Writing with Jennifer

Check out this article from Berkeley News.  It's about a study that showed how conservatives and liberals had emotional reactions when they heard certain "hot button" words.  I love this. Why didn't I get a Ph.D. in rhetoric? (It's because I'm kind of lazy and also I had children) If you've studied persuasive writing at all, you know that there are buzz words you can include to make the reader think, and ultimately do, what you want. Certain words compel people to take action, especially to get out their wallets. In that same way, you can play upon people's natural leanings with your choice of words. That's one reason it's critical to know your audience.  Now there is that overlapping area between compelling and lying (using the words "sale" and "quality" are great ways of getting attention but they might be completely false... words like "quality," "terrific," "best" are particularly useful if ...

Writing is the kind of activity that sometimes requires outside motivation. Writers need a partner, but this can be hard to find. You've got to have somebody in your corner who  1. understands writing 2. understands the writing brain Some writers have successfully filled this gap by hiring a writing coach.  The job of being a writing coach doesn't have a specific definition. There are lots of different ways of coaching writers. The project and the person determine the needs. To further complicate the situation, some people will do some kinds of coaching and not others.  So what can you expect from a writing coach?  Motivation This is in the form of contacts through texts, emails, or phone calls where the coach asks how it's going and reminds you to write. It's something like an accountability partner in exercise. Your coach is the person who is going to ask you how many words you wrote today, and you want to be able to report that you wrote a lot. I suppose you could...

If you've done some writing, you may have heard the term "beta reader." A beta reader is just someone who reads your work before it's published and gives you some feedback. It's as simple as that. Beta readers are like a focus group where you can test out your project to see how it is received.  Having beta readers is important if you are serious about selling your work. You need to understand how other people are seeing and processing what you've written before you thrust your writing out into the world in general. Ideally, you'll have several beta readers who represent different aspects of your target audience.  Where do you get a beta reader? This is where things get trickier. There are many sources for beta readers, but some are more valuable than others.  People you know Chances are that someone in your life is willing to read your work and give you some thoughts and opinions. The problem is that someone who knows you is already coming at your writing...

I have always been a writer, but I have only recently discovered a talent for helping others in their adventures with words. While working for a small publishing company, I recognized a drive within me to help others elevate their skills while continuing to grow my own. That's how I decided to offer writing services. But it does present a few challenges for someone like me.  I'm an intense introvert. It's something I love about myself. I don't need a lot of social interaction. In fact, it drains me. But it has become clear to me that being an exceptional writer sometimes requires community.  I've worked with many authors as a ghostwriter and developmental editor, and I have found great satisfaction in helping other writers achieve their dreams of creating art and being published.  Do you need some community to help you with your writing? I can offer my services as a ghostwriter, developmental editor, beta reader, or writing coach. Fill out the contact form below, an...