Story Line

Finding Gold In Your Life Story 
By Jen Grisanti

Book Review
By Ann Baldwin


Jen Grisanti started her career as an assistant to Aaron Spelling. She climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210; Melrose Place; and Charmed. In 2004, Jen was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered shows including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400, and Girlfriends. She served as a mentor in the CBS Diversity Program, which seeks out and nurtures young writers and directors. In 2008, she launched her own consultancy firm, Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. She is also a Writing Instructor for NBC’s Writers on the Verge, taught classes for the Scriptwriters’ Network and The Screenwriting Expo, and served on panels for the WGA, Final Draft/The Writer’s Bootcamp, and Pitchfest. Her company hosts Storywise Seminars and Writing Retreats. In her newest book, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story (Michael Wiese Productions March 2011), she leads you on a treasure hunt into the hidden caves within yourself and teaches you how to mine them for the golden keys that open the connections between you, your stories, and an audience.

You begin the journey by observing and creating maps, also known as loglines, from your own life experiences. Jen goes into the depths of the four key elements within each logline (set-up, dilemma, action, & goal) by not only sharing her own personal experiences as examples, but also includes films like The Hurt Locker, Up In The Air, Avatar, Pretty Woman, The Blind Side, Good Will Hunting and Rocky, along with T.V. shows like Dexter, Mad Men, The Good Wife, The Sopranos, Lost, Big Love and Glee.

What you gain from Jen’s unique techniques is a better understanding of and connection with yourself; in turn, making it easier to connect with your audience through your stories. While each of us may have different backgrounds and stories, we all share a common thread that unites us and weaves through all stories: the emotions behind every experience. I highly recommend Story Line for all writers who want to find their unique voice and have it echo for others to hear and follow.

To learn more about Jen Grisanti you can visit her at http://jengrisanticonsultancy.com/ and purchase a copy of Story Line at Michael Wiese Productions, Amazon, The Writers Store, Barnes & Noble, or Borders.