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Hello Jenna! I'm about to finish my first draft (honestly a lot due to you) and I'm over the moon with giddiness for this first achievement! It got me thinking: What do you do to celebrate when you finish your "first draft" (I put that in quotes because I know you edit as you go--but I mean when you write down all the words from your outline and are ready to send to betas if that makes sense)? Do you have a glass of wine? A dinner out? Or do you not even pause and just keep cranking it?

First of all, congratulations! You should be very proud of yourself.

Second, if I get around to celebrating, Cliff usually takes me out to dinner. But typically that happens weeks later because I’m so focused on writing 😇

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Okay, so most of the time when I get a book idea I play it out in my head, which most people do, right? But when I do it, it's too realistic and detailed and amazing, but when I try to write it out, it seems bland and too detailed. Like once I tried to write a scene about a couple walking in the rain, but I kept putting down exactly what I saw in my head and it usually ends up losing the magic feel and it looks like I'm grasping for filler words. How do I deal with this?

You need to give your reader more credit. Listing every insignificant detail insults your reader’s intelligence. Give them the most important, most impactful details, and let them fill in the rest. Think of it as a paint-by-numbers picture: give them the numbers, let them draw the lines. If you draw all the lines for them, you will lose them. They are reading a book to stimulate their minds, to be transported, to use their imagination. You listing every tiny detail for them ruins all that. Plus it’s boring.

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We’re making this into a bit of a drinking game.

So we’re taking a drink every time:

Someone gives us a task

Nancy takes something that isn’t hers

Nancy says something like “it’s locked”

Nancy says something unbelievably tactless

Krolmeister

Koko Kringle

We die

Stressful music

We might add more things as we go but that’s it for the moment

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OK idea:

message me what country you’re from and your 3 favorite things about living there

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Hi Jenna. I've finished my planning (plot, characters, all that jazz) a while ago - all that's left is writing my first draft. But the idea of it seems overwhelming and tiring. I love my story and I don't know why my motivation has shrivelled up and died. Thanks in advance, Cyborg Queen. <3

There’s no question here, so I’m not sure what you’re looking for. All I can say is writing is overwhelming and tiring. But you knew that already, and you planned a book anyway. The fact that you’re losing your motivation now, before the entire process has even begun, is interesting. I think you need to have an honest conversation with yourself: do you want to write a book? Not be an author, not be famous, not have a book turned into a movie - do you want to write a book? If the answer is yes, do it. If not, you are free to get out there and find your true passion.

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Who vs whom

Who killed the evil King? He killed the evil King! If you can rewrite the question using the word “he” the word will be “who” To Whom did you send the King’s head? To him I sent the King’s head. If you can rewrite the question using the word “him” the word will be “whom”

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Wanted - Character Portrait Artist

If you are a portrait artist, please consider reading this post! If you know any artists, please comment or private message me their information!

My name is Jenna Moreci, I’m a SFF author and writing vlogger - you can peep my channel here. Within the upcoming months, I will be in the market for a character portrait artist in order to prepare for the launch of my highly anticipated fantasy novel, The Savior’s Champion. Want details? I’ve got ‘em.

- I am looking to commission a minimum of 2 but ideally up to 10-35 character portraits. Said characters are from a fantasy novel with a Grecian vibe. I have reference photos readily available.

- I am looking for professional inquiries only. 

- I am looking for a realistic or semi-realistic style. No cartoon, Disney, or anime submissions, please. I would prefer digital work, but if it’s possible to make the portraits look as though they were painted, that is a plus (though certainly not mandatory). I am open to colored portraits or black and white.

- These portraits will be displayed on my website as well as all social media platforms. They will be used for promotional material and tools. Most importantly, they will be displayed on my YouTube channel. You’re looking at a total reach of roughly 100k+ followers, many of whom are other writers potentially in the market for artwork.

- Artist watermarks/signatures are encouraged on all portraits. I will also promote said artist prolifically on all of my platforms, including YouTube. If you’re working with me, I want to bring you traffic and clients. I want this pairing to be mutually beneficial.

- Of course, I am not anticipating paying you “in exposure” (though I do want you to get TONS of it). We creatives need to make a living, after all. I want to hear your rates. Let’s talk payment.

If this sounds like a project you’d be interested in, or you know of an artist who fits the bill, please let me know. I did have an artist already in mind for this project, but it looks like she might be bowing out :(

Note: this project is not yet time sensitive. I am not looking to get to work for a few months, so if you’re interested but not currently available, that is not a deal-breaker. My schedule is very flexible. My everything is flexible (except for my actual body - I can’t even do a cartwheel). I am just starting the hunt early, especially since my expected artist might no longer be interested.

Looking forward to hearing from some amazing talents! I’m aware that this is potentially a very large project if we move forward with up to 35 portraits, but my goal is not only to produce an outstanding novel release but also to expose a talented artist to my audience. I take care of my own.

<3 Jenna Mo

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Hi jenna! this isnt a writing question but i dont have anyone else i feel comfortable asking this question. you've been very open about depression and anxiety on this blog and im wondering, at what point should a person seek treatment or diagnosis for mental illness?

I’m not a mental health professional, but in my untrained opinion, if you’re questioning whether or not to seek help, you probably should. It’s no different than going to a doctor because a cold you thought you could treat on your own has gotten outta hand. Your health is important. 

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Day 15. It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. I hear the words echoed in my dreams with no end in sight. Yet I continue to hit “replay” in my waking hours. #bitterrivalsismybitterrival

Hi Jenna! This is totally random and feel free to say "I have no idea what you're talking about." Awhile back (I'd say maybe a month) you shared a video of a song you were listening to that you felt was peppy. It was a female singer and had a really cool start-up beat. I feel like the music video was sunny and there was dancing and they did this shoulder move while snapping their fingers. Omg, I'm so sorry, this is horribly vague. Anyway, I've been wanting to listen to it, but I can't find it!

I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT.

Sleigh Bells is one of my FAVORITE bands, and Bitter Rivals is one of my FAVORITE songs.

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Can you find the six Ethels waiting to pop out and scare you?

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Starting Over (again and again)

I have no idea how many times I've tried to get on the path I can feel myself on now. I've been living in my apartment for six months now. Six months. And I'm just starting to really fully understand how to fight for your dream and how to put in the work.

All this time I've felt so guilty that I've been unsuccessful in working towards my dream with the speed I wanted. The guilt, and the fear of what my inaction means, threatened to swallow my dreams whole. The parallel with wanting to become healthier and wanting to write my novel has not gone unnoticed by me. I feel like I've attempted to start each at least 100 times. But for the first time, I'm okay with that. And I'm almost grateful for all those attempts. Every time I start now reminds me how badly I want to push forward, not how many times I've failed.

It's kind of like trying to start an old car. It hasn't been used in awhile. You're not going to start it on the first try. You rev and you rev and you rev and eventually it starts. But you're not going to try once, realize it didn't start, then quit. No. You keep going because you know, or at least hope, it will eventually start. You keep doing it, manically, a little angrily.

That's what starting a new lifestyle is like. Except unlike with an old car, you don't get another life. So keep revving until it starts going. And remember it may quit down the road and that's okay. Just rev it up again. Because the places it will take you? They're worth it.

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Reblogged solely for the goat.

I've recently got back into writing again, this time with a fresh, new idea. I feel like I'm getting a bit obsessed with my writing. I feel anxious if I can't work on planning my story. I also procrastinate quite a bit, especially when I try to look things up for my story. I don't like writing when there are people around, which is hard since time is limited as to when there are no people around. I'm sorry if I came across as petty or grumpy here, that really wasn't my intention.

It didn’t come across grumpy, there just isn’t a question in here, so I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with this.

So here’s a goat!

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OMG sweet release from the horrible “it’s on the tip of my tongue” hell I’ve been living in for WEEKS now!! Anyway, totally addicted to this song. I may never reemerge. Send help.

Hi Jenna! This is totally random and feel free to say "I have no idea what you're talking about." Awhile back (I'd say maybe a month) you shared a video of a song you were listening to that you felt was peppy. It was a female singer and had a really cool start-up beat. I feel like the music video was sunny and there was dancing and they did this shoulder move while snapping their fingers. Omg, I'm so sorry, this is horribly vague. Anyway, I've been wanting to listen to it, but I can't find it!

I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT.

Sleigh Bells is one of my FAVORITE bands, and Bitter Rivals is one of my FAVORITE songs.

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#leos is the best

Here’s your February zodiac, nerds!

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nancy drew. the snoopy one. you are not dead yet?

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Today’s Spoon

I Don’t Have A Purpose

Why even bother to carry out the motions of a meaningless existence? It’s not like any of this matters, right? We’re all going to be dust relatively soon, so why try at anything? Why should I care about my health, wealth or life when it’s meaningless?

These are questions I used to ask myself and the truth is - there is no point in living a life devoid of meaning and purpose. We must decide on a purpose for ourselves - this must be linked to something you’re passionate about otherwise it won’t feel like your purpose.

Purpose is a term that’s thrown about very loosely these days, to me it means living a lifestyle that revolves around something you care enough about to not give it up for anything in this world. I decided that my purpose would be personal development because it saved my life.

After people tried to take it from me I realised that this life is a gift and should be treated as such. I decided that I would no longer allow this life to be a collection of moments devoid of meaning - I gave meaning to my life by doing things that mean something to me.

I get it, you don’t know what you’re passionate about - I was once there too. You’ve yet to realise it, but you’re in the best position possible - you get to try so many different things and see what fits. Try anything and everything and see how it makes you feel inside - whatever makes you feel good will be tied to your purpose. 

If you only had 24 hours left to live - what would you do with it? I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t waste it doing anything you didn’t care about, right? So whatever it is you would do with that time - do it today. If it feels good - include that in as much of your life as possible and you will feel your purpose each day.

Life doesn’t come with a manual - define your purpose for yourself.

Peace & positive vibes.

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i am an amateur detective i am not qualified for this this is not my job