Author Jenny Carlisle and her Writing Process

It’s good to have Jenny Carlisle back on the blog! Last August, she told us about her book, Hope Takes the Reins. This time, she’ll talk about her writing process and her book, Faith Moves Mountains!

Let’s get started!

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Jenny’s writing process

Jen – Welcome back, Jenny! This time around, I want to ask more about your writing process. How do you come up with your ideas? 

Jenny – Most of my story ideas have been stewing around in my head for years. I have a cast of characters in mind who are all begging for their tales to be told. Recently, participating in a collection of novellas prompted something entirely new. Then, I started with the commonalities of the other stories and took off from there. My imagination is extremely fertile, which can be both a blessing and a curse. 

Jen – I agree! Sometimes I have to tell those voices to hush! 😉

Jenny’s bio

Jenny has been writing stories since she learned to hold a pencil. She retired from a career in Human Resources for the State of Arkansas. A long-time columnist for Ouachita Life magazine, two collections of her inspirational articles have been self-published. She is past president of American Christian Fiction Writers – Arkansas Chapter. Valuable relationships and recognition have been achieved at writing conferences over the years. Scrivenings Press has published three full-length novels and a novella in the Crossroads series. These books are all contemporary romances. She and her husband, James, live in Benton, Arkansas, where they worship with a service-oriented congregation of the Church of Christ. They are the parents of three married children and eight grandchildren and love participating in all sorts of adventures with them.

Outlining and rough drafts

Jen – In your writing process, do you outline before writing? And do you write a rough draft? 

Jenny –I don’t do a formal outline, but I do several exercises before starting a new book to help me get to know the back story of my characters. Then, I usually think about the beginning, middle and end of a story and have these destinations in mind before I start the first draft. It is sometimes rough, but usually semi-plotted. On the second run-through, the rabbit trails and extra characters will need to be weeded out. 

More about Jenny’s writing process

Jen – What themes do you like to use in your books? 

Jenny – My characters are usually on the cusp of adulthood, so I tend to write about their journey to finding their own way in life. They have varying degrees of difficulty understanding that God has the perfect plan. 

My second book, Faith Moves Mountains, is a perfect example. John K. Billings can’t get past the trauma he endured in the military, and Faith Caldwell is testing her freedom after being preoccupied with the recent illness and passing of her mom. They learn that putting the past behind them is key to moving forward. 

Faith Moves Mountains by Jenny Carlisle

John Kennedy (John K.) Billings has spent his whole life living up to his hero-inspired name.

Now, back from a traumatic incident in the military, he finds himself running from the fact that he is only human, with real-life struggles to overcome.

Faith Caldwell feels free to pursue her own dreams now that her family’s regularly scheduled rodeo has ended. After helping care for her cancer-stricken mother, she is determined to bring big-city medical expertise to small-town Arkansas. While trying to prove she can fulfill her dream on her own, a new admirer seems determined to pull her down.

Both enjoy the idea of seeing more of the world, but find their hearts are still tied to the mountains of Arkansas and the people who live there.

Can these lifelong neighbors help each other face their weaknesses while following God’s plan for their lives?

Turning points in Jenny’s writing

Jen – Were there pivotal moments or challenges in your writing career that helped define your path?  

Jenny – My turning point came when a trusted mentor advised me to scrap the tired old story that I had been pitching to agents and editors for years. She knew me well enough to suggest that I start over with another story that was on my heart. New characters, new locations, new plot. Hope Takes the Reins was born. This became my first traditionally published novel, and the first in my Crossroads series. 

Jen – How do you deal with criticism or rejection? 

Jenny – Truly, not too well. I have had plenty of practice with rejection, but sometimes I don’t listen to criticism too well. Sometimes, it needs to sink in for a bit before I turn it into a learning experience. I am getting better now that I deal with more than one editor while crafting a book. 

Writing advice

Jen – What’s the best writing advice you’ve received? 

Jenny – At a session hosted by Frank Peretti and Alan ???? at the  2019 ACFW Conference,  their advice to first-time authors was aimed directly at me. They advised that though writing to someone’s formula might create a quick path to publication, it might not be MY book anymore. Write YOUR book, then find the people who believe in it and want to publish it. Shortly after that, my proposal for Hope Takes the Reins was accepted by Scrivenings Press, and the rest is history. 

Jen – I love that advice, and it’s sooo true! If you could have dinner with any author, alive or dead, who would it be and why? 

Jenny – Maybe Catherine Marshall. When I read Christy, I was so impressed with the idea of a book that covered all facets of a woman’s life: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. I looked for her bio and found she had passed away years earlier. I would love the chance to tell a pioneer of Christian Fiction how things have changed, and how she affected my life. 

Jenny’s next book!

Jen – What are you working on next? 

Jenny – I have finished the first draft of a novella for a collection that should come out in the spring of 2026. Then it’s back to the tired old story I was advised to drop, now totally revamped. Am I crazy? We’ll see. 

More about Jenny’s life

Jen – Love it! We’ve talked a lot about your writing process today. What do you like to do when you’re not writing? 

Jenny – My husband and I are both retired from our full-time jobs. We enjoy large and small adventures together. We have three married children and eight amazing grandchildren, so nothing is better than being included in their lives. 

We have a wonderful church family, where we are members of their JOY group, “Just Older Youth”. We work on projects like building the congregation’s Christmas float or preparing lunch for a crew of missionaries. Monthly potlucks give us a chance to spend time with folks who understand our daily struggles and encourage us to keep looking for God’s daily blessings. 

Recently, I have volunteered as a Journey Partner with Women Equipped, a Christian Women’s Job Corp. During a twelve-week “semester,” I attend a class about goals and eat lunch once a week with one of the students, with the hope of building a mentorship relationship. I find that I benefit as much as they do from this partnership. 

Jen – That sounds amazing! And as far as grandkids, I agree! Thanks for being on the blog again and talking to us about your writing process and all things writing life!

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Hi, I’m Jen! I’ve been married for 39 years, have 5 amazing kids, and have 3 adorable grandkids. I homeschooled our three youngest children and used to blog about homeschooling. I also taught Oral Communication as an adjunct instructor for over 5 years.

Jen Dodrill Writes is born of a passion of mine – to write a novel! My first cozy mystery – Birds Alive! – released Feb. 27, 2024, and the 2nd in the series, Where’s the Quetzal? released Feb. 25, 2025!

When I’m not working, you’ll find me writing, spending time with my family, or curled up on the couch reading and drinking a mug of dark roast coffee. (Don’t forget to check out my mug shop – JDMugs!)