From Struggling Reader to Published Author: A Writer's Guide to Storytelling | Jennifer Jenkins

How do great authors build compelling worlds? Jennifer Jenkins, bestselling YA author and StoryCon founder, reveals the essential questions behind every great story. Whether you're a methodical plotter or spontaneous "pantser," discover how understanding writing rules lets you break them effectively. Perfect for young writers, creative writing students, and anyone interested in the craft of storytelling. In this episode: - The power of "what if?" in storytelling - Essential world-building techniques - Plotting vs. Pantsing: choosing your path - When and how to break writing rules - Building creative confidence Featuring Jennifer Jenkins, President of Operation Literacy and co-founder of StoryCon. [00:00] - The Hidden Power of Stories [03:31] - Inside StoryCon: A Literary Giants' Gathering [05:04] - Why Kids Don't Need Permission to Dream Big [06:12] - From Reading Struggles to Publishing Success: Jennifer's Story [09:12] - The 80% Rule: Why Meeting Authors Changes Everything [10:24] - How Seeing Authors as Human Changes Everything [11:32] - Inside Operation Literacy's Author Validation System [13:42] - The "What If" Secret to Writing Great Stories [15:34] - Why Research is Actually Writing (The Wikipedia Method) [17:28] - The Hidden Architecture of World Building [20:41] - The Negative Space: What Great Authors Don't Tell You [23:12] - Breaking the Rules: The Framework for Creative Freedom [26:22] - Finding Your Tribe: The Power of Creative Community [29:24] - Why OpenEd and StoryCon Share the Same DNA Want even more? Sign up for the OpenEd Daily newsletter at https://opened.co for practical tips and insights about more open and innovative approaches to education. Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-opened-podcast/id1760216903 https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kf7SZ8XASA6tSqMEuHmVC Follow us on social: https://www.instagram.com/openedHQ https://www.facebook.com/openedhq https://x.com/OpenEdHQ https://www.linkedin.com/company/openedhq/