Life & Work with Janet Kravetz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Kravetz

Hi Janet, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Back as a very young kid in Former Soviet Union (Ukraine), my parents, grandparents, and my older sister would read local and world literature to me in Russian. They started with picture books and quickly I showed interest in short novels. I used to love watching a good movie or listening to a good book for kids, like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, or Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. These books and others, like Karlsson on the Roof and Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, offered me childhood bliss and joyful optimism. But when the book came to an end, I would feel sad. It was like losing a good friend.

Then I would discuss the book for days and even come up with possible alternative endings. At the age of five, I would sometimes joke that I could write an even better novel or movie. But the truth was that at that time, writing a book or a film looked as mysterious as flying to the moon. I knew nothing about it. I knew no professional authors or screenwriters. I had no access to books that could teach me professional writing. I only knew that one day, I would write. Moreover, as I was growing up, more often than not society made me think that my attempts at creative writing were just a silly stage in my life. A silly childhood dream. Something that would pass if I gave it enough time. Something I would forget about if I had a good profession. Nonetheless, demystifying the writing process became my lifelong pursuit.

Indeed, I have come a long way since those days of youthful wishful thinking. I’ve traveled throughout North America and Europe and lived in a few countries, including Ukraine, Israel, and Canada. I worked as a teacher assistant, studied law, wrote for the university newspaper, became a lawyer, and established a career in policy analysis. I wrote an award-winning poetry book about spirituality, peace and diversity. Then a sci-fi novel series titled Sky Curse about a dystopian future that offers a warning to humanity as well as a glimpse of hope. I adapted the sci-fi novel Sky Curse into an award-winning TV series script. My most recent project was an original, award-winning spec family animation & comedy feature script titled Sleepytown.

One thing has never changed though — I still want to do better. I still wonder what I could write if I had more time in a day. What I could write if I had unlimited resources. What I could write if I could tirelessly pursue every bit of inspiration and every storyline that speaks to me, makes me laugh and cry and crave to write it.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I speak Russian, Hebrew and English. I’m writing in English, my third language, and I’m also always exploring new genres and formats, like poetry, sci-fi, family animation, novels and scripts, which can cause some struggles at times. I must learn new things and reinvent myself constantly. That being said, I’m committed to lifelong learning and thrive on intellectual challenges, so I wouldn’t have it any other way. I actually feel like a juggler, who juggles languages, ideas, inspiration, and writing genres, formats, and techniques. Most of the time I’m working on keeping all the moving parts under control.

Sometimes I feel like an acrobatic “genre-juggler” of some sorts,
But instead of juggling colorful balls, I juggle words.
I throw letters up in the air, they land on my bookshelf,
now I can read colorful books I’ve written myself.

You see, I juggle many forms of writing,
Each one is different but still exciting,
Each can be described as a ball of color,
You can call me a “Genre Juggling Scholar.”

A pot of gold at the end of the rainbow awaits,
I just have to open those golden gates,
I just have to answer that inner-call
to choose each colorful and shiny ball.

Highlighting, writing, editing – it’s all so fun and inviting,
Each ball stands for poetry, novel and screenwriting!
Each toss in the air brings to life a story,
Each catch brings-home an allegory.

So, I am inviting you to juggle writing styles too,
To find the balls and colours that are right for you.
Mix them up a bit, then let them simply be,
Put your words on paper – set them free!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an intellectually curious lifelong learner writing in my third language about the near future while discussing mental health, spirituality, and AI. The topic of mental health is not just close to my heart, but is the heart of all my award-winning poetry, novel, and script writing.

Consumer warning about some potential side effects: While always entertaining, my drama writing can induce silly, uncontrollable, and prolonged laughter, while my comedy writing is known to cause serious and sudden existential ponderings.

They say “curiosity killed the cat,” but in 2024, my unique and curious script Sleepytown saved the cat when it made the 2024 Top 25 Feature Films at the 2024 SAVE THE CAT CHALLENGE. I’m the proudest of this accomplishment to date. The script writing competition celebrates excellence in fifty points of analysis, which are grounded in structure and marketability. Judges’ feedback is as insightful as it is encouraging and includes comments such as this about my family animation script: “The tangible and the spiritual come together solidly here. Excellent work.”

Other international script achievements of mine for the two scripts I’ve written include HOLLYWOOD STORYTELLERS SCRIPT COMPETITION (2024/Best Script), CANADIAN CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARDS (2023/Best Script), LA FEMME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (2023/Best Script), MOSAIC INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (2024/Best Script), SCRIPTAPALOOZA FELLOWSHIP (2024/Finalist), BRITISH ANIMATION FILM FESTIVAL (2024/The Lottie List), and more.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’m fortunate to have had a legendary mentor for each of my projects, from innovative teachers of creative writing that make story theory intuitive to film executives to accomplished Hollywood script doctors. My mentors are not only my beacons of light on the writing journey, but they also happen to be the best in what they do.
Recently, I have had the honour of being selected as a mentee by WIFT-AT (Women in Film and Television Atlantic).

WIFT-AT is a non-profit professional association that advances the careers of women and gender-diverse people working in film, television, and screen-based media in Atlantic Canada. Its Mentor Match Program, supported by Telefilm Canada, provides members at different levels of experience with a formalized opportunity to learn from, guide, and support each other through a series of focused one-on-one sessions over a nine-month period. I’m two weeks into the mentorship, and it has already helped me narrow down my vision for the future and plan my next steps.

Indeed, mentors have been instrumental on my path to demystifying the writing process. You too can seek out formal local mentorship programs that are offered in your community, though a mentorship doesn’t have to be formal. Mentors can be found anywhere you look, but do try to select those that believe in your story so your journey can become remarkable. Identify professionals that you respect. Immerse yourself in their work. As you grow in your chosen field, the list of professionals you respect will likely grow too. Don’t be afraid to reach out to all of them. You have nothing to lose, but so much to gain!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.authorjanetkravetz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjanetkravetz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjankra
• Twitter: https://x.com/JanetKravetz
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WriterJanetKravetz
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Janet-Kravetz/author/B0B97NGR24?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true