Kyleen Wren 11/18/25 Kyleen Wren 11/18/25

Tips For Beta Readers (+FREE Beta Reading Checklist)

I was scrolling Tiktok yesterday, and a writer popped up on my FYP asking about beta reading. It got me thinking back to the first couple manuscripts I beta read, and how completely lost I felt, even though I’d taken creative writing classes and knew how to provide feedback to writers.

Kyleen Wren 11/10/25 Kyleen Wren 11/10/25

What is Sensitivity Reading?

In my experience talking with other writers, I’ve been surprised to see how many people don’t understand what a sensitivity read is. Though it’s often misunderstood—or completely overlooked—I believe sensitivity readers are one of our greatest resources as writers.

Kyleen Wren 11/6/25 Kyleen Wren 11/6/25

Writing Update: We’re Back!

A couple nights ago, as I was brushing my teeth and staring it a blindingly bright full moon through the windows above the tub, a feeling came over me that I can only describe as divine. I literally stopped what I was doing to stare. To listen.

Kyleen Wren 10/9/25 Kyleen Wren 10/9/25

Writing Update: Dipping My Toes In Again (Querying)

Aside from one small batch of queries earlier this year, I haven’t queried in 2025. But it’s time to dip my toes in again… Hopefully I find the right agent this go around! And in the meantime, I’m back to work on other projects.

Kyleen Wren 9/23/25 Kyleen Wren 9/23/25

Being a Writer in the Age of AI

I can’t get online these days without someone discussing AI and its many harms within the writing and publishing world. The reality is, it’s growing, so what can we do as creatives?

Kyleen Wren 7/16/25 Kyleen Wren 7/16/25

Narrative Traditions: The Stories That Shape Us

I was listening to the Writing Excuses podcast this week, where they had an episode discussing narrative tradition. It got me thinking about what and who has shaped my writing and storytelling, and it took me to places I wasn’t quite expecting.

Kyleen Wren 7/5/25 Kyleen Wren 7/5/25

New WIP: ECHO

Inspired by my daughter’s idea, combined with tales surrounding Lake Lanier and other well-known tragic locations, ECHO is a look at our dark history and the ways our past can come back to haunt us if we refuse to face it.

Kyleen Wren 6/27/25 Kyleen Wren 6/27/25

10 Ways to Trim Word Count

It’s always a good idea to self-edit, tighten things up, and make every word earn its place in the story. I recently cut ~20k words from a manuscript, so let’s talk clarity, pace, and focus.

Kyleen Wren 6/15/25 Kyleen Wren 6/15/25

Writing Update: One Goal Reached!

We did it! Seen & Unseen is now under 100k words and ready to be sent off for what will hopefully be the final manuscript critique before potentially querying it.

Kyleen Wren 6/9/25 Kyleen Wren 6/9/25

Writing Update: Not Quite 100k

I did a major trim-down on Seen & Unseen in preparation for sending it off to an amazing editor. We’re so close!

Kyleen Wren 5/10/25 Kyleen Wren 5/10/25

Positive Character Arcs

When our characters overcome, adapt, learn, and grow, we often leave inspired and satisfied, whether there’s a happy ending to the story or not.

Kyleen Wren 4/28/25 Kyleen Wren 4/28/25

Writing Tip: Character Arc Overview

We’re all in a constant state of flux, ever changing. Even when it doesn’t feel like it’s the case, stasis is an illusion. This is true in real life, and it’s true in the stories we write.

Kyleen Wren 4/22/25 Kyleen Wren 4/22/25

New Writing Service: Writer Chat!

Whether you’re in the messy middle, the early idea phase, or gearing up for revisions, this service is a low-pressure way to get support, stay motivated, and move forward with confidence.

Kyleen Wren 4/14/25 Kyleen Wren 4/14/25

Reflections On Rejection

We might have taken a detour, but if we look around with curiosity instead of frustration, we may find all kinds of beauty. We may even find ourselves grateful one day.

Kyleen Wren 3/13/25 Kyleen Wren 3/13/25

Writing Update: #RevPit 2025 Open For Submissions

I submitted to #RevPit 2025! It’s my first time entering a contest like this one, so I’m both super excited and super nervous.

Kyleen Wren 3/1/25 Kyleen Wren 3/1/25

Querying Update (Project SU)

Back in the trenches! I’m querying SU even though it doesn’t quite fit neatly into any category because I can’t not query it.

Kyleen Wren 2/26/25 Kyleen Wren 2/26/25

Books Are Political

Literature has always been deeply connected to politics, fully intertwined, as both a mirror of society and a tool shaping societal values moving forward.

Kyleen Wren 12/9/24 Kyleen Wren 12/9/24

Upcoming Blog Break

Writing really is an experiment to me these days, a freedom which has come only after years of research, study, and practice. Now that I feel reasonably confident in my skill as a writer, it’s fun to try new things!

Kyleen Wren 11/30/24 Kyleen Wren 11/30/24

Writing Update: My Hard Drive Died

I had my worst writer’s nightmare come true in November: I lost all my work from the past 6 months.

Kyleen Wren 11/19/24 Kyleen Wren 11/19/24

Writing Tip: Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing might be one of my favorite elements of storytelling. I love leaving breadcrumbs that hint at what lies ahead, subtly creating anticipation from the very beginning of the story.