Interviewed By: Kylie Petrovich
Jennifer Chesak is known to many of us as the managing editor of SHIFT, but in fact, she boasts a large portfolio and wears many hats as an author, journalist, editor, and educator. Through this interview, we share more about our very own editor, Ms. Jennifer Chesak.
Chesak recently launched her book The Psilocybin Handbook for Women: How Magic Mushrooms, Psychedelic Therapy, and Microdosing Can Benefit Your Mental, Physical, and Spiritual Health (published by Ulysses Press). In a world where the medical community has often overlooked the unique needs of women, Chesak has taken it upon herself to shed light on a groundbreaking subject. Her book dives deep into psilocybin, more commonly known as “magic mushrooms” and its potential impact on the well-being of people assigned female at birth.
Chesak emphasizes the historical glossing over of women’s health. “Women were largely excluded from early-stage clinical trials until the 1990s,” she explains. As an example of the ramifications of that exclusion, Chesak notes the alarming fact that the first drug for male sexual dysfunction emerged 17 years before a comparable solution for women. “Disparities in women’s healthcare have left women seeking alternative solutions, such as psilocybin,” she says. Through her research, Chesak learned that more women use some psychedelics than men do. And while men often use psychedelics recreationally, many women use psychedelics to “self-treat,” she explains. For that reason, she expresses the importance of women having access to educational content on psychedelics. “The book provides accurate and responsible information on psilocybin and the context surrounding the female body,” she says, “because our bodies are not the same as the male body.”
Chesak’s experience as a reporter shaped her approach to writing her book. “I was able to lean on my journalism education and experience to dig into complex medical studies, interview the experts, weave in compelling personal narrative, provide accurate and responsible information, and present the information in an easy-to-read format,” she says. Her journalistic training also taught her to scrutinize her own writing, leaving no room for holes or inconsistencies. She organizes her thoughts and information to build “a completed puzzle from the pieces.”
Chesak is not only a skilled writer but she also has a passion for education. Ms. Chesak teaches in the journalism and publishing programs at Belmont University and mentors students in the MTSU Write program. “To be an effective educator,” she says, “an instructor must be all these things: informative, compassionate, engaging, and willing to learn themselves—both learning from their students and their industry.” These qualities also served Chesak during her book-writing journey. They allowed her to present complex information in an engaging way and remain humble in the face of new knowledge.
In addition to her impressive writing portfolio, Chesak operates Wandering in the Words Press, a manuscript editing company that helps authors transform their drafts into polished works ready for publication or for querying agents. The challenges she encounters in her editing work often revolve around managing expectations and ensuring authors understand the multifaceted nature of editing in the revision process. “I find it difficult when an author’s ego isn’t willing to take a step back and consider constructive feedback,” she says. “To me, a good writer is one who questions their own work, even long after the ink has dried, and their books are on the stands.”
Beyond her writing, educational, and editing endeavors, Chesak is an integral part of SHIFT, an anthology that showcases diverse works from around the world. Her role as managing editor for SHIFT aligns with her freelance editing work, though the nature of the editing is a bit different. “The roles differ in that when I’m working on SHIFT pieces,” she says, “they’ve been voted on by our reading committee and are relatively polished or they wouldn’t be accepted. When I am working with authors on a freelance basis, I generally receive work that requires a heavier editing hand. But I love working with authors on any level of polishing and helping them realize their potential.” Each volume of SHIFT centers around one chosen theme. Past themes have included religion, the pandemic, and climate change. An upcoming topic is identity. “I enjoy working with such a beautiful variety of works all centered around a strong theme,” she says. She also finds helping writers achieve their goals, such as having a publishing a piece, rewarding. Chesak embraces the opportunity that SHIFT provides to curate an anthology that tells a compelling story through a collection of works.
In her free time, Chesak enjoys reading, running, and gardening, all of which influence her writing. When confronted with writer’s block, “I tend to head for the trails” she says, “or I weed my garden.” These activities foster a wandering mind, which she says is “crucial for creativity.” By activating the brain’s default mode network, which is “a resting-state network of brain regions that work together,” she says, “we tend to have some of our most creative moments.” Ms. Chesak encourages all writers to find ways to activate this network, even if it is simply by doing mindless tasks such as laundry or doing the dishes. She is scheduled to teach a class on this via The Porch in early December, as people wrap up National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo.
For aspiring writers and journalists, Chesak offers valuable advice. Above all, she stresses the significance of reading extensively. “Read, read, and read your craft!” she says. “Analyze books, short stories, personal and reported essays, poems, news and feature articles, etc., to determine what works and what doesn’t.” Rather than avoiding the influence of other writers, she considers their work a “treasure trove of inspiration and a catalyst for perfecting your craft.” According to Chesak, writing is a lifelong learning process, and embracing the lessons that arise from reading and analyzing others’ works paves the way for growth. As a constant learner and advocate for the written word, Ms. Chesak serves as an inspiration to aspiring writers and journalists, reminding them to embrace the ever-evolving journey of honing their craft. You can find her work, events, classes, and more at jenniferchesak.com or follow her on social @jenchesak.
