HeyJaredTo Tell a Story
Like a story sommelier threw a party in your inbox. Weekly analyses and behind-the-scenes writing insights to help you tell your strongest story.
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 10
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- Sep 25, 2026
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- Jul 13, 2026
Latest issues
This first chapter won’t hook readers. (opens the original)
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This is the series where I tear apart my old novels, find the mistakes, and explain how I’d fix them today as a more experienced writer! This is Chapter 1 of 1837: a novel about two sisters at the heart of the Upper Canada Rebellion of…well, 1837. (Did you know Canada almost had a revolution? And, if we indulge ourselves in a counter-factual for a bit, had a few normal, everyday people made slightly different decisions one afternoon in December 1837, it may have actually happened!)<a class="butt
Almost a Book #15 | The Critique Partner from Hell (opens the original)
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As I’m prepping to hand my book over to my agent and CPs, I’ve revisited my old documents and came across the remnants of an experience I, um, didn’t love. In August 2023, I joined a beta reader match-up service. The idea being to meet other writers pursuing publication, and give each other feedback. I paid $30, submitted my location and genre, sent in 3000 words, and was put in a beta reader group with four other writers in the Young Adult/Middle Grade space. We gave ourselves a deadline and de
Worldbuilding isn’t just for fantasy novels (opens the original)
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As I continue the never-ending editing process for my YA Christmas romance, one of the pieces of feedback I’ve heard several times is: I want more sense of place. An exact quote:I’d like to see more detail about the school and town. More description. More texture. (I know that’s often an editing pass sort of thing but I’m missing it at the moment)I’m feeling only a very generic drama school vibe and part of me wants there to be a proud history of past students and teachers in a “Hogwart’s” kind
I tore apart my historical fiction novel. (opens the original)
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This is the series where I tear apart my old novels, find the mistakes, and explain how I’d fix them as a more experienced writer today. Today we’re looking at a historical fiction novel I wrote in 2020, it’s already much improved from the teenage YA fantasy of last time.This post covers: When to use (and not use) a prologue.The big mistake newbie writers make in openings.Special considerations for historical fiction.This project is called 1837 and itR
No one else can tell your story. (opens the original)
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I am so sick of hearing about AI and I'm sure you are too. Whether it's in publishing or at your corporate job or in the news, I don't think it's a stretch to say everybody is fatigued, anxious, and maybe a little bit disillusioned. I am not usually a conspiracy theorist, but that is what they want. A story sommelier throws a party in your inbox. Weekly analyses and behind-the-scenes writing insights as we learn tell our strongest stories.<
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