fiction – Page 13 – Jean's Writing

Want to be a good writer? Learn from a great one.

Published on April 5, 2017March 30, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell16 Comments

Like Ernest Hemingway!

This morning as I stumbled along reading posts I found the Positivity Blog, Simple Tips and Habits That Work in Real Life. What a great concept for a blog. Everyone is looking for things that really work every day.

This particular post was Ernest Hemingway’s Top 9 Words of Wisdom by HENRIK EDBERG.

Now you may not be a writer, or maybe you are already a successful writer but this article is for everyone. I believe these nine words of wisdom which Mr. Hemingway applied to his life and his writing could benefit us all.

Here is what I gleaned from the post:

Listen more.
- Be present. How many times have we heard that lately? Seems everyone is attempting to slow down and smell the roses. Some of my best lines came from a conversation I overheard in a restaurant.
Trust yourself.
- This is very hard for me. But at some point, as a writer, I must trust my writing and the readers. Did I mention this is not easy?
Eyes on the prize.
- Again, not easy. I have a tendency to get distracted. Busy does not mean moving in the right direction. Multi-tasking is not a talent. Keep writing.
Make writing a habit.
- Nike once had a motto, Just Do It. Seems I need to adopt this for my writing. What about you?
Attitude is everything.
- Fake it till you make it. Failure is okay as long as I don’t quit. Get back on the horse that threw me. All right, all right that’s enough platitudes.
When the times are tough, the tough get going.
- Sorry, had to do one more bit of bullshit, LOL. But in all honesty, writing is hard so sometimes I have to slough through the hard days.
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
- I think we all struggle with this concept. But when I think about it will anyone really remember that I left the sink full of dirty dishes last night?
Turn my imagination loose.
- If I can’t suspend disbelief, how can I expect my readers to? Hmm, food for thought. Gotta mull this one around a little more.
Understand rather than judge.
- Whoa, that’s deep. Accepting and understanding not only what I feel and think but also the feelings of others. Kinda brings us full circle to #1 (Listen.)

Reading this post tells me that not only was Ernest Hemingway a great writer he was a wise man.

What do you think?

Could this apply to everyday life?

Talk to me – I love reading your comments.

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Please stop by and say “hey!” I’ll leave a light on.

When is the best time to do your taxes?

Published on April 3, 2017March 30, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell15 Comments

Never if you ask me.

But, unfortunately, it’s that time of year!

At least here in the States. April 18th is drawing near and the tax man is waiting. And like dirty laundry a task that cannot be avoided.

If you haven’t filed your taxes maybe you could use a little more information. Thanks to Jane Friedman for sending writers a terrific bunch of tips to make this arduous task a little less painful.

Mine are filed! Whoo hoo!

What did I learn from reading Jane’s post?

I don’t have to make a profit to take deductions.
Expenses for my books and website are just that “expenses.”
I don’t have to have employees to have a business. Just me.
Keep good records. (Glad I use Quicken.)
Amazon will report your royalties, make sure you include them on your returns.

What Every Self-Published Author Needs to Know About Taxes

After you’ve read Jane’s post and tell me…

Have you done your taxes yet?

Did you include your writing profits/losses?

Did you learn something new from Jane’s post?

Tell me, I love reading your comments.

Please stop by and say “hey!” I’ll leave a light on.

Do you want to write about fear?

Published on March 29, 2017March 28, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

Ever struggle with a scene?

Well, I’ve been struggling with a scene in a WIP that needs a light touch. I want to convey fear and terror without being overt about what’s happening.

And as usual, when I need help along comes one of my blogging/writing buddies.

Thanks, Dan Alatorre AUTHOR!

Recently, Dan posted a tease regarding a new contest. However, this isn’t what got my juices flowing. No, it was the video challenge. Hop over to Dan’s post and check out the video.

WRITING CHALLENGE: See It, Write It

Dan posed three questions about the video clip. I used #3 as an exercise to work on my scene problems. Helped me a lot to work on writing about anxiety and fear.

#3. The place where the nanny is crossing the street and the little girl almost gets run over – HOW would you set that up in a written story so we jump when we read it?*

Here is the result of my exercise. Please be kind.

We could make it if the girls didn’t dawdle. I gripped the hands of my small charges tighter and marched on aching feet toward the cross walk.

“Hurry along girls, before the light changes.”

I should stop at the market and get something for dinner. Mr. Singleton likes lamb chops.

“Nanny, Nanny, I got to pet a rabbit today.” Eve tugged on my hand.

“Hmm, that’s nice.”

“She did not.” Anna made a face at her younger sister.

“Did too.”

“Girls, that’s enough, we don’t have time.”

Maybe there’s something I could cook for dinner in the freezer.

Of course, the girls have homework. They always have homework. It’s Chatty-Kathy Highwaters fault I’m running late this afternoon. If she hadn’t insisted on telling me, and everyone within hearing, about her big pay raise, I wouldn’t be in such a hurry. Although I wouldn’t call five percent much of an increase for minding three kids.

“Oh, my God!”

The screech of metal against metal filled the air as two cars attempted to destroy each other.

I yanked the girls back onto the curb and out of the way of two damned fools, playing Speed Racer. They could’ve killed my babies. Where the hell is New York’s finest when you need them?

“Nanny, you’re hurting me.” Anna whimpered.

I eased my death grip on the girls and kneeled. Hands shaking, I fished a crumpled tissue from my pocket and dried their tears.

“How about we go for ice cream?”

So what if dinner is late tonight? I’ll think of something. For now, I’ll let the sweet taste of chocolate with sprinkles wipe this horror from their minds. No need to worry the Mister and Mrs. about what didn’t happen.

Have you ever used a writing challenge to help a WIP?

Do you find showing fear and terror difficult?

Did you try your hand at one of Dan’s questions? Which one?

Talk to me – I love comments.

Please stop by and say “hey!” I’ll leave a light on.

Do you tell the truth and nothing but the truth?

Published on February 24, 2017April 15, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell19 Comments

As Sgt. Joe Friday admonished on Dragnet, “Just the facts, Ma’am…”

But where to stop?

I’ve researched different stuff for my book and I’m getting bogged down in the details.

Didn’t someone once say, “Don’t sweat the small stuff?” And some of this stuff is small. However, I don’t want a reader slamming me for a glaring mistake just because I didn’t do enough research.

Besides, I love research. I can get lost for hours hopping from website to website reading everything on a subject. And what do I end up with? Files, more files, notebooks and dozens of sticky notes of important information.