Chance meetings can lead to the most incredible connections. While I was doing a ski clinic this winter, the instructor overheard a conversation I was having about publishing my book. Later that day, she approached me, “I heard you’re an author! So is my mom, Jane Green, do you know her?”
Of course, I know her. Jane Green is a national bestseller. Today, Jane joins me to share about her journey from journalist to novelist and offers her best tips to aspiring writers.
She also gets transparent about self-acceptance, her midlife reinvention, owning the mistakes she’s made as a mother, and more. Finally, after trailblazing the chick lit genre, she shares with us her most recent project: writing a memoir. You’re going to love this conversation with Jane.
Jane’s Journey From a Journalist to Trailblazer in the Chick Lit Genre
As a child, Jane never felt comfortable in her own skin, and she found solace within the pages of books. She loved authors such as Laura Ingalls Wilder, Nancy Mitford, and Sarah Chauncey Woolsey.
She began writing her first novel while working as a journalist in her 20s. She wrote about adventures with her girlfriends, single life, and dating in London.
This was in the 1990s, when most books about women were aspirational in nature. There weren’t books about real women and their misadventures, and Jane gave voice to their real-life experiences. Her book quickly found an audience and became a bestseller, and her second book was an even bigger success.
Today, along with author Helen Fielding, Jane is considered one of the founders of the “chick lit” genre. She’s embraced the term today, but at the time, it was extremely prerogative. What she and her colleagues did was seismic — they created an entire genre of literature about modern women that didn’t exist anymore, but that wasn’t the perception from the rest of the industry.
How to Get a “PhD” in Writing
Jane is a prolific writer with over 18 New York Times Bestsellers to her name. She credits her experience in journalism for teaching her to write on a deadline, rather than waiting for inspiration to strike.
To become a successful writer, Jane believes you need a PhD, but not the kind you get from a university.
PhD stands for:
- Persistence because you will always hit roadblocks
- Humility because you can’t be precious about your words; you must allow an editor to come in and make your work better
- Discipline to show up and write
Initially, she drew on her journalism experience and treated her books as a series of articles. She set a word count goal for each day and wouldn’t leave her desk until she reached it. She understood that her first draft would need a rewrite, but the most important thing was to get words on the page.
The best moments of writing a book happen when you get into a “flow state.” Three hours of writing can pass in three minutes, and you can visualize the story coming to life as it flows through your fingers.
However, aspiring writers must understand that the flow state occurs for a small percentage of the time that they spend writing. Most of the time, it will feel like work, and you need to treat it like a job. Writing is a muscle, and the more you exercise it, the easier it becomes to write.
Jane’s Midlife Transformation and Move to Marrakech
For most of her life, Jane felt the need to prove herself and fit into the box created by others’ expectations. She needed to be the perfect wife, mother, and writer.
After her six children left the nest and she realized her marriage was struggling, Jane finally let go of everyone’s expectations and embraced her true self. Her marriage ended, and she moved to Marrakech to reinvent herself.
Marrakech helped Jane rediscover herself, and it also inspired her latest novel. Sister Stardust, Jane’s first historical fiction novel, explores Marrakech in the 1960s.
Through her divorce and move, Jane has come to believe that everyone has multiple different versions of themselves that they get to live in one lifetime.
From Laser Hair Removal to Inner Peace: Jane’s Weekly Column
Jane writes a weekly advice column for The Daily Mail, where men and women write to her seeking advice on a wide range of problems. One writer asked Jane whether or not she should get laser hair removal, and Jane turned it into a column about self-esteem and inner peace.
After going on a journey to rediscover herself, Jane feels called to help other women do the same. Through her column, she teaches women —and occasionally men —how to set boundaries, honor themselves, and communicate clearly.
Being “Good Enough” is an Inside Job
Jane’s mother’s and father’s attitudes about success and beauty played a significant role in her upbringing, making her feel like she could never live up to their standards. The first time that she felt like she was “enough” was when she had her first bestseller.
Unfortunately, that feeling didn’t last. When her books weren’t performing as well, she immediately felt like a failure again.
Jane eventually realized that being “enough” is an inside job. She had to work on her own self-acceptance instead of waiting for the world to validate her. Today, Jane can confidently say that she loves herself.
Owning Your Mistakes as a Mother
When Jane became a mother, she vowed that she would never raise her kids the way her parents raised her. However, she found herself repeating several of the same mistakes her parents made. She threw herself into her career and wasn’t as present in her children’s lives as she could have been.
After a lot of reflection, Jane has owned her mistakes and apologized to her children for them. She credits her family’s ability to heal from the past to their healthy communication and not shying away from difficult conversations.
Jane’s Next Reinvention: Writing Nonfiction
Jane recently submitted her 22nd novel, along with a proposal for her next book, a memoir. Writing a nonfiction book is a significant departure for her, but she’s hopeful that her memoir will help other women in similar situations as they find themselves again.
Luckily, Jane is already experienced at sharing about her life and emotional journey transparently. She has shared her reinvention journey on her blog and social media, and it has already impacted thousands of women.
In addition to working on her next books, Jane has also begun hosting writing retreats at her home in Marrakech.
Here’s the thing I have learned from being given the blessing of meeting and speaking to someone like her: curiosity is the magic of life. Being curious opens doors, pushes you to reevaluate your life, and encourages you to search for new things. Does this suit me? Does this relationship serve me? When we ask ourselves what our heart truly desires, then we are free to be whoever we want to be at any given stage of life.
Connect With the Guest
- Website: janegreen.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/janegreenauthor
- Daily Mail Column
