Creative writing – Page 131

Write 6

Published on May 22, 2014 by Jean M. Cogdell3 Comments

Join in the fun and celebration with Six-Word Memoir for Memorial Day this week

Hop over and submit six words this week.

Here is mine.

Cracked picture, missed memories, still loved.

Keep that first thrill alive

Published on March 27, 2014March 27, 2014 by Jean M. Cogdell5 Comments

You love, obsess, and write. With a little luck, a lot of sweat, blood and tears, maybe, just maybe, others will read and love your precious manuscript too.

I love to write. My husband loves the game of golf. Writing and golf have nothing in common, unless you take a peak at the inbox on our computers. As any crazy person does, we both obsess over ways to improve our craft. The result, our cup runneth over in the form of more information than either of us can process.

The running joke around our house is, did you delete or read?

This got me to thinking how these “tips” seem to run in trends, following the same subject. Which leads me delete more than I read. I mean, how many emails can I read on comma splices. See my point? Then came my ah-ha moment. Why do I pick one particular email, click open to a blog and read amid a sea of others on the same subject? What makes it different?

It’s the author’s tag or hook line.

Now I can see all y’all seasoned writers shaking your heads. Big deal you’re thinking. Everyone knows about tag lines. You like me have read everything there is to know concerning how to hook the reader. But sometimes we all need reminders. Tag lines are important for our blogs, books and emails.

Tag lines, and first lines matter. Hell, firsts of everything matter. Think of all the firsts your and the weight of importance they held your life. Your first love, kiss, date, dance, job, sex, car, roller coaster, high dive, beer, well you get the idea.

Firsts are important and my ah-ha moment came in realizing that first encounters with my readers must, be a good first for them. No make that a great first for them. Not sure my writing can compete with sex and beer, but I’m gonna try to step up my game and keep the thrill alive. I can’t think of anything scarier than putting myself out there to publish or perish. Yikes!

Here are some links to a few tips I opened. Enjoy, I did.

Choose Wise Guides

Put Passion in Your Writing

Danger of Premature Editing

Just the Right Word

Use a Magazine to Improve

Should You Enter Contests?

Breaking the Rules

Published on December 23, 2013December 23, 2013 by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

Right, wrong, good, bad and in-between. I read, write, join, submit and re-write until at times I can no longer recognize my story trying to conform.

For me, following rules are hard. I need to understand the why, the how and the need for the rule. In writing, there aren’t a lot of explanations for most of these so called rules. I was so excited to read todays post from Anne R. Allen’s Blog. She set me free. Thank you Anne. Writers go forth and write!

http://annerallen.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-rules-of-writingand-why-not-to.html

You’re Writing it all Wrong… Maybe Not (peterdmallett.wordpress.com)
A matter of style: Wodehouse and the modern rules of writing. (honoriaplum.wordpress.com)
Write Something That Ain’t Worth A Damn (soshitech.com)
Rule 1 (chasingagreenlight.wordpress.com)
Part two of Stephen King’s “On Writing” (amsites.wordpress.com)
Are you Over Thinking Your Writing? (thewritersadvice.com)
The Lazy Writer (writinglonghand.wordpress.com)
You want to write a WHAT????? (willmacmillanjones.wordpress.com)

Getting Creative

Published on August 28, 2013 by Jean M. Cogdell

Summer is almost over but you’d never know it here in Texas. The heat is still in the triple digits and I have the summer blues. My brain feels like it’s been cooked and turned to molasses. I must not be alone. Seems as if every other email today was regarding a must read book on how to get back to your writing muse. Well I’ve too many books, too little time now and did I mention it’s too damn hot.

Me, I’m all into short cuts. Easier the better. Now don’t go writing to me how nothing worthwhile in life is easy… Did I mention how hot it is here in Dallas?

Now where was I? Oh yeah. While I was reading yet another email, about another great book, I wondered if there might be an easier way to achieve the same results. Oh dear me, see my mind is mush. That was a terrible sentence. Anyway… the book this blogger ask me to consider was a book of prompts. So as my daughter is so fond of saying, I Googled it. And voila! I found quite a few.

But I’m not going to bombard you with them, it’s too damn hot. Here are a couple I liked and I found to be fun. Check them out. Creativity Games.net http://creativitygames.net/creative-writing-prompts, or http://stiobhard.tripod.com/html/javascript/words/writing_prompt_generator.html. Of course you could just Google Writing Prompt Generator and find a different one to your liking.

Here is the four word prompt I used from Creativity Games.net and the results. Have fun and find your Muse.

barrel
pyjamas
clown
decay

I slipped a coat on over my pyjamas and went outside. Some clown had left the barn door open. At the opening I wrinkled my nose at the stench of decay. No one had mucked the stalls in days. The smell grew worse as I neared a large barrel at the back of the barn.