#320 Through the Trees with Jessica Fogleman

This week, we're running a takeover in collaboration with Reedsy freelancer Jessica Fogleman! The winner of this contest will not only be awarded $250 — they’ll also receive a special bonus prize: personal feedback from Jessica herself. For your chance to get insight from one of Reedsy’s very own professionals, read on! Here's Jessica:

Hello, writers!

I’m Jessica Fogleman, and I’ve been a copyeditor and proofreader since 2008. I get into the nitty-gritty details of things like grammar and punctuation. Once your content is nailed down, I make sure your manuscript is thoroughly polished and ready for publication.

Throughout my career, I’ve gotten to work with some of the best writers out there, including bestselling traditional and indie authors like Taylor Jenkins Reid, Catherine Coulter, Karen McQuestion, and Lauren Smith. I think I have the greatest job in the world! As a Reedsy freelancer, I love helping authors along the home stretch toward publication.

I live in the Black Forest in Colorado, and when I look out my office window, I see Pikes Peak rising above the pines. Here we have wild turkeys, mule deer, hawks, bobcats, rabbits, and occasionally black bears and mountain lions. This spring, I saw a den of kit foxes on the way to my kids’ school. An elk herd sometimes roams on the northern side of the forest.

For this week, I’ve chosen writing prompts related to the forest, and I can’t wait to see where you go with them! Forests can be anything from dark and mysterious, to cozy and romantic, to thrilling and dangerous. My forest is classic Colorado, populated by ponderosa pines and with views of the Front Range. Where is your forest?

Special Update: The Results 🏆

Jessica's top pick for her takeover was "The Game" by Hannah Cumber. Here's what she had to say about it: "Wow, Hannah, what an immersive, delightfully atmospheric story! As I read, I could feel the scrape of the tree bark, the bite of the wind, and the burn of the rune scars. This story is a vivid and visceral glimpse into the protagonist's world, and I was left wanting to know even more about this character. You did a beautiful job delving into the themes of nature, survival, and balance. I especially loved the little twist at the end and the lingering sense that we all have within us both a bit of the magical and a bit of the monstrous. Bravo!"

Congratulations to contest winner Hannah Cumber and the runners-up, Armando Hubble and Carina Caccia!