querying authors, what are some things--like loglines or one-sentence pitches--that agents ask for and authors don't always know what to do with? please share for science and have this sibling blob for the cat tax

Are you readying your manuscript to query agents? Preparing for this year’s RevPit event? What better way to know if your query and first 5 pages have what it takes to stand out in the slush pile than to get an editor’s eye on it? We are hosting a #10Queries event, October 10th - October 24th!

When the book you’ve had on hold on Libby wasn’t supposed to be ready for another 8 weeks but you get notified it’s available

My favorite revision tools involve making a plan. They let you look at your story from the highest level, then zoom in on each scene. My Writing Reverse Outlines Like a Pro workshop is currently on sale for $27! You can find that plus free resources at www.jenichappelleeditorial.com.

Its the final countdown! Get any last minute pitches in by 8pm EST today!

Misconceptions about querying: Queries must be perfect to send to an agent. FALSE. Comps should be exactly like your book. NOPE! An agent gave a form response on your last book, so they’re not going to want this one. INCORRECT. For more, check this IG post: www.instagram.com/p/DO_E-tkD8_2/

Now booking limited spots for winter: 🖋️Manuscript Critiques 🖋️Query Package Critiques 🖋️Consultations 🖋️A la carte services For more information, check out my website, or contact me through the link in my bio. www.jenichappelleeditorial.com #writingcommunity

Now booking limited spots for winter: 🖋️Manuscript Critiques 🖋️Query Package Critiques 🖋️Consultations 🖋️A la carte services For more information, check out my website, or contact me through the link in my bio. www.jenichappelleeditorial.com #authorthreads #writingcommunity

Sometimes when an author is getting “can’t connect” feedback, there aren’t enough character reactions on the page. Just like real humans, your MC needs to react to every stimulus, big and small, and the strength of their reactions needs to show the importance of that stimulus.

I love genre-bending stories, and Lora's was no exception. The beauty of a genre-bending book is that you can imagine finding it on the shelves of either genre. As with so much writing, doing this well is all about doing it with intention. #WritingCommunity

Writers are smart, but many feel constrained by structure. If you're having trouble with your pacing, though, structure can help identify issues. Your story needs a new major plot point every 12.5% of your total wc. If something feels “off,” check that first! And remember—this is just a guideline.

Learning different story structures can feel overwhelming, but once you know them, you can use what works for you. When studying a new-to-you structure, read a published novel at the same time. Keep all the notes about the books in a “reading journal.” Get a friend involved to compare notes!

Writing a query letter is a different skill set than writing a book! Even if your query letter skills are stellar, it’s subjective—good agents and editors are readers! What works for one may not work for another. Keep that chin up, and if you need some professional help click the links in my bio.

SAVE THE DATE #RevPit #10Queries coming Oct 10. 100+ winners get feedback on query + 1st 5 pages 👉 Check out the #10Queries from spring event bsky.app/profile/jeni... 👉 Watch #RevPit feed for details bsky.app/profile/jeni... 👉 Follow @reviseresub.bsky.social 👉 Updates reviseresub.substack.com

Today's the LAST DAY to get those #PitchDis pitches in! The form will close tonight at 8pm EDT and won't reopen until the next event next year, so make sure you send yours in before then! forms.gle/rJZpwXEZ1vmC...

You want to make it so your MC cannot ignore their inner demons--so you want to throw all of the external conflict at them so that their internal conflict is triggered by it throughout the story. 🍁Need more help with GMC? Book a consultation now. www.jenichappelleeditorial.com #WritingCommunity

Want to know how to keep a reader turning the page? The answer is Goal-Motivation-Conflict. I always recommend Debra Dixon's book GMC | Goal Motivation & Conflict. The author uses charts, examples, and movies to break down the concept and help you nail it.

Every scene needs goal, motivation, and conflict (GMC), and they're also needed for the story-wide plot arc. Ask yourself the following questions: 1. What does your MC want/need? 2. Why? 3. What's stopping them? 4. How will they try to get what they want? 5. What happens as a result of that?

Ever had one of those mornings? #timesuck

There are so many good craft books--ask other writers for recs. Great info on YouTube, podcasts, and many other platforms. Consider how you learn best--audio, visual, etc. It's good to get info from multiple sources, because sometimes when we hear something a certain way, it just "clicks."

“Her (Jeni’s) feedback was phenomenal, personal and well thought out. She encouraged me, gave great guidance and all in all was absolutely delightful! 100 percent recommend her!” ~@lizziebdarcy1 Now booking consultations. I’ll read your first 2500 words and meet for 1 hour! #writingcommunity

Agents are opening soon. Are you confident your materials are ready? Get your submission pkg. agent-ready, including notes on your first 50 pp and 2 passes on query & synopsis. Book before spots fill up! www.jenichappelleeditorial.com/contact/ #writingcommunity

Gah, I’ve seen it thousands of times: writers stuck/unable to move forward because they’re trying to apply all their craft knowledge to their own writing. Sometimes you need an outside eye to point out where and how. See my consultation and coaching options: www.jenichappelleeditorial.com/coaching/

#AskPitchDis question from the #PitchDis mailbox: Does my manuscript need to be complete? Answer: Yes. It needs to be complete, edited, and polished.

Finished this book two days ago and cried happy tears at the end and still find myself smiling without even realizing I was thinking about it. 12/10 would recommend to anyone who needs some intense cozy feels

When you get to a point with writing where you feel like you’ve mastered at least the basics, that’s the point where you should start experimenting, learning where you can bend rules, and challenging yourself more because I think that’s what keeps us coming back to these creative things. #writing

What can happen to force the POV/MC out of their comfort zone? Leave out your toughest storytelling elements (for now). You may need more time to think about certain scenes—that's ok! If skipping a scene doesn't feel right, try writing it in simple sentences that can even be all "tell" for now.

October.... watch this space.... 👀

I finally got to start reading The Keeper of Lonely Spirits by @elizmanderson.com and it literally already won me over with only the content warning, which is such an excellent example of what a difference voice makes and also the only content warning I’ve ever considered “delightful.”

➡️What's your secret superpower?⬅️ Here’s mine: talking through stuck points. Book a one-hour consultation. I’ll read 2500 words of your WIP and we’ll hop on Zoom so we can talk about your story’s strengths and where you need to focus. www.jenichappelleeditorial.com/coaching/ #writingcommunity

One part of body language that often gets overlooked is the use of microexpressions, the small expressions the human face carries to convey underlying emotion (much like a ‘tell’ in poker. For an introduction to microexpressions, visit www.scienceofpeople.com/microexpress.... #writingcommunity

Since interiority uses a combination of showing & telling, there are numerous ways to give the reader details about both plot and character. Interiority can indicate how the pov character is responding to what's happening in the plot, and it can show aspects of the character's personality. #writing

Do you rely too much on one type of interiority? If you’ve ever gotten feedback that says “couldn’t connect,” you probably need more. There are three types of interiority—thoughts, emotions, and visceral responses/body language. You want to have all three to help the reader connect. #writing

Does anyone else ever feel like the end of summer is a kind of reset? I’m feeling the need for a big reset this month.

What’s your personal definition of success? I always encourage authors to not have such a linear idea of what success means. The truth is as long as you're continuing to grow, continuing to push forward, and becoming a stronger writer, it's all still part of your success and your path as a writer.

Yes, showing AND telling—you need both. SHOW: dramatize what happens in real time w/ details. These details impact reader. TELL: summarize what happens in fewer words, less detail. Tell things reader needs to know but won’t have much impact. More: www.jenichappelleeditorial.com/post/how-to-...

Relying on dialogue alone for character interaction is a missed opportunity. In real life, nonverbal cues account for more than 90% of our communication. Including body language gives your characters more depth and provides a relatable, interactive experience for your readers. #WritingCommunity

How many subplots do you have? Are you touching on them in every scene? Subplots tend to slow pacing down, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Your reader often needs a break from heart-stopping action, and subplots give them a moment to catch their metaphorical breath. #WritingCommunity

Focus on the plot–character connection: ~Only ‘this’ MC could be in ‘this’ story. ~How do external goals connect to MC’s emotional wound? ~How does MC overcome internal issues because of the plot? ~Subplots must give your MC skills to meet their main goal. #writingcommunity #revpit #writingtip

Conflict should be at every level: story, scene, even sentence level should show conflict. Scene level: Every. Single. Scene. must push the main plot forward. Story level: What needs to be done to reach the main goal and what's stopping them? Sentence level: microtension is your friend!

If you’ve invested the time, energy, and even $$$ to learn all the writing craft but GOT STUCK when you started writing, you have what I call "2nd book syndrome" and it's completely normal. But DON'T remain stuck. Download Harness Your Inner Editor: Drafting 2.0. Link to free resources in my bio.

Every scene has some similar needs--ie the level of pacing, conflict and tension, and GMC. But each scene also has its own unique needs: ➡️How does the scene show the character trying to achieve the main goal of the story? ➡️What is the function of the scene/what job is it doing in the story?

Every scene needs: Obstacle + discomfort + action + consequences That’s how you create a story with personal stakes, a plot intrinsically linked to your protagonist, and a character arc that gives the protagonist the internal resources they need to overcome the final obstacle. #writingcommunity

You want your MC to not be able to ignore their inner demons--so you want to throw all the external conflict you can at them so that their internal conflict is triggered by it throughout the story because of the intensity of both. #writingcommunity

Writing a book is a marathon, not a sprint. But you need to start with a PLAN, and you need small, actionable steps to get through that plan. Start with the free resources on my website (link in bio). Then use my reverse outlining workshop to give you the exact steps to create your revision plan.

Hey, in case you need the reminder, sometimes you really didn’t do anything wrong and you are just experiencing the neurodivergent “I’m good at sensing that you are having feelings but not good at interpreting your actions, so you must be mad at me”

Have you downloaded my FREE webinar "Harness Your Inner Editor: Drafting 2.0"? It includes tips and tricks for starting and ending scenes, working on plot and story, and more. www.jenichappelleeditorial.com/resources/

I think the best stories have MCs who discover their emotional wound through the course of the story, allowing them time to make mistakes, which creates tension and gives them a stronger arc as they slowly uncover what it is that is driving their misconception about themselves and/or the world.

The most basic piece of information you need to start your story is who your story is about—your main character. Why is that character the only one who could tell this story or influence the events of this plot? Who are they? Give us a basic background, personality quirks, emotional wound.

Miscommunication is the realest trope. I said what I said.