Creative writing – Page 15

Need another idea to help you complete that novel?

Published on March 5, 2018April 5, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell3 Comments

Think like a Resource Manager.

Get organized!

Writer, Blogger, Salesperson, Artist, and Publisher are just a few hats we wear. And juggling all of them can be a challenge. I mean where do we find the time to have a life?

We juggle and multi-task every day. Kids and dogs need feeding, bills must be paid (if you want the lights to stay on), and laundry, let’s not forget clean clothes. Wearing the same sweats all week gets nasty. And this list doesn’t even cover the stuff you juggle at the office.

Whew! I’m tired and ready for a nap after typing all this. Didn’t realize how much I did in a day.

Maybe it’s time to consider applying those same management skills to storytelling.

Organizing helps, but maybe the missing key is in resource management.

Chuck Wendig, explains how storytelling needs management just as much as everything else you juggle.

For instance,

We get kids to school and ourselves to work, making sure everyone is where they should be and for the most part, on time. Our imaginary characters need the same thing.
Chapters, characters, and events need to be in the right order, in the right place and at the right time.

However, Chuck does point out, getting everything in perfect order isn’t what makes a story great. No, the life you breathe into a story is what makes it great.

Fingers crossed, I’ll write faster and better thinking of my story as just one more project that needs good management.

Head over and read his entire post. Maybe you’ll get inspired to corral any wayward characters running amok.

SOMETIMES STORYTELLING IS JUST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT By Chuck Wendig

Have you ever thought of writing as another project to manage?

Do you think that changing your mindset might improve your writing?

Are you one of those super organized people with everything but writing?

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This easy editing tip will blow your mind

Published on February 26, 2018April 5, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell8 Comments

Want to know what knocked my socks off this week?

An Excel Stylesheet.

Yep, good old Excel. Okay, maybe I’m impressed easier than you.

**A stylesheet can make your novel appear more professional.**

Why? Because writing a massive novel is hard and keeping track of names, places, hyphens and more can get confusing. This is where a stylesheet comes in handy. And most editors require one. Who knew? Well, turns out knowing about something and knowing how to put the information into practice is two different things.

I’ve written about stylesheets in the past but until recently I didn’t understand how to put into practice what I’d learned. But, turns out it’s not that difficult.

What you put add to a stylesheet is up to you. You can keep it simple or add a column for everything under the sun.

Stylesheet purpose?

To prevent mistakes that stand out like a pimple on your nose.

Ever read a book and a name changed midway? Cathy, Kathy, Kathie or Katy? Glaring mistakes like that will pull your reader out of the story in a flash.

I’m compiling my stylesheet as I write. This will help me find where an unusual word, phrase or name first appeared. When I’m ready to rewrite or edit, my stylesheet will help keep everything consistent.

No matter your genre, this can be an invaluable tool. Fantasy, keep those made up countries and goblin are spelled correctly. Historical, names and places may have been spelled different a hundred years ago.

Want to know how easy it is to mess up? Even in this short blog post, I wrote stylesheet as one word in some places and as two words in other. Good grief! Now imagine catching that mistake in a 70,000-word novel.

Here is a snapshot of my writing stylesheet.

When my book is finished, I’ll print out my spreadsheet and refer to as I edit. Easier than trying to remember, flipping back and forth through a document. At least I hope so.

Why compile a stylesheet as you write?

Connie Jasperson said it best in a terrific post.

“I learned this the hard way. Making a stylesheet for a book after it has been written is a daunting task, and most editors will ask you for one when they accept your submission. Some editors refer to this as the ‘bible’ for that manuscript because all editorial decisions regarding consistency will be based on the spellings and style treatments you have established for your work.” Click here to read the entire post.#amwriting: ensuring consistency: the stylesheet, 2/14/2018 BY Connie J. Jasperson

Want more? Check out this article. Stylesheets—The Setup and the Benefits, July 12, 2011 by Beth Hill

Want to get really geeky? Read Chicago Manual of Style, Chicago Manual Of Style Guidelines (Quick Study), or the Associated Press’s Stylebook (available on Kindle Unlimited.)

Okay now tell me, please…

Do you use stylesheets?

Have you used one in the past?

Do you think a stylesheet will help you avoid mistakes?

Had you heard about stylesheets before today?

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What is the focus of your website?

Published on February 23, 2018April 5, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell15 Comments

Why do you write what you write?

I’m not asking about writing a book, novel or short story. No, I’m curious about your blog posts. Do you write to share a laugh with friends, experience, knowledge, or…?

What is the purpose of your blog posts?

I don’t know about you but I spend a lot of time writing my blog posts, so understanding why I do that was important to me.

Just what are the reasons for my blog?

Well, there are several, in case you wanted to know.

It’s my Fact Book.
- A great way to keep a notebook of writing tips and tricks in one place.
- My memory isn’t what it used to be. Need all the help I can get.
- Who knows, one day I may turn all of these posts into a book.
It’s a way for me to share writing tips as I learn them.
- Old or new, each one is important.
It’s a way to connect.
- Making friends, meeting writers, and reading about their journey.
- To pass on the information garnered through these new acquaintances.
And of course, it’s a way to share books, and stories, I’ve written as well as books I’ve enjoyed reading.

Why am I sharing this with you?

It occurred to me that some of you may wonder why I share so many tips about writing and publishing books because I certainly NOT an expert. But, I share because I enjoy learning every little bit I can about writing.

So, I wondered…

Do you know why you write a blog?

Does your blog serve more than one purpose?

Have you ever considered using your blog as a Fact Book?

Do you consider yourself a writer, a blogger or both?

Do share! I’d love to know what motivates you to write a blog.

Great reading below! Click on the links.

Keep a Fact Book of Things You Learn Throughout the Day BY Eric Ravenscraft

WRITING A GOOD BLOG By Janine Warner

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What is the best secret to writing something original?

Published on February 21, 2018February 27, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell21 Comments

Use a formula.

Yep, you heard me right. Sounds contradictory I know. Why? Because we are creatures of comfort and formulas work.

I mean, who doesn’t have a favorite comfort food, favorite chair, a feel-good movie, or book? We enjoy the familiar.

A genre formula is a writer’s best friend.

Sticking to a genre formula lets the reader know what to expect. You know what to expect when you pick up a book by Stephen King, Patricia Cornwell, James Patterson or Danielle Steel.

Putting your own unique spin, touch or style is what makes a reader recognize your uniqueness.

Sort of like spaghetti sauce. Everyone knows it’s made with tomatoes, meat, and spices. But how the cook puts it all together will determine the flavor.

**Remember, how you execute a story is what makes it unique.**

You (the cook) make the difference.
Different isn’t always a good thing.
Readers want genre fiction they recognize and a world they feel comfortable visiting.
A little originality goes a long way, too much can be unnerving, even disturbing to some people.
Genre formulas and templates are a writers friend. Like a recipe for a cook.
Know the formulas.

Even if you write in more than one genre, it’s important to know and understand the formulas.