Positive mentoring by Jordan at NowNovel

Writing a novel is both challenging and educational. For six months I have employed an editor-writing coach from NowNovel – Jordan Kanter.

Never before have I had consistent, encouraging tuition. Jordan is skilled at telling it as it is, but with empathy and sensitivity; being aware I as the author am writing as best I am able at the present time, but he reinforces, reminds and teaches chapter by chapter. It seems my writing is proving.

The following comments are an example of Jordan’s tuition encouragement.

‘Power and Authority’ will be published soon. with or without this cover

– I’m still deciding. Ingrid my cover designer is working on many ideas. Do you like any one in particular? Please comment below.

#TheFortuneSeekers-DanAndCharlotte

#TheFortuneSeekers-PowerAndAuthority

#editing

Evaluation of chapter by Jordan

This chapter was a knockout! I’m not sure what’s changed, but here I thought there was a masterful pacing, I loved the way you used flashback as though Emma is reliving the attack, and I love how active and involved you made Aggie in the scene.

I also like how you showed how male sexual violence cuts across boundaries of race and class, and you created an effective sense of dread in how you foreshadowed the event, such as with the wolf-whistling men. I also liked how you showed how Aggie is already mistrustful of the men, whereas Emma in her more privileged class position (and marital status with the protections that do admittedly come with that) is more unaware. There was an element of psychological realism to all this.

On the whole I thought this is one of the best chapters of yours I’ve read yet, in terms of balancing past and present, action and narration, dialogue and scene. Even if it was of course very raw due to the subject matter. Keep creating incident and effect like this and you will have a very compelling story indeed.

Please find my feedback attached.

Speak soon,

Jordan’s comments

Enjoy

I’m glad you found my feedback encouraging. When I compare that chapter to preceding, you’ve made great strides in balancing action, foreshadowing, narration and heartfelt emotion in the scenes. When comparing the two, I’d say more of the incidental (that reveals the experience of, for example, women in this time and place) and the historical voice for connective passages between these types of illuminating incidents. You’re definitely on the right track and I see the improvement!

I look forward to reading the next part, soldier on 🙂

Jordan

I’m working my way through your chapters. This was very good, I really liked how lightly you involved political ideas surrounding women’s lib of the time while still keeping Dan and Tottie’s physical intimacy and characterisation within view in this scene. It’s a far cry better than some of your early scenes of dialogue where the historical fact and detail at times eclipsed characters’ personalities and relationships just a little. Great work!