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Query Tips: Pitch It, Pitch It Good
Query Tips: Pitch It, Pitch It Good
After a sluggish start to my query journey in 2018, I’ve finally gained some traction. During the past month, I’ve had three agents request my full manuscript.
The dramatic shift came after a fellow writer introduced me to various pitching events on Twitter (i.e. #Pitmad and #Pitdark). Basically, during these one-day events, you get to pitch your novel to literary agents in 280 characters or…
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Love Is A Battlefield - Overcoming Creative Depressions
Love Is A Battlefield – Overcoming Creative Depressions
For the past two years, I’ve put the majority of my creative energy into writing a novel. Yeah, yeah. I know. My attention has clearly been aimed elsewhere, far from my blog.
Rather than talk about my sporadic posting, let’s talk about something else today: creative depressions. Many of us experience miserable lulls with our writing every now and then. These lulls can last as little as a day,…
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2018 - The Year to Dream, Write, and Read
2018 – The Year to Dream, Write, and Read
My number one goal in 2017 was to buckle down and finish my novel…and have it ready for literary agents by year’s end. Thanks to avoiding writing contests and cutting back on blogging (er, sorry guys!), I achieved my goal.
Now it’s time to create some new goals for 2018. Just like 2017, I plan to keep my goals simple. I’ve discovered the simpler the goals, the more likely I’ll succeed. So,…
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Jen's Top 5 Favorite Books of 2017
Jen’s Top 5 Favorite Books of 2017
Even though I failed my 2017 Goodreads Reading Challenge, I still had a very productive reading year. It, uh, just wasn’t done in the traditional way. On top of the 20 published novels I read, I also read and critiqued three unpublished manuscripts and hundreds of short stories. I also read through my own manuscript at least 15 times as I wrote, revised, and polished it up for querying in January.
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NaNoWriMo Tips - It's Over, So Now What
NaNoWriMo Tips – It’s Over, So Now What
It’s December 1st. That means NaNoWriMo is officially over!
Victorious. Exhausted. Excited. Disappointed. If you participated in NaNo, you might be feeling one or all of these things. Maybe you excelled and blasted past the 50K word goal? Maybe you clawed your way to the finish line? Maybe you tripped and stumbled early on and never found your footing again? However you’re feeling, there’s one…
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3 Tips on How To Improve Your Writing
3 Tips on How To Improve Your Writing
When I first started writing years ago, I had no idea what I was doing. Like, NO idea. I just sat down in front of my laptop and started writing a story. In theory, that’s what writers should do. Sit down and write. Period! However, in order to become the best writers we can be, we need to broaden our practices beyond the obvious.
Many of us have read or heard the Stephen King quote, “If you…
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10 Tips For NaNoWriMo
10 Tips For NaNoWriMo
Guess what starts today? That’s right. National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)! Although I’ll be too busy finalizing my manuscript to participate this year, I’ll be cheering on everyone crazy enough to tackle this daunting challenge.
For those brave souls who’ve decided to take on the task of writing 50K words in one month, here are ten tips:
Jen’s Top 10 NaNoWriMo Tips
1. Decide Why You’re…
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When Your Novel Is Ready For Agents - 6 Tips
When Your Novel Is Ready For Agents – 6 Tips
As many of you might’ve noticed, my blog has fallen by the wayside the past year. In my defense, there’s been a good reason for my absence: my novel. Last January, I made a New Year’s resolution to finish my manuscript and have it ready for agents by late 2017/early 2018. That meant I had to resist using precious time and mental energy for things like blogging, social media, writing contests, and…
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NaNoWriMo - Find Your Reason
NaNoWriMo – Find Your Reason
In a couple of weeks, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) kicks off. Thousands of writers from around the globe will attempt to write 50,000 words in one month.
Perhaps you’ve been among the thousands who’ve attempted to complete this insane challenge? Perhaps you’ve never considered it until this year? Perhaps you’re reading this blog and thinking, “Hmm, that sounds interesting. Maybe I’ll…
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Monster Mash - Round 2 - NYC Midnight Flash Fiction Challenge
Monster Mash – Round 2 – NYC Midnight Flash Fiction Challenge
This past weekend marked my 11th round of the NYC Midnight (NYCM) Flash Fiction Challenge (FFC). To be honest, I wasn’t all that enthusiastic to compete. I’m currently immersed in the latest draft of my novel, and shifting gears pained me. It pained me even more when I received my score for the first round of this year’s contest.
Two points!
Okay, okay. That’s not horrible considering I’ve never…
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I Will Never Forget - My September 11th Story
I Will Never Forget – My September 11th Story
Today, people throughout the world are remembering what happened 16-years ago. It’s difficult not to. All of us can go back and recall where we were and what we were doing, most of us in vivid detail. Even if we weren’t directly involved or impacted by the events that occurred, everyone has a story about September 11th. We all experienced it. We all felt it.
This is my story of September 11th,…
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Cheers - Round 1 - NYC Midnight Flash Fiction Challenge
Cheers – Round 1 – NYC Midnight Flash Fiction Challenge
Greetings, blog followers! Yes, it’s me. And, yes, I’m still alive.
As you’ve may (or may not) have noticed, I’ve been absent from the blog world the past few months (er, maybe longer). I made a New Year’s resolution to put all of my attention and free time into finishing my novel, which I almost have! By the end of summer/early fall, I should have my manuscript and query letter ready to go for…
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Jen’s Editing Tips – Beta Reader Etiquette 201
Jen’s Editing Tips – Beta Reader Etiquette 201
Around this time last year, I wrote a blog post regarding beta reader etiquette, all from the perspective of the writer. Today, I’d like to turn the tables and discuss beta reader etiquette from the perspective of the beta.
Yes, believe it or not, there are basic etiquette rules to follow when you volunteer to read another writer’s work. You don’t get a free pass to act however you please…
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2017 - The Year of the Novel
2017 – The Year of the Novel
In the late winter of 2013, I came to a screeching halt with my writing. After failing to secure a publishing deal during a two-year option contract, I lost more than my confidence. I lost a piece of my heart.
After my dreams crumbled before my eyes, I spent the better part of six months drifting around, unsure what to do next. Write? Don’t write? Every time I thought about picking up a pen, I…
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5 Steps to Take Before Writing A Novel
5 Steps to Take Before Writing A Novel
There are so many tips about how to write a novel. And there are even more tips on what to do with that novel once you’ve finished it. But, what about the things you should do before you start writing a novel?
Okay, I can already hear some of you out there saying, “Sometimes you can’t think about what you’re doing. You just need to jump in and go. Write, write, write!” Yes, I agree. However, if…
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Jen's Top 5 Favorite Books of 2016
Jen’s Top 5 Favorite Books of 2016
I have to admit, I’ve been a terrible reader the past year. In fact, I only managed to consume about 20 books (compared to my usual 60+). I’m not sure what happened. Maybe it was fatigue from working a new job, writing a new novel, and critiquing over 200 stories? Or maybe it was pure lack of interest? (I picked up and put down so many books!) I’m not sure where I can place the blame, but I’m…
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Jen's Editing Tips - Why, Why, Why
Jen’s Editing Tips – Why, Why, Why
The past few months, I’ve critiqued around 90 stories. During that time, I’ve noticed a common issue that has left me scratching my head all too often. It’s an issue every writer deals with, but not every writer knows to address until someone (a beta, an editor, a reader, etc.) points out to them.
“What’s the point of this story?”
“Your plot feels aimless.”
“Why is this happening?”
“Why is that
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