Jaye Pool
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jayepool.bsky.social
Jaye Pool
@jayepool.bsky.social
Author of deconstruction litfic novels MAKE ME FREE and TO DIE IS GAIN.

Website: http://jayepool.com

Newsletter Sign-Up: http://www.jayepool.com/newsletter

#booksky #Blackbooksky #exvangelical #literaryfiction #indieauthor #weirdgirllit
#WIPSnips WOTD is “commit.”

This is a heck of a snip! In my litfic WIP, Micah talks about Julian and the guardrails on their relationship, but then Jalisa, seemingly out of left field, asks her about her estranged husband Steve.

Ope…

#authorsky #writesky #amwriting #writingcommunit
January 26, 2026 at 10:53 AM
#AwesomeCharacters

Promises are a pain point.

Steve promises to support the family financially if Micah quit grad school & they moved back to his hometown of Losanti. But in Losanti, he can’t keep a job & Micah’s forced to work at a local university, reminding her of what might’ve been.
#writesky
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

Let's talk promises! Does your character make them easily, or does it take a lot to get them to make a promise? Does it depend on the promise, or the person?

What would it take to make them break that promise?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
January 17, 2026 at 4:33 PM
#pretendpanel

My first major work - in terms of full drafts, prob five or six.

For my current novel-length project, likely two or three. I’m on a very edited draft 1.5, and I’ve been getting helpful peer and beta reader feedback. Heavy structural edits are coming soon.

#writingcommunity #writesky
#pretendpanel, I will get to your answers from yesterday shortly, thank you for your patience. Meanwhile...

January 17th: How many drafts, then vs. now? (see image and/or alt text for further prompting if needed)

#WritingCommunity #Writers #Authors #WritingPrompts
January 17, 2026 at 4:22 PM
All that glitters is “gold?”

Gold is today’s #WIPSnips WOTD 💜

Micah is helping Julian restore the town’s mansion. She’s washing walls when Julian reaches out and touches her. Is there a spark between them?

#writesky #authorsky #writingcommunity #amwriting
January 17, 2026 at 1:29 PM
“Current”ly, here’s today’s #WIPSnips WOTD 💜

Micah is talking with Nova, the history department head, when her hated ex-rival looks for her. Julia just can’t wait.

#writingcommunity #writesky #authorsky #amwriting
January 15, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Reposted by Jaye Pool
Seeking *volunteer* beta readers for a 97k word litfic / women’s fiction manuscript. Samples can be found in older posts (Micah & Steve are MCs).

🖋️📚💙

Go here for more details and to signup here. No DMs.

#betareaders #readers #reading #litfic
Jaye Pool Beta Reader Questionnaire
I'm looking for volunteer (free) beta readers to read my upcoming contemporary fiction novel, the first in a planned series of standalone novels, which is in the editing stage. If selected, please com...
docs.google.com
December 31, 2025 at 1:20 AM
#AwesomeCharacters

Micah is fairly self-aware. Her relationship with Julian in Marristone she is very aware is temporary, and that she can’t avoid addressing her failing marriage to Steve. But she is sometimes slow to move on what she knows to be true.

#writingcommunity #writesky #authorsky
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

Let's talk self-reflection. How good is your character at assessing their flaws?

Do they usually have a good sense of how they are coming across to others?

If not, which way are they usually wrong?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
January 14, 2026 at 6:46 PM
#AwesomeCharacters

Charlie has no close relationships. He’s a transactional person. Even when interacting with Micah’s pastor & his wife at the beginning of book 2 in my current series, Charlie trades tea for (live) bodies under the guise of religion.

#writingcommunity #writesky #authorsky
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

Antagonist day!

What is your antagonist's most important relationship?

Are they close to anyone? How does that person feel about their choices? Does it matter to the antagonist what they think?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
January 13, 2026 at 11:47 AM
#AwesomeCharacters

Steve and Julian never meet. Julian knows Steve exists, and Steve eventually learns of Julian in the (spoiler) way possible.

It would be hella awkward (at best) if they did, as both are intimately connected to Micah. #lovetriangle

#writesky #authorsky #writingcommunity
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

Are there key characters in your story who never meet?

What would happen if they did? How might it occur?

If not, are there any meetings that were a long time coming?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
January 11, 2026 at 2:02 PM
#WIPSnips WOTD is “fifth”

Surprised I found instances in my WIP.

Micah’s on a road trip alone, talking to Finn on speaker phone about “He Knows Your Name” billboards, but what does the message mean? 🤔

Ohioans might appreciate this passage 😆

#writingcommunity #writesky #authorsky #exvangelical
January 10, 2026 at 4:07 PM
#AwesomeCharacters

Micah *is* the weird wherever she goes.

At her church in Losanti, she’s “too independent” bc she works outside the home & kept her maiden name.

In Marristone, she’s the only one in her circle who truly knows the religious interests threatening the town.

#writesky #amwriting
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

What's your character's weird meter like?

Do they encounter strange (for their world) things? Is ordinary for them very different from ordinary for those around them?

What's the weirdest thing they've seen?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
January 9, 2026 at 3:49 PM
#AwesomeCharacters

Micah likes kids. Besides trying for a child of her own, she brings thoughtful gifts to her bestie’s young son, who is a voracious reader.

#writesky #authorsky #writingcommunity #amwriting
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

How does your character feel about children?

Do they like children? Are they children? Do they plan to have them someday? Have them already? Adopt? Not interested at all?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
January 9, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Still open to a couple more FREE beta readers for my litfic novel - limited time only - sign up now!

🖋️📚💙

#betareaders #freebook #exvangelical #litfic #BlackBookSky
Seeking *volunteer* beta readers for a 97k word litfic / women’s fiction manuscript. Samples can be found in older posts (Micah & Steve are MCs).

🖋️📚💙

Go here for more details and to signup here. No DMs.

#betareaders #readers #reading #litfic
Jaye Pool Beta Reader Questionnaire
I'm looking for volunteer (free) beta readers to read my upcoming contemporary fiction novel, the first in a planned series of standalone novels, which is in the editing stage. If selected, please com...
docs.google.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:43 PM
#WIPSnips WOTD is “table”

In a flashback, Cindy is none too pleased when Steve tells her Micah’s boundary.

#writingcommunity #writesky #authorsky #amwriting
January 9, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Happy New Year!

#WIPSnips WOTD is “begin” — how fitting!

Steve arrives at men’s Bible study, where Nathan, the imposing Bible study leader, is ready to “talk.” *gulp*

#writesky #authorsky #writingcommunity #amwriting
January 1, 2026 at 2:37 PM
#AwesomeCharacters

It’s still in the concept / outline phase, but Steve’s “alpha” Bible study leader Nathan & his wife Diane will get their own standalone novel 😈

I didn’t decide that while writing my current WIP, but their dynamic pushed them to the forefront.

#writesky #authorsky #amwriting
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

Side character day!

Do you have any side characters that you plan to/have brought back in a much bigger role?

Did you set it up in advance or did it just happen? Could the reader have predicted it?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #writingprompts
January 1, 2026 at 11:19 AM
#WIPSnips WOTD is “end”

Steve is scrambling to tell one of the older ladies of the church where Micah has gone. He can’t admit she walked out on him, can he?

Here’s to the end of 2025 - happy New Year!

#writingcommunity #writesky #authorsky #beta
December 31, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Seeking *volunteer* beta readers for a 97k word litfic / women’s fiction manuscript. Samples can be found in older posts (Micah & Steve are MCs).

🖋️📚💙

Go here for more details and to signup here. No DMs.

#betareaders #readers #reading #litfic
Jaye Pool Beta Reader Questionnaire
I'm looking for volunteer (free) beta readers to read my upcoming contemporary fiction novel, the first in a planned series of standalone novels, which is in the editing stage. If selected, please com...
docs.google.com
December 31, 2025 at 1:20 AM
#AwesomeCharacters

Current line of work =/= quest in my WIP.

Micah’s an office manager at a local university’s history department. Her ex-bf Finn got her the job.

Her quest begins when personal tragedy is church gossip fodder. Steve takes the church ladies’ side instead of Micah’s. She leaves.
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters

How did your character get started on their current line of work/quest? What started them down that path?

Was it a specific choice they made? Serendipity? Was their hand forced by someone? Was it a mistake?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #writingprompts
December 28, 2025 at 2:15 PM
#Smutcember

Here’s a scene from early in my litfic WIP — Micah recalls losing her virginity in a flashback.

FYI bc first time: Micah was 24 at the time & Finn was 25, so two consenting, unambiguous adults.

CW: oral, handie/fingering, frank discussion & depiction of genitals

#writesky #authorsky
December 28, 2025 at 1:59 PM
#Smutcember

In the beginning, not well. Steve doesn’t listen when Micah tells him her feelings about most things & he believes the marriage is great (and godly). She eventually bottles everything up, including how little effort he makes in the bedroom. By year 7 of marriage, she’s had it. #writesky
Hope you're having a restful Friday, #Smutcember! Today's question:

How well do your characters communicate? This could be verbally or non-verbally, and it could be outside of, before, after, or during intimate encounters.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
December 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
#Smutcember

My characters drive their kinks. Micah’s a screamer & her lovers (particularly in the current timeline) get off on it, *spoiler* takes pride in others hearing her. Julian will do it anywhere. Steve is an undercover freak…Naomi calls him Father Stephen for a reason. #writesky #authorsky
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, #Smutcember! I'm partial to the Yule vibes myself, but any excuse for a little holiday spice. 😏 With that in mind, we ask you:

Do you plan your characters with specific kinks, or do they arise organically?

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
December 25, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate 🎄🎅🏾
a christmas tree with a star on top of it and the words merry christmas .
Alt: a christmas tree with a star on top of it and the words merry christmas .
media.tenor.com
December 25, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Jaye Pool
In this short essay, I share an update on my writing journey and some things coming down the pike - check it out!

🖋️📚💙

#WIP #womensfiction #blackbooksky #supportindieauthors #writers #vocalmedia
From Losanti to the Lakeshore
a new novel - and journey - begins
vocal.media
December 8, 2025 at 7:54 PM