Jay Whistler - writer | educator | editor

Jay Whistler

writer | educator | editor

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The Market Want Joy. Ignore the Market.

Agents and Editors Manuscript Submission
The Market Want Joy. Ignore the Market.

As you may know, I am part of an editing collective called Angelella Editorial, and I occasionally post guest blogs on their website. Check out the latest post in the…

By jaywhistler April 27, 2022 Off
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How to Build a Kitchen: Advice for Revising a First Draft

Writing Advice
How to Build a Kitchen: Advice for Revising a First Draft

We always love our Shiny New Idea and think it will be the best thing we’ve ever written. But first drafts are never perfect, and there is often a lot of structural work that needs to be done before they turn into solid manuscripts.

By jaywhistler July 15, 2021 Off
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#RevPit 2021 Annual Contest

Manuscript Submission Uncategorized
#RevPit 2021 Annual Contest

I did my #10Queries session on Friday, April 16, but rather than trying to scroll through all the hashtags, I’ve compiled everything for you right here. I hope you find some useful tips, whether or not you entered #RevPit 2021!

By jaywhistler April 20, 2021 Off
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Sex is Not Gender (And Why This Matters to Editors-for-Hire)

Agents and Editors Contest Uncategorized
Sex is Not Gender (And Why This Matters to Editors-for-Hire)

If you follow the #WritingCommunity Twitterverse, you may have seen the uproar over an agent who was recently fired because she maintains a personal Twitter account on which she tweets negative posts about the transgender community.

By jaywhistler August 26, 2020 Off
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First-Person POV vs. Third-Person POV: Which Should You Use for a Middle-Grade or Young Adult Story?

Writing Advice
First-Person POV vs. Third-Person POV: Which Should You Use for a Middle-Grade or Young Adult Story?

In general, which POV is right for middle-grade novels and which is right for young-adult novels?

By jaywhistler August 9, 2020 Off
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We Were Born for This

Creative Life Writing
We Were Born for This

This week, the governor of Michigan (where I live) issued a stay-at-home order until April 13th. Sure, I’m an introvert (do you know any writers who aren’t?). But it’s difficult…

By jaywhistler March 26, 2020 Off
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My Advice for New Year’s Writing Resolutions: Don’t Make Any

Creative Life Writing Writing Advice
My Advice for New Year’s Writing Resolutions: Don’t Make Any

New Year’s resolutions are a bad idea. We’ve all made them. We’ve all failed at them. We all somehow think that THIS year will be different. But we are always wrong.

By jaywhistler January 6, 2020 Off
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All I Want for the Holidays: Time to Write

Writing Advice

Taking time for yourself is not selfish. Instead it is about recognizing that your need to create is valid and makes you happier and healthier. And if you’re anything like me, it also makes you more pleasant to be around.

By jaywhistler December 10, 2019 Off
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#RevPit #10Queries

Manuscript Submission Social Media Writing Writing Advice
#RevPit #10Queries

On Friday, Oct 25th, 2019, I participated as one of the editors for Revise & Resub‘s mini-event, #10Queries, in which authors entered a raffle to win the chance to submit…

By jaywhistler October 26, 2019 Off
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Grammar Rant: Stop Making Up Words!

Grammar Rant Writing Advice
Grammar Rant: Stop Making Up Words!

Irregardless of What You Think, The Reoccurrence of Made Up Words Is Not Okay

By jaywhistler August 29, 2019 Off
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Professional Endorsement

Jay has a keen eye for saggy scenes, murky middles, and tired takeaways. Her revision recommendations target specific story elements to elevate any story to submission-ready. She is a joy to work with; a wordsmith extraordinaire.
Linda G., PB author
For me, the most useful comment Jay made can be paraphrased as: If the protagonist can walk away from his/her problem, the reader can walk away from the book. I am grateful to her for reminding me of the importance in raising the stakes.
Ann F.
Jay goes above and beyond as an editor. She is very professional in her step-by-step process. Jay helps with guiding those of us who are still learning how to navigate the writing world. She is very thorough in her assessment of each client’s particular needs. I am very grateful for all that I have learned from her, and I highly recommend her services.
Miranda M., PB author
Jay’s vision for making my story better was inevitably on point, whether the issue was character development, voice, narrative arc or other critical story components. I can honestly say having Jay on your team would seriously boost anyone’s chances of being a published author.
Adam T.
I was fortunate to connect with Jay through the 2021 #RevPit contest, and I couldn’t have asked for more on my middle-grade developmental edit. Jay provided both big-picture and line-level feedback to strengthen my manuscript, and she pushed me when I wanted to take the easy way out. She was also professional, timely, encouraging, and a delight to talk to!
Kiley O., MG author
Jay is my go-to person for grammatical questions. She reads voraciously and remembers details I have long forgotten. She has a deep understanding of story structure and a sly sense of humor. Her critiques always bring up points I haven’t considered before, and she has a sense of drama that aids story telling.
Leslie H.
I recently had a large NY agency request my full manuscript and no doubt Jay’s tightening of my writing pushed me to the top. I can say with confidence that you will wonder how you ever got along without her.
Dave S.

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