JeansWriting – Page 8 – Jean's Writing

This Weeks 5 Star Book Recommendation

Published on April 24, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell5 Comments

Searching for a good book to read this weekend?

5gold-star3 If you’re ready to curl up with a good book here is another five-star recommendation from me.

Whether it’s a thriller, mystery, love story, historical romance, or YA dystopian series they all must have one thing in common, the theme must grip me. The story must grab me, hold me, enthrall me or cause me to suspend belief for a few hours. The books I give a five-star recommendation do that and more.

Before I Go To Sleep: A Novel [Kindle Edition] by S. J. Watson

This story is disorienting, unique, unusual unnerving and gripping. Be prepared, this is a long book and once you get into it, like me, you may read until the wee hours of the morning.

The story is about a woman who wakes every morning with no memory. She doesn’t recognize the person in the mirror or the man next to her in bed. Working with a doctor, she begins a journal, keeping track of her days, trying to unravel her past and the mystery of who she is. What she discovers is not what anyone expects.

Warning: Be prepared this is one that will keep you awake late into the night as the suspense builds.

(2,465 customer reviews)

Print List Price:	$11.99
Kindle Price:	$1.99

Write About an Underdog in Your Story

Published on April 24, 2015April 24, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell3 Comments

U = Underdog

Everyone loves to cheer for the underdog; the loser, small fry, runner-up, the little guy.

Stories about underdogs are pervasive in sports, politics, religion, literature, film and even commercials.

Politicians use the underdog concept advertising their humble origins, lack of resources, and determined struggle against the odds. From President Obama to Tea Party Republicans, it’s a running theme to see who can out poor-mouth the other.

Underdog author J.K. Rowling, was a welfare mother who wrote seven bestselling books, creating a lovable underdog character, Harry Potter, an inexperienced but passionate orphan who grew up in a closet.

I could name dozens of terrific books about underdogs from kids books to thrillers but you probably have your favorites.

So make sure you write an underdog into your story.

One in which, readers can grow to love and cheer to victory.

Flash Serial Continued:

Rachel unbuttoned another button and rolled up her sleeves. Much longer and she’d consider breaking regs and stripping down to her tee-shirt. No sign of life for over an hour, not even a damn snake to break the boredom. She’d never live this down when she made it back to the office. If she made it back to the office.

Just one more screw-up for the guys to rib her about, not that they needed anything. As the youngest Ranger, she endured the guys teasing and her new nickname “the kid” but she was determined to prove herself. She just wished her dad were still around to see how hard she worked. At least he’d watched her walk across the stage at University of Texas and later write her first traffic ticket as beat cop. God how she missed him. She wouldn’t mind being called “Randall’s kid” if he were around to laugh with her. He was a tough act to follow.

She wiped the dust from her eyes and stepped to the side, waiting for the truck to stop.

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Writing to Kick-Ass

Published on April 13, 2015April 13, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell3 Comments

K= kick-ass

very good, excellent;”cool”;”awesome”
To defeat
strikingly or overwhelmingly tough, aggressive, powerful, or effective
GNU Free Documentation License

Seduce your reader with believable lies and promises.

She read the large, bold words, PAY OR YOUR COMPUTER DIES.

This jerk didn’t know who he was dealing with. Rachel picked up the phone and dialed. At the sound of a beep, she punched in her code.

“Yes.” A no-nonsense voice answered on the first ring.

“I’ve been compromised. Do what’s needed to find the hacker.” Rachel said.

“I’m on it. They won’t see us coming.”

“Good.” Rachel responded.

Relief and excitement replaced her fear. This idiot had picked the wrong girl.

thankyou note card

Writing with Jargon

Published on April 13, 2015April 13, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell9 Comments

J= Jargon

Speech or writing having unusual or pretentious vocabulary, convoluted phrasing, and vague meaning.
Slang or Lingo
Language used by a group, profession, or culture, not words and phrases are not understood or used by other people.

Not everyone understands tech-talk.

Make sure your writing speaks to a broad audience, not a select few. Believe it or not, there are still a few people who do not use computers.

A ransom note filled the screen. The sender wanted five-thousand dollars. Her computer was under attack. Rachel hit delete and the next email popped up repeating the threat.