Tell Me Your Ways...with Jessica Guerrieri
Author of upcoming debut novel Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Photo credit: Julia Aue Photography
Jessica Guerrieri (pronounced “grrr-AIR-EE”) and I met in The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Deep Dive Series. Every day I’m inspired by her warm, insightful and incredibly moving posts on Tiktok and IG. BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA (Harper Muse), Jessica’s award-winning debut book club fiction novel, will be available May 13, 2025.
Are you a plotter or a pantser? Why do you find this the best way for you to write?
I am a chaotic version of both. I have about 100 ideas in the Notes App on my phone that provide my basic plot or a major theme I’d like to cover. For instance, if I’m sitting around the dinner table with a group of my friends and a particular topic like “escapism in motherhood” continues to be a major focus, I know I will want to include it within a novel. Or someone will say something that I’ll make and then repeat, so it becomes a dialogue in my writing. When I give myself dedicated writing time, that’s when I fly by the seat of my pants. Maybe I have an idea for the scene, or I see where the wind takes me. I will usually have a heading and a topic that I want to cover in that scene, but if I’m in early drafting, I just let it flow. If I’m not in the zone for writing, then I use the time for editing.
What does your drafting process look like? Do you write scenes in order?
I do not draft in order, and maybe my life would be so much easier if I did, but I write to the scenes that I’m in the zone for, and that almost always forces me to skip around. For example, in the early drafts of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, I was still actively using drugs during the pandemic while home and parenting my young children. The scenes with the most anguish and heartache were written when I was actively in addiction. In all my edits and drafts, the parts that are the most haunting are the scenes I wrote when the main character, Leah, is raging a war within herself—in so many ways, the call was coming from inside the house. The opening scene of my debut novel is in about 5 or 6 different locations within my novel itself. I am drafting my second novel, and like with my first, I’ve played around with POV and written several versions from multiple perspectives. In my heart, I want to be an organized person, and I’ve tried with giant whiteboards and sticky notes that are color-coded or binders with tabs, but ultimately, whenever I attempt that method, I get too lost in the process. In my real life, I am the worst paint prepper: laying down the drop cloths and aligning that blue tape along the floorboards. I’m at my best at the stage of true creativity, rolling paint along a white wall, an open Word doc, and nothing but time to write.
Please walk us through a little of what your revision process looks like?
I go through my beta reader’s notes, whether it’s line edits or editorial notes, and look for patterns. The most challenging part of the revision process for me has to do with structural changes and aligning the timeline. I’m not afraid of editing major plot points. As long as I have a clear picture of who my characters are and that’s evident to my reader, I know I am on the right track.
How do you know when your story is done?
I’ll never forget a conversation I had with my sister after she and my mom had done a single round of edits on a draft of my debut Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. I went in and made minor, extremely cautious changes because, at that point, I was terrified to kill my darlings. I told her, “I think I’m done.” And my sister, in her infinite older sister wisdom, said, “Like done, done?” Then, we proceeded to argue over what that meant. I argued, “Well, it’s good enough to pitch to an agent.” And she respectfully disagreed. She was totally right…Ugh, I hate it when that happens! It is enormously helpful to have an editor now tell me I’m done because I could get lost in the editing process forever. The good news, I found, is that a story is never truly done, which is what I love about writing. I can be done editing because my editor has signed off on it, and it’s going to print, but the story will be interpreted by the readers and evolve into something entirely new for them because of their experience and own personal journey, and so it is only just beginning.
How many beta readers do you typically have for a project? Does anyone read all the versions?
Early on, I wasn’t ready for true criticism the way a writer needs it. So, I stuck with beta readers, who were my kindest friends. It wasn’t until I was ready to get serious that I became very selective and intentional in selecting my beta readers. I was lucky enough to find early readers through an incredible Facebook group called Peloton Moms Book Club. I wanted to get “reader” feedback which is different than other writer’s feedback. I have had family and select friends read all the versions. This is a huge commitment of their time, and I’m grateful to anyone who has stuck with me through the cringiest of drafts.
What are you currently working on now?
I am currently working on my second novel, which will be available in May 2026 as part of my two-book deal with Harper Muse. This novel tackles the growing pains of marriage a decade or two in and how female friendships can serve as both the connective tissue that supplements our emotional needs and the reflective mirror when it comes to identifying hard truths.
Do you have a favorite book on the craft of writing?
I love Stephen King’s On Writing. I’m also a fan of taking online courses and webinars. CeCe Lyra gives the best webinars. For instance, I loved Hacking Writing on a Line Level.
Anything else you’d like to share? Where can we find you?
Pre-sales for Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea are happening as soon as July of 2024. Please check my socials and website for all the latest details as they unfold.