Tanner Friedman Senior Account Manager Jennie Miller

This week’s Writer Wednesday features Jennie Miller, a senior account manager for Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications and author of contemporary women’s fiction and young adult novels. (She’s seeking representation!) Jennie resides in St. Clair Shores with her dog Vino.

What is your favorite part of the writing process? 

New words are the best. Choosing where to begin, how to present the story, the characters and the mood. I also love the feeling when something emerges on the page you didn’t see coming, like when a character reveals a new trait or the story takes an unexpected turn.

What does your writing workspace look like?

I’m a houseplant hoarder, so wherever I’m writing, there’s usually a plant nearby. I like to listen to beach waves or some kind of nature ASMR. I’m also picky about chair-to-table height ratios. I’m a shortie, and comfort is key for a good writing sesh.

What was your experience participating in NaNoWriMo? Do you have any insight for writers considering participating?

JM: What I love about NaNo is it forces you to just write. As a former journalist, I often interrupt my writing mid-sentence to do some internet research and fact check every detail, which slows down the process. As a copy editor, it can be challenging for me to leave a sentence in an unpolished state, so I find myself revising while writing, which definitely slows down the process. And I’m still learning the craft of plotting a novel, so sometimes I feel super stuck in a certain spot and I’ll take a short break which turns into a long break and yet I’m still stuck. NaNo frees you from all of these constraints and allows you to word vomit your ideas to make as much progress as fast as you can. It’s about quantity, not quality, and there’s something really liberating about that.

What is your favorite non-writing hobby?

Hiking with my dog, Vino.

What is your favorite piece of writing advice?

If you want to be a writer, write.

What writing projects are you currently working on?

I’m revising my 2020 NaNoWriMo project, a contemporary women’s fiction novel.

You can follow Jennie’s writing journey on Instagram at @jenniemillerauthor.