MEET JESS HINDS,
CREATOR OF MEDITATIVE WRITING

JESS, THE TEACHER

As a teacher Jessica has mentored hundres of writers including Sundance Award-winning filmmakers, Emmy Award-winning writers and producers, Tony Award winners, best-selling authors, professional musicians, TV showrunners, reality TV stars, published poets, and emerging artists in the fields of screenwriting, playwriting, novel writing, TV writing, memoir writing, poetry, journalism, and music.  

Jessica has been a guest teacher and speaker at the Columbia University Teachers Conference, The Breakk with Karen Kirkland, The NYC Women Filmmakers, Stage32 house @ Sundance, The New School for Drama, NYU, The Writers Digest Conference, ITV Fest, The English Writers of Buenos Aires Collective, The Curious About Screenwriting Podcast, and a dozen other schools, festivals, and conferences around the world from California to Indonesia. Her most recent speaking engagements include The Napa Valley Film Festival, Imagine This Film Festival, the Mystic Film Festival, and the Austin Film Festival.

She is the founder of Meditative Writing, and The Science and Art of Writing, and is currently building curriculum for the Jnana Yoga School of New York. Jessica has built  programming for various theater companies and schools including Playwrights Horizons, The Jacob Krueger Studio, The Einhorn School of Performing Arts, and The New York Artists Collective.
​
Her current research involves the neuroscience of visual storytelling and the use of popular media to combat unconscious biases. ​
With an extensive portfolio of mentoring experience, Meditative Writing creator Jess Hinds has provided guidance to writers working on a multitude of highly acclaimed shows. Her expertise has been sought after by the creatives behind POKER FACE, MINDHUNTER, WEST WORLD, MAD MEN, LEVERAGE, CONSTANTINE, BROAD CITY, SNL, THE GOLDBERGS, BLUE BLOODS, GAME OF THRONES, XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, OCTOBER FACTION, WATCHMEN, HIGH MAINTENANCE, and many more. 

​Not only has Jess Hinds mentored writers, but she has also extended her support to aspiring filmmakers, resulting in their work being recognized at prestigious events such as Sundance, Austin Film Festival, Nicholl's Fellowship, and Humanitas. Her mentees have achieved significant accomplishments, including nominations at the Emmys, the Oscars, and the Tonys.​

JESS, THE WRITER

Jess Hinds is an award-winning writer, teacher, and creator of Meditative Writing©. She began her career as a published poet at the age of 12. She wrote the award-winning film, Stranger at Home and best screenplay winner, The Mending Wall (Stonefair International Film Festival, Oregon Film Awards Gold Winner). She has been a finalist in over a dozen major competitions and festivals including the Austin Film Festival, O’Neill Conference, Made In NY Writers Room, The Van Gogh Award, and The Heidman Award. Her scripts have been developed, optioned, and produced at theaters across the country including La MaMa, Cherry Lane, Rattlestick Playwright's Theater, Primary Stages, The Amoralists, The Flea, The Claque, and the New York Artists' Community. Jessica has studied Creative Nonfiction at Yale. She received her BA in Writing & Performance from Marymount Manhattan College and an MFA in Writing for the Stage & Screen from the New School for Drama. 
Picture
Image: Jess teaching an online workshop

JESS'S Teaching Philosophy

Teaching is not simply providing information or the passing on of a skill. It is the art of discovering the psychological and cognitive makeup of a writer in order to create the most effective path toward comprehension and application of a given subject matter. Every student should be approached individually and taught according to their unique goals, natural strengths, and current circumstances. 

Jess teaches because she loves helping writers shape their writing into works of art that have the emotional truth and power to resonate with a universal audience. 
Jess’s Meditative Writing class made me feel like I was back in college enjoying a science/psychology class combined with a joint writing lab.  And she is that professor who explains concept and theory so well that when it comes time to do her writing exercises, you are able to throw yourself into them entirely because you understand WHY everything works.  
- Lindsay 

meditative writing with Jessica Hinds has turned my writing life inside out, upside down, and diagonal! this is the next wave of teaching and writing. with Jess’ innovative approach, i’m now confident to tell the truth, own my voice, and keep on writing! many thanks to you Jess.
- Andrea Mays 

In just 35 minutes Jess did more for my relationship with my artistry and writing than 7 years of therapy. 
- Hanna

This approach has totally changed the way I write – thank god! I feel successful all the time. I am happier. No more depressed writer for me. I’m working on my script every single day and the screenplay is practically writing itself. My writing is better than it has ever been, and I now understand my true value in the industry — so pitching has become easy. I will continue to take this class over and over again, it’s a great practice that keeps you on the right track, the successful one.
- Adam

Jessica has a transparency and authenticity that is very reassuring. Her advice comes from the heart and really helps me to dig deep within myself as a writer. She helped me to look at things differently, making writing less of a chore and instead turning it into something I can’t wait to do!
- Danielle

Jess talked about how to connect with our writing via our feelings. She helped us to connect physically/emotionally/spiritually, using her unique style and genuine approach.
- Elaine M

Jess gave us attainable goals that really took the pressure off. She was very engaging and gave me permission to not be perfect.
- Terri B 

Jessica is amazing! She encouraged me to keep writing, instead of stopping to think in an outline or draft she pushed me to write through it.
- Rayna W

Jessica opens the gates to limitlessness! She gives such freedom, it’s wonderful to live in a world without bounds, she is the best thing that ever happened to me!
- Emma B

Jess got me writing! I’m 22 pages into my script now! She helped bring emotional needs into a tangible want which was a big hurdle for me.
- Anneke S

Thanks to Jess I’m nearly competed my first draft along with my character bios! She teaches how to think in a new way.
- Matt B

It helped me move past the fear of putting things on the page. Jessica was very helpful in guiding through the exercises and providing insight on how to break through barriers.
- Michael Castro 

First of all, it is SO great to be around writers! I am so tired of living in the world of my corporate day job. It is fun, a great release, worth while.
- Sarah Congress

Between the writing itself and the motivational tools, Jessica has made me a better writer by writing in every class!
- Robi M

I was actually surprised by this as for most of my life I’ve viewed my body as just this thing to carry my brain around, and it was interesting to learn that the captain is the sub-conscious.
- Debbie K 

Thank you for helping me explore another option to help me honestly and constructively connect with my creative self.
- Beckley

This class helped my writing by allowing me to feel as if the focus were on me. The intimate setting felt as if it were actually one-on-one.
- Sheldon M 

The writing exercises and assignments helped me to get unstuck by finding out what is exciting rather than what is intellectual or ‘right’.
- Katie B 

This class is inspiring! It helped clear up how I write.
- Daryl 

Jess’ look at life makes writing fun and magical!
- Jennifer

Jess’s class has made me love writing again! The trips into my imagination inform my writing more each class!
- Stephanie V

This class will give you tons of ideas that may be new but will definitely help!
- Anon 

These classes have provided a variety of new approaches that work so much more effectively for me than any of the books or MFA classes I have experienced.  I am a weirdo. But Jessica found a way to work with my weird brain so that I can participate in this industry.  Writing, rewriting and pitching and networking are now fun an meaningful, rather than an annoying necessity. 
- JR