writing tips – Page 13 – Jean's Writing

Do you want to write a perfect, beautiful sentence?

Published on July 17, 2018July 16, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell5 Comments

What writer doesn’t. Am I right?

More times than not, I worry about the correct grammar and structure of my sentences. But there is so much more to writing readable prose. The reader needs to connect with our words.

How do we as writers, produce sentences that manage this connection?

How do we write our best sentences than combined make for a great story?

Here is a really good article By John Matthew Fox, that not only lists 100 Beautiful Sentences in Literature but explains what makes a sentence memorable.

What I gleaned from his article…

Beautiful phrasing does not equal memorable. A reader may admire the words but not love them.
Wisdom does not equate beauty.
An ambitious sentence is not essential for a perfect sentence
Emotion is a must for a perfect, memorable beautiful sentence.
A beautiful sentence moves the reader forward.

His article is a must-read for us “perfectionist” writers. Perfection is not always what we think it is, but what our readers perceive from reading our stories.

What do you think?

What is your favorite sentence?

What do you deem a beautiful, perfect sentence?

Although this is from a movie, it’s stayed with me for years. That must make it pretty close to a beautiful, perfect sentence.

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Do you hide your light under a bushel?

Published on July 10, 2018July 9, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell6 Comments

Or do you let it shine for all to see?

I’m not exactly shy. But I do have trouble tooting my own horn. When someone asks me how I spend my time, I become tongue-tied.

I can talk to anyone, about anything except my writing, blogs or books.

There are lots of reasons writers have this problem. Me?

Fear of judgment and rejection. Not disapproval but often people who don’t understand the process can be dismissive. Attitudes range from, oh how fun, how easy, to what takes so long. After all, they can read a book in a few days. What can possibly be so hard about a couple of picture books?

Ouch!

So, I try to avoid sharing. When ask, I turn around the conversation to something or someone else.

Do you need encouragement to speak up?

Then you’ll want to read this terrific post – Feel the fear and put yourself out there – advice for shy authors BY Roz Morris over at Nail Your Novel.

More info for selling your voice…

Do you have trouble speaking up loud and proud?

How do you over come the angst of self-promotion?

I’d love to hear your tips on promoting your talents. Please share.

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How to avoid crowding your story with people

Published on July 5, 2018July 2, 2018 by Jean M. Cogdell10 Comments

I hate crowds. Theme parks, large parties, or squeezing past a million people in Times Square are a few of the things that make me claustrophobic. As if walls of people are closing in around me. Something similar happens when I’m reading a book with too many characters fighting for my attention. Soon, I’ll lay the book down, unfinished, and pick up another. Flipping back and forth to see who is talking drives me nuts.

So, just how many characters are too many?

How do you know who to cut and who to keep?

I’ve always heard it’s best to keep it simple. No one needs to know the entire background of the doorman unless he is the killer.

I discovered a great article that might help you understand how to determine which characters to keep.

Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen: Why you shouldn’t overload your novel with characters. By Erica Ellis

Signs your story has too many people, if a character…

Pops up begging to tell their own story. Makes you feel like playing “whack-a-mole.”
Diverts the reader’s attention taking them down rabbit holes.
Becomes a limelight hog, not content to stay in the shadows.
Doesn’t help promote the main character’s progress, moving the plot forward.

Too many characters can remove the intimate feel of a story. Which stops the reader from forming a bond with the main character.