I'd like to begin this post by contradicting myself - YOU NEED BETA READERS WHO ARE NOT YOURSELF. But really, there are a few things you can do to be a more effective self-editor in early editing rounds - big picture stuff. You have to be willing to set the MS aside for long enough … Continue reading How to be Your own Beta-Reader
Author: Jolene Perry
A Little Late for an Intro.
Yeah, it's a little late for an intro, but I've rarely been good at following rules. I grew up with the kind of dad who used a lighter to detect possible gas leaks in gas lines. A dad who said things like, “They let electricians do it! Of course you can wire your house!” Because … Continue reading A Little Late for an Intro.
what the BL*RB to write next
You wanna write books that'll sell? Sell them to yourself first. The more years I spend writing, the more I see the benefits of having a workable pitch before I start writing, and the more I beg others to do the same. This helps keep the focus of the project as narrow as it … Continue reading what the BL*RB to write next
Identity Crisis
When I first began writing, I had no notions of writing YA. I was going to be the next Nora Roberts or Sophie Kinsella. I hadn't decided quite yet. And then I read Sarah Addison Allen, and I was terrified I'd never be able to write like that (I won't, and that's ok. We're different). … Continue reading Identity Crisis
Humilty & Ego
There's a place for both humility and ego in any creative project. Ego has its place in drafting, in creating, in crafting... Humility is needed for editing and yes, crafting goes here too. The one time I get the perfect balance of humility and ego is when I'm working on a project with another author. … Continue reading Humilty & Ego
On The Other Side of Fear
Yeah, I'm late to see THIS VIDEO. I don't care. If you don't want to watch the whole thing, the final thought was - "On the other side of your maximum fear, are the best things in life." And I've been thinking about how this pertains to writing. And how so many of us writers, … Continue reading On The Other Side of Fear
Wanna Know How/Where to Start Your Novel?
Wanna Know How/Where to Start Your Novel? Read a TON of first chapters. I'll talk about published ones today, and unpublished ones in another post. On my week of not-writing, one of the things I did was go to Amazon and read a TON of first chapters. (I may write up something on how important … Continue reading Wanna Know How/Where to Start Your Novel?
DON’T PANIC: The Agent Edition
I know, I know... Telling someone to "Stop panicking" is like telling a person to stop aging, or to stop being hot while walking the strip in Vegas. In August. Here are a few things I see writers panic about when dealing with agents, and here's why I think you should not panic in these … Continue reading DON’T PANIC: The Agent Edition
A Few Fav Blurb/Query Helps
This is a post I've meant to do for AGES. I'm sure I'll come back and edit this post as I find new ways to write blurbs, but these are my favs... for now. Helping someone else with their blurb or query is simple. Working one up for myself? Not as simple. There was a blissful … Continue reading A Few Fav Blurb/Query Helps
the HONEYMOON phase
If you're a writer, you probably know how this applies to writing - That delightful time when you've found a shiny new idea and the character is solid in your mind and the words are flowing, and it's MAGIC. And you really don't want to do anything else or work on anything else because, hello, … Continue reading the HONEYMOON phase
