Biography
Janna has a master's degree in Teaching and Creative Writing from Cardiff University and she is currently an instructor at Rutgers University. She teaches Expository Writing and Composition courses and previously taught ESL and Literature courses at Virginia Commonwealth University and SUNY Farmingdale.
Her short stories and poetry have been published online and in print and her debut novel will be published in 2020 through Quill, an imprint of Inkshares. She tutors students of all ages and levels and is available for freelance and ghostwriting.
Janna also has a BA in English and a BS in Psychology and has studied at various international universities, including University College at Oxford. She combines her experience as a crisis management counselor and workshop leader with at-risk youth and homeless teens to explore the relationship between creativity and empowerment.
Published Work
ThE Rye Whiskey Review
June, 2019
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When stepping on an Extraterrestrial - a poem
"you should always ask them if they like the view"
otoliths
August, 2019
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John Kerry Isn't the Anti-Christ - a poem
"'You're the best person I know / with the most hate-filled beliefs'"
The opiate
June, 2019
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This is Not a Power Play - a poem
"My white upper middle-class male professor told me no one is interested"
HOrla
May, 2019
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The Girls Who Die at Night - fiction/short story
"When the girl started stepping on my chest each night"
The Woman Inc.
June, 2019
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Selected for "Emerging Poet" and "Poem of the Week"
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2 poems -
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I smell like onions
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10mg, two times a day, with food
Nine Muses Poetry
September, 2019
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I am just as angry as you - a poem
"but I do not slam my mouse down"
Wide Eyes Publishing
Forthcoming
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sad bitch chronicles, an imprint of Wide Eyes Press presents its anthology:
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"Trigger Warning"
It's Perfect! Now, Add a Filter - a poem
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"She doesn't have a right to have an eating disorder
she tells me over coffee"
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Eunoia
May, 2019
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Stealing/Sending Sex Trunks - a poem
"One time my sister and I went into a sex shop"
Red eft Review
May, 2019
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Life and Death Manners - a poem
"Hospital gowns and 6 month promises
turned to 21 paper-thin days"
Alpha Female Society
May, 2019
Selected Poems -
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Reflecting Bottles
Keeping Tabs
Like a Running Moss
Useless Wombs
Indoctrinated
Words on the OUtside
September, 2015
Audio recording of a chapter from The Talkers are Talking. Read by the author for Laura Bynum's Youtube series.
The Bitchin' Kitsch
December, 2013
Volume 4, Issue 12
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Don't Wake Up- a poem
"She woke up shaking tumbleweeds from a dream of bleeding beach houses"
Quailbell Magazine
July 2013
The Goldfish Man- a short story
"When my father's brother came to visit, he filled our entire room."
Republished for sale at Cut a Long Story
Talespinners
Indian Summer- selection from a short story
A grieving father finds solace in the last spark he has left...his daughter
The Isle is Full of Noises- part 1 in a series
Life on a small, subdued island is turned upside down with the arrival of a controversial star of the silver screen
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Selected Poems-
Mine
An Untitled Life
The Church of John Coltrane
Beneath
The Promised Land
90 Strathnairn Street
PLAstik Magazine
February, 2014
6 Tweet Length Poems -
"I gaze up miles of black spotted yellow
Undergraduate Courses
August 2013 - Present
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
101: Expository Writing - 6 semesters
100/098: Basic Composition and Basic
Composition with Reading - 2 semesters
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Farmingdale State College, SUNY, Farmingdale, NY
097, 101, 102, 310: Developmental English,
Introduction to English Composition
Introduction to Literature, Advanced Technical
Writing - 2 semesters
Passaic County Community College, Paterson, NJ
097, 101: Developmental English, Introduction
to English Composition - 2 Semesters
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Develop curricula and lesson plans to meet department-wide learning objectives.
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Participate in department service through presenting and participating in conferences, acting as emergency grader and special tutor.
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Proven results with students showing significant improvement on program-wide and rubric graded exams.
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Garner high level of student satisfaction and interest as measured by consistently high attendance rates in conjunction with anonymous class surveys.
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Work with students from all over the world at all skill levels in class sizes ranging from 9-30.
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Utilize creative teaching methods that step outside the textbook to YouTube/social media, community events, field trips, in-class debates, website and blog building, incorporating new technologies, etc.
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
English as a Second Language, Written and
Oral Communications, Academic Preparation,
Research Paper & Essay Writing,
Presentation/Speech Skills, Language and
Culture - 3 Semesters
Workshops
May 2012 - August 2012
Llamau's Learning for Life, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Creative Writing, Photography, Interview
Readiness & Life Skills, Painting, Gardening,
etc.
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Led series of individual and group educational and counseling sessions to homeless and at-risk teens to encourage empowerment and self-sufficiency.
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Coordinated regional art-competition and increased participants by 85%.
Cathay's High School, Cardiff, Wales, UK
Creative Writing
May 2012 - August 2012
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Developed and facilitated all workshop curricula to encourage creativity and empowerment with a focus on individualized learning and expression.
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Organized and lead educational field trip to the National Museum of Wales.
Founder
Break the Bechdel with Strong Female
Characters Syndicate
Inkshares.com
Editor-in-chief
Lamplit Underground
Brooklyn, NY
Co-Founder
Tale Spinners
Remote
February 2016- Present
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Founder of online syndicate that provides financial support to writers who highlight diverse voices in fiction.
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Group membership ranging from 15-40 members at a time.
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Raised thousands of dollars to date.
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Have helped put over a dozen books into production.
September 2013- Present
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Founder and editor of up-and-coming literary/arts webzine.
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Features works from Push-Cart Prize winners and nominees, O. Henry Award and Pulitzer nominees as well as many other award-winning writers and artists.
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Procure, cull, edit and post all submissions and publications.
September 2013- Present
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Literary hub
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Ghost-writing and editing services
Freelance/Ghost Writer
January 2012- Present
Ariel Books LLC., Rhudy & Co., James Joyce Ramble, Erin Pray, Dr. Benjamin. Patch.com, Stand up for Kids, Overcomers Day Services etc.
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Ghost wrote chapter for 2016 Presidential Candidate
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Profiles & Biographies
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Feature Articles
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Newsletters
Teaching overview
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