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 worked as an event planner for over ten years. She’s currently querying a humorous memoir about the chaos of event planning and the times plans went awry. You can read samples of her work by following the links below.
Heaven/Iowa
Event Planning Stories and Humorous Essays
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.
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.
Lessons Learned About Humanity from Working at Concerts
People don’t like to be confined to arbitrary blocks of color
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.
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.
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.
Dogs are better than people
When my dog was attacked, it brought out the best and worst in me.
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.
A Trendy Exercise Class Turned Me into an Old Man
The class itself was fine. The relentless text messages were out of control.
Human-Interest Stories, News, etc.
The coronavirus means new rules for public life.
But crowds are bad at following new rules.
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.
Oncologist helps women feel 'fearless' in fighting breast cancer
Stroh got a tattoo with two of her patients.