create. hibernate.
sustain your writing life & fulfill your writing goals— while building specific craft skills
So much of writing advice is tailored towards increasing production and output. But for many of us, those tips might be useful in the short-term–but detrimental in the long run.
I’ve taught, mentored, coached, or worked 1:1 at places like StoryStudio Chicago, Tin House, Writing Co-lab, Periplus Collective, Northwestern University, University of Illinois- Chicago, Loyola University, Penn State University, and Carlow University. During that time, I’ve met so many students like me– people whose minds and energy cycles function a little differently. While writing my first book, The Night Parade, I was so frustrated by my process. I felt lost and alone amongst my piles of paper.
Sometimes our process can be tinkered with– but often it’s not that our process is wrong, it’s just *different*. My goal is to provide what I wish I’d had during own my own process: a tailored support system. I want to help you build and maintain a creative life that is process-oriented and tailored to your own cycles of energy. We cannot always be in a harvest season, producing tons of work– but the seasons of hibernation / fermentation / growth are just as important.
I am also deeply interested in the craft of writing. Building a sustainable writing life is difficult without having specific, concrete craft tools that work for you. I love diving into the nuts and bolts of craft with my students.
Success depends on sustainability– and it often takes a lot of struggle to get there. Let’s work through the struggle together.
Wheelhouse
Though my skills can be useful to writers from all walks of life, because of my own lived experience and areas of focus, I have special interest in working with people who are:
- living with disability / neurodivergence (particularly ADHD)/ chronic illness / mental illness / fatigue
- parents / caregivers
- people of color
Some subject interests are: speculative memoir/speculative nonfiction, lyric essay, personal essay, memoir, hybrid work, speculative fiction, deeply researched creative nonfiction, short stories, and structurally or formally inventive prose.
Options
One-one-One Mentorship/Coaching
One-on-one mentorship/coaching lets us work together long-term to support your creative goals. Sometimes we need encouragement, guidance, and goal-setting more than we need critique/feedback (though I can provide that too!) Though one-on-one mentorship is definitely *not* a replacement for therapy, I believe investigating our emotional relationship to writing is key to developing a sustainable writing life. My approach is holistic and process-oriented.
I provide 1:1 support over Zoom (or phone–your choice!) to guide you in your writing projects and process. Sessions are tailored towards your specific needs.
Each meeting includes a one-hour video/phone call and ongoing email support. (Email support can include resources, reading lists, pep talks, response to questions, etc.)
I can also provide brief on-the-spot feedback to short pieces during our sessions. If you’re interested in having me read and critique work outside of session, we can add that on for an additional fee.
The base rate for a one-hour session is $150; I also offer a number of sliding scale spots for those who need it. Contact me with any questions or to schedule a free 20-minute consult. (Former students can book their first one-hour meeting for $25.)
Manuscript Consultations
Book-length Manuscripts
My process of providing feedback is a little different. In lieu of an editorial letter, my standard package includes three Zoom/phone calls to discuss your manuscript together. (I’ve found that this conversational dynamic allows us to focus on what really matters to you, the writer, while also aligning with my own energy strengths.)
– A preliminary one-hour call to discuss your vision, goals, and questions. This meeting will help me tailor my feedback to your needs.
– A 90-minute call to discuss my editorial feedback and respond to questions.
– A final one-hour call (scheduled at least two weeks later) to further discuss your thoughts/questions about the feedback and to develop a revision plan.
This package also includes interstitial comments throughout the text. This does not include detailed line edits. Line edits can be added for an additional fee.
Book Proposals
I would love to help you build or edit a book proposal! Contact me with questions.
Short Manuscripts (Essays, Short Stories, Articles, etc.)
I provide comments throughout the text and a one-hour Zoom/phone editorial call. Line edits can be added for an additional fee.
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Because different manuscripts have different lengths and needs—and require different amounts of time—prices are tailored to each project. I can offer varying levels of support, based on my assessment and your interest. If you are interested in working with me, please contact me via the form below, describing your project and your goals.
Private/Small Group Classes
more info to come!
Feedback
Alex Marzano-Lesnevich
Author of The Fact of a Body
“Jami’s generosity and wisdom as a teacher, thinker, and writer are unparalleled. Her transparency about her own process and her skillful way of meeting students where they’re at provides inspiring encouragement and fortitude for the writing road ahead.”
Nik N.
“Jami’s deep knowledge, empathetic teaching and inclusive facilitation all helped take my memoir project to the next level. I couldn’t recommend her more highly as an instructor, mentor, and human being!”
Jane L.
“As a fellow neurodivergent writer, it has been extraordinarily healing and helpful to work with Jami. I have not only learned about the writing world and how to improve my writing, I’ve also learned how to think about my relationship to writing in a more productive, healing and whole way. I highly recommend Jami as a writing mentor and coach!”
Tania
“Receiving mentoring from Jami not only allowed me to stay on my writing journey but also gave me the space to really examine my limiting beliefs. She’s incredibly compassionate, validating, intuitive, and an incredible thought partner especially when the work gets weird. She meets you where you are, but does not leave you there and I feel so fortunate to have worked with her.”
Stacy C.
“Jami created such a welcoming and supportive environment. She introduced many specific techniques to analyze and try out in concrete ways. I love the focus on creation rather than critique… I have a lot of new possible directions for my ongoing project… Going to this class helped me breathe, connect, and imagine possibilities again.
Sara N.
“Her classes provide safe, validating, compassionate spaces for students writing about illness, grief, trauma, oppression, and other hard topics. I had such a fantastic experience that I can’t stop recommending Jami and her work to everyone I know.”
Interested in working together?
Contact me! I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
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jami nakamura lin 