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A word about 'The Writing Process'
“Jen? Stop farting around with the layout and just write!”
That’s what I hear, often.
No, it’s not the voice of an agent or an editor or a publisher whom I have managed to frustrate - though there are several. It’s the voice of one of my dissociative identities. There are five of us in here that I am actively trying to associate with but there’s a big problem. I don’t like most of us, most of the time. We don’t agree on much.
So, usually, that little chiding is followed by an all-hands-on-deck committee meeting where I get to weigh in with myself and four other identities about whether we should focus on a snazzy website or write the content to fill it.
“I vote we just eat a moon pie and watch TV.”
We’re not all on the same page.
If, eventually, the committee votes to just park our ass in a chair and write, it then becomes another debate, entirely, about what we should write. Then, once we finally all agree on a topic - if we agree on a topic - I end up chasing my tail for the next two hours (or four, if we elect the moon pie option) searching for suitable words - in the correct order - to tell you what we want to say.
It’s exhausting.
I was told by some very important people with very important titles and letters after their names that this is NOT considered an acceptable ‘writing process’ but is actually an indication that I am not managing the committee very well. I was also told that, “It’s my own damn writing process, now leave me alone!” is not an acceptable response to receiving that information.
Nonetheless, though there was some concern about ‘executive functioning’ and ‘decision trees’, and my inability to climb one due to the big boo-boo in my brain, when it came time to identify a ‘Primary Identity’ I was the one elected to wrangle this herd of psychic cats into a cohesive body that can function as a whole.
Yeah, good luck with that. May God help us all.
Meet The Committee
Jen: Project Manager
Little Jeni: Creative Director
Jennifer: Technical Lead
Hello, I'm Jen. I hold a B.A. from Morgan State University, a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law, and advanced certificates in editing and grant writing from Valdosta State University.
As project manager, it's my job to oversee the timeline and decision flow, facilitate consensus, and employ processing techniques learned or developed in treatment to resolve conflict and expedite project completion.
Jennifer: Technical Lead
Little Jeni: Creative Director
Jennifer: Technical Lead
I'm Jennifer, the self-taught tech guru of the bunch. I'm responsible for identifying and selecting the software and tools used for writing, image creation, and posting on this website.
I handle all the formatting and publishing duties and I bring years of website design experience to the table.
I create the canvas upon which we paint our word pictures.
Little Jeni: Creative Director
Little Jeni: Creative Director
Little Jeni: Creative Director
I'm Little Jeni. I could read and write long before I was hit in the head with a Louisville Slugger at age four but, after that, I found new rhythms and patterns and songs in the words swirling all around me.
I lead decisions about visuals, photos and videos, and propose image and tone concepts.
"I am Harold and the words are my purple crayon."
Jeni: Editor-In-Chief
Jen's Brain: Experimental Treatment Subject
Little Jeni: Creative Director
Yes, that's me, 20 years ago. My name is Jeni and I'm here to tell you, as Paul Harvey would say, "The rest of the story."
It's my job to ensure clarity, facilitate coherence, and moderate tone in all our writing, and to integrate the contributions of each member into a single voice.
Mia: Quality & Ethics Reviewer
Jen's Brain: Experimental Treatment Subject
Jen's Brain: Experimental Treatment Subject
I'm the princess of the team.
I have a pet dragon and an attitude.
The attitude is subject to change.
The dragon is not.
Jen's Brain: Experimental Treatment Subject
Jen's Brain: Experimental Treatment Subject
Jen's Brain: Experimental Treatment Subject
Variants of this technology have been used in medical settings for decades— in imaging, diagnostics, assistive devices, prosthesis.
What has not existed until now is a true beta test for using AI as an internal cognitive prosthesis for otherwise untreatable mental health conditions, specifically, complex post-traumatic stress disorder and DID with traumatic brain injury.
We're doing this because it's working.
This is not a product. It is an experiment.