Writing Exercises – Jean's Writing

Have you practiced today?

Published on May 22, 2014May 22, 2014 by Jean M. Cogdell6 Comments

Thanks to Lillie McFerrin for reminding me to practice, practice, practice. Sometimes I get so busy with my WIP, and life in general, that I forget how important it is to practice my writing.

Five Sentence Fiction is a great place to do just that. So again, a big thank you to Lillie.

If you are looking for a place to work on your skills check out FSF.

Below is my Five Sentence contribution this week. Enjoy.

Let me know how you practice. Do you have a favorite site or routine? Leave a comment and the link. Thanks.

What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week I will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word.

The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

This week: ANCHOR

All week people came to attend the celebrations.

They honored her with words like groundbreaking, innovative and pioneer.

She accepted their admiration; after all, she’d worked long hours to arrive at this pinnacle in life.

She’d dodged bullets, survived mergers and interviewed presidents.

As she listened to her well-meaning friends, she grew weary from the weight of her accomplishments, and now she just wanted to go home.

Breaking the Rules

Published on December 23, 2013December 23, 2013 by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

Right, wrong, good, bad and in-between. I read, write, join, submit and re-write until at times I can no longer recognize my story trying to conform.

For me, following rules are hard. I need to understand the why, the how and the need for the rule. In writing, there aren’t a lot of explanations for most of these so called rules. I was so excited to read todays post from Anne R. Allen’s Blog. She set me free. Thank you Anne. Writers go forth and write!

http://annerallen.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-rules-of-writingand-why-not-to.html

You’re Writing it all Wrong… Maybe Not (peterdmallett.wordpress.com)
A matter of style: Wodehouse and the modern rules of writing. (honoriaplum.wordpress.com)
Write Something That Ain’t Worth A Damn (soshitech.com)
Rule 1 (chasingagreenlight.wordpress.com)
Part two of Stephen King’s “On Writing” (amsites.wordpress.com)
Are you Over Thinking Your Writing? (thewritersadvice.com)
The Lazy Writer (writinglonghand.wordpress.com)
You want to write a WHAT????? (willmacmillanjones.wordpress.com)

Getting Creative

Published on August 28, 2013 by Jean M. Cogdell

Summer is almost over but you’d never know it here in Texas. The heat is still in the triple digits and I have the summer blues. My brain feels like it’s been cooked and turned to molasses. I must not be alone. Seems as if every other email today was regarding a must read book on how to get back to your writing muse. Well I’ve too many books, too little time now and did I mention it’s too damn hot.

Me, I’m all into short cuts. Easier the better. Now don’t go writing to me how nothing worthwhile in life is easy… Did I mention how hot it is here in Dallas?

Now where was I? Oh yeah. While I was reading yet another email, about another great book, I wondered if there might be an easier way to achieve the same results. Oh dear me, see my mind is mush. That was a terrible sentence. Anyway… the book this blogger ask me to consider was a book of prompts. So as my daughter is so fond of saying, I Googled it. And voila! I found quite a few.

But I’m not going to bombard you with them, it’s too damn hot. Here are a couple I liked and I found to be fun. Check them out. Creativity Games.net http://creativitygames.net/creative-writing-prompts, or http://stiobhard.tripod.com/html/javascript/words/writing_prompt_generator.html. Of course you could just Google Writing Prompt Generator and find a different one to your liking.

Here is the four word prompt I used from Creativity Games.net and the results. Have fun and find your Muse.

barrel
pyjamas
clown
decay

I slipped a coat on over my pyjamas and went outside. Some clown had left the barn door open. At the opening I wrinkled my nose at the stench of decay. No one had mucked the stalls in days. The smell grew worse as I neared a large barrel at the back of the barn.

Top Ten Prompts to Inspire Creative Writing (writingthefire.wordpress.com)
When Copying Is Good For Your Career (elabreywriter.wordpress.com)
Karavansara’s Friday Prompts (karavansara.wordpress.com)
Jumpstart Your Poetry with Over 1000 Prompts (thestarvingwriterblog.wordpress.com)
What I tell myself when I don’t feel ready when inspiration strikes (sophia-greene.com)
5 Things To Do If You Lose Your Muse (jeanfischer.wordpress.com)

Do you procrastinate?

Published on April 8, 2013April 8, 2013 by Jean M. Cogdell4 Comments

It’s Monday and I’ve accomplished nothing. Read emails, and played on my computer putting off the things I need to do. I’m close to finishing my first novel and here I sit twiddling my thumbs. I take Saturday and Sundays to relax and read for pleasure. But getting back to writing on Monday is not easy.

In my defense I did read a couple of blogs about writing. Does that count? I’m in a funk and trying to pull out of it. My WIP (work in progress) is stalled too. I need to throw something wild in the story line to jar both myself and my characters.

How do you overcome the Monday blues? How do you overcome the desire to just veg instead of pushing the characters in your WIP? How do you motivate yourself when your WIP is stalled.

Now that I’ve wasted the morning with my whining I’ll go fix lunch. Maybe something to eat will get the juices flowing. Ooh this website looks interesting, think I’ll read this first. http://www.creative-writing-now.com/writers-block.html