INSTRUCTORS

Lisa Jakub
When did you first feel like a writer?
I first felt like a writer when I was six years old. I was always a sensitive kid and writing was the way I made sense of my life. Nothing felt real until I put letters and spaces to it. It’s how I celebrated and how I grieved, it’s how I figured out what I thought about the world. It would take about thirty more years until I felt comfortable calling myself a writer, but that six-year-old knew the real deal.
What's your philosophy about teaching a writing class?

I believe that what most often holds us back is ourselves. We stifle our innate talents because we are afraid. We’re afraid to fail or look silly and we’re terrified of dealing with our deepest demons. In my classes, I create a supportive, encouraging, and creative environment where students can feel free to explore their authentic voices. Throughout our lives, we get these messages that we need to be perfect and we are often striving to succeed on someone else’s terms. I ask my students what they would do if they were not afraid to fail?

If you could meet any fictional character, who would it be and why?

Owen from a Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. Owen is such a weirdo. I love weirdos, since I am one myself. I especially love the weirdos who have zero qualms about being themselves. I think Owen and I would get along quite well.

INSTRUCTOR BIO

Lisa Jakub is a writer, speaker, and writing teacher. She grew up in Hollywood, acting in more than forty movies and television shows, including Mrs. Doubtfire and Independence Day. At the age of twenty-two, Lisa realized she needed to find a path that felt more authentic to her. She left the film industry behind and moved to Virginia to search for a life with more passion, purpose, and happiness. Her memoir You Look Like That Girl was published last year and she currently working on a book about anxiety and depression.

WHAT WRITERHOUSE STUDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT LISA

“She was always giving. Absolutely outstanding!”

“Open, kind, relaxed, covered a lot of material, relevant, important, very interactive class, well-paced. She was a great teacher, encouraging practical conversation, talks and activities.”

“She was very good-clear and concise and interesting. She encouraged discussions instead of just lecturing. She had nice activities too.”