Check Out Jess Conkwright’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Conkwright.

Hi Jess, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been writing since I can remember. It started with these short stories when I was really young, always stories about girls and their journeys and experiences. I did a lot of community theater and loved writing plays and performing them…I was entranced with storytelling. Once I wrote a 10 page sci-fi story for my dad based on a dream he had about an alien slime taking over earth.
LA was always the dream for me. For a few years I worked as a music journalist and blogger, reviewing up-and-coming indie bands from LA and covering music festivals. That all kind of ended for me with covid, and I took it as an opportunity to jump back into fiction. I wrote and produced a couple short films, with the help of a ton of people who believed in me. Last year I had a book published, ‘A Person, Abbreviated’, and I’m really proud of it. Currently I’m working on a collection of essays and tinkering with my first full-length screenplay. I’m having fun.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I used to constantly doubt myself. I’m naturally very introverted, so the concept around ‘marketing your brand’ was a bit difficult for the first few years. I always wanted to stay very far behind the scenes. Now, I think I’ve found a way to show myself a little more every day. I feel I’m simply more confident in who I am and what I want to bring to the world…the beauty and the tragedy and everything in between.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I could say confidently now that I’m a freelance writer and editor. I have helped other women tell stories, whether it be through a memoir or a piece of fiction, and I would like to continue to do more of this throughout my life. It has been the most rewarding work to help others create something they’re proud of. My closest friends would call me a poet, and this title resonates with me more than any others I think. The complexities of women is of great importance to me, and my path is to continue to find ways to express that as best I can.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I would say I’m pretty thoughtful in my risk-taking. I usually take leaps when I know it is for the greater good, either for myself or some inevitable outcome. I admire the bravery people have who can sell all their things and become a nomad. Emotional truth and personal growth weigh heavily on my choices, and when I make a decision about something I’m good at following through. When it comes to my writing I think I’m pretty bold- I don’t shy away from complex feelings…in fact that is the kernel of all my creations. I enjoy masticating in the messiness that makes characters human.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jessconkwright.com
• Instagram: jessincase
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-conkwright-b58214149

Image Credits
Franklin Redmiles, Olivia Geyelin