Hi, I’m Tanya Lovetti

Right out of high school, I launched into an acting career. I went to Sheridan College for musical theatre, and so many other classes and workshops: Les Ballets Jazz, The Conservatory of Music, Equity Showcases etc. I love to learn all the time. And I love to work. On stage was exhilarating, but after about 6 years of performing, I came to find excitement and happiness off stage too - quietly writing by myself.

About 25 years ago, my parents bought me an electronic typewriter as a present. I started writing the very next day and produced my first screenplay in a matter of months. From that time forward, I wrote every day for many hours, no matter what. Writing quickly became my life.

Over the many years that followed, I wrote a number of screenplays, wrote and acted in a short film, and learned as much as I could from creative writing courses at the University of Toronto and Ryerson University. I read every book I could about writing and formatting screenplays and I read every screenplay I could get my hands on too. I was obsessed.

Eventually I scheduled everything around my writing - even work. I placed it above everything. I joined a screenwriters reading group, which was a blast. We would read each others scripts aloud from start to finish, so that each writer could hear any mistakes, differing interpretations, and stumbling blocks for themselves. It was a revealing, humbling, and wonderful way to learn.

TV writing seemed like a good next step, so I went to the Canadian Film Centre which was founded by Norman Jewison. There I met a fantastic LA based agent who took me on and, after I graduated from the TV Writing Programme, he put my scripts out into the world and my TV adventure began, which was both exciting and insane. When I got too sick to continue that career, I started to write novels and magazine articles. After I had written four novels, I found Story Grid and decided to become an editor as well. And that is when I finally learned all of the missing pieces that I needed to know about writing, most of which had to do with genre, structure and style.

I feel blessed today to be able to help others with their story struggles and challenges, as I am one of a very select group of Certified Story Grid Editors worldwide. I was personally trained and tested by Shawn Coyne, an extraordinary editor and mentor, with over 25 years’ experience in the "big 5" publishing houses (New York) and author of Story Grid: What Good Editors Know.

To me, this methodology is a game changer for writers. The tools are the most comprehensive I have ever used. It also blends well with other methodologies like the Hero’s Journey, so writers always feel that they are on familiar territory and that they don’t have to throw everything else they have learned away. In my humble opinion, there is no faster way to up-level a writer’s craft than to work with a Story Grid Editor.

Currently, I am writing the Story Grid Companion Guide to the wonderful Psychological Thriller Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and, although I love working with thriller writers, I find all the genres engaging and am eager to work with whatever you need help with. I am always working on my own stories too.

It brings me great joy to share what I have learned with others, as I know the pain of wanting to write better so badly, of wanting to know and understand the craft. Feel free to book a consultation with me anytime (below), so we can explore the difficulties you currently face.