Jen Dodrill Writes

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    • Meet the characters from The Empty Nesters Cozy Mystery Series
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    • Favorite Book Quotes
    • Research for Where’s the Quetzal?
    • Book Reviews
      • Book Review: Evolving in Monkey Town by Rachel Held Evans
      • Book Review: Shield of the King by MB Mooney
      • Book Review: Cake That! by Heather Greer
      • Book Review: Exercise is Murder by Bruce Hammack
    • Everything Cozy Mysteries
      • What is a Cozy Mystery?
      • 10 Must-Read Cozy Mystery Series for Every Mystery Lover
      • 10 Writing Prompts for Cozy Mystery Lovers
      • Exploring Cozy Mystery Themes: Diving into Comforting Crime
      • Cozy Mysteries with a Unique Twist: 5 Unconventional Series to Add to Your Reading List
      • Why Cozy Mysteries Are Perfect for Fall Reading
  • For Writers
    • How-tos
      • Writing a Holiday Story: Creating Fiction That Captures the Spirit of the Season
      • Unpacking Backstory: How to Seamlessly Integrate It into Your Novel
      • Creative Exercises to Spark Inspiration and Improve Your Writing
      • Creating a one-sheet on Canva for your novel
      • Crafting a Writer’s Mood Board: Inspiration and Insight for Your Creative Journey
      • Designing Your Book Cover Using Canva: A Step-by-Step Guide
      • Creating the Perfect Setting: The Heartbeat of Your Story
      • Crafting Unforgettable Characters: A Guide for Authors
      • Defining your genre and audience as a writer
      • Mastering Success: A Guide to Setting SMART Goals for Writers
      • How to use the Save the Cat Beat Sheet
      • How to hook your reader
      • How to prep for writing conferences
      • How to Prep for NaNoWriMo
    • Tips
      • From Hook to Inciting Incident – What Fiction Writers Need to Know
      • 10 Essential Ingredients of a media kit
      • Why you should enter writing contests
      • Plot Points and Pinch Points: Understanding Their Role in Fiction Writing
      • Finding Inspiration: Ways to Fuel Your Novel Writing Journey
      • Crafting Compelling Character Arcs: The Heart of Fiction Writing
      • Critique groups: how & why they help writers
      • How do you pick your writing genre?
      • Obstacles to writing (aka writer’s block)
      • Top 10 Books Writers Need
      • Writing about conflict: tips to incorporate it in your novel
      • Writing conferences – why you should go!
    • Information
      • Mother’s Day Gifts for Writers
      • The Power of Guest Posting for Writers
      • Top 10 Writing Obstacles and How to Overcome Them
      • Mastering Punctuation in Fiction: How to Use It to Shape Tone and Style
      • 25 Best Christmas Gifts for Writers: Perfect Picks for the Literary Mind
      • Essential Types of Editing Every Novel Needs
      • The Art of Judging Book Covers
      • Diving into Themes: A Fun Guide for Authors and Readers
      • How to choose your premise and concept when writing your novel
      • Are you a plotter or pantser?
      • Different types of point of view (POV)
      • Writing terms writers need to know
      • What drives your story – character or plot?
      • World-building – why every author must use it in their novels
      • What do you do when nano is over?
      • Authors should be speakers
      • Embracing Gratitude in My Journey as a Writer
  • Author Interviews
    • Meet author Shannon Dunlap
    • Author Jenny Carlisle and her Writing Process
    • Meet author Susan Lawrence
    • Meet author Terri Wangard
    • Meet author Elaine Cooper
    • Meet author Beth Westcott
    • Meet author Bruce Hammack
    • Meet author Jennifer Burrows
    • Author Mike Ehret and Beyond December
    • Meet author Linda Dindzans
    • Hope T. Dougherty and Forever Music
    • Meet author Regina Merrick
    • Meet author Lori DeJong
    • Meet author Shirley Gould
    • Meet author Susan Page Davis
    • Meet author Amy Anguish
    • Meet author Mary Pat Johns
    • Meet author Jenny Carlisle
    • Meet author Delores Topliff
    • Meet author E.V. Sparrow
    • Meet author Donna Wichelman
    • Meet author Betty Woods
    • Meet author Michael Ehret
    • Meet author Lynn U. Watson
    • Meet new author ~ Kim Banet
    • Forever Free by author Hope Toler Dougherty
    • Meet Heather Tabers ~ Historical Romance with Grit & Grace
  • Monthly-themed Reading Lists
    • Monthly Themed Reading List: Cozy Mystery Book Recommendations
    • Monthly Themed Reading List: Fantasy Book Recommendations
    • Monthly Themed Reading List Recommendations: Romance
    • Monthly Themed Reading List Recommendations: Science Fiction
    • Monthly Themed Reading List Recommendations: Nonfiction
  • Book Updates
  • Resource library
  • Shop
    • Writing by the Acts eBook
    • Writing Conference Prep Video
    • One-Sheet Templates
  • Home
    • About Jen
    • Connect
    • Media Kit
    • Newsletter
  • For Readers
    • Meet the characters from The Empty Nesters Cozy Mystery Series
    • Candy & Books – A Perfect Pairing for Your Sweet Tooth and Bookish Soul
    • Favorite Book Quotes
    • Research for Where’s the Quetzal?
    • Book Reviews
      • Book Review: Evolving in Monkey Town by Rachel Held Evans
      • Book Review: Shield of the King by MB Mooney
      • Book Review: Cake That! by Heather Greer
      • Book Review: Exercise is Murder by Bruce Hammack
    • Everything Cozy Mysteries
      • What is a Cozy Mystery?
      • 10 Must-Read Cozy Mystery Series for Every Mystery Lover
      • 10 Writing Prompts for Cozy Mystery Lovers
      • Exploring Cozy Mystery Themes: Diving into Comforting Crime
      • Cozy Mysteries with a Unique Twist: 5 Unconventional Series to Add to Your Reading List
      • Why Cozy Mysteries Are Perfect for Fall Reading
  • For Writers
    • How-tos
      • Writing a Holiday Story: Creating Fiction That Captures the Spirit of the Season
      • Unpacking Backstory: How to Seamlessly Integrate It into Your Novel
      • Creative Exercises to Spark Inspiration and Improve Your Writing
      • Creating a one-sheet on Canva for your novel
      • Crafting a Writer’s Mood Board: Inspiration and Insight for Your Creative Journey
      • Designing Your Book Cover Using Canva: A Step-by-Step Guide
      • Creating the Perfect Setting: The Heartbeat of Your Story
      • Crafting Unforgettable Characters: A Guide for Authors
      • Defining your genre and audience as a writer
      • Mastering Success: A Guide to Setting SMART Goals for Writers
      • How to use the Save the Cat Beat Sheet
      • How to hook your reader
      • How to prep for writing conferences
      • How to Prep for NaNoWriMo
    • Tips
      • From Hook to Inciting Incident – What Fiction Writers Need to Know
      • 10 Essential Ingredients of a media kit
      • Why you should enter writing contests
      • Plot Points and Pinch Points: Understanding Their Role in Fiction Writing
      • Finding Inspiration: Ways to Fuel Your Novel Writing Journey
      • Crafting Compelling Character Arcs: The Heart of Fiction Writing
      • Critique groups: how & why they help writers
      • How do you pick your writing genre?
      • Obstacles to writing (aka writer’s block)
      • Top 10 Books Writers Need
      • Writing about conflict: tips to incorporate it in your novel
      • Writing conferences – why you should go!
    • Information
      • Mother’s Day Gifts for Writers
      • The Power of Guest Posting for Writers
      • Top 10 Writing Obstacles and How to Overcome Them
      • Mastering Punctuation in Fiction: How to Use It to Shape Tone and Style
      • 25 Best Christmas Gifts for Writers: Perfect Picks for the Literary Mind
      • Essential Types of Editing Every Novel Needs
      • The Art of Judging Book Covers
      • Diving into Themes: A Fun Guide for Authors and Readers
      • How to choose your premise and concept when writing your novel
      • Are you a plotter or pantser?
      • Different types of point of view (POV)
      • Writing terms writers need to know
      • What drives your story – character or plot?
      • World-building – why every author must use it in their novels
      • What do you do when nano is over?
      • Authors should be speakers
      • Embracing Gratitude in My Journey as a Writer
  • Author Interviews
    • Meet author Shannon Dunlap
    • Author Jenny Carlisle and her Writing Process
    • Meet author Susan Lawrence
    • Meet author Terri Wangard
    • Meet author Elaine Cooper
    • Meet author Beth Westcott
    • Meet author Bruce Hammack
    • Meet author Jennifer Burrows
    • Author Mike Ehret and Beyond December
    • Meet author Linda Dindzans
    • Hope T. Dougherty and Forever Music
    • Meet author Regina Merrick
    • Meet author Lori DeJong
    • Meet author Shirley Gould
    • Meet author Susan Page Davis
    • Meet author Amy Anguish
    • Meet author Mary Pat Johns
    • Meet author Jenny Carlisle
    • Meet author Delores Topliff
    • Meet author E.V. Sparrow
    • Meet author Donna Wichelman
    • Meet author Betty Woods
    • Meet author Michael Ehret
    • Meet author Lynn U. Watson
    • Meet new author ~ Kim Banet
    • Forever Free by author Hope Toler Dougherty
    • Meet Heather Tabers ~ Historical Romance with Grit & Grace
  • Monthly-themed Reading Lists
    • Monthly Themed Reading List: Cozy Mystery Book Recommendations
    • Monthly Themed Reading List: Fantasy Book Recommendations
    • Monthly Themed Reading List Recommendations: Romance
    • Monthly Themed Reading List Recommendations: Science Fiction
    • Monthly Themed Reading List Recommendations: Nonfiction
  • Book Updates
  • Resource library
  • Shop
    • Writing by the Acts eBook
    • Writing Conference Prep Video
    • One-Sheet Templates

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  • Why writers use animals in books IG
    blog post,  Writing tips

    Why writers use animals in books

    / July 24, 2023 / 4 Comments

    I love reading books that have animals in them. Do you? When I write, I also use animals in books. I use them for humor and to show love, plus I think animals…

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Recent Posts

  • Meet author Shannon Dunlap
  • Monthly Themed Reading List: Fantasy Book Recommendations
  • Book Review: Evolving in Monkey Town by Rachel Held Evans
  • Author Jenny Carlisle and her Writing Process
  • Monthly Themed Reading List Recommendations: Nonfiction
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