Hi! I'm Jenna.

And there are few things I love as much as the written word.

I was two-years old when I wrote my first “book”. I dictated it to my (very patient) mother, who wrote it down in her perfect, mom-esque cursive on blank sheets of white paper. Together, we picked out pictures from her magazines to illustrate my narrative. And when we finished, she hole-punched and tied the pages together with yarn.

So, you see, I’ve always been a writer. (And I’ve always had the most incredible mother.)

By elementary school, I could actually hold a pen and write for myself. (I learned so much in those early years!). My third-grade teacher, Mrs. Wolfer, further encouraged and supported my creative ability. If I turned in my work early, she’d let me use one of the two class computers until our lunch break, letting me dream and write whatever I wanted.

My mom and Mrs. Wolfer weren’t the only women to encourage me, though. There was my maternal grandma, who helped raise me and praised my scribbled stories. And Sarah Hepola, the memoirist and (now former) editor at Salon, who published my first personal essay. And Heather Heimerl Brunold, who plucked me out of hundreds of anonymous applications and asked me to share my story on stage.

I have always been encouraged by the women who saw the magic in my words; who understood the power of story. They believed that anything I wrote (or said) was worth sharing with the world if it meant I could express myself, and support or connect with someone else.

And I believe that, too. 

Where You Can Find Me

The Newsletter

In March 2019, I began sharing a personal essay — some true tale from my own life highlighting a universal life lesson — every Sunday. They’ve since evolved into an irregular collection of essays; of observations into my life that hopefully inspire insights about your own. You can sign up to get those essays directly to your inbox right here.

The Podcast (On Pause)

In December 2019 — on my 35th birthday! — I launched my podcast, Brave Enough to Be. Brave Enough to Be is about being brave enough to pursue the best version of your life, whatever that may look like for you. Though the podcast is on an indefinite hiatus, you can still listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, and Spotify.

And More

And in any spare time left over, I continue to write — sometimes in my journal, sometimes on Instagram, sometimes just in my head as I’m taking a shower.

I always, always come back to my words.

My Professional Bio

Jenna Britton is an essayist, content strategist, and clarity coach. She currently manages Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion content strategy and storytelling at household delivery service, Shipt. She also works as a clarity coach, supporting clients to push aside self-doubt and social conditioning and illuminate the authentic and aligned ways they can show up at work, in their relationships, toward their purpose, and more. And since 2012, she has written personal essays and articles, sharing stories that highlight her own (ongoing) journey to clarity, authenticity, and personal fulfillment. Her writing has been published in Salon, Thought Catalog, Darling Magazine, The Everygirl, and several other publications. In 2016, she gave a TEDx Talk on how story has the power to change your life, and these days she shares life stories and lessons on her Substack publication, And Also. Jenna lives and writes in Portland, Oregon.

(More) About Me

I am a Sagittarius Sun + Cancer Rising + Scorpio Moon, a 6/2 Splenic Projector in Human Design, an INFJ, and an Enneagram 3. And the fact that I know all of that should tell you a lot about me.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, spent four years living in Berkeley and San Francisco, California, and moved to Portland, Oregon in September 2017.

I am usually reading at least four books at once. I read a lot of non-fiction (particularly personal development), but enjoy escaping into some fiction every now and again. I have resolved to be much better at updating my GoodReads profile! Follow along to see what I'm reading.

Everything I write, speak, teach about—telling stories, being honest and vulnerable, sharing openly and consistently, changing your internal stories to improve my life—are all of the things I struggle with the most. Still. Daily. But I am committed to keep telling them; to keep showing up anyway.

I hope, if you’re here, that means you are too.