Jayne and I met in elementary school when we spent fourth and fifth grades in the same homeroom. We attended a magnet program together called IGE (Individually Guided Education). In an article written for Education & Culture: The Journal of the John Dewey Society, Pyeong-gook Kim outlined the design of this federally-funded education reform movement as follows:
The planners intended that instructional programming for the individual student should not be interpreted to mean that all students engage in the same number or kinds of activities, or reach an identical level of achievement, interest, or motivation….While instructional programming is done for each individual student, instruction…is provided for groups of students with common learning needs. In practice, such grouping of students usually led to instruction on a content unit for two to three weeks, followed by post-assessment, some regrouping of students, and instruction on another content unit.Being involved in this program was one of the highlights of my early learning. I have fond memories of the extracurricular activities my classmates and I took part in, as well as of the teachers and my fellow students, including Jayne!
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Author Jayne
Conway (Jayne
Conway: About the Author/Jayne Conway) |
Unfortunately, Jayne and I lost touch over the years, mainly because I left public school to attend private schools starting in the sixth grade. Jayne was active in our community, though, participating in a local theater group in the summers, performances of which I attended regularly. Although I have mixed feelings about Facebook and other social media, I’m glad it allowed us to reconnect.
I’m so pleased Jayne agreed to be profiled. She’s written four books, all while working full time as a teacher and being a single mother to three. She has also at times maintained a blog, and she is a skilled photographer. She’s truly multi-talented, a Renaissance woman you might say. You can find synopses of her books along with samples of her photography on her website. Additionally, she has author accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads, and you can contact her via any of those or through her Contact page on her website.
I hope you enjoy learning about Jayne’s writing life! Following is an interview that we edited collaboratively.
When did you first know you might become a writer?
I don’t think I consciously planned to become a writer. I’ve always kept journals and have always been a reader. I love getting lost in another world. When I created a bucket list in my late-thirties, I included writing a book. One day, at a particularly low point in my life, I sat down and the words started flowing.
What or who motivates you to write?
I write because I have a story to tell. Like many people my age, I think about the road not traveled. When I write, I’m exploring alternative realities, the what ifs of my own journey. It’s escapism, pure and simple.
What is your favorite part of your writing process and what do you most like about it?
My favorite part of the writing process is when I finish a chapter or a section of the book and realize it’s all falling into place. The puzzle pieces are fitting and the story is writing itself. I rarely have an outline or plan when I start a project, but I feel when it’s working, and that’s satisfying.
Where do you do most of your writing and why is that your chosen place?
I write at home, usually on the couch or at the kitchen table, but my ideas come to me when I’m driving or taking a walk.
Whose books do you most like to read and why?
Wally Lamb and Curtis Sittenfeld are two of my favorite fiction writers. The topics explored in their books are very different, but their characters are complex and relatable. Other than that, I read a lot of non-fiction. Doris Kearns Goodwin is without a doubt my favorite non-fiction writer. She knows how to transform history into a story and as a history teacher, that’s what I do every day.
What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
Just do it. You don’t need a plan or a fancy set up or even complete silence to write. You don’t even have to start your story at the beginning. I find a lot of people don’t know where to begin and that’s okay. Start in the middle. Dive in and don’t worry about editing until later.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Writing has been a form of therapy for me. It’s something I do because it makes me feel good. It’s also something that will live on long after I’m gone and I find comfort in knowing a piece of me will live on.