Jen Dodrill Writes

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    • 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
  • 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

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  • 2025,  Author Interview,  blog post

    Author Kim Banet & Just Another Dream

    / May 16, 2025 / 0 Comments

    Kim Banet was on the blog about a year ago talking about her debut novel, Just Another Home. Today we're talking all things writing and featuring her new book, Just Another Dream!

    read more
  • 2025,  Author Interview,  blog post

    Author Jenny Carlisle and her Writing Process

    / April 18, 2025 / 0 Comments

    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,…

    read more
  • 2025,  Author Interview,  blog post

    Meet author Susan Lawrence

    / April 7, 2025 / 0 Comments

    Today, we're welcoming Susan Lawrence to the blog! I can't wait to learn more about her and find out what she's been up to.

    read more
  • 2025,  blog post,  Writing tips

    The Power of Guest Posting for Writers

    / March 27, 2025 / 0 Comments

    Guest posting is one strategy that can help us as writers to reach new audiences and build authority in our niche. In this blog post, I'll look at several ways guest posting can…

    read more
  • writing a holiday story blog post cover with a red mug full of cocoa and whipped cream and a red book with a green and white candy cane
    2024,  blog post,  Writing tips

    Writing a Holiday Story: Creating Fiction That Captures the Spirit of the Season

    / December 17, 2024 / 4 Comments

    But writing holiday-themed stories that feel fresh, engaging, and emotionally true can be a challenge. How do you create a holiday story that reflects the magic of the season without falling into the…

    read more
  • 2024,  blog post,  Writing tips

    From Hook to Inciting Incident – What Fiction Writers Need to Know

    / December 6, 2024 / 0 Comments

    One of the most critical aspects to master is how to hook your readers right from the start. Then you need the inciting incident to propel the plot forward. Let's learn how to…

    read more
  • media kit blog post cover
    2024,  blog post,  Writing tips

    10 Essential Ingredients of a media kit

    / November 19, 2024 / 0 Comments

    I don't have a media kit. I know I need one, though, so I thought - why don't I write a blog post about it while I create mine? Follow along as work…

    read more
  • 2024,  blog post,  Writing tips

    Top 10 Writing Obstacles and How to Overcome Them

    / November 14, 2024 / 0 Comments

    Writing obstacles are an age-old complaint among writers. I want to go through 10 writing obstacles plus give tips on how to overcome them.

    read more
  • 2024,  blog post,  Writing tips

    Unpacking Backstory: How to Seamlessly Integrate It into Your Novel

    / November 11, 2024 / 0 Comments

    Backstory provides depth and context to your characters. This is a comprehensive guide on backstory and how to integrate it seamlessly.

    read more
  • 2024,  blog post,  Writing tips

    Mastering Punctuation in Fiction: How to Use It to Shape Tone and Style

    / November 8, 2024 / 0 Comments

    Punctuation is more than just a set of rules; in fiction, it’s a storytelling tool that helps control the pace, convey tone, and enhance the reader’s experience.

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