Jessica Mendes
Bio
I believe ghostwriting is, or can be, a form of mediumship. Essentially you are tuning in and channeling someone else’s story. You want a client to feel you are speaking in their voice. It is in this sense I call myself a “midwife to narrative”.
I wrote my first book when I was six years old, about a trip around the world! From those years on, a journal became my salvation.
I first discovered I could ghostwrite when I worked for a famous photographer, running his office. He would come in to the office to complain about a client issue while trying to process his experience and figure out what he was going to do about it. I would take notes and not only write a compelling letter in his words, but offer a solution as well.
I moved on from there to do profiles for resumes and web content, helping clients to develop or solidify their brand.
My last major gig was a book project for an international company exploring the philosophies and legacy of a family-run business. The job involved extensive interviews over a one-year period with the president, diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. The transcription of those interviews – making coherent that which was often fragmented – was one of the biggest challenges of my professional life. I was hired for my ability to think unconventionally, and to relate to people who are different.
About Me: down to earth, no nonsense, nonjudgmental, sense of humor, cult survivor. I am trauma-informed and have a good grasp on the nervous system and neurological disorders. I try to make the process meaningful for my clients.
Years of experience: 30
My Superpower: memoirs and personal stories; understanding people who are different. I am not afraid of difficult subjects.
My Approach: I make a point of tuning in. Of connecting. To sense the deeper layers of a person’s story and translate it to the page. I can work with notes, but where those fail I speak to clients directly, and depending on their appetite, interview them. I believe in collaborating with clients, to the degree they are able or interested, in determining how the book will flow, which aspects of their story need to be told and how – as these sometimes change as the process evolves.
My priority: Where personal material is concerned, trust is paramount and I take that very seriously by prioritizing it. I focus on building trust with my clients.
Subjects I’ve written on: the afterlife, mediumship, cults and brainwashing, change, personal transformation, spiritual development, healing vs. recovery, journaling
Interests: the afterlife, spirituality, the Celtic people, druids, meditation, mindfulness, near death experiences, the other side, raising your vibration, spiritually transformative experiences, divination, death and dying, subversive behavior, creativity and art, ceremony
Specialty: I take jumbled notes, bedraggled drafts, convoluted thoughts and half-baked ideas and find a way to make sense of them, in a way that is true to the character of my client. If there is nothing on paper, interviews are sufficient. Whatever your project, I can work with it.
Substantive editing: focuses on the message: how it flows, if it makes sense, are there consistencies in character development, organizing chapters, ensuring segues (or transitions) are easy to follow
Ghostwritten three books: one fiction, one on health, one on family legacy and the impact of Parkinson’s Disease
Publications written for: Canadian Medical Association Journal, the Ottawa Citizen and the Globe & Mail, Medium
Writing for the Spoken Word: I have written commentaries for CBC Radio and worked at Community Radio for almost 20 years, writing extended monologues and commentaries for a weekly broadcast.
Freebees: I do not charge for phone consultations. However many you need to decide, I am available. I also do not charge for writing advice or coaching for those interested.
Email sensorybeing@gmail.com
Website https://weavingyarn.wordpress.com
Phone (416)3671011
Location Toronto, Canada