Jen Dodrill Writes

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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
      • 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
      • 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
    • Author Kim Banet & Just Another Dream
    • 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
  • Gift Guides for Writers
    • Thoughtful Father’s Day Gifts for the Writer in Your Life
    • Mother’s Day Gifts for Writers
    • 25 Best Christmas Gifts for Writers: Perfect Picks for the Literary Mind
  • Shop
    • Writing by the Acts eBook
    • Writing Conference Prep Video
    • One-Sheet Templates
  • Home
    • About Jen
    • Connect
    • Media Kit
    • Newsletter
  • For Readers
    • Trinity Sands Beach Club
    • 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
      • 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
      • 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
    • Author Kim Banet & Just Another Dream
    • 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
  • Gift Guides for Writers
    • Thoughtful Father’s Day Gifts for the Writer in Your Life
    • Mother’s Day Gifts for Writers
    • 25 Best Christmas Gifts for Writers: Perfect Picks for the Literary Mind
  • Shop
    • Writing by the Acts eBook
    • Writing Conference Prep Video
    • One-Sheet Templates

No Widgets found in the Sidebar Alt!

  • 2024,  blog post,  Writing tips

    Crafting Unforgettable Characters: A Guide for Authors

    / March 18, 2024 / 2 Comments

    Unforgettable characters are the heartbeat of every narrative. They breathe life into the worlds we authors create, drive the plot forward, and forge connections with readers.

    read more
  • 2024,  blog post,  Writing tips

    Diving into Themes: A Fun Guide for Authors and Readers

    / March 7, 2024 / 0 Comments

    Whether you're an author crafting your next novel or a reader diving into a new adventure, understanding themes can take your literary journey to a new level.

    read more
  • 2024,  Author Interview,  blog post

    Meet new author ~ Kim Banet

    / March 4, 2024 / 2 Comments

    Kim Banet is a fellow Scrivenings Press author, and her debut novel, Just Another Home, released May 2024

    read more
  • 2024,  blog post,  Writing tips

    Crafting Compelling Character Arcs: The Heart of Fiction Writing

    / February 6, 2024 / 2 Comments

    How much do you think about your character's arc when writing a story? What is a character arc?

    read more
  • 2024,  blog post,  Writing tips

    Defining your genre and audience as a writer

    / January 15, 2024 / 0 Comments

    Defining your genre and audience is the first thing to do before you start writing your book!

    read more
  • blog post,  Writing tips

    How to use the Save the Cat Beat Sheet

    / October 16, 2023 / 2 Comments

    Do you know how to use the Save the Cat Beat Sheet? It's a novel-writing template popularized by Blake Snyder in his book "Save the Cat!"

    read more
  • blog post

    Authors should be speakers

    / October 2, 2023 / 0 Comments

    Authors should be speakers – why?? For so many reasons! In October 2022, I attended the Florida Christian Writers Conference and met Michele Chynoweth. She is the author of several books and a…

    read more
  • Author Interview,  blog post

    Meet Heather Tabers ~ Historical Romance with Grit & Grace

    / September 18, 2023 / 0 Comments

    Meet author Heather Tabers! Besides writing, she creates amazing earrings and offers a coaching group for writers.

    read more
  • blog post,  Nanowrimo,  writing goals

    How to Prep for NaNoWriMo

    / September 4, 2023 / 2 Comments

    NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month, held every November. Learning how to prep for NaNoWriMo is the difference between success and flying by the seat of your pants (and not hitting that 50k word goal).

    read more
  • My Ultimate Writing Goals
    blog post,  writing goals,  Writing tips

    My ultimate writing goals

    / June 19, 2023 / 0 Comments

    My ultimate writing goals were to be traditionally published and write tons of books. I never dreamed about being rich – I just wanted to write. Then I started writing. The first thing…

    read more
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  • Author Kim Banet & Just Another Dream
  • Trinity Sands Beach Club
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  • Monthly Themed Reading List: Fantasy Book Recommendations
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