Welcome to another behind-the-scenes installment of Writing the Books with KJ and Jennie. This week, we’re diving deep into the realities of writing when the work refuses to go in a straight line. Jennie’s grappling with the impulse to seek outside validation, KJ’s embracing the thrill of a genre shift, and we’re both sitting in the messy middle—tea, snacks, self-doubt and all.
We talk:
The urge to send your draft to everyone you’ve ever met (don’t do it)
The joy and terror of querying agents—even when you know better
Finding (and owning) the right comp titles, even if one of them is Rick Rubin
That moment when you realize your character is doing the exact wrong thing… for all the right reasons
💬 We’re keeping it honest, vulnerable, and practical—because writing a book isn’t just about word count. It’s about who you are as a writer and what it means to trust yourself through the process.
What does it take to finally see your book clearly?
How do you know when your comps are actually right?
And what if your top 5 agents all say no?
KJ and Jennie are letting you into the private stuff this week—the doubt, the breakthroughs, and the messy decision-making that doesn’t show up in pretty Instagram posts.
👇 Join our paid subscribers to hear the full conversation and follow along as we build these books—word by word, week by week. You’ll get access to:
The full Writing the Books audio series
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Comments and discussion threads
And yes, the real-time panic and joy of hitting “send” on a query
