How did you do in this year’s race?

Published on November 30, 2015November 29, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell

The November race to the finish!

Congratulations to all of you who ran and finished the NaNoWriMo race.

This is something I’ve always wanted to do, but well, shit happens as does the holidays.

However, I so admire all of those who not only attempted, but finished over 50,000 words in just 30 days.

Wow! Way to go everyone!

Some think it’s an amazing exercise in productivity. Others like LAURA MILLER over at Salon.com thinks it’s a waste of time and energy. She contends that the writer will be disappointed in the quality of what is produced.

Ellen Scott for Metro.co.uk wrote 27 things every NaNoWriMo writer needs to know.

Hmm, maybe next year I’ll… Nope, probably won’t happen.

So have there been NaNoWriMo successes? You bet!

Ellen Scott for Metro.co.uk also lists 7 successful NaNoWriMo projects that went on to become NYT Best Sellers.

And some of my favorite books too! Like Wool, Cinder, and Water for Elephants.

Hmm, maybe I’ll think about next year.

So what about you? Did you participate in NaNoWriMo this year? How did it go? Are you happy with what you produced?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Leave a comment and tell us all about your NaNoWriMo writing experience, or why you chose not to participate.

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How to write in the in-between

Published on November 24, 2015November 23, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell2 Comments

Weird, I know.

But how many times do we get bogged down in the muck of too many details? A small scene involving backstory or an effort to flesh out a character quickly turns to an info dump.

Or we lean the other way by not giving enough info to engage the reader.

Maybe I’m the only writer out there with these problems. But I don’t think so. My biggest problem is I lean toward too little in an info scene. That can leave a reader scratching their head, not sure what’s happening.

As a writer, finding a good balance is important.

Give the readers the information needed to understand the theme, and characters without going off on a boring tangent.

In theory, it sounds simple.

However, I’ve found writing those in-between scenes anything but easy or simple. Why? Because every scene, big or small, should have a life of its own.

So if you’re struggling with a particular scene, the following article might give you a push in the right direction.

Alex Limberg over at Write it Sideways, gives us 4 suggestions for writing those types of scenes. Suggestions that keep the story moving.

Stash, Trash or Refresh: The Ultimate Guide to Dealing with Boring In-Between Story Parts

Tell me, do you struggle with the in-betweens? Let me know in the comments section and follow me @jeancogdell on Twitter and jean.cogdell on Facebook!

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How to add sizzle and sparkle

Published on November 23, 2015November 19, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell

Is your writing sometimes too vanilla?

I’m not talking about ice cream. Although Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla is my all time favorite. Not everyone likes that flavor. When it comes to writing as a reader, I prefer a little more spice, action and color.

With just a few changes turn that vanilla into Rocky Road.

Sometimes it’s hard to add tasty, sizzling descriptions without bogging everything down in purple prose. No one wants something that is all purple.

Instead, we want to see a kaleidoscope of color.

Words that paint a picture bright and cheery or dark and threatening can be as effective as a 3D movie. Readers want the sparkle that keeps them turning the pages.

Do you ever have problems keeping the rhythm of your writing from slowing to a boring waltz? I do. Now don’t get me wrong, I love a beautiful waltz, and done right can be exciting and romantic.

But listening to elevator music will eventually put me to sleep, and so too will our readers.

This post over at Copy Blogger, is a great reminder to keep the razzle, dazzle, sparkle in our writing to the delight of our readers.

4 Delightful Editing Tips to Make Your Words Dazzle and Dance by HENNEKE

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Are you Timid, Nervous or Couragous?

Published on November 20, 2015November 19, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell8 Comments

I’ll admit, I fall somewhere between Timid Tammy and Nervous Nell.

For a positive, happy person, blowing my own horn is not easy. I don’t like to ask for help or favors. I’m a terrible salesperson. I believe in me, but the idea that others might find value in what I’ve accomplished sounds a bit far-fetched.

Hiding behind a computer screen is a lot easier than speaking face-to-face with a group of strangers. I fumble with “the ask.”

I even found it difficult to help my daughter sell her Girl Scout Cookies. Now that’s just plain pitiful. I mean, who can’t sell GS cookies. Everyone loves them. But I ended up buying more than we sold. Of course loving the Peanutbutter patties helped.