Jenna Johnson

Hi, my name is Jenna. I work as a part time editor and keep up my writing in my free time. I enjoy reading and writing fantasy fiction, especially young adult fiction, and have spent the last few years working on my own book series that I hope to get published some day. I earned a bachelor's degree in both English: Creative Writing and Biology. I currently live in Virginia with my family, and apart from writing, I love playing cello and learning how to develop my own videogames.

See profile
Award Category
Young Writer Award 2023
Reaching Shadows
My Submission

Comments

Natalia Leigh Wed, 12/07/2023 - 22:13

Hello, Jenna!

Thank you for sharing your work with us. It was a joy getting to read your first three chapters. You've already piqued my interest, especially in this fantasy world you've built. You did a wonderful job delivering relevant information without making me feel like I was being hand-fed backstory; well done! I love anything with angels, and I'd love to read more.

Best of luck in the judging!

- Natalia Leigh

Kenny MacKay Sun, 30/07/2023 - 20:52

The pace of the story is well-maintained, with enough action and tension to keep the reader hooked while allowing room for exploration of the character's emotions and thoughts. Good job.

Jordan Kantey Tue, 01/08/2023 - 16:26

I enjoyed the strong focus on active verbal phrases that created an unfolding sense of action and mystery (and the mystery of what had befallen Sophie as well as what her and Luke are if not humans, too).

Watch for successive sentences or paragraphs that begin subject, verb (object), as the effect on flow can become a tiny bit monotonous (e.g., 'Luke clutched, Luke clawed, Luke gasped,' and so forth). Focusing on dreams and starting with coming to consciousness is fairly common for fantastical genres, so something to think about and trade off against other ways to begin, maybe.

I'm curious to learn more about telestri and what transpires on Luke's quest to find Sophie.