Jenny L. Howe, Author

A little more about Courtney (she/her)

My writing journey began with writing Fantasy, but over the past decade, I have truly found my home in Adult Romance. As a bi person, my favorite stories to write feature queer characters getting their HEAs with LOTS of emotions and joy along the way. I also love to play with cinematic settings and world-building (thank you, Fantasy roots:).

I LOVED being a Pitch Wars mentee under Rachel Lynn Solomon in 2020, and mentoring in Pitch Wars has always been a dream of mine! Mentoring alongside my dear friend and incredible CP Jenny, makes this better than I could have imagined!

My debut adult romcom, IN THE EVENT OF LOVE, comes out in September 2022 with Kensington in the US & Canada and Headline Eternal in the UK.

I have years of experience critiquing, beta-reading, and alpha-reading for incredible writers, many of whom have now been published and hit bestseller lists. Seeing fellow writers meet their goals, whether they involve finishing a chapter or querying, is my bread and butter! My feedback is aimed to be uplifting, constructive, and clear. I do well with sharpening emotional arcs, digging into character motivations, and strengthening plot threads and world-building. 

A little more about Jenny (she/her)

I write in multiple age categories and genres but my work is all linked by strong romance plots and body inclusiveness. I believe deeply in the importance of positive fat rep, and you can probably find me yelling about it on Twitter.

I’m SO excited to mentor Adult Romance/Contemporary alongside Courtney this year! My debut adult romcom, THE MAKE-UP TEST, comes out with St. Martin’s Press in Winter 2023.

I have a Ph.D. in literature and have been teaching and tutoring writing for over a decade. I also have a baker’s dozen of wonderful CPs/writers for whom I beta read. I have a strong understanding of the ins and outs of narrative, know how to assess a story for strengths and weaknesses, and I have been trained in giving feedback in ways that encourage a writer rather than discourage them.

I’d say my biggest strengths as a mentor are helping with character development, addressing issues with pacing/plot, and strengthening voice. I really like to ask how your characters are FEELING and help get that on the page in engaging ways. Also, as someone who writes LOOONNNNGGG drafts, I am very good at slicing word counts and refining prose. I have mastered the art of turning four words into one! lol

• Our desire is to provide support, whether it’s through brainstorming zoom chats, collaborative documents, or sharing revision hacks, craft resources, and notes of encouragement.
• ALL THE CHEERLEADING! We want you to feel inspired, motivated, and pumped up about your amazing book!
• Spreadsheets, outlines, and all kinds of other organizational tools (if you need them).
• Our preferred form of communication is through email, text, or a group chat, but we would also love to set-up zoom calls during specific milestones in the Pitch Wars process.
• This is YOUR book and YOUR creative process. You make the decisions. If suggestions we make do not resonate with you, it is well within your right to voice that. We are happy to brainstorm with you. This is a collaborative process and we are here with you through it all.

Here is exactly what you can expect:

1. A welcome letter. 
2. An introductory chat (video, phone, or whatever works for you) where we can talk about your writing process and what will best help you as we prepare your edit letter. We are happy to provide resources, strategies, or anything else you might need to get started.
3. An edit letter and all the support that goes along with that. We’re here for you throughout the revision process. 
4. A second pass of your revised draft. This may include line edits or overarching feedback—we will accommodate where you’re at and what you need.
5. Assistance with crafting your pitch and opening lines for the showcase, and real time communication as we submit your finalized pitch to Pitch Wars.
6. Support before and during the showcase. We’re here to answer all your questions.
7. Assistance with finalizing your query and synopsis as you prepare to query and send out materials to agents. We’re also here to answer any industry questions you may have.

A Few (of MANY) Authors We Love

• Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Talia Hibbert
• Sonia Hartl
• Annette Christie
• Rachel Lynn Solomon
• TJ Klune
• Julie Murphy
• Olivia Dade
• Alexa Martin
• Helen Haong 
• Casey McQuiston
• Jesse Q. Sutatno
• Kerry Winfrey
• Tessa Baily

TV We Love

• Schitt’s Creek
• Shadow and Bone
• Sons of Anarchy
• The Witcher
• Parks and Rec
• Gilmore Girls
• Ted Lasso

Other Media We Love

• Animal Crossing
• BOTW
• The Witcher
• WOW
• Diablo
• Kingdom Hearts
• Flynn Rider
• Disney Movies
• Hallmark Movies