name Your Critique Group

Published on August 6, 2014 by Jean M. Cogdell1 Comment

The good, bad and ugly of a critique group.

She did it again, provided a wealth of information for writers. So, I just had to pass on these great tips. Click here to read Anne R. Allen’s blog, posted Sunday, August 3, 2014 where she explains the good, bad and ugly of critique groups. Awarded by Writer’s Digest in 2013 as one of the Best Websites for Writers, she never fails to deliver great insight and timely information.

Sometimes we don’t get to pick what type of group is available in our area. Don’t let that discourage you from becoming involved.

As Ms. Allen writes, if you know how to read between the lines, you can benefit from a critique group.

She describes ten groups, and how to glean the best from each leaving a better writer.