Feedback From Our Students
"I wanted you to know I loved your class. I found it very helpful and looked forward to it every week. You are gifted. You rank right up there with the best. I can honestly say you are one of three teachers who changed me, made me grow as a person and as a writer." - Michelle Vanstrom
"I have to tell you - I'm so excited - Greenprints bought the stone wall essay! I got the check in the mail today - my very first sale. I have to thank you again for all your help with it. Taking your class was definitely the path for getting published the first time for me!" - Kelly Austin
"Jena- WOW! You are teacher extraordinaire! I cannot say enough about your thorough, expansive way of teaching. You are fun and witty, and you make learning a blast. You brought all of us together in a supportive environment that felt safe and nurturing. You always made me feel special. You LISTEN well- and how in the world you had time to give each of us so much individual attention is totally beyond me. The way you teach is a true reflection of your brilliance and compassion. I cannot find the words to say thank you for an amazing journey." - Jill Davis
"Thanks again for a great class - and for your thorough feedback." - Katherine
"I'm sorry to see the class end! It was always the highlight of my day to do the assignments and challenge myself to answer the thought provoking questions you posed for each selection. Sometimes I think I understood it and could actually express myself other times -whizz right over my head. I think the class had the right amount of work, the questions were enlightening in themselves as well as stimulating and the lessons were informative." - Debra Weber
"The class format, the course materials, your gentle inquiries, and your guiding hand are all making this course memorable. I feel just like I do when I'm reading a really great book...I'm thoroughly enjoying it, but I am already dreading the moment when it ends." - Bev
"Jena, I think the workload was just right for this class. I actually completed an essay, with a lot of your help! I hope I can progress to the point of not needing so much editing help. I think the pieces you picked for us to read were really great examples of excellent food writing. I wouldn't change a thing! Anyway, I loved the class. I always strive to work harder and hope to participate more to the conversations in future classes." - J.
"Thank you so much for an informative and thought-provoking class. I truly enjoyed the readings and assignments that you provided and felt that I learned a tremendous amount from my participation. Most of all, I appreciated your thoughtfulness as you looked at my work." - Marcia
"I loved the drawing assignments and your comments about drawing. You have reawakened a love that I had forgotten about. I also really enjoyed the readings that you assigned. And the questions that you asked made me think about the readings more deeply. Your feedback on my writing was invaluable. Thank you very much for spending that time thinking about my work. I really appreciate it." - Cathie
This was the most stupendous class I have ever taken - I have taught over 30 years now - and Jena is an outstanding teacher with expertise, and know how to put together a fabulous class. She has spoiled us for any other writing classes on the net. The readings were well chosen and the assignments and questions with the readings encouraged all sorts of analysis that was helpful in the writing process. The writing assignments were great and her feedback unbelievable- I don't know where she found the time to give such in-depth feedback. My writing process improved a thousand fold and I have been to a lot of writing
seminars. She is able to cut through to the bottom line and encourage us to rework and rework our essays.". - Jill
"First off, I loved the readings. You brought me into some new territory, and
I couldn't be more thrilled to have discovered some of the writers, of whose
work I plan on seeing more. - Jacqueline
I want to tell you just how much I loved this class. Even though I couldn't give it my full attention, and I'm sure it showed, I would like to come back in January and keep on going if there's still room in the class - I'm definitely committed to learning to write better. - Kelly
"I was very happy with the class; I felt that the lessons and assignments were thoughtful and thorough, and I really enjoyed working on them. I felt that the drawing lessons were a great addition to the course. I am very happy with Jena - she takes a great deal of time to respond to questions and gives helpful feedback.
-C.
"Jena - I am absolutely amazed by this writing class. It is phenomenal. There is a lot to teach and tell about food writing, and, you teach it. Other classes that I've taken have really lacked substance. They teach ideas and theories, which are fine -- but I want to know BOTH the 'ideas' AND the 'how to's' and that is what your course is about.
I will definitely enroll in future classes that you teach. I have considered teaching online classes myself, and feel that yours is really the gold standard. Thanks again." - Karen
"Jena, I'm quite grateful to you for offering this course. You are a terrific teacher with amazing instincts for the written word. Wow, I needed this class. I needed discipline and motivation and encouragement. Your comments and critiques were respectful but firm and as I've said numerous times in the past, right on. I've been raving about you to writing friends, so don't be surprised if some show up in class next time." - Kristin
I just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed the class immensely. The lessons were straight forward and the instructions were clear. Your feedback and encouragement was tremendous as well as honest - because of this, I am learning to trust my skills - slowly. Even though this is an online class, you seem to have an intuitive sense about your students (their talents, weaknesses and even personalities), this says a lot about your skills as a teacher.....Please post my feedback. Everyone needs to know how good this class is.
- Victoria
"I want to thank you for all the effort you have put into making this a very positive and insightful experience. I have learned much from your class, am very excited, and plan to continue to do whatever it takes to be the best I can be at this new venture." - Marlene
It was my first writing course but I was extremely enthusiastic due to the help and encouragement of the instructor. She really explained in detail how to help me reach inside and apply what I've found there. What an asset to the teaching community I feel she is. - Al
Jena, I just wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed your course.
I feel that I should apologize for the length of my mining story I really didn't expect you to go so thoroughly into it. At first I looked at it as having been shot down in flames, but then became aware of what a learning tool you have given me WOW!!! Thank you so much. I wish you all the success in the world and hope we may meet face to face someday. Move over Tom Clancy I'm comin' through. - Charles
The class was beautifully planned. Jena obviously put a lot of thought
into each lesson. The essays she chose for our class reading were
specific to the lesson that week, and the text she uses is modern and
full of great work. At first I thought there was too much work, but
once my rhythm got going I realized all of the reading and thinking
about the reading was very useful. I couldn't have asked for more effort on Jena's part - she gave me 100%.
- Lou
"I've given you some feedback throughout the class, and obviously I enjoyed it. I worked my butt off, learned a ton, and am a happier person for it. I've also gained confidence in my potential to put some of the stuff that I think I have to say to other people into a format that they might actually want to read.
One of the biggest benefits is that I am finally finding my voice--which has always been there, but trusting it and putting it into a framework that is digestible by the reader is the challenging part. Your comments and encouragement have made a tremendous difference. - Valerie
I was very happy with Jena Ball. She was very thorough with her
feedback on our work and also quite encouraging. I believe she put a
lot of effort into the assignments. - Loretta
I appreciate the time and energy Jena gave in setting up this course and in interacting with me. The historical perspective and comparison study between ancient and modern adventure writers was interesting. This course has given me a wealth of information that will help me in future writing. Many thanks to Jena.
- Linda
Hi Jena, thanks so much for your feedback! I really appreciate the hard work that you put into that feedback; I've taken classes where the feedback was kind of thin. I really felt like I learned something by reading that today. I am getting a lot out of this class!
- Laura
"Hi Jena, I had an absolutely WONDERFUL experience with this class. I feel like I have discovered a voice I never knew I had. I am disappointed that I haven't been able to participate in the last weeks. Your guidance has been sensitive, encouraging, and tirelessly thorough. I am going to try to keep working on a series of essays about food and my life. I feel like there is so much there and I haven't really scratched the surface yet. I hope I will be able to take another one of your classes. Thank you for everything!" - Sam
"Dear Jena --
Thanks so much for your kind and encouraging words. I learned alot in the
class and you provided wonderful support and resources. " - Jennie
"Thank you very much. I am sorry to see it end. You have been a lot of help. The reason that I took the course was to help me get started writing a fiction adventure novel that I have been thinking about for a long time. I have thoroughly enjoyed your course and would like to meet you sometime if we ever get out to the west coast Or you come to Louisiana."
- Thomas Wood
"I have learned a lot. Your lessons were fabulous and I intend to finish all of the assignments on my own. Food writing is new to me and I need to gain a little experience with it before I can jump in to an on-line course. I would like to take this course again if that is possible. Perhaps you will offer it again in the coming year. Your class has been a joy and an eye opener for me. I'm not certain if I realized what pleasures food could bring or what pain. I have all three Best Food Writing books and can't wait for #4 this fall. I picked up other food essays and books as well. I am trying to find Anthony Bourdain's article from the New Yorker. Prior to your class I would have never considered these items. Now I know what I will give to all my friends and co-workers this Christmas. I would like to do restaurant reviews with a Dietitians eye. Of course there would have to be light and humor in them. I could rate restaurants by the number of vegetables they offer! Thank you again. I am sorry that I wasn't more active, but I am now on the path. " - Chris
"I add myself to the students who had a positive learning experience in the class. The readings opened up new worlds for me, an essay on eggs, on tomatoes and pasta, such fun. Learning about people like the Thornes is great. Personally, I was able to find a voice as a restaurant reviewer and plan to continue to hone that skill. I learned to keep my personality in my writing while informing folks about the food and environment of a particular restaurant. And that is a good beginning. I want to get better at essay writing about food and family history, about food and its relationship to everyday life, also. Thanks for the care, Jena!" - Jeanne
"I loved the course. Thank you. In total this course was outstanding!" - Samantha
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