@KristenLambTX – Page 3 – Jean's Writing

Is Your Story PRIMAL?—Anatomy of a Best-Selling Story Part 6

Published on May 20, 2015May 20, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell

Great info. Thanks for reminding me about IMDb.com. Not only a good resource for loglines and summary help but just plain fun.

I love comments, tell me what’s happening with you and if you’re not already, please follow @jeancogdell on Twitter or jean.cogdell on Facebook!

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Geiko Caveman.

Okay, so if you have read all the blogs in this series, you should understand what makes a scene vs. a sequel, understand the three-act dramatic structure. You also understand that the antagonist—or Big Boss Troublemaker—is the engine of your story. Without the BBT, your protagonist’s world would remain unchanged. The BBT’s agenda drives the story. It is the engine. No engine, no forward motion.

By this point, you should also be able to decipher a good idea from a not-so-good idea and then, once decided, state what your book is about in ONE sentence. You can have up to three, but let’s shoot for one.

Welcome to part SIX of my series on novel structure–whoo-hoo! Today we are going to discuss gimmick versus fundamentals of a good story.

First, gimmick. Here is the thing. There are only so many plots. DO NOT try to…

View original post 2,382 more words

Anatomy of a Best-Selling Story—Part Two

Published on May 8, 2015May 8, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell

Yea, here’s the second installment from Kristen Lamb. The timing couldn’t have been better for me. I’ve been working on my story structure the last few weeks. Trying anyway. So thanks Kristen.

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Image via Flickr Creative Commons, courtesy of Mike Licht

Last post, I started talking about the dreaded topic…structure. I write these posts because I really DO want you guys to succeed and as an editor for far too many years, the single biggest reason most new novels flop? Structure. Pretty prose does not a novel make. Each of these blogs will build upon the previous lesson. By the end of this series, I hope you to give you guys all the tools you need to be “structure experts.”

Yes, even the pantsers.

Structure is one of those topics that I feel gets overlooked far too much. There are a lot of workshops designed to teach new writers how to finish a novel in four weeks or three or two or whatever. And that is great…if a writer possesses a solid understanding of structure. If not? At the end of…

View original post 1,724 more words

Writing with Expression

Published on May 7, 2015May 6, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell1 Comment

Want to give life to your writing?

In an earlier post I discussed Tropes and their technical writing terms. After reading Kristen Lamb’s post on story structure I became fascinated with their use and a link she provided to tvtropes.org.

Full Definition of TROPE

a word or expression used in a figurative sense: figure of speech
a common or overused theme or device: cliché
The use of a word or expression in a different sense from that which properly belongs to it; the use of a word or expression as changed from the original signification to another, for the sake of giving life or emphasis to an idea; a figure of speech.

Tvtropes.org explains – a trope can be a plot trick, a setup, a narrative structure, a character type, a linguistic idiom… you know it when you see it. Tropes are not inherently disruptive to a story; however, when the trope itself becomes intrusive, distracting the viewer rather than serving as shorthand, it has become a cliché.

Who knew tropes could be so helpful with scenes?

Need help with a story arc? A scene situation?

Find some puzzle pieces to help you flesh out the picture.

Your only limited by your imagination.

This is a fascinating, fun website that provides tips and help with story arcs in every genre a writer can think of. Careful, don’t get lost.

Who knew there were so many types of love scenes?

Thanks Kristen for the link. I hope you’ll have as much fun as I did exploring how to give life to your writing.

I love comments, tell me what’s happening with you and if you’re not already, please follow @jeancogdell on Twitter!

Anatomy of a Best-Selling Story—Structure Part One

Published on May 6, 2015May 6, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell

Prose is not a novel. Kristen Lamb explains why we can write lovely vignettes but fall short completing a 80-100,000 word novel. Can’t wait for the next helpful post.

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Structure Matters

Writers must understand structure if they hope to be successful. Yes, it might take five years to finish the first novel, but if we land a three book deal, we don’t have 15 years to turn in our books. Also, in the new paradigm of publishing, writers who produce more content have greater odds of making money at this writing thing.

Understanding structure helps us become faster, cleaner, better writers. Structure is essential to all stories, from screenplays to novels to epic space operas.

Plotters tend to do better with structure, but even pantsers (those writers who write by the seat of their pants) NEED to understand structure or revisions will be HELL. Structure is one of those boring topics like finance or taxes. It isn’t nearly as glamorous as creating characters or reading about ways to unleash our creative energy.