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Jen Grisanti
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Jen Grisanti is a Story Consultant, Independent Producer, Writing Instructor for NBC’s Writers on the Verge, Blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding the Gold In Your Life Story, TV Writing Tool Kit and Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.

Grisanti started her career as an assistant to Aaron Spelling 15 years ago. Aaron was her mentor for the next 12 years as she climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Jen was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered shows including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends. While at CBS/Paramount, she served as a mentor in the CBS Diversity Program, which seeks out and nurtures young writers and directors.

In January 2008, Jen launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. By drawing on her 12-year experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Jen personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches, and focus their careers. Since launching, Jen has worked with over 250 writers working in television, features and novels. Twelve of her clients have staffed as writers on television shows and two have sold pilots that went to series. In 2008, Jen was hired to be the Writing Instructor for NBC’s Writers on the Verge. Jen is also a blogger for The Huffington Post. Jen wrote Story Line: Finding The Gold In Your Life Story in 2010. It is being published by Michael Wiese Productions and will be out in March of 2011.

Her brand is Developing From Within. Her company hosts Storywise Seminars and Teleseminars as a way to get this message out. She has CDs and workbooks for ā€œHow To Write a TV Spec Scriptā€ and ā€œHow To Write A TV Pilot Scriptā€ and a Storywise Workbook: Gearing Up for Staffing and Development Season. She also has a Storywise Podcast Series available on iTunes and her website, www.jengrisanticonsultancy.com. The podcast digs deep into the story behind some of our top storytellers as a way to inform, motivate and inspire listeners to go after their dreams. Final Draft/Script Magazine are now promoting the podcast series as well. Jen has taught classes for the Scriptwriters Network , Screenwriting Expo, the Northwestern Screenwriter’s Guild in Seattle and the Alameda’s Writer’s Group. She has served on panels for the WGA and The Writer’s Bootcamp. In 2009, her company hosted a Writing Retreat in Hawaii at the Turtle Bay Resort.

Jen meets writers who are interested in her services for a free initial half hour consult that can be done in person or on the phone. She then specially designs between 2-5 proposals to fit the client’s needs and help them attain their goals.

You can read more about Jen and the products offered by her company on her Author's Page for The Writers Store.

Blog Entries by Jen Grisanti

Does Professional Trump Personal When It Comes to 'Having It All'?

(2) Comments | Posted May 9, 2013 | 8:18 AM

This is a question that I've contemplated on the road to creating the life I want to capture through my story. I remember many years ago seeing, "The Kid Stays in the Picture," the documentary about the life of movie producer Robert Evans. I was enraptured by it. At that...

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Taking Story Global

(4) Comments | Posted March 26, 2013 | 3:11 PM

Recently, I returned from teaching for the TV Writers Summit in London and the TV Writers Studio in Australia. These trips symbolized the beginning of a dream that I set for myself five years ago. I wanted to teach story on a global level as a way to stop isolation...

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Turning a Personal Fall Into a Professional Win

(4) Comments | Posted February 20, 2013 | 5:35 PM

Your personal fall can be what drives you toward your professional win. As a story consultant, I like fiction that connects the central character's personal wound to the professional outcome; their personal dilemma is tied to their professional dilemma, so that accomplishing the external goal signifies a win on both...

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Befriending Your Dilemmas and Setting Goals for the New Year

(2) Comments | Posted January 10, 2013 | 4:48 PM

The beginning of a new year fuels all of us. We are left feeling good after the holidays. We see January 1st as the beginning of a new chapter. Many of us set resolutions while others no longer believe in resolutions. Some of you reading this now might be thinking...

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Positioning Your Story for Success: The Significance of Creating Empathy

(6) Comments | Posted December 11, 2012 | 11:57 AM

A story begins when the world of a central character is thrown out of alignment. This triggers a call to action. The central character takes action in pursuit of the goal that will bring his/her world back into alignment. Without a story, we the audience could not connect to the...

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Tools to Make Your Audience Connect With Your Story

(8) Comments | Posted November 19, 2012 | 10:37 AM

As a story/career consultant I am constantly designing frameworks and tools to help people understand how to tell their story in a way that results in their audience feeling their message.

There is no better feeling than when a story resonates in a way that strikes an emotional chord...

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To Realize Your Dream or Not

(5) Comments | Posted October 11, 2012 | 7:40 PM

How do you go from having an unrealized dream to realizing your dream? I explore this concept in my upcoming book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path to Your Success.

Both in fiction and in life, you have a choice: you can be an active hero in your...

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Can Your Message Change the World and Lead You to Tremendous Wealth?

(18) Comments | Posted September 13, 2012 | 5:01 PM

When it comes to your business or your life what is your message? This was the question in focus at the recent Experts Academy seminar. Eight hundred people gathered at the Marriott Hotel in Santa Clara to learn from one of the top business trainers in the world who teaches...

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Shared Passion: Realizing the Dream

(6) Comments | Posted August 17, 2012 | 6:21 PM

Sharing passion is the gift that connects us all. It is the glue that makes a dream a reality. When we connect with others who are where we want to be, we start to believe the dream is possible. All we need to do is define our dream and then...

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Evolving Into Something More

(3) Comments | Posted July 12, 2012 | 11:43 AM

The idea that we are all evolving or that we all have the ability to evolve to a higher consciousness is a hot topic in the media. Authors are taking us on a journey into a deeper awareness of ourselves. Lecturers are covering concepts like how to find joy and...

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Art Inspiring Art on the Big Island

(6) Comments | Posted June 13, 2012 | 7:27 PM

It is amazing how art inspires art, in particular when you attend a film festival, take in each artist's perspective, and you see what works and why it works. The experience awakens something inside of you that can help you further define your own art. This was an invaluable part...

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Happiness: Reversing the Formula

(13) Comments | Posted May 23, 2012 | 11:11 AM

We grow up being taught to believe external things will bring happiness. Many of us learn to equate our own happiness with the level of success we achieve and the external things that come with the achievement. If we meet the right person, if we have the perfect job with...

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Shifting into Higher Consciousness: Will It Happen to All of Us?

(6) Comments | Posted April 10, 2012 | 11:50 AM

Higher consciousness: Is this a state that we will all become familiar with? Is it part of our destiny? As an author and a Story/Career Consultant, I study and am fascinated by the concept of how we move from ego into a higher consciousness that benefits the greater good both...

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Can We Change Our Life by Changing Our Story?

(9) Comments | Posted March 13, 2012 | 6:00 PM

This is the dramatic question that I am exploring in my next book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life, which I am currently writing. I find that as a culture, we are obsessed with the idea of change or bettering ourselves. It is a prevalent subject in books (where the...

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Moving Into the Greater Good of Your Story

(2) Comments | Posted February 9, 2012 | 2:11 PM

In any story, your primary goal as the writer is to make your audience feel you in your story. You can make your story more universal by looking at the goal and the stakes in story from an external, internal and philosophical viewpoint. In story as in life, as time...

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Wellness Immersion Retreat = New Year, New Plans

(3) Comments | Posted January 11, 2012 | 4:21 PM

Celebrating the New Year often symbolizes a fresh start and a new beginning for each one of us. We reflect on the year past and give gratitude for our successes, think about what we wanted to do but didn't or what we tried to do but perhaps didn't work out....

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Rekindling, Sparkling and Lighting the Flame Within Through Story

(0) Comments | Posted December 15, 2011 | 9:38 AM

For the holidays, I love the idea of sparking, lighting and rekindling our spirits through feelings of connection with those around us. How do we take the time to connect when life is so busy and moving so quickly? For many of us, the holiday season is a blur because...

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From Ego to Spirit to Being 'Enlightened'

(4) Comments | Posted November 15, 2011 | 3:47 PM

I'm currently writing my new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life, where I explore the concept of shifting from ego to spirit during life's turning points. Learning how to move from the ego to the spirit is a daily practice for many of us.

The shift from ego...

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Adding Character to Your Story

(7) Comments | Posted October 13, 2011 | 11:48 AM

A strong character can make all the difference in the world in a good story. Crafting a complex character that your audience connects with on a deeper level is the goal for every writer. How do you add depth to your character and your story? What makes the viewer feel...

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Emotion vs. Structure: What Is More Important?

(1) Comments | Posted September 14, 2011 | 11:43 AM

I am fascinated by this idea of structure versus emotion and which is considered to be a stronger choice when it comes to writing or presenting. Is it more important to "structure" your story or presentation in a way that gives your audience a clear, concise view of what it...

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