Tag: DIY

How to write a good one-sentence pitch

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell18 Comments

Don’t you just love how-to writing instructions?

I know I do!

You must admit, DIY is a lot easier with a little help from friends.

Working Men cartoon characters Jeanswriting.com

That’s why I absolutely love an article from Karen Cioffi and Writers On The Move!

I admit, writing a one-sentence pitch is hard and something I’ve yet to completely agree. But I keep working on it. That’s why I was so excited to read this easy explanation of what does and does not work. And why!

When selecting a book to read, the first thing I read is the pitch. If that is too confusing or convoluted I pass. Why? Because that pitch is a good indicator the story inside will be more of the same.

Karen gives examples of how and how not to write a pitch/logline for your book. She explains why one is so important and even gives us a formula. I just love formulas.

Be sure and click on the link below and write your one-sentence pitch.

The One Sentence Pitch for Your Manuscript

Got it?

What did you think?

Did her tips help you write a better pitch?

Now you show me yours and I’ll show you mine. Ha Ha.Me Bitmoji Tee hee Jean M Cogdell

All kidding aside, share your pitch in the comments I’d love to read it.

Here is a one-sentence pitch/logline for my WIP.  Here goes… Me Bitmoji Gulp Jean M Cogdell

An aspiring author is thrilled when she meets a literary agent and mystery buff who agrees to become her mentor; thrills turn to chills when the agent shares a story plot about two women who get away with murder – a fictional plot, the agent plans to become a reality with the writers help.

What do you think? Be gentle, I bruise easily.

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I need your input, what do you think?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell19 Comments

My next children’s picture book is almost ready.

Designing a book cover is not an easy process. But, there are bunches of programs out there to help you. Below I’ve designed four different covers and need some input.

Which one do you like best?

blue-cover    cover-green

cover-red   graycover

Please help me out—

Select the by color, and please tell me which one you like best.

Have any suggestions? Let me know in the comment section.

Want to know more about DIY covers?

Links at bottom.

I’d love to hear from you! Click the “write me” tab or contact me on Twitter @jeancogdell,Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! The lights are on, and I’m waiting.

Please remember to share this post with your Twitter  peeps and Facebook fans.

DIY Book Covers

Creative Indie Covers

Book Cover Maker by Canva

Do you write effective dialog?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

Do you like DIY (do it yourself) instructions?

Give me a step-by-step diagram and I’m good.
An email in my inbox, from Janice Hardy from Fiction University, caught my attention. It was part of a How They Do It Series.
Good conversation, and snappy dialog draws us in whether it’s in a movie or in a book. A good comeback, in one-to-one conversation, invokes an emotional response. Sometimes we laugh and sometimes we get mad but we don’t forget the comment.

Something Worth Saying: Writing Effective Dialogue

By Joyce Scarbrough, @JoyceScarbrough 
Read the 5 tips from Ms. Scarbrough. In her first tip she reminds us that dialogue isn’t how people talk in real life.
“Leave out the banalities.
Dialogue isn’t supposed to mimic real conversations. It’s supposed to make them a lot more interesting. Readers don’t want to wade through all the niceties and chit chat people normally engage in to get to the meat of the conversation.”
To read the rest of her insight and tips click on Something Worth Saying: Writing Effective Dialogue.
Practice makes perfect, or at least improvement. In the comments section write a piece (50-150 words) using just dialog to tell what’s happening.

Here’s mine:

“Waiting long?” Mitch asks, staring straight ahead, his eyes on the road.

“I wasn’t waiting.”

“Looked like waiting to me.” He lifted one eyebrow, a smirk played on his lips.

“Well, I wasn’t,” I said, trying not to sound ungrateful. “I was just deciding which way to walk when you stopped.”

“O kay.” His voice rich with sarcasm as he drew out the word. 

“Can I borrow your phone?” I changed the subject. 

Mitch handed me his mobile. “Not sure you’ll get a signal out here.”

“Shit.” I dropped the phone back on the console. He was right.

“Where to?”

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