Jan Cornall of Writer’s Journey supports writers of all levels and genres to realise their writing goals. If you love reading and writing and want to learn how to write a book, Jan offers online workshops, international creativity journeys for writers and artists as well as mentoring services.
Jan offers a monthly free online writing course. Sign up here, with keywords: FREE ONLINE WRITING COURSE.
as well as her ongoing workshops DRAFTBUSTERS ONLINE.
For one-on-one help with your manuscript at any stage of development, consider engaging Jan as your WRITING MENTOR.
In 2025, Jan is leading journeys for writers and artists to Italy ( May), Tasmania (Sept), Morocco October and Japan (Nov).
Based in Sydney, Australia, Jan has been awarded a number of grants and fellowships for her writing and performance work and has written plays, musicals, screenplays, a novel, a collection of stories and poems, and three CDs of songs. Browse Jan’s work portfolio here and CV here.
With a Master of Arts in Cultural and Creative Practice Jan has taught creative writing for two decades at writer’s centres, community colleges, universities (UTS, WSU) and writer’s festivals in Australia and the Asia Pacific.
Using a technique she has developed called Meditative Writing, Jan takes writers deep into their creative source. You can try it out at our Free Writing Workshop.
Dedicated to nurturing the unique attributes of each writer, her creative writing workshops produce startling results. Numerous writers working with Jan have gone on to publish with major publishing houses. Read their testimonials and see who got published below!
Trouble with Procrastination? Engage Jan as your procrastination coach here.
Need help with your current manuscript ? Engage Jan’s mentoring services here.
FOR UPDATES ON JOURNEYS AND ONLINE WORKSHOPS JOIN OUR MAILING LIST NOW
Mystery writer A.D. Scott, author of the Highland Gazette series (Simon and Schuster) says of Jan’s services…
“In spite of being a published author with six books under my belt, I have huge issues with procrastination. Whenever that happens I reach for Jan Cornall’s Avoidance Buster book. Or book a ZOOM session. As for Jan’s strategies, all I can say is, they work. Thank you Jan. Wouldn’t be published without you. Deborah (A. D. Scott)” Read more about A.D’s mystery series set in Scottish Highlands here.
Does this sound like you? Get your free anti procrastination eBook now!
This could be you— these writers published with major publishing houses with the help of Writer’s Journey!
Many writers working with Jan (including first timers) have gone on to publish with major publishing houses. They include: Ingrid Woodrow, Goddess and The Galaxy Boy, (Penguin); Marguerite Van Geldermalsen, Married To A Bedouin (Virago); Anne Lovell, Connie’s Secret (Allen &Unwin) Margaret Wilcox, Gone (Penguin); Niromi De Soyza Tamil Tigress, ( memoir, Allen & Unwin); Margaret Stephenson -Meere, The Child Within The Lotus ( Rockpool) Catherine Therese, The Weight Of Silence (Hachette Livre); Walter Mason, Destination Saigon (Allen & Unwin); Yvonne Louis, Brush with Mondrian (Murdoch) and Public Life Private Grief, Mary Delahunty (Hardie Grant), Jennifer Smart, The Wardrobe Girl (Random House); Biff Ward In My Mother’s Hands (Allen & Unwin), Hilary Linstead and Elizabeth Davies, Growing Old Outrageously (Allen&Unwin); Pamela Cook Black Wattle Lake, (Hachette, Rural fiction); Gabrielle Wang, The Poppy Series, (YA Penguin). Well known writers like Margo Lanagan and AD Scott also received support from Jan’s workshops. Margo’s popular fantasy novels, Tender Morsels and Sea Hearts, are published by Allen & Unwin in Australia, Knopf – USA, David Fickling Books, UK. AD Scott’s murder mysteries: A Small Death in the Great Glen and Tales From The Highland Gazette are published by Simon and Schuster in the US. See more here.
Writers working with Jan who have published with smaller presses and indie publishers include:
Ruth Salmon There Are No Coincidences, (Travel memoir); Lorraine Mcloughlin Barbara Robertson – An Australian Artist’s Life and George Tetlow and Mark and Jill Pearce, Lives in Art, (Art/ biography); Anne McLeod Adventurous Spirit, the exceptional life of Marie Byles. (Biography); Colleen Keating In Touch With Poetry &A Call to Listen (Ginninderra Press.Poetry);Minnie Biggs Shards of Ice (Ginninderra Press.Memoir); Michelle Leber The Yellow Emperor Five Islands Pressc(Poetry);Tamarra Kaida, Ogoh- Ogoh Balinese Monsters, (Saritaksu Editions Photography); Libby Sommer, The Crystal Ballroom (Gininderra Press, novel); Diana Plater, Whale Rock (Indie Mosh,novel);Raymond Hawkins, The Electronic Swagman, Halstead Press.(Memoir); Bridget McKern Living The Journey, A&A Publishing.(Non Fiction, biography); Marg Carroll The Man Who Loved Crocodiles and Other Stories, Allen and Unwin.(Non Fiction, biography);Betty Grenenger Dare to Look Deep, Best Legenz. (Memoir); Helen Cummings Blood Vows, (Five Islands Press. Memoir); Jacqueline Buswell Song of A Journey Woman (Ginninderra Press, poetry); Monique O’Donnell Mr Right and Other Mongrels (Amazon, Novel/romance); John Waromi first novel by a Papuan author Anggadi Tupa, Harvesting The Storm (Lontar, translated by Sarita Newson); Robert Schneider, Serendipity Road (Indie);Julie Anne Thorndyke, Mrs Rickerby’s Lullaby (novella, Gininderra Press); Jan Mantjika Bali 1964 to 2009: The Shadows that Dance in and out of my Memory, (memoir,Saritaksu Editions); Desak Yoni, Renditions of My Soul, The Story of a Balinese Woman (memoir, Saritaksu Editions).Lyn McGettigan, Behind the BarRoom Door, Tales of a Publican’s Wife. (IndieMosh);Tony Gallagher, On the Up, The Making of Perth Boy (Indie Mosh); David Meldrum, Any Minute Now, (Ginniderra Press).
So what does Writers Journey offer?
Jan’s mentoring, writing workshops and international writing journeys offer essential tools, methods and ongoing support for beginners and experienced, published and unpublished writers of all genres. Painters, photographers, poets, performance artists, song writers, zinesters and artists in all modalities also find Jan’s methods helpful in supporting and clarifying their creative process.
What’s so special about Writers Journey?
The Meditative Methods Jan uses allow you to access the deep subconscious pool of image and sense memory you need to create powerful writing. Getting conscious mind out of the way means the process can become effortless and joyful, free from the struggle and overwhelm that often accompanies long distance writing. Jan has meditations for every aspect of craft and process including: creating the world of your story, finding your narrator voice, creating original characters, discovering compelling plots, ensuring the impact of your story and dealing with your negative inner critic.
How can Writers Journey cater to my specific writing needs?
Another unique aspect of Writers Journey is you can join any time it suits you . There are no beginning, intermediate or advanced classes. Individual attention is given to the craft and process needed to bring your current writing project to completion, whatever stage you are at. Writers may choose to dip in and out or work with Jan over a period of years. Some even follow Jan around the globe. Chris Richards broke the record and in ashort span of time attended the Fiji , Bali and Luang Prabang retreats. The pay off – he completed the 120,000 word manuscript of his next book.
Chris discussing a mapping exercise with fellow writer Diana Plater
Chris says:“Every now and again in this world of spin, hype, over promise and under deliver, we get a surprise. Our expectations are exceeded. My experience of Jan Cornall’s Writers Workshop at Daku Resort, Fiji was just one of those rare times.
Here I was sixty thousand words into a novel and totally stalled. I am an experienced writer, I know all the gimmicks but still “the very urgent but not important subsumed the very important but not urgent,” in my life. The casualty was my demon, my novel. What I needed was some isolation, immersion and the company of like minded writers to resurrect my demon. Daku Resort (a jewel ) and Jan Cornall provided just that.
Jan is a more than a competent facilitator and an excellent writer. She is non-invasive but nevertheless resolute on our purpose for being there. She coaches and pushes….just enough. Her workshop was one of the best things I have done in the past twenty years.” Chris Richards, academic, author, Canberra.
GET STARTED TODAY WITH THE EASY STEPS OUTLINED IN JAN’S E BOOK!
WOW Workbook – Write Your Book On A Weekend
Once you get down to it the writing doesn’t take long! This eBook shows you how in one weekend you can make a story map, a chapter outline, a character graph, write your synopsis, and start your first chapter. Then set aside a weekend per chapter for the next three to six months to complete your draft!
Meditations for Writers MP3, are designed for different aspects of writing craft. Use them to still yourself before a writing session, to deal with the negative critic, to take you into sense memory of place, character, voice, and more.
WOW Combo Package. The WOW Workbook plus the Meditations.Used in combination produces the best results!
While you are in the Writer’s Journey Shop check out Jan’s books…
BOOKS BY JAN CORNALL, BUY HERE!
Take Me To Paradise (2006). Jan Cornall’s debut novel set in Ubud, sells in Bali bookshops alongside Elizabeth Gilbert’s, ‘Eat, Pray, Love”. Published the same year, 2006, by Saritaksu Editions, and set between the bombings that shattered the harmony of this peaceful isle, it offers a different perspective on the Bali experience.
Archipelagogo – Love Songs to Indonesia (2013). Celebrating 10 years of the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, Bali, Jan Cornall’s collection of songs, poems and stories were penned during her travels in Indonesia in the past decade. Jan’s works are accompanied by the wonderful whimsical paintings of the Indonesian artist Jumaadi.
Both books are published by Saritaksu Editions.
‘Deep inside me is a longing to express myself as a writer. I reserved my written expression for my own eyes as my inner voice stayed silent. Then I attended Jan’s course. She offered a workshop titled Stories of Your Life. I attended the course expecting to learn a structured methodology for writing. Instead I experienced a spiritual clearing. Jan found a crack and opened me up. Her workshop… pushed me to a new level.’
Jenn Shallvey, Business coach and founder of www.shareddestiny.com
‘Jan’s rare quality lies in her ability to get the best out of any aspiring artist / worker / client. Her wealth of experience in the creative field and her relaxed nature, make explorations to the heart of creativity so much easier for those who work with her.’
Richard Oh, former CEO of QB World Books, Jakarta
‘Apart from the obvious technical aspects of Jan’s course the thing I learnt most was the need to leave my comfort zone. I was able to go to places I would not normally contemplate. A life changing course.’
Margaret Wilcox, Author of ‘Gone’
‘I can’t forget how much help your Weekend Memoir course was. How I went along with my stories in clumps and after a couple of days of meditation and coloured pens and butcher’s paper came away with them flowing along – the centre point and shape of my story from just one well guided weekend.
Thanks, Thanks, Thanks.’
Marguerite van Geldermalsen, Author of the bestseller ‘Married to a Bedouin’
‘As I said goodbye to you, I thought:
“I’m waving good-bye to a woman who
has changed my life.”
Jennifer Brown, Canada
‘Jan’s subtle and skilful management of the group dynamic brought about a fun, supportive and highly creative working environment, which produced some incredible writing results.’
Jules Jones
‘Jan’s classes helped me develop my ideas, deepen my understanding of my characters and improve the quality of my writing. Most importantly, the weekly contact with other writers provided me with motivation, inspiration and a wonderful bunch of writing buddies.’
Pamela Cook
‘Thanks Jan. I was stuck. My hope for desert writing was to take the next step up but I didn’t know how. It was a week of unadulterated enjoyment, being in the company of like-minded people, having the freedom to sit and contemplate the amazing scenery of the McDonnell Ranges, having fun experimenting, creating characters out of boulders and grass fronds, using too many adjectives (Central Australia is adjective heaven), as well as being looked after so well by Into the Blue. It felt safe to write and risk. It felt safe to walk. Being a surreptitious writer I had forgotten how to have fun writing.’
Rowena Harding-Smith
‘I’ve done nothing since I returned except tell everyone to go to the desert and get inspired.’
Jennifer Moore
‘Completely inspiring! I can’t wait to get back to my desk!’
Angela Goettinger, Business woman, USA
‘Jan treats everyone as an individual and locates and embraces the unique in each person’s writing style.’
Hilary Linstead, Theatrical Agent, Sydney
‘Jan showed us the ease with which it is possible to access from within and bring to the surface an abundance of material using the meditative process.’
Les Miller, Insurance Broker, Sydney
‘Jan skilfully guided us right to our source. It was magical.’
Tamarra Kaida, Photographer, USA/Indonesia
‘Jan is a very gifted teacher. With each member of the group, she cuts through to the essence of what needs to be addressed.’
Sophie Guest, Lecturer, Sydney
‘There is a rare breed of teachers in this world who have the ability to bring out the best in everyone. Jan is one of those teachers.’
Alison Nancye, Business Coach, Sydney
‘I have always done my best pieces of writing in rather a difficult subject either during Jan’s workshops or afterwards.’
Helen Stevenson, Memoir Writer
‘Your help and efforts proved to all attending that even the most unlikely were endowed with the skills necessary to write. I would recommend to all aspiring writers to attend and benefit from Jan’s workshops.’
Sharn Hunkin, Olive Farmer
‘Jan showed us the ease with which it is possible to access from within and bring to the surface an abundance of material using the meditative process.’
Les Miller, Insurance Broker/ Memoirist
‘I thoroughly enjoyed this course and found it very useful in developing and exploring different writing voices and styles, particularly the meditation exercises which were very productive and managed to be both relaxing and stimulating at the same time.’
Mark Rossiter, writer and software consultant
‘Jan helped me tremendously in writing and developing a theatre script. She provided very concrete and practical tools, as well as an imaginative framework in which to work. Jan paid a lot of attention to getting students to understand their characters and story and how to develop the work on many different levels.’
Helen Townsend
‘A year ago I went to Jan’s workshop looking for my own voice and wanting to write a novel. Jan’s techniques helped me leap right into the deep end! I went to another one of Jan’s wonderful courses and just kept on writing. Now, a year later, I have finished my first novel. At this stage my manuscript has found some interest with one of Sydney’s editors and also a large publishing house. There are no promises yet, but I have written a novel! It’s out there!’
Chelsea Gould
‘Jan’s wise words and encouragement have not only given me the tools but also the confidence to continue writing and to do the very best I can to produce a manuscript worthy of publication.’
Heather Clark
‘Why do I keep going back to Jan Cornall and her WOW weekends? It’s her passion for writing, and the way she leads each of us down paths we might not have tried. She cares, Jan, she knows her stuff, she allows each writer’s story to bloom with its own colour.’
Peter Bishop NSW
‘This was brilliant – more then I’d expected. The meditation unlocked knowledge I didn’t know I had. I have never thought of using meditation in that way and I am so glad to have your workbook – and especially the meditation CD, which I use at the beginning of my writing sessions. Thank you so much. That weekend was life changing in that it showed me that ‘it can be done’
Jan Leishman
‘Jan, your use of meditation to lead us into written work is particularly powerful. It’s taken me to writing places I hadn’t known how to access before.’
Jane McKellar
‘This course inspired me to bite the bullet and complete what I’ve started.’
Trish Xavier
‘ The inspiration I found through the week-end has stayed with me and I am committed to completing my book.’
Julie Cooke
