Promotions Archives - Jessica Conoley

Save the Dates, Tip Round Up, and Meet My New Roommate!

October 11, 2020January 11, 2020

Tip Round Up I like it when I can find things easily, which is why I’ve decided to add Tip Round Ups to my monthly newsletter. Roundups will list all the tips I’ve shared in one easy to reference list for you. Below is everything we went over in 2019. Can’t wait to see what we add in 2020! Craft tips: To Be + (-ing) First Draft Words Color Code & Find Balance Authorpreneurship tips: Author Websites-Step 1 Dear Ally, …

Stealth Edits at Jo Co Library’s Writers Conference 11/16

July 13, 2020October 12, 2019

If you would like the chance to get four pages of your work edited, for free, by me, here’s what you need to do: 1) Join my writer email list. 2) Format your work in standard manuscript formatting. 3) Print a copy and bring it with you to the Jo Co Writers Conference on Saturday, November 16th. 4) Make sure your e-mail address is somewhere on the submission. (Hand write it, type it, put it in braille, doesn’t matter …

First Draft Words & Writers United

July 1, 2019

What are your first draft words? Every time I start a first draft I want to die, because its bad… really, really bad. It is full of lazy verbs, vague descriptions, and brimming with first draft words. First draft words are crutch words–the words I use to get me into a scene or get two characters talking to one another. When I’m starting my 2nd draft, and re-reading that crap-tastic first version, I highlight first draft words and I compile …

Stealth Edits at Writers United

October 11, 2020June 4, 2019

If you would like the chance to get five pages of your work edited, for free, by me, here’s what you need to do: 1) Join my writer email list. 2) Format your work in standard manuscript formatting. 3) Print a copy 4) Write the secret code word: BREATHER on your submission. (Hand write it, type it, put it in braille, doesn’t matter to me. Just have the code word on there somewhere!) 5) Give your pages to me at …

Want to meet some Kansas City Writers? Save the Dates!

October 11, 2020May 10, 2019

I’m excited to be partnering with the Johnson County, KS Library for Writers United! Our amazing library is making it a little easier for writers to find one another by having monthly writer meet-ups this summer, and they were kind enough to invite me to be a guest host. If you’re in the KC area and want to meet other writers come join me on Wednesday, June 5th or Wednesday, July 10th! The meet-up takes place from 6 – 8 …

Let’s work together! Apply by February 15, 2019 for spring coaching session.

January 9, 2019

2019 feels full of potential and unexpected surprises, just like that book you’ve been working on. Now’s the time to polish your manuscript and build your writing support system. You can do both in my spring coaching session. The session runs March 15th-July 15th and includes: One full developmental edit One query letter critique A one-on-one phone call Four months personalized coaching Weekly guidance Resources about the “nuts & bolts” of the industry Critique Partner Matching If you want help …

FREE writers conference Nov 1-4 at the Jo. Co. KS Library & I’m Presenting!

October 11, 2020October 2, 2018

In October of 2015, I took the opening pages of The Color Eater to The Johnson County Library. The library was hosting an entirely free writers’ conference, and one of the sessions involved group critiques of your work. Those critiques helped me fine tune the opening scene, the scene I sent in to Kneerim & Williams, the scene which led my agent to request for the full Color Eater manuscript, the scene that made my agent fall in love with …

I’m so excited to be a mentor for 2018’s YA4YA project!

September 12, 2018

Writing is hard. Publishing is a whole different kind of hard. Doing them both at the same time can feel pretty impossible, especially if you haven’t yet found your writer community. But, once you find your writer friends, writing and publishing feels a lot more possible, and sometimes exciting, and occasionally it will even be super fun. Kansas City has a crazy supportive writer scene, and I was lucky to fall into a pool of writers right at the start …

A Jessica real-talk type interview on the Lit KC podcast with Jason Preu

August 9, 2018

Not going to lie, Jason Preu is one of my all time favorite writers. The fact he happens to live in my same town, and I’m lucky enough to call him a friend is mind blowing. He’s the only poet on earth that I religiously read. He also happens to be the host of the Lit KC podcast. He’s done interviews with loads of Kansas City talent including: Samantha Slupski, Jason Ryberg, Adam “Bucho” Rodenberger, Jeanette Powers, James P. McNamara, …

It’s Time for the LitUp Festival-Saturday 5/12/2018

May 2, 2018

Join me May 12th, 2018 at the Mid-Continent Public Library’s LitUp Festival. This all-day literary event was designed with teens in mind. I love when young fans get direct access to the creative minds that inspire them, and that’s exactly how MCPL set up the day. Teens are staffing the event and interviewing all of the panelists. MCPL’s done a phenomenal job putting together panels that include bestselling authors, screenwriters, poets, and illustrators. I’m fan-girling hard about the night’s keynote …