Tag: writing

How to find a good idea for your story

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell11 Comments

Write, write and write some more.

Write about what? Everything.

Today’s letter in the A-Z Challenge I. 

I= Ideas

Everyone wants to know where writers find their ideas.

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For me, the good ideas come few and far between. They appear with a flash or spark, and if I fail to latch on to them, they are gone just as fast.

Many of my stories come from word-play or prompts. There are lots of writing prompts available and believe it or not they work.

The idea for my first children’s book, Tryouts for Ben, came about because of a comment. Kids do say the darndest things.

And the idea for my second book due out soon came about the same way. As a mother of two amazing girls, we encouraged them to be all they could be. One day I overheard my daughter, telling her daughter she could be anything she wanted.

As a result of that conversation, A Most Reluctant Princess was born.

What have I learned from y’all about finding writing ideas?

Story ideas can come from anywhere and everywhere!

  • News story
  • Daydreaming
  • Passing comment
  • Book or movie
  • Memory
  • Prayer
  • Picture, photo, or painting
  • Writing prompt
  • Contest or challenge
  • Dream
  • Sunset or breathtaking view

The list could go on and on, but the trick is to recognize an idea. Often my ideas come in tiny seedlings and requires a lot of nurturing for it to grow. 

The more you write, the more ideas you will find. 

So, you grab an idea but what comes next? 

You add a character, a place, and a theme. Then like playing with Legos, begin to build your idea into a story.

The hard part is taking this tiny idea and enlarging it to appeal to someone other than myself. Not everyone gets my sense of humor or sarcasm. So, if I want others to read what I’ve written, I must broaden the story to reach my target audience.

Remember-

There is nothing new under the sun. No new ideas. But, you can put a new spin on an old idea. Make it yours.

Where did you find your last idea?

Did that idea turn into a story?

Talk to me, the lights on and comments are now open.

You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdelland Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

Want to read more on where other writers find their idea? Click the links below.

The Joy Is In the Struggle of Making: How Writers Get Their Ideas by AARON GILBREATH
Where Do You Get Your Ideas…? by Michael A. Banks
Where Do Successful Authors Get Their Most Brilliant Writing Ideas? by
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR IDEAS? by Neil Gaiman
31 Ways to Find Inspiration for Your Writing By Leo Babauta

 

Do you know how important hooks are?

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell10 Comments

Extremely. Without hooks, the reader stops reading.

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Today’s letter in the A-Z Challenge   is H.

H= Hooks

Hooks are needed throughout the story, not just in the beginning.

Everyone knows about the Opening Hook. That first paragraph that grabs or catches the reader’s attention. Or not. This is your chance to win or lose the reader.

But, that’s just the beginning. Once you have the reader’s attention, you must keep it.

That’s the job of the hooks. Scattered throughout the story or essay, hooks persuade the reader to keep going. Always enticing them to turn the page.

So, just what have y’all taught me about Hooks?

There are several different hooks:

Fish Hooks - A Variety
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
  • First sentence – hooks the reader to read the first paragraph.
  • First Paragraph – lures the reader deeper into the chapter.
  • Dialog – engages the reader in the conversation.
  • Scene – determines if the reader will read the next chapter.

What is a hook?

  • A first impression.
  • Something to propel the story forward.
  • An unusual detail or startling fact.
  • A strong statement or opinion.
  • An engaging question.
  • An exaggeration or outrageous statement.
  • A question that begs for an answer.
  • An anecdote that leads into a scenario.
  • Foreshadowing trouble.

Be careful!

Don’t fall into the trap of the old “bait & switch.”

The story must live up to the hook. It should capture and express what the reader can expect.

It’s no fun to be drawn into a story only to find out you’ve been misled and that the only thing interesting in the story was the hook. No one likes to be tricked.

How important do you think a hook is?

Do you think hooks should be used throughout the manuscript?

Talk to me, the lights on and comments are now open.

You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdelland Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

 

Want to explore the intricacies of writing hooks? Then click on these links.

How to write dialogue that hooks readers: 10 tips
Writing Hooks (Not Crooks) By Kat Feete
Starting With a Hook
Writing 201: Intros and Hooks
Write Better Fiction: The Scene Hook  ~ KRISTINA STANLEY

 

A = Assembly Required to write a good story

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell18 Comments

All I learned about writing from the village of bloggers.

That’s my theme for this A-Z Challenge.

Well, let’s be truthful. No way could I cover everything this amazing community has taught me since I began this journey. But I’m going to try.

A=Assembly Required

That’s the first thing I learned! Just like that bike at Christmas, or a bookcase from Ikea, or writing a book there is always some assembly required.

How many times have we groaned after seeing those dreaded words on a box?

Also, it pays to follow instructions.

Now if anyone knows me at all, they know I’m more of an eyeball-it type of person. Not a read instructions type of person.

I mean come on, with a good saw and hammer I can make anything fit. Who cares if I’ve got an extra screw or two left?

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But I’ll admit writing is a bit different. And thanks to so many good writers and bloggers on the world-wide web, I’m getting better every day.

Yes, I’m still more of a pantster but I’m also learning how to structure my scenes better so that the bookcase won’t be lopsided. Nothing worse than having to shove a block under one edge to keep it upright.

So what did I learn about Assembly required, or in writer’s jargon, Structure required?

  • Assembling a story does not have to dismiss my spontaneity or pantster style of writing.
  • It’s okay to sit down and just write the first draft.
  • That structure can be as rigid or as flexible as I want. After all, I’m the author, this is a world of my creation.
  • Help is available at the end of my keyboard. Reach out and touch someone.
  • That I must assemble scenes, multiple story lines, and characters into a mosaic of that become the story.
  • Then let an editor tear it down because I left out a screw or two and then I must reassemble it all over again.

When and if I’ve a beautiful finished and polished manuscript…..

  • It’s time to assemble the physical book.

Yes, some assembly required to be a writer.

More reading on story structure.

Story Structure in Short Stories
10 Simple Keys to Effective Plot Structure
The Secrets of Story Structure (Complete Series)

Thanks for stopping by my blog.
You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.

How to write in your own unique, exciting and special voice

Published on by Jean M. Cogdell15 Comments

Just peel down your undies and let your freaky self, fly free!

That’s where you’ll find your writing voice.

We all copy other famous writers. That’s how we learn to write. 

Why? because horror writer’s want to write like King, romance like Michell and if you’re into vamps none other better to copy than Rice. At some point, a writer must find our own voice.

But sooner or later we all have to just be me. The reader wants to see who is behind the curtain in Oz.

How and where do we find this so called voice?

Down deep when we think no one is watching, that’s where.

Late in the night when we don’t give a damn what anyone thinks we write. 

Ever had someone say, “That person sounds just like you.”

Of course, you are outraged because it’s your crazy Aunt Matilda going on about some nutter at the grocery store. No way do you sound at all like her. But when you’re letting your freak fly, you know it’s true.

One way you can figure out is to discover what your voice isn’t.

Voice isn’t:

Style, technique, branding or which person you write in.

It is:

You on a page. Your thoughts, fears, dreams, visions and feelings given to words on a page.

No one can tell it like you. There is only one of you. Remember that and be uniquely you in writing.

Want to know where I got all this info about finding my voice?

Read: 

The Author’s Voice by Blogger: Rachelle Gardner

 

Remember there is only one you.

Have you found your writing voice yet?

Or are you still having trouble letting the real you shine?

Thanks for stopping by my blog.
You can find me on Twitter @jeancogdell, Facebook at jean.cogdell and Amazon.com, stop by and say hey! Please remember to click and share this post with your Twitter peeps and Facebook fans.