Tag: writing

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#IWSG Looking Back, Looking Forward #NewRelease

Jennifer Lane

Happy December to all Writers! Join us for the Insecure Writers Support Group, developed by Alex Cavanaugh and maintained by lovely writers everywhere.


Visit today’s co-hosts:


Co-Hosts: Julie Flanders,Shannon Lawrence, Fundy Blue, Heather Gardner!

IWSG Question: As you look back on 2017, with all its successes and failures, if you could backtrack, what would you do differently?

After just getting weighed at the doctor’s *gulps*, I would have set up the standing desk I bought. Amazon delivered it months ago and it sits still neatly packed in its box while I sit my life away as a therapist and author. One hour of exercise doesn’t counteract fifteen of sitting. Sitting is the new smoking, they say, *coughs*

How’s your writing?

I’m in the exciting phase of writing: preparing for publication! My editor is polishing and my book designer is creating a cover for the launch of TWIN SACRIFICE. Inspired by a dream, I started this novel in 2009 and kept diverting to other projects before finishing it in 2017. It’s my first psychological thriller and I’m psyched for reader feedback.

Twin Sacrifice is up on Goodreads and I’ll post signups soon for the cover reveal on 1/10/18 and the release tour on 2/28/18.

Happy holidays!

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#IWSG: Good luck #NaNoWriMo !

Jennifer Lane

Happy November, writers! Once again I almost forgot to post on the first Wednesday of the month for Insecure Writers Support Group, but I saw a post on my lovely critique partner’s blog and got busy writing this at work! (Thanks, Nicki Elson.)

How’s your writing? I’m hustling to finish my WIP by the end of this month to squeeze into my editor’s schedule. I only have two chapters left to write, but one is rather pivotal to the plot and I haven’t figured out the details yet. I also am writing what I DON’T know by deciding to include chemistry in this story. Not the romantic kind, but the lab chemicals kind. If you’re a chemist and want to take a stab at an aspect of my plot that’s vexing me, please let me know!

IWSG question of the month:

Win or not, do you usually finish your NaNo project? 
 
I’ve never tried NaNo. Combine my busy fall schedule at the day job with my anxious tendencies and I think it would feel like way too much pressure. I like writing to be fun and refreshing, so a daily goal might not work for my style.

But I wish much productivity for those writers undertaking this November adventure!


This post is part of the monthly blog hop/therapy session known as Insecure Writer’s Support Group, founded by the one and clonely Alex J. Cavanaugh. Click below to join the group!


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New Release: EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS #writerspersevere

Jennifer Lane

Hi everyone! Today I have a special post as part of the Writers Persevere event that authors Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi are running for the next few days to celebrate their newest book, The Emotional Wound Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Psychological Trauma. This book explores the difficult experiences embedded in our characters’ backstory which will shape their motivation and behavior afterward. Check out my 5-star review HERE.

To help them celebrate this release, many of us are posting stories about some of the obstacles we’ve overcome as writers. As we all know, this isn’t an easy path. Writing is hard and as writers we tend to struggle with doubt. Sometimes too, we don’t always get the support we need to follow our passion, or we have added challenges that make writing more difficult. Because people are sharing their stories this week about how they worked through these challenges to keep writing, I wanted to post about it, too.

~*~


I never intended to become a writer, but life is what happens when we’re making our plans.

I was lucky to land my psychologist dream job in 2000. Too bad it turned into a nightmare by 2007. My bosses didn’t value my work and made threats to my livelihood. At that time, I became hooked on the TV show, Prison Break. Its dark themes and conspiracy theories matched my workplace misery. Through connecting with rabid Prison Break fans across the world, I learned about fan fiction. What? Hacks writing stories about TV stories?

You guessed it–I became one of those hacks and started writing my own fan fiction. At first my writing stunk but my TV show buddies encouraged me to keep going. When reality sucked, I turned to fiction. I left my bitter job and started a new job at a friendly, supportive clinic that taught me a useful specialty. Inspired by fan fiction, I wrote thousands of words and then found a publisher to launch those words into the universe.

I’m now working on my eighth novel. In a strange twist of events, I returned to the old job in 2013 and version 2.0 is going swimmingly.

My emotional wound is a great example of how pain can lead to beauty and strength. Write on, friends!


~*~

Do you have a story to share, or some advice for others? You can join Becca and Angela at Writers Helping Writers from October 25-27th, where we are celebrating writers and their stories of perseverance. Stop in, and tell them about a challenge or struggle your faced, or if you like, write a post on your own blog and share it using the hashtag #writerspersevere.  Let’s fill social media with yourstrength and let other writers know that it’s okay to question and have doubts but we shouldn’t let that stop us. 

GIVEAWAY ALERT! 

There’s a prize vault filled with items that can give your writing career a boost at Writers Helping Writers. 

I would love for one of you to win something that will help you get closer to your goal! 
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#IWSG Inserting Yourself into Your Characters #amwriting

Jennifer Lane

Doh! I almost forgot IWSG two months in a row (busy fall at my day job). Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for creating this supportive group.


October’s Question: Have you ever slipped any of your personal information into your characters, either by accident or on purpose?

Oh, yes, in multiple books, on purpose. (That sounds narcissistic!) As a psychologist/author (psycho author), I throw all of my characters into therapy, and the therapist character often channels me in some way. And in my swimming novel, Streamline, the heroine’s friend was a backstroker who struggled with her body image–also autobiographical.

I look forward to hearing how other authors have inserted themselves into their characters.

How is your writing? I’m 80% done with my romantic suspense and I’m really excited about releasing it into the world maybe January or February of 2018. I keep changing the title (my original idea was Twin Sacrifice) and my latest brainstorm is My Life For My Brother. How does that title sound to you?

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#IWSG Reading Pet Peeves

Jennifer Lane


Crap, where did June and July go? It’s time for the August edition of Insecure Writers Support Group where we share our fears and successes.

Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh and this month’s co-hosts!
Co-Hosts:


IWSG Question: What are your pet peeves when reading / writing / editing?


After working with professional editors for seven novels, I’ve become a stickler for grammar and spelling. One word I see consistently misspelled (even in traditionally published novels) is BLOND.

My editor taught me that the only time to use the spelling BLONDE is describing a female as a noun. 

The sassy blonde approached me.

When using blond as an adjective (or as a noun for a blond man), THERE IS NO E!!!

The sassy, blond woman approached me.

I fell for the blond dude in a heartbeat.

Holy Leo DeCaprio, he’s hot! I fell for that blond in a heartbeat.


Speaking of pet peeves, do you ever read an early work of yours and cringe? Adverb abuse was rampant in my debut novel, romantic suspense With Good Behavior. So I edited the hell out of it and we re-launch it on 8/14/17.

If you have a moment to share my re-release the week of 8/14, signups are HERE. Thanks!
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One Lesson I’ve Learned as a Writer #IWSG #amwriting

Jennifer Lane

Happy July to All Writers! Hop on the Insecure Writers Support Group train HERE.


How is your writing? Mine has grown less and less frequent over the years. But I AM still writing! I’m excited about my romantic suspense WIP–it’s just that my day job has grown in scope and I don’t write if I travel on the weekends. 

As I write this post, I’m in Nashville, visiting a good friend who moved here recently. We cooked quite a few dishes for his brother’s July 4th party, including spicy grits, pimento dip, banana pudding, spiked lemonade, and red velvet brownie stars.


IWSG Question: What is one valuable lesson you’ve learned since you started writing?


I could fill pages with all I’ve learned since I started writing ten years ago, but I’ll narrow it down to this:

Use punchy action verbs instead of adverbs.

Instead of Joe ran quickly … Joe dashed.

Instead of She looked frantically through her purse … She rummaged through her purse.

My debut novel, With Good Behavior, was full of adverbs and bloated writing. I sliced 30,000 words and my publisher will re-release the tighter version soon. I cut the book down to its fighting weight!

Check out this pdf by Deanna Carlyle, 1000 Verbs to Write By.

Thank you to Alex Cavanaugh and this month’s Co-Hosts:

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#IWSG Where the Book Has No Name

Jennifer Lane

Happy June to all writers! Join us for our monthly support group at Alex J Cavanaugh’s BLOG.


I’m about halfway through my romantic suspense WIP, Twin Sacrifice. It’s a crime drama involving twin brothers. My sister says she doesn’t like the title. What’s your honest reaction to “Twin Sacrifice”?

This past weekend was so fun. Attending a U2 concert has been on my bucket list since The Joshua Tree released when I was a teenager, and I finally got to go!!! I saw U2 at Soldier Field with my editor Jessica, and wrote with my critique partner Bev the next day, all in the great city of Chicago. Check out my Facebook video of the spellbinding introduction to Where the Streets Have No Name HERE.

Question of the month: Did you ever say “I quit”? If so, what happened to make you come back to writing?


I started this writing thing in 2007, and I haven’t stopped yet. Writing has been the outlet I never knew I needed, and I’ve met such lovely (and crazy) people. But after I publish my WIP, I might take a break since I don’t have an idea for a new book brewing.

Check out this month’s kickbutt co-Hosts:

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#IWSG Weird, Cool #Writing Research

Jennifer Lane


Happy May to all writers!


Pop over to Alex Cavanaugh’s blog to join us for the Insecure Writers Support Group.

Today’s co-hosts: Nancy Gideon, Tamara Narayan, Liesbet @ Roaming About, Michelle Wallace, and Feather Stone!

How’s your writing? I’m about 40% done with my romantic suspense WIP, Twin Sacrifice. Thank you to my awesome critique partner, Nicki Elson, for her tremendous help.

I love this month’s IWSG question:

What’s the weirdest/coolest thing you’ve researched for a story?

So many weird/cool topics to choose from! I know quite a few writers like me hope our internet search histories don’t alert the authorities to possible subversive behavior. Here are my highlights:

* Building bomb triggers

* Layout of rooms in the White House

* Effects of Rohypnol (Roofies) on the body

* How to get a gun through airport security

And my most fun research? Taking a Chicago architectural cruise.

I look forward to hearing what funky stuff you’ve researched!

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#IWSG Dusting Off Old Manuscripts

Jennifer Lane


Happy March Insecure Writers Support Group!


Hop over to Alex Cavanaugh’s blog to join us.

Co-Hosts:


I’m late to post this month because work has been so busy and my friends are going through some big changes. One friend’s husband just died, and another good friend (my swimming buddy) is moving to Nashville. *sad face* But it’s good to hang with my writer pals in the support group!

March IWSG Day Question: Have you ever pulled out a really old story and reworked it? Did it work out?


Well, I’m actually doing that right now so the outcome is yet to be seen. I started a romantic suspense novel titled Twin Sacrifice back in 2009, and I’m dusting it off to rework it. I haven’t had much time to write lately but I hope to get cranking soon.

Write on, friends!

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#IWSG How Does Writing Affect Your Reading?

Jennifer Lane


Welcome to February’s edition of Insecure Writers Support Group, the brainchild of Alex Cavanaugh. Hop on board at Alex’s blog!


How was your January? I had to replace my furnace/AC/water heater and let’s just say I’m relieved I don’t have to survive on my measly author income after getting that bill. Luckily the system died when we had unseasonably warm temperatures in Ohio.

Are you ready for Singles Awareness Day on February 14th?


February Question: How has being a writer changed your experience as a reader?

Positive change: A greater appreciation for well-written books.

Negative change: Less enjoyment of many books. Before starting as a writer, I didn’t notice misspellings (like blond/blonde) or excessive verbiage. In the past, I skipped over cliches and telling instead of showing. Now those errors disgust me.

I feel fortunate fellow authors had the patience to read my debut novel, considering all my fledgling writer mistakes. I just re-edited With Good Behavior and chopped off 33,000 words, yahoo! The manuscript is with my publisher for a copy edit before we re-release it.

Speaking of revising, my website is over six years old and in need of an overhaul. Any web designers you’d recommend?

Thank you to this month’s co-hosts: