Tag: writing

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Montana Marijuana, Microaggressions, and Manuscripts #IWSG

Jennifer Lane

Happy Insecure Writers Support Group, started by Alex J Cavanaugh!


I’m in Montana for a psychology conference. learning some cool things. Too bad I dislike skiing because we have major snow in Big Sky.


But I’ve had a blast chatting with friends and learning stuff! The best presentation so far has been about MARIJUANA. As a psychologist who has witnessed the sadness of addiction, I was against legalization before the presentation. Now I’m totally against it.


While you might think this brownie, candy, and beverage are for the munchies after you toke it up, these “edibles” are actually how THC is administered these days. One gummy bear has 4 servings of high potency THC. They’re marketing to kids by infusing candy and drinks with THC.

And, this isn’t your grandparent’s pot, your parents’ pot, or even your pot. In 1960 THC was .2% concentration. Now it’s 12%. Since it’s been commercialized in Colorado, the lobbyists and marketing machine has created products with 36% THC which have zero resemblance to the natural hemp plant. (The CBD percentage has stayed the same, rendering today’s marijuana as less medicinal.) One 19 year old Wyoming student went to Colorado, had never had pot before, ate a cookie with high potency THC, had a psychotic break, and jumped out a window to his death.

Whatever your beliefs, decriminalization is not the same as legalization. The change in law is all about making money and not about decriminalization or health at all. Using marijuana before the age of 18 really increases risk of addiction and cognitive deficits: one study in New Zealand found an EIGHT point drop in IQ from using marijuana 5 times a week.


What are your thoughts about marijuana?

Another great presentation was on MICROAGGRESSIONS, or unintended discrimination. We all make comments, often without our awareness, that may be hurtful. For example, a heterosexual person may tell a homosexual person “I don’t care what you do, just don’t flaunt your sexuality.” That comment may be hurtful by implying a gay person is hyper-sexual or some other such stereotype. Should we tell a heterosexual couple to stop kissing and “flaunting their heterosexuality”?

This video highlights some micro aggressions:



Finally, how’s your writing coming along? I was about 20K words into a romantic suspense when I realized I was itching to write book two in my college volleyball romance series, so I just started that MANUSCRIPT. I’m titling it Aced for now.

I think I’ll put my romantic suspense Twin Sacrifice aside though I kind of miss it. Anyone write two books at once? I’ve never tried before.

My critique partner Nicki Elson’s awesome rom-com VIBRIZZIO is available for pre-order! You will love this story and it’s only $.99.

Write on, my fellow crusaders!

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#IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond & Writing Dialogue

Jennifer Lane

Thank you to Alex Cavanaugh for hosting The Insecure Writers’ Support Group, where we journey together down this lonesome writing road.


Have you downloaded your free copy of The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Guide to Publishing and Beyond?


The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Guide to Publishing and Beyond


Tapping into the expertise of over a hundred talented authors from around the globe, The IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond contains something for every writer. Whether you are starting out and need tips on the craft of writing, looking for encouragement as an already established author, taking the plunge into self-publishing, or seeking innovative ways to market and promote your work, this guide is a useful tool. Compiled into three key areas of writing, publishing, and marketing, this valuable resource offers inspirational articles, helpful anecdotes, and excellent advice on dos and don’ts that we all wish we knew when we first started out on this writing journey.

ISBN 9781939844088
235 pages, FREE
IWSG sites – website, Facebook, and Facebook Critique Circle
Find the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Smashwords,Goodreads.


I contributed a piece on writing character relational styles, and I can’t wait to dive into reading all the helpful advice. Suddenly the writing journey isn’t so lonely!

Today I want to share tips for writing dialogue from author Justin McLaughlin:

Check them out HERE

Good tips, you think? 

What do you struggle with when writing dialogue? 

I have been guilty of fluffy tags like “she shouted” or “he groaned” instead of the less distracting “said”.

I’m also learning to write with more economy, like “Thought you hated Fox News” or “Kind of tall for a setter, aren’t you?”

Happy 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!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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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.