fiction – Page 27 – Jean's Writing

Do you like to read the same type of books all of the time?

Published on June 16, 2016June 16, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell18 Comments

What about writing?

Do you write in the same genre all the time?

gen·re

noun

a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. category, class, classification, group, set, list; type, sort, kind, breed, variety, style,model, school, stamp, cast, ilk

I love to read all sorts of books, from children’s picture books, bridge/crossover books for young readers, YA, thrillers, horror, romance and even a well-written erotica. So why would I want to pigeon-hole myself in my writing?

Writing is what makes me tick.

I grow, as a writer, every time I write something. Whether it’s a post, prompt, short story or picture book I can feel my wings spreading.

However, there are pros and cons to writing in multiple genres.

Pros:

To find your voice.
To find your audience.

Cons:

Failure to do anything well.
Failure to build an audience.

Only you can decide when the time is right to dabble in other genres or to concentrate on just one.

But don’t let fear stop you.

There are many authors who cross genres. Some use a nom de plume, others don’t. I think it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that we write what makes us happy.

Ian Flemming famous for the James Bond books and films also wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Bet you have that song dancing in your head now. LOL Who would’ve guessed the same author that gave the world Gold Finger and 007 also gave us the flying car.

Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Adrian Hall an... — . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

James Patterson is another writer that comes to mind. From the Alex Cross Series, The Women’s Murder Club Series, to the YA Maximum Ride Series is another versatile author.

What is the genre you prefer to write? Or read?

Tell me I’d love to know. You can find me in the comments section or click to write me or at Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! The lights are on and I’m waiting.

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Want more? Keep reading below.

WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM MULTI-GENRE AUTHORS By: Jessica Strawser

10 FAMOUS AUTHORS WHO MADE UNLIKELY GENRE JUMPS By Emily Temple

What is the best way to write a story?

Published on June 10, 2016June 9, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell15 Comments

Is there a best way or just a different way?

Ever lay awake with a story running around in your head like a demented hamster on one of those little wheels?

That happened to me last night. And after tossing and turning for what seemed like hours, I came up with a plan.

Index Cards.

I laid out the story on index cards in my mind. note-147603_640

Now I’ve never used this technique before. But that’s what worked last night. After I’d planned the story one index card at a time, I was able to finally drift off to sleep.

I’m not usually a planner. Nor am I a total pantster either. I’m somewhere in the middle. I jot down a story summary and go from there. However, this morning after enough coffee to clear the cobwebs I opened a pack of index cards, no telling how long I’ve had these things and, began writing.

So far, I like the process. I’ll keep you updated as to how it goes, if this works for me or not. Because jotting down my thoughts on these cards is just the beginning. Now I must convert these cards into scenes and the scenes into chapters. That’s the tricky part.

I understand a lot of you like Scrivener and use the index cards there. I’ve never tried that. Hmm, maybe…

Google how to write using index cards and whoa! Everyone seems to have a different take on how to use them. Some of the techniques are more detailed than an old-fashioned outline.

The point is there is no right way to plot out your story.

Whatever works for the writer is the right way. And there are lots of ways to write a story. Whether you begin with an outline, a summary, a query, index cards or just sit down and write like the bats of hell are after you. It’s all good.

Y’all tell me, do you use cards or post-it notes?

What is your favorite method to write or start your story?

My inquiring mind wants to know. Leave me a comment or

Click to write me 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.

And as always, there are great links at the end of this post. Keep reading.

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Notecarding: Plotting Under Pressure

Using Index Cards To Outline A Novel

25 WAYS TO PLOT, PLAN AND PREP YOUR STORY

List For Writing A Book

Is your character hiding in the shadows?

Published on June 6, 2016June 6, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell12 Comments

Shadows can be cool and welcoming, or scary.

And characters hiding in the shadows can be effective.

But a story with characters that I can’t see, can’t envision or know drive me nuts. I have trouble staying with the story.

Recently, I discovered a book with a good story. A who-done-it, murder mystery, police and detective type story. That left me plodding through page after page.

I’m a fast reader. But with this book I just could not get into the flow. As soon as I was cruising along, I’d stumble and fall coming to a screeching halt.

What brought me out of the story?

The characters. This book is written with three prominent characters. Three detectives partnered together to solve the crime.

The lead detective is the protagonist and her two trusty sidekicks. Throughout the story, it is easy to picture the protagonist as the writer helps us envision her. However, after the first introduction of the two other detectives, the reader is expected to remember them.

Now I’m a very visual person. I like a book to read as vivid as a movie. A character’s quirks and mannerisms and physical traits should be introducing in bits and pieces so that they become real to the reader as the story unfolds.

When this doesn’t happen, I find myself flipping back through the book to get a glimpse of the person. And personally, that is just plain exhausting. No matter how good the story is.

A character is more than a pretty, or ugly face.

Dumping all of their vitals at the beginning of the story doesn’t endear them to the reader.

Sprinkle bits about their looks, the way they talk, walk, or their special talents throughout the story each time the character makes an appearance. I think it keeps the reader invested in them and the story.

It’s important to make sure that your reader can see what you see when they read about your characters.

Give them the details to share your vision.

Everyone knows to give each character a face, quirks, and personality.

It might help to make a vision board with a drawing or photo of your character.
Search for look-a-likes on modeling sites, ad campaigns, and baby pics. Remember this is just for your vision board.
Interview your character. Add pictures of their answers to the board.

So what do you think?

Is it important to unfold the visual impact of the characters as the story unfolds?

Do you forget what a character looks like without little reminders throughout the story?

What are your tips for keeping the characters as fresh as the tale?

Want to read more about character building? Check out the articles below.

Talk to me!

Leave a comment. Click to write me 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 share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

How to bring your characters into focus by Susan Bearman

Visualization for Writers by Holly Lisle

MAKE YOUR CHARACTERS MORE THAN CARDBOARD CUTOUTS by Kirt Hickman