Storytime, dear reader. Many years ago, in fact it was LAST CENTURY, I worked as a nurse. (Think 1980s. Think Princess Di, shoulder pads and Estee Lauder, All Day Berry Basket lipstick...) I trained in country Queensland and once I obtained my certificate, I toddled off to the big smoke (aka Bris Vegas, aka Brisbane), …
Let’s Enchant our Lives!
There are some words that always make my ears prick up: Creativity Bewitched Enchantment If anyone's talking about these things or tossing these words into their copy, I'm there. I can't help but pay attention. It's like 'once upon a time'. Or, 'long ago and far away'. Or 'gather round'. Such words and phrases speak …
Four Ways to Improve Your Story
Pull up a chair! Grab a latte. A Lady Grey. A shandy. Let's chat! I was going to call this blog post, 'What's Wrong With This Bloody Story?' But on second thoughts that title might be misleading. Who's story? Which story? Your story or my story? See what I'm sayin'? Let's narrow it down. Don …
Hey, Jen! Are you retiring?
The other day I followed a link to a promising webpage. I was interested in what the business had to offer and I wanted to see who was behind it and, if I felt a connection, I was going to sign up. Get involved. I got to the website and guess what? No face. No …
A Freebie for You. Plus, Let’s Celebrate Picture Book Month!
From time to time I send out this download to the creatives on my mailing list. I wrote this download as a blog post ages ago, in response to a wildly common question:How do I know what I'm writing?Say what?The thing is, when it comes to writing books for children, people (especially newbies) get bamboozled. …
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How to Connect Deeply with Your Readers
When you run an online biz you have to get comfy with REJECTION. You say, I've created this amazing, creative writing community. People say, Maybe later. You say, I wrote this really cool book. People say, Whatevs. You say, I recorded a podcast. People say, I'd rather listen to Frank Sinatra. You say, I bought a new teapot. People say, Oo, pretty! …
How to Write a Novel. (Using One Sheet of Paper.)
Last week I had the sudden realisation that 'the writing is going well'. Ermahgerd! How much do writers LURVE that? The Writing is Going Well. Can we put that on a t-shirt, please? Cups quietly multiplying while I'm lost in a world of make believe. Last year when I started writing this novel, I was …
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This year I am NOT excited. Here’s why.
This week in the Duck Pond, on my first live call for 2022, we will be chatting about our word of the year. Choosing a word of the year is like selecting your own little guiding star, a bright point to guide you through the travails of the coming year. Choosing a word makes me …
50 Little Things. Aka, At Home with Jen in 2021
Hello dear reader! Inspired by Leonie Dawson who was inspired by Austin Kleon, I thought I'd have a crack at one of these '100' lists! Except I'm only going for 50. #slowcoach Bear in mind we were in various states of lockdown for most of 2021, confined for the most part to a small (albeit …
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How to Create Fascinating Characters
No time to read, just want to hear me chat about my new e-course? Scroll to the bottom. There's a video! Why I Love Creative Writing How's that for heading?? Don't get me wrong. There are loads of things I despise about creative writing. I'm not some Pollyanna, super inspired, hopelessly infatuated 'author in an …