A Day in the Life: Q+A with Jenny Patton

A native of California, I’ve fallen in love with Columbus, where I teach in the English department at The Ohio State University and lead yoga-writing workshops. An avid journaler since age seven, I feel the impulse to write is in my veins. As a reporter and copywriter, I wrote other people’s stories, but now I devote more of my writing time to essays, poems and first-person articles.

With my yoga peeps at a pre-pandemic breakfast at Annie’s Kitchen.

With my yoga peeps at a pre-pandemic breakfast at Annie’s Kitchen.

Morning

My morning ritual starts early. Between 5 and 7 a.m., I journal, practice yoga and meditate—a grounding routine that has helped me manage chronic illness and reset myself most days during the last 15 years. On Saturdays, I enjoy Terri Ward’s 10 a.m. class at Yoga Loft then catch up with my peeps over breakfast at Anne’s Kitchen or coffee at Dell’s.

With my sons Alex and Michael during a pre-pandemic trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia.

With my sons Alex and Michael during a pre-pandemic trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Afternoon

In the afternoons, I spend time with my students in professional writing classes and office-hour conversations at Ohio State or creative writing workshops at a men’s prison. During summer breaks, I enjoy traveling with my husband Robert and sons Michael and Alex, going on individual outings with my nine nieces and nephews, and having more time to dedicate to my freelance writing clients. 

Evening

If I’m not conducting a journaling workshop or at my monthly book group session, I hang out with Robert in the hot tub at our community gym—our version of cocktail hour. After dinner, we often watch foreign films or stream an episode of one of our favorite Nordic Noir television shows.

Check out Jenny’s journaling website, Journaling with Jenny!