New Year, New...sletter

hello, friends.

I haven't sent out a newsletter since December 2020. Which I find a little shocking, though that certainly tracks with the general sensation that I'm still living in 2020, that time has somehow stalled, stagnated. But here we are, peering into 2023, and I have the 4-year-old to prove it.

I decided to revive and send this out for a few reasons. The first is that I have some fun stuff I wanted to share, and the second is that I want to re-think how I'm using this newsletter in an attempt to purposefully grow it, or grow my platform in general. But "platform" isn't really a word I love; I think I more mean "network"? No, maybe "community"? That feels best, I think. Community. I've been struggling with social media a lot lately, and I'm looking for new ways to virtually connect. I'm also working with an amazing writing coach who is helping me to rethink the approach I'm taking to my career, and this is one of the many projects she has me working on. "Think about who you're writing for," she told me, "and create for them."

This is me, creating for you. Or trying to. It's also just me telling you some stuff I want to tell you, and sharing a few little goodies. I'm going to be researching how other smarter and more talented people are utilizing their newsletter and see what that inspires. Maybe stuff that I write just for you?

here, have some stuff.

YONDER, the app I work for, has recently launched, and 3 of the titles I acquired for it are in the top 10 trending titles. I would love for you to check them out, for free. Use the code: WRITEON for 500 Free Coins to redeem on any title in-app!

I'm also here to share another fabulous smut-related discount: Probably Smut is a purveyor of spice-inspired book merch, and I have hundreds of their stickers. I genuinely love this shop, so go check them out. (Full disclosure, if you use my affiliate link, I do make a commission.)

speaking of stickers...

I made some.

I took up drawing on procreate because making little kawaii iced coffees is easier than trying to figure out the plot of my most recent novel. Here is a sampling of what I'm up to.

You can visit my Redbubble shop to buy stickers here. Or you can email me and I'll probably just send you the images because drawing them brings me joy.

and in writing news

Uhhh.

I mean, I am writing. Genuinely. I finished a draft of my new novel in September and I am slowly figuring out the revision. And I've taken on quite a bit of freelance writing, most of which I can't talk about in any overt terms because I'm ghostwriting romance novels.

But I have also been writing for Backstage! Which has been super fun. You can check out my articles for them here.

here is a poem i cut from my last novel

ohshe thoughtohoh, I understandtwo eyesthe shape and color of plump, summer blueberriesa nose, pert, upturnedwrinkled in preparationfor a sneeze against the sunlightlips as soft and pinkas the petalof a peonyten grasping, trembling fingersten curling, reaching toesohshe thoughtohshe saidohthe exclamation of a womanwhose heart is no longerher own

I'm about to get more expensive, friends.

For editorial work and consultations: After having the same rates since, like, 2016, I'm finally giving myself a cost-of-living raise and my rates are going up. My rates for new clients will immediately go up on January 1, 2023, but for my current clients, if you book with me for the first quarter of the year, you can take advantage of my 2016 rates. So, book by the end of January for any time between January 1 and March 31, 2023, and pay less! We love to pay less.

merry everything

Here's to a happy, healthy 2023 where I remember that my newsletter exists (I will, I swear — I think I might do it monthly, like on a calendar.) Here's the holiday card I didn't make in time to print and mail to people.

xo,Jenny