Tag: writing

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Bloggers Talk Blocked: Review Tour and #Giveaway

Jennifer Lane

The week since my college volleyball romance BLOCKED released has been fantastic.


We started off with a Facebook party–thank you to these hosts with the most:

Debra Anastasia (author of Poughkeepsie who alerted me to a key technological problem)

Nicki Elson (author of Divine Temptation)

Darcia Helle (author of No Justice)

Matthew Alan (author of What We Leave Behind)

Jennifer Locklear (co-author of Exposure)

Rumer Haven (author of Seven for a Secret which I’ve just started reading–great!)

Gwynn Evans Harrison (my bff who revealed all kinds of secrets about our time swimming and playing volleyball in college!)

Julie from AToMR Tours

(I just alerted the winners of the Release Giveaway … scroll down for the Review Tour Giveaway including a $15 gift card.)

~*~


Speaking of AToMR Tours, they’re hosting a Blocked Review Tour the next two weeks.

Check out this fun review from Bookaholic Fairies.

And I also loved this review from Momina at Novelty Books.

Thank you to all the wonderful friends and bloggers taking the time to promote, read, and review Blocked. I deeply “dig” you.

Come back next week for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group on 11/5 when I share what I learned about book marketing at the Queen City Indie Con!
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Jenny on the BLOCKED! New #College #Volleyball #Release 10/21/14

Jennifer Lane

I started writing Blocked over a year ago, and release day is finally HERE.

Cover Design by Coreen Montagna

Want to win stuff? Attend these events to win books, gift cards, cookies, and bookmarks!

FACEBOOK Party Tuesday 10/21 11:00 – 3:00 EST HERE

AToMR Tours Release Event with over 30 blogs participating. Enter the giveaway HERE.

Blocked Review Tour, including another giveaway, HERE.

Add Blocked to your Goodreads shelf.

And find Blocked on Amazon.

Lastly, if you’re near Cincinnati, Ohio this weekend, stop by the Queen City Indie Con where I’ll sign books and give away Blocked cookies and Streamline swim caps.


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#IWSG Writing Character Relational Styles

Jennifer Lane

Thank you to Alex Cavanaugh for his brainchild: Insecure Writers Support Group!



I give permission for today’s post to be included in the anthology IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond, full of tips for writing, publishing, and marketing.

Jennifer Lane: Blocked, Streamline, With Good Behavior, Bad Behavior, On Best Behavior, Swim Recruit http://jenniferlanebooks.blogspot.com

Three Character Relational Styles


(Topic: Writing)


Are your fictional characters overly compliant, aggressive, or withdrawing?

Why do they act that way?

As a psychologist/author (psycho author), I will address three relational styles for your characters:

1. Moving Toward (compliance)
2. Moving Against (aggression)
3. Moving Away (withdrawal)

Psychologist Karen Horney theorized that we learn to cope with anxiety by adopting one of these three interpersonal styles. In other words, when faced with conflict, we engage in submission, fight, or flight.

Imagine a family with an alcoholic father, an enabling mother, and three children.

Alicia, the oldest daughter, craves her father’s love. She earns straight As and keeps the house clean to avoid his wrath when he comes home drunk. Alicia has no idea what she wants or needs but is adept at reading the needs of others. She avoids anxiety by trying to please others around her (moving toward). 

Derek, the middle son, hates feeling weak. He tells his mother he doesn’t care about her. He gets in fights at school. When his father becomes abusive with his mother, Derek intervenes and provokes his father to hit him instead. He avoids anxiety by lashing out at others (moving against). 

Jonah, the youngest son, gets a stomach ache when his parents argue. He hides in his tree house or spends hours alone, shooting hoops. When his friends ask him to hang out, he shrugs and claims he’s busy. Jonah avoids anxiety by withdrawing from others (moving away).

Each relational style can be effective when used flexibly, but problems arise with rigid styles. Alicia might lose herself in a loveless marriage. Derek may get fired for yelling at his boss. And Jonah might drown in loneliness as an adult.

Connecting relational styles to family experiences provides compelling character motivation.
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#IWSG: To Series or Not To Series

Jennifer Lane


Thanks to author ninja Alex Cavanaugh for his brainchild:


I want to hear your experiences with writing series. Love ’em? Hate ’em?

I have written one stand-alone New Adult sports romance and one romantic suspense trilogy. I’m considering turning my upcoming NA volleyball romance Blocked into a series.

So I have some writerly questions for you, in my deliberations. Feel free to answer none, one, or more!

1. Do you prefer to read stand-alone novels or series? Why?

2. Have you ever written a series (or plan to write one)? If so, when in the process did you realize you wanted to write a series?

3. If you like series, do you prefer the same characters as protagonists or new main characters featuring “spin-offs” in subsequent novels?

4. How do you decide to write a stand-alone or a series?

5. How many books are ideal for a series? When does a series get too long for you?

THANK YOU! Write on, my friends.

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#IWSG Editing, Blurbs, Cover Design

Jennifer Lane

Happy July to all writers! Join us at Alex Cavanaugh’s blog for the monthly support group.



My favorite season is summer, especially swimming outside. Swimming a couple of miles is much more fun in the sunshine.


Americans, what are you doing July 4th? Attending a cookout like me? I’ll attempt these patriotic red velvet brownies (*points right*)

Check out the recipe HERE.

My editor and I are thick into edits for my fifth novel, Blocked.

We came up with a blurb (that was tough!) and posted it on Goodreads.

And now I’m getting quotes from cover designers. What do you think is a reasonable cost for a cover artist? I’ll likely pony up and pay a bit more than I’d planned in order to get the designer I want.

One thing I’ve noticed in editing is my typical writer mistakes. (Thank God for editors!) In the past, I’ve had shifty POV, but I think I’ve cleared that up. But I continue to struggle with the timeline. My editor has to ask “When is this happening?” or “Is this before or after Beergate?” I wrote out a timeline, chapter by chapter, so hopefully that will help. 

A new problem with this manuscript seems to be my use of commas. Apparently, I use, commas, too much, at times. And at other times I don’t use commas enough. 😉

What writer mistakes haunt you?

I’m giving away a $10 gift card for the Freedom to Read Giveaway…feel free to enter below. Hope you have a wonderful July!

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Guest Post: How the Effects of Proper Health Affect Your Writing

Jennifer Lane


Being a psycho author, I sit a LOT. I sit doing psychotherapy all day long, then I sit at the computer to write at night. Not great for the waistline, back/neck, or overall health!

That’s why I thank guest blogger Rachael Cherry from Nanny Pro with this awesome advice to keep up your health as you write! Take it away, Rachael…

How the Effects of Proper Health Affect Your Writing

Being healthy is more than making sure your clothes continue to fit. Proper health affects every aspect of your being. From how you sleep at night to the foods you eat, it all contributes to keeping your body and mind clear. As a writer, you need that clarity of mind in order to continue being successful. It is this success that drives me to keep as active as I can while eating the best foods that promote physical and mental stability.

Sleep – Getting enough sleep plays a prominent role for any writer. You can’t expect to sleep for three hours in any given night and be productive the next day. Your mind can feel like mush as you stare at the computer screen wondering what you were planning to write. Myself, I set the alarm clock on my phone to go off at 10 to signify when it’s time to go to bed. The alarm is set for six in the morning to wake me up, but often times I am up before the alarm goes off anyway. This allows me to feel refreshed and well rested ready to face the challenges of the day.

Morning Activities – One of the first things I do in the morning is to get the blood flowing through my body. When I have a babysitter available, I’ll take some time and ride my bike for a couple of miles. Otherwise, I’ll try to fit in twenty minutes of yoga or other physical activity. This helps get the blood flowing to the brain and helps increase your capacity for remaining alert and maintaining rational thought.

Proper Foods – Eating properly can also increase your capacity to stay focused and on task. A breakfast for myself is an egg, a slice of wheat toast, a can of V8 and a fruit cup packed in water. Toss in my daily routine of vitamins and I feel incredible throughout most of the day. As long as you reduce your sugar intake and increase snacks such as fruits, you’ll feel like you have more energy for extended periods of time.

Don’t Plant Yourself – As a writer, you’re probably sitting at your desk for hours on end hammering out words on the keyboard. It is important that you try and mix up your day to promote continued health. It’s not good for anyone to simply sit for eight hours straight with only bathroom breaks to separate the day. Every hour or so, I get up and walk around the house or take ten minutes to clean something. It doesn’t matter kind of activity you do, the fact is you need to keep active periodically throughout your day.

Your physical form is only part of the experience for remaining healthy. Your brain, which controls every aspect of your life, benefits from proper health as well. If you are unhealthy, your mind is not as efficient as it should be – which leads to irrational thoughts and behaviors. Creativity is a byproduct of how well the mind functions. If you don’t take care of your mind and body, your work will be affected and your potential could be wasted. For myself, I can definitely tell the difference between days where I slept well and ate properly compared to those days I feel rushed. Give yourself a greater chance to be successful as a writer by practicing better habits for health. More than your weight is at stake.

Rachael Cherry is a wife, mother, and writer who is passionate about helping connect families in need with high quality caregivers. She has taken that passion and put it to work through NannyPro, a respected online nanny referral service. Learn more by visiting @NannyPro on Twitter.
Great suggestions, Rachael…thank you. The best health strategy for me is exercise–I try to get 60 minutes of cardio/strength training about 6 days a week. The bonus for writers is that exercise increases cerebral blood flow, which gets those plot ideas humming!
Writers…what are your best health strategies? 
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Stress is Good For Us! #IWSG

Jennifer Lane

Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for starting the Insecure Writers Support Group! Learn more HERE.

I’ve been focusing on the psycho part of my psycho author career lately. I just finished a professional conference in Big Sky, Montana, and head back down the mountain today. Right now it’s -17 F! Here’s the view from my hotel room:


I presented on treating trauma in a special population, and shared my “screen door” metaphor to explain flashbacks. Check out this POST if you’re interested in how to write PTSD more accurately. It was wonderful connecting with colleagues.

One excellent TED talk I learned about at the conference is about how stress can be good for us. So if your heart’s racing, your stomach full of butterflies, your muscles tingling…those are signs your body is preparing to rise to the challenge!


Progress is slow with my WIP, and sales aren’t great. But I continue to enjoy the opportunity to create characters and stories.

How’s your month going?

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Insecure Writer’s Support Group #IWSG

Jennifer Lane

Inspiration in Strange Places

Hey, fellow writers! *waves* 

My main insecurity this month is my book sales. Two words: They suck. 😉 

Hope you published authors out there are doing better!

But I am enjoying writing my current work-in-progress: a New Adult volleyball romance titled Blocked. 

I have fun finding inspiration in strange places, like my volleyball board on Pinterest. I’m proud that I worked this quote into my novel:


Where do you find random inspiration?

I’m not sure if any IWSGers will attend the New Adult Sleepover Weekend December 6-8 in Savannah, Georgia, but I WILL BE THERE! I’m super stoked to party with authors and readers.

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#IWSG : Favorite Personal Experience In Your Writing

Jennifer Lane

Time for the Insecure Writers Support Group, started by Alex Cavanaugh.


How’s it going, writers? I’m happy with the new job I started in August, and looking forward to the holidays. Since I work for a university now, I actually get Veteran’s Day off work, yahoo!

Do you enjoy using personal experiences in your writing? I do. For example, I like to write therapy scenes incorporating my experiences as a psychologist.

I’m blessed with some hilarious friends and I like to “borrow” their dialogue now and then. When my swimming buddy Joe met my plus-sized cat, he said “That’s not a cat…that’s a cow.” Guess what one of my characters will say about his brother’s fat cat?

I’m currently writing my fifth novel, a New Adult volleyball romance titled Blocked. Although swimming was my main sport in college, I also played volleyball, and it’s a blast writing about this fun sport. My teammates and I engaged in fierce euchre tournaments, and not surprisingly this card game is making its way into the story.

What is one of your favorite personal experiences that you’ve incorporated into your writing?


If you’re feeling insecure, here’s a funny scene from the movie Young Adult to make you feel better about yourself as a writer:

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Eight Benefits of Reading a Book…and Book Giveaway!

Jennifer Lane

Welcome to guest author Zhuang Ping, who will share the benefits of reading books.

Want to reap those benefits instantly? Enter author Justine Dell’s loaded Kindle Fire giveaway.

Take it away, Zhuang:

Eight Benefits of Reading a Book

Being able to read is one of the most wonderful feelings. In the 21st century, the ability to read is not only a privilege but a right. Literacy and intelligence go hand in hand.

There are countless benefits of reading; here are my top eight:

1. Improved Knowledge

The more you read,the more knowledge you gain. Want to know what life was like for a young Geisha in WWII Japan? Read the fantastic book Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden.

2. Improved writing and speaking skills

Do you know that the more you read, the better you write? And that big readers express themselves better? Therefore, it’s wise to encourage your child to read from an early age. Children who start to read earlier become more proficient at writing and speaking. 

3. Mental stimulation

Reading is exercise for your brain! Reading forces you to focus while challenging your brain to process information. Several parts of the brain activate when we read, stimulating brain cells and forming new neuronal connections.

Photo courtesy of Sheknows.com 

4. Improved Memory

Both your short term and long term memory improve with reading. Your brain processes the information you read and stores it for reference when you turn the page. You will remember people, places, scenes and events, forming a visual of what you’re reading. You later access this stored information. 

5. Improved Analytical skills

Do you ever wonder “What the heck just happened?” when reading? In addition to all the above benefits, reading forces you to analyze and comprehend material. People who read become adept at drumming up ideas, sifting through chaos, and solving problems. 

6. Improved focus

Most of us can’t focus for long. SQUIRREL! We may fail to complete a task because we get bored or restless. Reading helps both adult and children to focus for more than just a few minutes. The more we read, the more our ability to focus improves. We may become so disciplined that we can focus for hours at a time. 

7. Relaxation

Have you heard of blue light? It’s what TV emits. It also suppresses melatonin, a hormone our body produces to help us fall asleep. For this reason, experts recommend avoiding TV before bedtime. What should you do instead? READ. Many people can’t fall asleep without a book. Reading can relax you, from Mom or Dad reading bedtime stories when you were young, to devouring your favorite book before bed as an adult. 

Reading can also provide stress relief. When you read, the brain repairs itself from the day’s stresses. 

8. Entertainment

No one can argue that in addition to knowledge and all the other benefits, a good book brings us entertainment. We may read to study or catch up on current affairs, but most of all we read for entertainment, evidenced by the fact that fiction sells more than non-fiction. A good novel makes us laugh and/or cry with the characters.

My favorite places to buy books are Amazon.com, Bookbyte or Bookbaby. There are many more reputable stores to choose from which offer great deals on purchases and shipping. To find the best stores and deals, go to promocode4share.com.

Thank you, Zhuang! Because of all these benefits of reading, I feel sad for friends who don’t read much.

But for those of you who LOVE reading like I do, my pub sister Justine Dell is giving away a Kindle Fire loaded with books! I’ve read her debut novel, Recaptured Dreams (review HERE) and can’t wait to check out her additional books: All-American Girl and soon-to-be-released Until Next Time.

To enter the Kindle Fire giveaway, complete the Rafflecopter form:

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