What brings your writing to an ugly, screeching halt? Consider the fear of failure and rejection.

#HeyWriter—The Bad

Truth is, we don’t do all of writing skillfully; there’s room for growth in this craft. As an editor, I’ll list some of the common struggles I see.

#HeyWriter—The Good

There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.
—Ernest Hemingway.

The truth is, if you're hardwired to write, it is a lot like bleeding.

Hey Writer SeriesJennifer JaoApril 19, 2019Prepared & Polished Editing ServicesComment

#HeyWriter—Handle With Care

Hey, writer! Your wordsmithing skills are strengthening. You’re crafting sentences now, and you know it. Still—there are things to think about.

Hey Writer Series, WritingJennifer JaoNovember 27, 2018#HeyWriter, #Writing, Write with Care, Wriing in relationshipComment

#HeyWriter—Tell the Editor "No."

“Mom, I don’t think you should change anything about your writing. Write the way you want to write. Sometimes you have to say ‘No’ to the editor.” Really? What do you think?

Editor's Pick, Hey Writer SeriesJennifer JaoNovember 16, 2018#HeyWriter, Writing, Inner editorComment

#HeyWriter—The Highs, Lows, and Everyday Flows

Hey, Writer! I’ve got a question for you: What is big in your mind?

Editor's Pick, Hey Writer SeriesJennifer JaoNovember 8, 2018#HeyWriter, #Writing, Not about me, Word count, Audience, #reellife, #reallifeComment

#HeyWriter—It's a Jungle Out There

An unknown writer is a sapling trying to grab a ray of light in the jungle. It sounds daunting or impossible. Is it?

Editor's Picks, Hey Writer SeriesJennifer JaoOctober 30, 2018#HeyWriter, Readers, Audience, #WritingComment

#HeyWriter—Connect with Your Reader

Writing has a purpose: to be read. When written thoughts are master-crafted, the brilliance of the work shines when a reader’s eyes find it.

Editor's Picks, Hey Writer Series, WritingJennifer JaoOctober 22, 2018#HeyWriter, #Writing, Wriing in relationship, Connection, Readers, AudienceComment

#HeyWriter—Who-o-o-o-o are You?

Hey Writer, are you a professional or hobbyist? Do you fit neatly into a genre? Have you found your niche in the blogosphere or the bookshelf? Does any of that matter? It does!

Editor's Pick, Hey Writer SeriesJennifer JaoOctober 19, 2018#HeyWriter, #Writing, Writing Life, Identity, MessageComment

#HeyWriter—Comparison Kills Creativity

My voice doesn’t really matter. I can’t say it better than _____. The message has already been said. If I did write something, who would read it? Publishers don’t give writers like me the time of day. I’m a nobody. Get this out of your head, friend!

#HeyWriter—It's a Gift

Hey Writer, have you landed in a trap? The main focus becomes how to get a response, and then the emotionally-charged treadmill starts up and rolls on.

#HeyWriter—You Have Something to Say

Writer, you know it. Deep in your core, you know. There is a storyline, a character, or a message—something you’ve just got to share.

Hey Writer SeriesJennifer JaoOctober 8, 2018Prepared & Polished Editing Services#HeyWriter, Writing, Message, CreativityComment

#HeyWriter—What Do You Need?

I’m really curious—what is it that you, writer, find to be your biggest challenge? What is it the writing community most needs? What should we be talking about?

Hey Writer SeriesJennifer JaoOctober 3, 2018Prepared & Polished Editing Services#HeyWriter, Writing, Needs, ChallengesComment

#HeyWriter—Lift Heavy Things

Every writer needs to know there is a message waiting to be shared, that it’s important, and she needs to tell it. Writing needs to be partly creative and play…

#HeyWriter—Mind the Margin

The writer’s mind should be tended, cared for, with gentleness and respect. Honestly, this is not just about writers. Don’t we all find our RPMs too high every so often, or too often?

Hey Writer SeriesJennifer JaoOctober 1, 2018#HeyWriter, Writing, Writing Life, MarginComment

#HeyWriter—Solutions for the Professional Without an Office

Does environment matter as much as appearance? It may be more important.

Hey Writer SeriesJennifer JaoSeptember 25, 2018Prepared & Polished Editing Services#HeyWriter, Working, Office, ProfessionalComment

#HeyWriter—Feed the Soul

The question of the day is this—What am I doing today that will feed my writer soul?

Hey Writer SeriesJennifer JaoSeptember 21, 2018Prepared & Polished Editing Services#HeyWriter, Writing, The mindComment

#HeyWriter—Got Analysis Paralysis?

One of the biggest struggles is the “stuck place” that goes along with over-thinking everything: plot or flow, content or structure, word choices, word count, the number of adverbs!