Gina Denny
@ginad129.bsky.social
Author, editor, publishing professional. I help you make your writing better.
#6StagesOfSelfEditing
Linktr.ee/ginad129
#6StagesOfSelfEditing
Linktr.ee/ginad129
Tomorrow begins the @/thirty30writingchallenge in place of #NaNoWriMo
I created a group but am sort of flying by the seat of my pants here (shocking)
Join! Let's encourage each other!!!
thirty30k.com/groups/6904d...
I created a group but am sort of flying by the seat of my pants here (shocking)
Join! Let's encourage each other!!!
thirty30k.com/groups/6904d...
thirty30
Connect with writers, track your progress, and finish your novels
thirty30k.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Tomorrow begins the @/thirty30writingchallenge in place of #NaNoWriMo
I created a group but am sort of flying by the seat of my pants here (shocking)
Join! Let's encourage each other!!!
thirty30k.com/groups/6904d...
I created a group but am sort of flying by the seat of my pants here (shocking)
Join! Let's encourage each other!!!
thirty30k.com/groups/6904d...
Any time I work with a nonfiction client, I ALWAYS refer them to Eric’s resources. If you’re writing nonfiction, this workshop is absolutely sure to be gold.
Since my summer query one went so well, I’m doing another workshop in the winter.
Come hang! The goal is to help get a nonfiction book proposal wrangled up and polished.
These workshops will help fund my free events in the New Year. www.ericsmithrocks.com/blog/2025/9/...
Come hang! The goal is to help get a nonfiction book proposal wrangled up and polished.
These workshops will help fund my free events in the New Year. www.ericsmithrocks.com/blog/2025/9/...
Winter Workshop: Building the Nonfiction Book Proposal — ERIC SMITH
Hey friends. So my first attempt at a self-run workshop this summer was a really wonderful success. A few dozen folks signed up, we worked on query letters and opening pages, and at the end of the si...
www.ericsmithrocks.com
September 3, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Any time I work with a nonfiction client, I ALWAYS refer them to Eric’s resources. If you’re writing nonfiction, this workshop is absolutely sure to be gold.
“Agents can’t possibly tell if they’re gonna love the book in just the first five pages!!!”
Right. But they can tell if it’s not right for them in that amount of time. Sample pages are a filtering tool, and if the agent isn’t hooked, then they’re never gonna fall in love the way they need to.
Right. But they can tell if it’s not right for them in that amount of time. Sample pages are a filtering tool, and if the agent isn’t hooked, then they’re never gonna fall in love the way they need to.
August 9, 2025 at 1:31 PM
“Agents can’t possibly tell if they’re gonna love the book in just the first five pages!!!”
Right. But they can tell if it’s not right for them in that amount of time. Sample pages are a filtering tool, and if the agent isn’t hooked, then they’re never gonna fall in love the way they need to.
Right. But they can tell if it’s not right for them in that amount of time. Sample pages are a filtering tool, and if the agent isn’t hooked, then they’re never gonna fall in love the way they need to.
Today I told A Man what I do for a living and in the course of that conversation he laughed at the phrase “self published rapid release romances”
So, in case you need some spite and rage to fuel your work today 🫡
So, in case you need some spite and rage to fuel your work today 🫡
August 8, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Today I told A Man what I do for a living and in the course of that conversation he laughed at the phrase “self published rapid release romances”
So, in case you need some spite and rage to fuel your work today 🫡
So, in case you need some spite and rage to fuel your work today 🫡
Literary agents are paid on commission. When you receive money from a publisher, your agent takes a 15% cut.
They do not charge reading fees or submission fees or maintenance fees. Do not pay for representation up front.
They do not charge reading fees or submission fees or maintenance fees. Do not pay for representation up front.
August 7, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Literary agents are paid on commission. When you receive money from a publisher, your agent takes a 15% cut.
They do not charge reading fees or submission fees or maintenance fees. Do not pay for representation up front.
They do not charge reading fees or submission fees or maintenance fees. Do not pay for representation up front.
I don’t know why the pro-book-pirating crowd keeps popping up in my algorithm but I don’t support piracy.
Use your library. Shop used. Borrow from your friends. Ask for books/bookstore gift cards as gifts.
Unless you live in a place where the book is literally illegal:
Don’t. Steal. Books.
Use your library. Shop used. Borrow from your friends. Ask for books/bookstore gift cards as gifts.
Unless you live in a place where the book is literally illegal:
Don’t. Steal. Books.
July 27, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I don’t know why the pro-book-pirating crowd keeps popping up in my algorithm but I don’t support piracy.
Use your library. Shop used. Borrow from your friends. Ask for books/bookstore gift cards as gifts.
Unless you live in a place where the book is literally illegal:
Don’t. Steal. Books.
Use your library. Shop used. Borrow from your friends. Ask for books/bookstore gift cards as gifts.
Unless you live in a place where the book is literally illegal:
Don’t. Steal. Books.
I’ve been doing “premise and plot” chats with authors, helping them work through stories that are giving them trouble and it has to be some of the most rewarding work I’ve done.
There’s always one question that the author hadn’t thought of that unlocks the whole story. It’s like magic.
There’s always one question that the author hadn’t thought of that unlocks the whole story. It’s like magic.
July 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
I’ve been doing “premise and plot” chats with authors, helping them work through stories that are giving them trouble and it has to be some of the most rewarding work I’ve done.
There’s always one question that the author hadn’t thought of that unlocks the whole story. It’s like magic.
There’s always one question that the author hadn’t thought of that unlocks the whole story. It’s like magic.
Absolutely love when someone asks for advice and I give advice to that person and basically the advice is “that’s gonna be hard to sell and here’s why” and dudes come from all over to tell me I’m wrong because their favorite something something whatever did it forty years ago so I must be stupid
July 15, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Absolutely love when someone asks for advice and I give advice to that person and basically the advice is “that’s gonna be hard to sell and here’s why” and dudes come from all over to tell me I’m wrong because their favorite something something whatever did it forty years ago so I must be stupid
Reposted by Gina Denny
1. Scam alert thread! 🧵
Watch out for out-of- the-blue emails from supposed marketing experts claiming they just happened on your book & are eager to promote it. This is something I'm seeing more and more of. Marketing scams aren't new, but this is a new twist.
Watch out for out-of- the-blue emails from supposed marketing experts claiming they just happened on your book & are eager to promote it. This is something I'm seeing more and more of. Marketing scams aren't new, but this is a new twist.
July 14, 2025 at 5:42 PM
1. Scam alert thread! 🧵
Watch out for out-of- the-blue emails from supposed marketing experts claiming they just happened on your book & are eager to promote it. This is something I'm seeing more and more of. Marketing scams aren't new, but this is a new twist.
Watch out for out-of- the-blue emails from supposed marketing experts claiming they just happened on your book & are eager to promote it. This is something I'm seeing more and more of. Marketing scams aren't new, but this is a new twist.
I’m just an editor, standing in front of your manuscript, begging you to stop making your characters wink every couple pages
July 12, 2025 at 7:57 PM
I’m just an editor, standing in front of your manuscript, begging you to stop making your characters wink every couple pages
If you think traditional publishing doesn’t do *any* marketing, you might just not understand what marketing is.
They can and should do more, especially for their marginalized authors and mid list authors. But they are never doing “nothing”.
They can and should do more, especially for their marginalized authors and mid list authors. But they are never doing “nothing”.
July 9, 2025 at 10:00 PM
If you think traditional publishing doesn’t do *any* marketing, you might just not understand what marketing is.
They can and should do more, especially for their marginalized authors and mid list authors. But they are never doing “nothing”.
They can and should do more, especially for their marginalized authors and mid list authors. But they are never doing “nothing”.
If you start writing a new wonderfully weird idea, but you run into trouble executing that wonderfully weird idea, there are two possible causes:
1. it’s a dumb idea that won’t work
2. you’re a visionary genius & the only person who can pull it off
The only way to know? Keep writing.
1. it’s a dumb idea that won’t work
2. you’re a visionary genius & the only person who can pull it off
The only way to know? Keep writing.
July 8, 2025 at 9:56 PM
If you start writing a new wonderfully weird idea, but you run into trouble executing that wonderfully weird idea, there are two possible causes:
1. it’s a dumb idea that won’t work
2. you’re a visionary genius & the only person who can pull it off
The only way to know? Keep writing.
1. it’s a dumb idea that won’t work
2. you’re a visionary genius & the only person who can pull it off
The only way to know? Keep writing.
Reposted by Gina Denny
Woke up to lots of A.I. and… em dash discourse?
If you’re a new writer getting stressed over that, please know using the beloved em dash, en dash, or just a regular ol’ dash is normal and perfectly fine.
Don’t let social media twist you into knots over here.
If you’re a new writer getting stressed over that, please know using the beloved em dash, en dash, or just a regular ol’ dash is normal and perfectly fine.
Don’t let social media twist you into knots over here.
July 7, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Woke up to lots of A.I. and… em dash discourse?
If you’re a new writer getting stressed over that, please know using the beloved em dash, en dash, or just a regular ol’ dash is normal and perfectly fine.
Don’t let social media twist you into knots over here.
If you’re a new writer getting stressed over that, please know using the beloved em dash, en dash, or just a regular ol’ dash is normal and perfectly fine.
Don’t let social media twist you into knots over here.
My ten-year-old is playing Fortnite in his Homer Simpson slippers with headphones on, singing along to Kpop Demon Hunters soundtrack at the top of his lungs and it’s the cutest thing to happen in my house in a long time
July 4, 2025 at 6:34 PM
My ten-year-old is playing Fortnite in his Homer Simpson slippers with headphones on, singing along to Kpop Demon Hunters soundtrack at the top of his lungs and it’s the cutest thing to happen in my house in a long time
I don’t know what to do.
I voted. I volunteered. I called my reps (though they all voted against it from the start). I donated. I had hard conversations, so many that I lost friends and lost contact with family. I’m raising my children to do the right thing.
But I’m at a loss. What else is there?
I voted. I volunteered. I called my reps (though they all voted against it from the start). I donated. I had hard conversations, so many that I lost friends and lost contact with family. I’m raising my children to do the right thing.
But I’m at a loss. What else is there?
July 3, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I don’t know what to do.
I voted. I volunteered. I called my reps (though they all voted against it from the start). I donated. I had hard conversations, so many that I lost friends and lost contact with family. I’m raising my children to do the right thing.
But I’m at a loss. What else is there?
I voted. I volunteered. I called my reps (though they all voted against it from the start). I donated. I had hard conversations, so many that I lost friends and lost contact with family. I’m raising my children to do the right thing.
But I’m at a loss. What else is there?
Does anybody remember that Adam Sandler movie where he gets a remote control so he can skip over all the fun parts of his life and get back to work?
No reason.
No reason.
Zuck of 2025 is telling Zuck of 2004 to hold his beer.
July 1, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Does anybody remember that Adam Sandler movie where he gets a remote control so he can skip over all the fun parts of his life and get back to work?
No reason.
No reason.
Considering the AI summary of my text messages routinely tells me the exact opposite of what the 12-word text message actually says…
It’s gonna be a hard “no” from me on this.
Do not ever under any circumstances trust an AI summary of your contract.
It’s gonna be a hard “no” from me on this.
Do not ever under any circumstances trust an AI summary of your contract.
I just received a contract on Docusign for review and signing, and it offered to give me an AI-generated summary that I could read instead to save time.
That's AN AI-GENERATED SUMMARY ***OF A CONTRACT***, in case you need to let that sink in.
That's AN AI-GENERATED SUMMARY ***OF A CONTRACT***, in case you need to let that sink in.
June 30, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Considering the AI summary of my text messages routinely tells me the exact opposite of what the 12-word text message actually says…
It’s gonna be a hard “no” from me on this.
Do not ever under any circumstances trust an AI summary of your contract.
It’s gonna be a hard “no” from me on this.
Do not ever under any circumstances trust an AI summary of your contract.
Reposted by Gina Denny
Popping in on this Friday afternoon to tell every aspiring writer on #Bluesky what a wealth of expertise @ginad129.bsky.social is. Seriously—her TikTok, Patreon, editing/pitch services are all exceptional. A treasure! #writersofbluesky #querying #WIP
June 27, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Popping in on this Friday afternoon to tell every aspiring writer on #Bluesky what a wealth of expertise @ginad129.bsky.social is. Seriously—her TikTok, Patreon, editing/pitch services are all exceptional. A treasure! #writersofbluesky #querying #WIP
I did not summon the Star Wars guys to my comment section.
I never summon Star Wars guys to my comment section.
And yet they have arrived anyway.
I never summon Star Wars guys to my comment section.
And yet they have arrived anyway.
June 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
I did not summon the Star Wars guys to my comment section.
I never summon Star Wars guys to my comment section.
And yet they have arrived anyway.
I never summon Star Wars guys to my comment section.
And yet they have arrived anyway.
Today I learned that Carla Gugino has a brother AND a father named Carl Gugino
June 26, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Today I learned that Carla Gugino has a brother AND a father named Carl Gugino
There is no such thing as “just” self publishing. Trad pub is not impossible. Both paths are difficult for different reasons, both paths can be the right path for you for different reasons.
June 25, 2025 at 2:19 PM
There is no such thing as “just” self publishing. Trad pub is not impossible. Both paths are difficult for different reasons, both paths can be the right path for you for different reasons.
Writing is an art.
Publishing is a business.
Your desire to pursue artistic expression does not require you to pursue the business of publishing. You are under no obligation to monetize your joy.
Publishing is a business.
Your desire to pursue artistic expression does not require you to pursue the business of publishing. You are under no obligation to monetize your joy.
June 24, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Writing is an art.
Publishing is a business.
Your desire to pursue artistic expression does not require you to pursue the business of publishing. You are under no obligation to monetize your joy.
Publishing is a business.
Your desire to pursue artistic expression does not require you to pursue the business of publishing. You are under no obligation to monetize your joy.
If a literary agent is saying they only take clients who are easy to work with because the book-to-film adaptation process is stressful… run. That person has no idea what it means to actually be a literary agent.
June 23, 2025 at 10:09 PM
If a literary agent is saying they only take clients who are easy to work with because the book-to-film adaptation process is stressful… run. That person has no idea what it means to actually be a literary agent.
Reposted by Gina Denny
There is a site obviously created by AI that is pretending to be a continuation of Pitch Wars. It is not, has nothing to do with anyone involved in #pitchwars, and looks quite scammy. Please beware & tell your friends.
@brendadrake.bsky.social @kellyekell.bsky.social @authorsoniahartl.bsky.social
@brendadrake.bsky.social @kellyekell.bsky.social @authorsoniahartl.bsky.social
June 22, 2025 at 6:08 PM
There is a site obviously created by AI that is pretending to be a continuation of Pitch Wars. It is not, has nothing to do with anyone involved in #pitchwars, and looks quite scammy. Please beware & tell your friends.
@brendadrake.bsky.social @kellyekell.bsky.social @authorsoniahartl.bsky.social
@brendadrake.bsky.social @kellyekell.bsky.social @authorsoniahartl.bsky.social
“As a writer who is also a reader—“
Babes. I’m gonna stop you right there because if you’re not a reader, you’re not a writer.
Babes. I’m gonna stop you right there because if you’re not a reader, you’re not a writer.
June 22, 2025 at 11:27 PM
“As a writer who is also a reader—“
Babes. I’m gonna stop you right there because if you’re not a reader, you’re not a writer.
Babes. I’m gonna stop you right there because if you’re not a reader, you’re not a writer.