Writing Tips from Jane Daly
What is your favorite writing craft book?
Write Your Novel From The Middle – James Scott Bell. This trick has helped immensely with that dreaded sagging middle.
Which do you think is the most underrated writing craft book? Why?
Rivet Your Readers With Deep Point of View by Jill Elizabeth Nelson. POV is a huge issue for new writers. This little book helped me figure out how to immerse myself in a character.
What is your favorite (or most anticipated) writers conference?
My favorite is Cascade Christian Writers (formerly Oregon Christian Writers). It’s where I first began my journey as a writer. They’ve been a huge source of learning and inspiration, plus I have a ton of friends in Oregon.
What’s your favorite other source (YouTube, podcast, etc.) for writing tips/info?
I listen to 3 podcasts focused on writing: Your Best Writing Life, The Christian Publishing Show, and Novel Marketing.
Who is your writing mentor/inspiration? Why?
I have two – Nick Harrison and Jim Rubart. Both encouraged me and supported me when I was a newbie writer.
What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever received? Why was it bad?
Someone told me I should change one of my two main character’s names because it would be confusing because they both began with the letter ‘J.’ How could you possibly confuse Jinxi and Janice?
What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
Write every day.
What would you say is the best writing tip for new authors?
Don’t be discouraged. You will receive rejections, but every ‘no’ is one step closer to a ‘yes.’
What is your best self-editing tip or advice?
I do a word search for my ‘weasel words’ and pet words. Then I go through and delete, delete, delete.
Please share your most encouraging tip for frustrated/discouraged writers.
Connect with fellow authors, either online or in person. Sharing your struggles with someone else, especially someone who gets it, is invaluable.
Tell us about your newest release/upcoming release.
I jumped into the romance lane. My latest release is the second in The Hearts of Main Series. It’s called The Pastor’s Perfect Wife. Here’s the short blurb:
Mariah's heart shatters when her fiancé leaves her, taking all of her dreams of a happily ever after with him. Desperate to fill the void in her life, she throws herself into volunteering for Safe Families for Children, craving the love and chaos of a bustling household. But when a new pastor and his young son enter her life, Mariah is torn between her longing for family and her fear of getting hurt again. Her past trauma at the hands of a manipulative youth leader has left deep scars on her heart, making her wary of any man in ministry.
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Jane is addicted to coffee, purple pens, and her husband, not necessarily in that order. A self-proclaimed introvert, she enjoys the solitude of riding shotgun in Rigsby, her 37-foot motor home. But when they pull into a new campground, her favorite thing is to make new friends and find hangouts featuring local musicians. Her fantasy involves writing lyrics for country music songs and listening to them on the radio. In the meantime, she’ll stick to writing novels. And seeing as much of the country as possible.
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