Do you have a sweet tooth?

Published on May 16, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell10 Comments

You may say no, but I bet you do.

Everyone has a sweet tooth, even if it’s a tiny one.

Me, I love sweets! And I love learning something new about writing.

Imagine my excitement when I opened a blog and read all about writing with Twinkies. You read that right.

I mean, who doesn’t love those sweet, make your teeth hurt cream filled cakes? But what did those lovely little darlings have to do with writing? I had to know.

Thanks to Robin Rivera over at Write On Sisters for explaining that every writer needs to give their readers a little tasty cake throughout the story.

Are you as intrigued as I was? Then click read —

Story Twinkies: Do You Need One?

How do you get rid of a case of the Writer Blues?

Published on May 11, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell28 Comments

Anybody have any suggestions?

For answers, I went to my trusty friend Mr. Google.

Sometimes the Writer Blues (WB) grab hold of you when you become discouraged over a work in progress (WIP). Other times WB sneaks up on you after a completed project. Such is my case.

I open my notebook and flip through my idea list. Nope, nope, dumb, who the hell wrote that?

I open my WIP file folder on my computer. A folder filled with story starts that sounded promising when I jotted down the opening paragraphs or even first chapters. Nope, nope, oh hell no!

Okay, clear mind. Take a walk. Back inside, short walk, it’s hot in Texas.

Do a mindless task, laundry, yes, do some laundry. We now have clean underwear. But didn’t do jack for generating a story idea.

That’s when I noticed the first symptoms. A half-gallon of Blue Bell Vanilla ice cream is almost gone and the wine cooler needs replenishing. Maybe I should check into one of those wine by the month clubs. Wonder if there is one for ice cream too. Hmm… I’ll Google it.

Now, what were we talking about? Oh yeah, the WB’s.

And how can I rid myself of this dang malady!

How do you get rid of the Writer Blues and begin a new project?

Got any tricks or tips to share?

I hear you- time to quit whining and just write something!

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

Keep reading great links at the bottom of the page!

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.

How to Beat the Lonely Writer Blues

The Writing Blues

How to find the right title for your novel

Published on April 27, 2016April 27, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell8 Comments

No? Me neither.

But, with the help of a lot of wonderful bloggers and writers who post “how-to” info, I’m getting better at understanding what makes a good title.

My word for the A-Z Challenge and the letter T is:

T=Title

Over the past year, I’ve read a lot about titles and to be honest, I think I chose the wrong one for Tryouts for Ben. It was number five or six in a long list of working titles. But by the time that little book was ready I couldn’t decide and I all but flipped a coin. Not a good way to pick a final title.

So, how do you pick a good title for a book?

Most writers start with a working title, and usually as the story progresses other titles begin to emerge. Or so I’ve heard.

Other writers, probably more seasoned pros, know at the on-set just the perfect title. That would not be me. Just in case you were wondering.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a title is worth much more.

Whether shopping at B&N, browsing the stacks at the library or scanning Amazon for something to read, the first thing I read is the title. I often reject a book based on the title.

Your title is the first hook of your book.

Doesn’t matter if it’s a romance novel, thriller or children’s book, the title is the first words of your book a person reads.

Okay, just what have I learned this past year?

As always, I still try to learn from my mistakes. (Ben)
Research is important for the title too.
A title should peak the reader’s curiosity. Get their attention.
It needs to give the reader an idea of what’s inside the cover.
Don’t get locked in with the “working title.”
Look inside the story for words, phrases or names that might serve as a title.
Don’t try to be too clever.
Try the title out on friends and family. Some will like it, others won’t but listen to the why of both.

For your reading pleasure, head to the bottom of this post and find out more about picking the best possible title for your book.

How do you pick a title?

Do you have any suggestions on picking a better book title?

Do tell!

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.

PICKING THE PERFECT BOOK TITLE by Tucker Max

4 Things To Keep In Mind When Choosing A Title For Your Book by Karen Woodward

ADVENTURES IN TITLING by Kate Kearns

How to write a good story

Published on April 26, 2016 by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

Or tell a good story–

What’s the difference?

One makes you a writer the other is…

My letter for the A-Z Challenge

S= Storytelling

To me telling a story is easier than writing one. And because I enjoyed telling stories I thought writing stories would be a cinch.

Well, I’ve learned the joke was on me.

Yep, after reading the many great writers and bloggers floating around on the web, I realized how little I knew about writing.

I wasn’t even sure I understood the English language. Somewhere I evidently missed a class or a dozen.

At least, Y’all weren’t into shaming and finger-pointing. Instead, you stepped up, taught and encouraged me as well as any other writer who asked for help.

So what did I learn about storytelling?

Telling a story is easier than writing a story. Telling a ghost story as you sit around a campfire is different that writing a ghost story on paper. For one thing, it’s harder to scare the pee out of a group of third graders without a flashlight.
I gotta have a theme. But leave the preaching the Reverend at First Baptist. If my readers want a sermon, they’ll attend church not read my book.
A good plot equals good action. However, that doesn’t mean I need to blow the hell out of everybody that doesn’t get shot. Just means a story needs to move forward and wrap up satisfactorily .
Know my characters – intimately. So much so, that by the time my book is ready for publication I’m sick of them. Why? Because if I don’t know and understand my characters, how can I expect the readers to understand them?
I better know what the hell I’m writing about, and where the story is going, especially if I want to explain these things to my reader.

One last thing.

If you enjoy listening to books on tape check out these online Storytelling blogs as a way to get back in touch with the art of storytelling.

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

Below are links to read more tips on better reading your way to better writing.

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.