writing tips – Page 61 – Jean's Writing

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.

I’ve run my 20 page Death Star Critique…

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Writers looking for writing inspiration?

Published on May 1, 2015June 20, 2017 by Jean M. Cogdell3 Comments

Do you have writers burnout?

Need a little writing help with a plot or character?

Check out these great generators to kick-start your writing.

Need to generate everything but the kitchen sink to get your story started.

Click on this Writing Exercises website that has it all from a Children’s Section, Plots, Towns,
Characters, First Line, Theme, Names, Dialog and more generators to get you started.

Writing Sci-Fi?

English: Icon for lists of science fiction authors — Wikipedia

You can find random generators for story concepts for everything Sci-Fi from monsters, the undead, silly spells, evil creatures, or humorous space aliens at the Seventh Sanctum

Generate an entire short story?

A romantic/fantasy blurb? This generator over at Plot Generator might be for you. There you can find inspiration for Pen Names, Letter writing and much more.

Problems with Blank Page?

Over at the Writers Plot Idea Generator you might like the Blank Page Eliminator, Plot Twist Generator or the Fun stuff.

Now you might be wondering where I found all these amazing Generators. I like to give credit where credit is due. I didn’t pick them out of thin air, or Google air. LOL

After surviving the A to Z Challenge left me with a bit of writers burnout and I needed to recharge. Scouring Amazon for something to read I found a short book and after reading it for free on Kindle Unlimited, I bought it for my library.

Nine Day Novel: Writing Fiction: How to Structure and Write Your Fiction Novel Faster (Fiction Writing Basics Book 1) by Steve Windsor

Now as a disclaimer, I haven’t yet put into practice Mr. Windsor’s technique, but there are some really good tips in this book. I hope you enjoy the websites and book as much as I did.

Happy writing.

Kindle Price:	$2.99
Kindle Unlimited:	Free

Do you struggle writing the perfect love scene?

Published on April 28, 2015April 28, 2015 by Jean M. Cogdell9 Comments

X = X-rated Writing

I thought about X –marks the spot but chose X-rated because I struggle with writing sex and love scenes.

As a writer we can publish anything on the internet. There are no internet police. However, as I’m sure you’ve learned already publishing is another thing.

Naught or Nice?

Good writing, in my opinion, comes in all sizes.

Yes, even X-rated. The key phrase is good writing.

Good taste is subjective but good writing is not.

I try to choose my words with care. Because there is a difference between words that are graphic, explicit, dirty, sexy, suggested or imaginative.

I don’t think we should worry about offending, but need to strive to get the words right. Words and phrases that match the character and hook the reader. Does the character need a little spice in their life that’s the question and most times the answer is yes.

Writing great sex scenes, even X-rated, is an art just like writing great murder scenes. Both should be filled with mystery. Too much blood and gore in a murder can turn some readers off too.

As a Reader, I love to use my imagination and too much explicit detail can be a turn off. Think about all of those bodice ripping novel that fly off the shelves.

So tell me, how do you write your X-rated scenes?

Lots of details or lots of imagination?

Leave me some tips and help in the comments section. I need all I can get to let my freak fly.

Rachel’s Saga continues:

The cool air from the A/C felt wonderful. Rachel began to relax as soulful songs of love and betrayal filled the truck.

“Feel better?”

She jerked toward the driver. “Uh, yes, thank you. I’m sorry, what did you say your name was?” She asks.

“Didn’t. But people call me Jase.”

His eyes roamed from her face to the sweat stains. She pulled the white cotton shirt separating it from her skin.

“Were you walking in this heat long?” He asks.

“No, not too long.”

“You’re lucky I came along.”

He smiled and stretched his right arm across the back of her seat.

“No telling how long it’d would’ve been for somebody else stopped.” He said.

Rachel didn’t bother to respond. She needed to keep her wits and watch this snake. Rattlers weren’t the only ones that could strike when you least expected.

The truck hit a pothole and began to swerve. Rachel’s head hit the passenger window. They slid off the shoulder, gravel pinging the fenders as they came to a jarring stop her head slammed again and her vision blurred as blood dripped in her eye.

“You okay Darling? Didn’t mean to pull off so fast. Here, let me see.”

His arm reached for her.

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