First Cup of Coffee with Jeffe Kennedy

Paying the price - do we always have to suffer or sacrifice for a reward? Why this is often offered as a writing rule, especially when creating magic systems. Also a report on ROGUE FAMILIAR: coming along! Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is out now! https://jeffekennedy.com/ruby FIVE GOLDEN RINGS is now available here: https://jeffekennedy.com/five-golden-...

Can you miss something you never had? Also thoughts on creative crisis, how I always hit a point where I think the book I'm writing is TERRIBLE, and upcoming plans for my mentoring/coaching Patreon and Discord community! Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is out now! https://jeffekennedy.com/ruby FIVE GOLDEN RINGS is now available here: https://jeffekenn...

A report on YouTube monetization (yay!) via putting up audiobooks and thoughts on podcasting ROI. Also why each book is a challenge to write, how to deal with a sagging middle of a novel, and how to improve craft. Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is out now! https://jeffekennedy.com/ruby FIVE GOLDEN RINGS is now available here: https://jeffekennedy.com/five...

How you know when your creativity is flowing, which story ideas have enough juice to sustain a novel or series, and how to handle those New Shiny ideas when you have other works in progress to focus on. Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is out now! https://jeffekennedy.com/ruby FIVE GOLDEN RINGS is now available here: https://jeffekennedy.com/five-golden-rin...

Happy St. Patrick's Day! A short podcast today, explaining why I postponed the ROGUE FAMILIAR release date and why it won't really be as long as it the dates imply. Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is out now! https://jeffekennedy.com/ruby FIVE GOLDEN RINGS is now available here: https://jeffekennedy.com/five-golden-rings SAPPHIRE is available her...

I'm still head-down on drafting this novel, absorbed in increasing my productivity - with good news to report on that front. Also thinking about invisible friends and creativity. I had them. Did you? Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is out now! https://jeffekennedy.com/ruby FIVE GOLDEN RINGS is now available here: https://jeffekennedy.com/five-golden-r...

How pushing my wordcount is working - I've had my best week since last May - and thoughts on POV: how to teach it, how to choose the "right" POV for a story, and a way of thinking about writing POV well. The Uncanny article on Choosing to Build a Non-Patriarchal Fantasy World is here https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/choosing-to-build-a-non-patriarchal-fantasy-world/ Preorder...

Why and how I'm going back to the basics in order to improve my creative output. Sharing some of my productivity metrics, why writing every day works for *me*, and how I think metrics helps all creatives. Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is out now! https://jeffekennedy.com/ruby FIVE GOLDEN RINGS is now available here: https://jeffekennedy.com/five-gol...

I'm (finally!) talking about book boxes and their business models. Some are great! Others not so much. How do you tell? Also on scheduling creativity, especially making a living as an author.  Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is out now! https://jeffekennedy.com/ruby FIVE GOLDEN RINGS is now available here: https://jeffekennedy.com/five-golden-rings SA...

How being a career creative means always continuing to learn and refine your craft, showing vs telling, how worldbuilding without info-dumping is an ongoing challenge, and why perfection is an unattainable goal. Bed of Roses is here https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115644/ Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is out now! https://jeffekennedy.com/ruby FIVE GOLDEN R...

More granular insight into my revision process, including how I create and name "new" monsters, stealing from the best houses, and how we all borrow from other creators, whether we realize it or not. Final day! THE ORCHID THRONE is on sale for $3.99 for only a few more days! https://jeffekennedy.com/the-orchid-throne Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RU...

Breaking down my revision process today, including sharing some interesting thoughts from crit readers on where I can improve as a storyteller, and a bit on content/developmental editing. THE ORCHID THRONE is on sale for $3.99 for only a few more days! https://jeffekennedy.com/the-orchid-throne Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is out now! https://jeffekenne...

A bit more on organizing large reader events and how scaling up gradually is super important for all small businesses. Also, how to tell if an agent is legit, or - if legit - the kind of agent you need. THE ORCHID THRONE is on sale for $3.99 for only a few more days! https://jeffekennedy.com/the-orchid-throne Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is out now! htt...

Today's topic is planning conferences, specifically how contracting with hotels works, what it costs, what you have to commit to, and how inexperienced con organizers can end up owing tons of money. My blog post on Selling Shovels to Miners is here https://blog.jeffekennedy.com/2016/09/16/selling-shovels-to-miners/ Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is o...

Businesses that prey on authors - especially indie authors - how their model works, incompetence vs. maliciousness, and how to spot the ones that might provide little to no return, or collapse utterly. My blog post on Selling Shovels to Miners is here https://blog.jeffekennedy.com/2016/09/16/selling-shovels-to-miners/ Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is out...

A round-up of my weekend, including a fun event with the fabulous Melinda Snodgrass. Also thoughts on including twists in stories and what's required to earn them. Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is out now! https://jeffekennedy.com/ruby FIVE GOLDEN RINGS is now available here: https://jeffekennedy.com/five-golden-rings SAPPHIRE is available here: htt...

Some discoveries I've made on what my time is worth, along with contemplation (yet again) over the concept of what makes a work "good" - and what relationship that has (if any) with the work's success. My formatter, BBeBooks is here https://bbebooksthailand.com/ The article by Anthony Eichenlaub on figuring what our time is worth is here https://www.sfwa.org/2023/02/15/the-indi...

Exciting news from Tor on their new romantic imprint, Bramble. Also thoughts on my struggles with ROGUE FAMILIAR and why I should learn to take my own writing advice. The press release on Tor's new romantic imprint, Bramble, is here https://www.tor.com/2023/02/14/tor-publishing-group-announces-new-romance-imprint/ Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is ou...

It's Valentine's Day and I'm talking about all the kinds of love that AREN'T the romantic or flirtatious sort - and how we can and should celebrate all the manifestations of love in our lives. You can find all the FaRoFeb events here https://farofeb.com/events-and-giveaways/ and the giveaway I mention is here  https://kingsumo.com/g/pujmm3/farofeb-2023-week-one-giveaway Preorde...

A round up of my weekend and the FaRoFeb events I participated in. A new working title for BANDITS, what you have to do to get the ban-hammer on my FB page, and a couple of pieces of cool news! You can find all the FaRoFeb events here https://farofeb.com/events-and-giveaways/ and the giveaway I mention is here  https://kingsumo.com/g/pujmm3/farofeb-2023-week-one-giveaway Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR he...

The challenges of building a secondary fantasy world while still keeping the pace moving along.  Also, the plum blossom rule and how it applies to people always finding something to critique in your work. You can find all the FaRoFeb events here https://farofeb.com/events-and-giveaways/ and the giveaway I mention is here  https://kingsumo.com/g/pujmm3/farofeb-2023-week-one-giveaway Preorder ROGUE...

Have some project you really want to do? Why you should put it in motion today! Also thoughts on worldbuilding in Fantasy, monetary systems, making mistakes and fixing them, and how pitching never gets easier. You can find all the FaRoFeb events here https://farofeb.com/events-and-giveaways/ and the giveaway I mention is here  https://kingsumo.com/g/pujmm3/farofeb-2023-week-one-giveaway Preorder R...

How to write a synopsis - or, at least, fake it the way the pros do! Great news on BANDITS and next steps there. Also, why agents/editors ask for partials, why you should include your profession in your query, and other crazy checks. You can find all the FaRoFeb events here https://farofeb.com/events-and-giveaways/ and the giveaway I mention is here  https://kingsumo.com/g/pujmm3/farofeb-2023-week...

About the evolution of recognizing oneself as a writer, claiming the name, and other steps newbies can take to move from the furtive phase of writing to feeling confident in that skin. Also, it's FaRoFeb! You can find all the FaRoFeb events here https://farofeb.com/events-and-giveaways/ and the giveaway I mention is here  https://kingsumo.com/g/pujmm3/farofeb-2023-week-one-giveaway Preorder R...

I'm back! Talking about the amazing VIP tour of NASA's JPL facility, the visit from Darynda and our upcoming talk on Twilight, plus reflections on how my business and leisure travel are so intertwined now. Preorder ROGUE FAMILIAR here https://jeffekennedy.com/rogue-familiar RUBY is out now! https://jeffekennedy.com/ruby FIVE GOLDEN RINGS is now available here: https://jeffekennedy.com/fi...