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Jessica carney, nonfiction writer

Jessica is a writer based in Iowa. Her work has been published at NBC News, Today.com, HuffPost, Quartz, Shondaland, and more. In addition to writing, she’s worked in the event planning industry for over ten years. She’s currently querying a book about event planning and all the chaos and times plans went awry. You can read her work by following the links below.

Heaven/Iowa


Essays about event planning


How to Organize a Holiday Party

An event guru reveals her five methods for hosting a successful soiree.

A Bucket Full of Knives and Other Tales from Working in the Concert Industry

“He pointed at me, and I know he wanted me to come up on stage,” said a woman at Nelly’s concert.

Lessons Learned About Humanity from Working at Concerts

People don’t like to be confined to arbitrary blocks of color  

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The coronavirus means new rules for public life.

But crowds are bad at following new rules.

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The US worker shortage shouldn’t surprise low-paying employers

For Quartz


Humor & Midwest Stories


A Learned Lesson About Sharing Writing Before It’s Ready

I bombed one of my first readings in the strangest place you can bomb—a hospice room.

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My Parents Visit the 23rd Century to Enjoy Simpler Times

They aren’t the most technologically inept people on earth; it’s just that they approach technology with caution, phasers out.

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It's Caucus Season in Iowa, and My Mom Is a Political Groupie

There is no power like the star power of being an undecided Iowa voter, and my mom is making the most of it.

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Dogs are better than people

When my dog was attacked, it brought out the best and worst in me.

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I'm Proud of Where I'm From — When I'm Not There

Travel changes what 'home' means to me, in ways that surprise myself and my Uber drivers.

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Back to the past

When I was seven, my dad sat me down to teach me about John, Paul, George, and Ringo. I repeated the lesson to my classmates obsessively, making me the weirdest 2nd grader in 1993.

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The Art of the Iowa Pickle Wrap

Why we love "Lutheran sushi"


Human-Interest Stories, News, etc.


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The Do's and Don'ts of Quitting Your Job

Don’t expect your next job to fix the problems of your current one.

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Strangers helping strangers after the storm

Almost immediately after sweeping up the broken glass in her home, Stochl took on the daunting task of getting supplies to derecho victims.

I’m Obsessively Organized Thanks to Chronic Pain

Even though it’s against my nature, being obsessively organized is one way I’ve learned to cope with migraines.

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Oncologist helps women feel 'fearless' in fighting breast cancer

Stroh got a tattoo with two of her patients.