Creative writing – Page 98

Do your characters resemble Flat Stanley?

Published on November 5, 2015November 3, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

I love Flat Stanley.

If a member of your family is in elementary school, then you are familiar with Flat Stanley and have enjoyed taking pictures with him on vacations or around your city.

However, nothing you did could make him 3 dimensional. Stanley was still a flat paper doll.

I’ve been accused of being a very dry person. A stick to the facts kind of person. Sort of like Sargent Joe Friday. And unfortunately that can come across in my writing. Sometimes I forget to fatten my characters, to make them come to life in glorious 3D.

In my mind the little boy is sweaty, red-cheeked and out of breath, but sometimes I forget to paint that picture for my readers. I have every intention, after writing the draft, to go back and plump up the characters more but….

Thank God for good critique partners!

What about you? Does writing 3D characters come easy for you?

Here’s an article from over at SouthWest Writers, that might give us both a little help.

MAKE YOUR CHARACTERS MORE THAN CARDBOARD CUTOUTS by Kirt Hickman

Leave a comment and tell me what you think. Together we can learn the latest writing tips, and join me @jeancogdell on Twitter and jean.cogdell on Facebook!

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Want to avoid mistakes?

Published on November 3, 2015November 2, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell3 Comments

I do!

Well, I found a good article on blogging mistakes to avoid.

#2 is an all time peeve of mine. If anyone sees a pop-up on my blog, please tell me. It is there by mistake. I hate pop-ups! Those pesky things are everywhere, even on the television guide. Urrg!

Oops, almost committed #4.

Don’t let your blog drown in mistakes!

Go to Carol Cassara’s article Avoid These 5 Blog Mistakes and see what you think.

Do you know any additional blog mistakes I need to avoid?

Let me know so I can be the best I can be. LOL

Leave a comment and tell me what you think. Together we can learn the latest writing tips, and join me @jeancogdell on Twitter and jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Don’t forget, pay it forward with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

Are you participating in the November challenge?

Published on November 2, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

You know, National Novel Writing Month.

Not me. Wish I had the wherewithal to make it happen. But, I never seem to get it together for NaNoWriMo. No matter how many times I think this will be the November for me, it never happens.

My life is and always has been like a crazy circus.

However, just because we don’t participate in NaNoWriMo doesn’t mean we can’t learn from those who do.

For everyone brave enough to go for the 30 day challenge check out this contest from Inkitt:

NaNoWriMo 2015 Contest

For those of us who pass, here are some tips from those who’ve been there and done that.

The gallop draft: 5 smart tips for writing a useful draft at speed by Ros Morris over at Nail Your Novel.
Chuck over at Terribleminds offers NANOWRIMO COMMISERATION AND CONVERSATION RIGHT HERE

Jami Gold writes at Writers in the Storm – NaNoWriMo: Don’t Get Stuck
A Day-by-Day NaNoWriMo Outline: Your 30-Day Cheat Sheet by Christine Frazier from Better Novel Project

Now for the rest of us, give yourself a break.

Go shopping and have lunch with a friend. That’s what I did today! Explains todays late post.

Are rules meant to be broken?

Published on October 29, 2015October 27, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell11 Comments

Sometimes.

Writers are artists, and should always use artistic license to stay true to the medium.

I’ve said many times, the purpose of this blog is to share as I learn. Not teach. I’m not a teacher by any stretch of the imagination. Nor am I an expert in any field.

Well, except one, making mistakes. Some days I swear I make more mistakes than anyone on earth. But I keep on trucking and try to avoid repeating them too often.

One thing I’ve learned, as in life there are few absolutes in writing.

All rules can be bent to the point of breaking, or hell some rules can be thrown out as long as the writer is true to the story.

That’s why I try to share “Tips.”

Tips that I find useful, and informative, but not restrictive.

That is my intent, to learn how to become a better writer, as I blog and to encourage my readers.

There are many ways to get a job done. Use what works for you.

Whether you write by the seat of your pants or plot every jot and tiddle it doesn’t matter. In longhand, or shorthand, using Scrivener or MS Word, Mind Mapping or plotting, Evernote or Post-it notes, laptop or typewriter, the writing is what’s important – not the tools.

There’d be less dancing in the world if everyone played the same tune. So turn up the music and lets write. Write your way!

Leave a comment and tell me what you think. Together we can learn the best writing tips, and join me @jeancogdell on Twitter and jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Don’t forget, pay it forward with a click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.