Hi. Glad to have you here.
My name is Jessica Page Morrell and I dislike using third person to describe myself, so here goes: I’m an author, developmental editor, writing instructor, imaginer, and encourager. I help bring out the best in the writers I work with. Some days it feels like riding shotgun. Lately I’ve also taken on ghost writing projects and am so excited about this type of collaboration. I’ve had six books traditionally published, including five books written for writers.
Lately I’ve been thinking about the phases of my career these past decades. This musing came because I’ve been sorting out my brimming office–so much paper, so many books. But I digress. This pursuit found me combing through a box of paperwork and supplies for my Summer in Words conference–it started in Manzanita and moved on to Cannon Beach. Both on the glorious Oregon coast. And that conference was such a joy–and so much work. Besides the coast, I founded and coordinated one-day and weekend workshops, retreats and writing conferences in Portland and Ashland. All told I’ve taught thousands of writers and conferences around the US and in Canada, Mexico, and Ireland. Then came Covid and I’ve been teaching online for writing organizations and some closer-to-home gigs. But you never know…I might start gathering writers together again. It’s so inspiring.
When I moved Portland the job market was grim. So I worked part-time jobs like handling out food samples, cooking in a deli, and devleoped recipes for a grocery chain. I also started teaching writing classes at community colleges, and for Saturday Academy, a cool organizaiton that offers a huge range of classes for kids. It was so much fun and I learned that 10-year-olds are the perfect age to have as students. There were other programs on my roster and I also was a corporate trainer for Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and charities. I juggled at least two jobs for years while writing books, columns, articles. Before and after I moved to Portland I worked as a columnist, copywriter, and feature writer. In a previous life in Milwaukee,Wisconsin I cooked in restaurants, owned a catering business, and was a restaurant reviewer, columnist, feature and free-lance writer.
Words are my homeland. I’m fascinated by the history of the English language and took a course on the topic last year. It’s such a lovely, potent, mongrel language. Not to mention ever evolving. For years I’ve suggested that writers rely on words of Anglo-Saxon origin. The solid, meaty old words we’ve known since childhood–moon, bird, stream, queen, hammer, sister, honey.
In her work especially focused on imbuing language with tension and resonance and scenes with tension. Oh, and limiting prepositions–the carbs of language. She collects words daily, scavenging baubles and jewels, and has kept a writers notebook and commonplace book for many years.
As an editor I help writers reimagine their stories, aids in nailing a firm inner rationale, nudges them toward creating emotional resonance, and cinematic tales told from a deep viewpoint amid meaningful dramatic entanglements. Along the way, I’ve not only helped launch writing careers, but also guided midlist authors to become bestselling authors.
I think about story craft a lot andmy love of stories is profound. My to-read book stacks are unwieldy and sometimes totter over {the bookcases are stuffed} and I try to read widely. The current state of things sometimes means she also peruses lighter fare and has a fondness for stories with a lifelike, witty voice {because all writing begins with voice} that also make her think deeper. I research way too much, read and follow the news too much too, and try to coax people into voting.
Meanwhile I’m rehabilitiang a once-nasty and boring yard and needed-a lot-of-fixing house. This means I start off my days gardening amid the region’s long growing season. Arranging bouquets with flowers from my garden is my idea of simple bliss. While reading is my lifeline, as a former foodie I appreciate the heft of a good chef’s knife and the reliability of cast iron pans. I buy from local growers and believe cooking is the perfect accompaniment to writing. Oh, and I’m writing a cookbook for my family.
I hike in the old growth forests and along mountain-fed rivers of the Pacific Northwest. It’s impossible not to love this glorious place. Since moving to Oregon in 1991, to my delight, I’ve been surrounded by writers.
Because I believe in writing what scares you, I’m currently working on a book that is daunting and frankly terrifying. My bucket list needs attention, I fight for the truth, am on the lookout for daily wonders, and always watch the sky. Did you know that Emerson said, “The sky is the daily bread of the eyes?” Isn’t that splendid?
If you want some advice here it is: read with an open heart.
Oh, and joy is a form of resistence.
