fiction – Page 9 – Jean's Writing

Do you need a new writing cheat sheet?

Published on May 30, 2017May 29, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

I’ve said once and I’ll say it again.

Want to know something, Google it!

That includes different ways to say a word.

Such as “went.” Who knew you can say someone went somewhere 250 ways. LOL

Thanks go to Writing Guide to Everything for this great list.

Talk to me – I love reading your comments.

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When I know better I do better

Published on May 26, 2017May 22, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

When I know how to write better, I do!

But don’t we all! The following article really hit home with me.

A while back inspiration hit and I wrote a kick-ass flash fiction story. I was on fire. Thrilled, I searched for a place to send it, filled out the forms and hit submit.

Proud as a peacock, I strutted into the next room and announced to my husband, I’m back.

The rest of the week I returned to my WIP and this blog. Until I pulled up the submitted piece and looked at it again.

OMG!!! I could not believe I sent it off with so many mistakes. What the hell possessed me?

#1, on Rachel Burton’s list, is TAKE YOUR TIME.

Let a story rest. Edit, and let it rest. Good advice, most of us know this, but sometimes I forget. Sigh…

Click over and read her post and see what you think.

5 Things I Wish I Had Known Whilst Writing My First Novel #SundayBlogShare @bookish_yogi by Rachel Burton

Do you wish you’d known any of this before?

Did her tips help?

What do you wish someone had told you before you hit submit?

Talk to me – I love reading your comments.

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

Can Mindfulness Be Applied to Writing?

Published on May 23, 2017May 22, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell5 Comments

Food for thought! reblogged from Ryan Lanz

Source: Can Mindfulness Be Applied to Writing? by Sheree Crawford

Talk to me – I love reading your comments.

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

Be brave, throw caution to the wind and submit

Published on May 22, 2017May 21, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell8 Comments

Or do you think short stories are dead?

I think there is still a place for them. Flipboard and StumbleUpon are going great guns and so are several other e-magazines. But where does a writer submit? Should we use the machine gun effect and scatter stories everywhere?

Hmm, that’s one way to get my stories out fast.

I’ll admit a couple of years ago I submitted a lot of articles and short stories. But this past year not so much. Only one or two, here and there. Why? Because I was busy publishing my books and life interrupted a few times.

However, I continued writing flash fiction and as a result, have a few stories I’d like to submit. So maybe it’s time to start the process again.

Now where to start?

Duotrope ($5.00 Mo.) To help you find the perfect match for your piece from thousands of current fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and visual art publishers.
The Grinder (Free) A submission tracker and market database for writers of fiction.
Poets & Writers (Free) Database of over eight hundred literary magazines.
The Market List (Free) The first fully comprehensive writer’s market guidelines index online. Also, offers free advertising for your published books.
New Pages (Free) Provides news, information, and guides to literary magazines, independent publishers, creative writing programs, alternative periodicals, indie bookstores, writing contests.

And of course Google. That’s right you can Google contests, ezines, magazines and find places to submit your story.

Remember to sign up for emails and subscribe to the publication after you submit. Reading the publications will help in future submissions.