Writespace Writing Center
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Jan Saenz

Jan Saenz is a writer, educator, and freelance editor. Her short stories and poems have appeared in Hobart, Paper Darts, Jellyfish Review, and more. She resides in Northwest Houston where she works as a writing coach for Lone Star College and a creative writing consultant for Kinder High School of Performing and Visual Arts. For more information, visit www.jansaenz.com or follow Jan on social media.
  • Twitter @jan_saenz
  • Instagram: @jansaenz

Interview
Excerpt from “Free and Rebellious”: Jan Saenz on the Art of Flash Fiction and Collecting Weird Objects

Nancy: What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received?
Jan: “Write the book you want to read.” It’s a common quote, but for good reason. I went through a miserable phase about two years ago. For some reason, I could not write anything without first considering what a reader would want. I would change certain details in my stories so they would be more “acceptable” to a wider audience. I cut curse words. Toned down sex scenes. Worried about female likability. That shit did nothing but kill my writing. Nowadays, I try to focus more on editing the execution, not the personal taste. Because the taste is mine.
Nancy: What piece of your own writing are you most proud of? Where can we read it?
Jan: Paper Darts recently published one of my pieces. It’s the weirdest, coolest feeling when editors you greatly admire come back and say, “Hey, I really liked this.” Like, wait what? You get so used to rejection, acceptance starts to feel foreign. 
You can read "What an Asshole" here.

​Recommended Books for Aspiring Writers
  • The Poet’s Companion by Dorianne Laux & Kim Addonizio (Craft Book)
  • What the Living Do by Marie Howe (Poetry)
  • In the Cut by Susanna Moore (Fiction)
  • Just Kids by Patti Smith (Memoir)
  • Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Gillian Cain and Legs McNeil (Non-fiction)

Student Testimonials
"Jan is thoroughly committed to helping you be the best writer you can be. She coaxes beautiful words, phrases, and ideas from your story the way a gardener coaxes her plants to produce new blooms. I've used her services several times and she has always given me a better understanding of my work and how I can elevate it to achieve the goals I've set, whether I'm entering the piece in a contest or just trying to capture a style. When you receive her feedback, you know that she truly cares about helping other writers.” -Kate Landers, writer

Teaching Philosophy 
​
Be curious, not judgmental. Every writer is different, and all creative paths, genres, and levels of skill should be celebrated. I believe in fostering confidence in others, acting as a cheerleader for one’s vision while helping them realize the full reach of their work.



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​Writespace
P.O. Box 20722
Houston, TX 77225

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  • About
    • Blog >
      • Meet Our Members
    • Our Organization
    • Member Success Stories
    • People >
      • Staff
      • Board of Directors
      • Faculty >
        • Tanya Aydelott
        • Nyri Bakkalian
        • Andreana Binder
        • Mackenzie Bitz
        • Joyce Boatright
        • Julia Brown
        • Debbie Burns
        • Cynthia Childress
        • Cassandra Rose Clarke
        • Jessica Cole
        • Mark Dostert
        • Ynes Freeman
        • Mark Haber
        • Matthew Hefti
        • Sarah Gajkowski-Hill
        • Angélique Jamail
        • Justin Jannise
        • Amal Kassir
        • Karleen Koen
        • Mike Kowis, Esq.
        • Kendra Preston Leonard
        • Phuc Luu
        • Lorenzo Martinez
        • Thomas H McNeely
        • Sean Morrisey Carroll
        • Ülrika Moats
        • Jody T. Morse
        • Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton
        • Patricia Flaherty Pagan
        • Kate Pentecost
        • Kathryn Peterson
        • Joy Preble
        • Paige Quiñones
        • Icess Fernandez Rojas
        • Tamara Nicholl-Smith
        • Patrick Stockwell
        • Marian Szczepanski
        • Victoria Strange
        • ire'ne lara silva
        • Rebecca Spears
        • Catherine Vance
        • Holly Walrath
        • Charlotte Wyatt
        • D.L. Young
        • Joe Burns
        • Theodora Ziolkowski
      • 2020 Emerging Writer Fellows
      • 2019 Emerging Writer Fellows
  • Workshops
    • Creative Writing
    • Pace Yourself
    • Workshop Policies
    • Online Class Tech Support
    • Scholarships
  • Almost Free Events
    • The Whole Artist
    • The Submission Room
    • Write-Ins
    • Writespace Member Meetups
    • Readings & Open Mics
  • Writefest
  • Contact