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Writing gives me a place to explore freely, follow my curiosity, and turn the movies playing in my head into something tangible. On the page, I can build entire worlds, inhabit every character, and discover where the story wants to lead. Writing is both my creative outlet and the place where my imagination feels most alive. My storytelling journey began along the coast of South Carolina, where marshes, historic towns, family stories, and the region’s layered history helped shape my imagination. I’m deeply inspired by setting, not simply as a backdrop, but as a living force that influences the people within it. Marshes, old houses, forgotten towns, family legends, and places charged with memory often become the starting points for my work. I’m especially drawn to mysteries and coming-of-age stories in which ordinary characters encounter something extraordinary and emerge with a deeper understanding of themselves. I earned a bachelor’s degree in English Literature before completing a master’s degree in Creative Writing with a specialization in Screenwriting. My education deepened my understanding of character development, theme, story structure, and the relationship between a character’s internal transformation and the external events of a plot. I love analyzing why stories work, exploring philosophical questions, and building emotional arcs that challenge what a character believes about themselves, the people around them, and the world they inhabit. For me, every story is ultimately a study of character. My influences range from _Little Miss Sunshine_, _Fight Club_, _Forrest Gump_, _Harry Potter_, and _Pride & Prejudice_ to _Stranger Things_, _Never Have I Ever_, _The Gilded Age_, _Hacks_, and _Game of Thrones_. Although these stories differ widely in genre and scale, they share many of the qualities I’m most drawn to as a storyteller: complicated outsiders, unexpected humor, transformative journeys, sharp social observation, immersive worlds, and characters searching for meaning and connection. My current projects include the family fantasy-adventure pilot _Saltwind_, a quarterfinalist in the Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest; the Southern Gothic young-adult fantasy series _Deliquium_; the dark comedy feature _The Vagary_; and the teen comedy _Senior Assassins_, co-written with Steven Duffany. While each project occupies a distinct world, my stories often return to similar questions: How does the place we come from shape who we become? What do we inherit from our families? What happens when the familiar becomes mysterious? And how do we find humor, wonder, and connection when life refuses to follow the path we expected? Although I’m especially passionate about writing for younger audiences, my work spans fantasy, mystery, dark comedy, and heartfelt adventure. I want to create stories that take young characters seriously while preserving their wonder, humor, and capacity for transformation. Above all, I hope to tell layered, moving stories that linger with audiences, stories that invite reflection, inspire curiosity, and still know exactly when to make you laugh, because we all need a good laugh sometimes. As a script consultant, I enjoy helping other writers discover the strongest version of their stories. I bring a thoughtful, collaborative approach to character arcs, structure, theme, tone, and world-building while working to preserve each writer’s individual voice. I also love collaborating with other artists and discovering the unexpected ideas that emerge when different creative perspectives meet. To me, storytelling is deeply personal, but it becomes even more powerful when it creates a connection between people. I now live in Texas with my husband, our two sons, two dogs, and a lively assortment of ducks and geese. When I’m not writing, I can usually be found gardening, beekeeping, painting, experimenting in the kitchen, or disappearing into a good book, film, or television series. Follow me on social media or subscribe to my newsletter for updates on my latest projects, explorations of the writing craft, and glimpses into the wonderfully strange creative life behind the stories. [![FB21376A-2B40-42A0-95BE-FD1B923B74DF_1_105_c](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FB21376A-2B40-42A0-95BE-FD1B923B74DF_1_105_c-150x150.jpeg "FB21376A-2B40-42A0-95BE-FD1B923B74DF\_1\_105\_c")](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FB21376A-2B40-42A0-95BE-FD1B923B74DF_1_105_c.jpeg) [![660B5724-6054-4188-BC18-C62823FD8700](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/660B5724-6054-4188-BC18-C62823FD8700-150x150.jpeg "660B5724-6054-4188-BC18-C62823FD8700")](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/660B5724-6054-4188-BC18-C62823FD8700-819x1024.jpeg) [![685715DD-8956-4D11-9633-8E2FF1442644](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/685715DD-8956-4D11-9633-8E2FF1442644-150x150.jpeg "685715DD-8956-4D11-9633-8E2FF1442644")](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/685715DD-8956-4D11-9633-8E2FF1442644-819x1024.jpeg) [![6BF34D74-C2DA-49B9-B82A-5011C7CEAE64_1_105_c](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/6BF34D74-C2DA-49B9-B82A-5011C7CEAE64_1_105_c-150x150.jpeg "6BF34D74-C2DA-49B9-B82A-5011C7CEAE64\_1\_105\_c")](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/6BF34D74-C2DA-49B9-B82A-5011C7CEAE64_1_105_c.jpeg) [![1BADD0F8-5B3E-4974-BF51-941549116729_1_201_a](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/1BADD0F8-5B3E-4974-BF51-941549116729_1_201_a-150x150.jpeg "1BADD0F8-5B3E-4974-BF51-941549116729\_1\_201\_a")](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/1BADD0F8-5B3E-4974-BF51-941549116729_1_201_a-823x1024.jpeg) [![85E6AF48-1512-42E8-A2CD-166D81035B8F_1_105_c](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/85E6AF48-1512-42E8-A2CD-166D81035B8F_1_105_c-150x150.jpeg "85E6AF48-1512-42E8-A2CD-166D81035B8F\_1\_105\_c")](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/85E6AF48-1512-42E8-A2CD-166D81035B8F_1_105_c.jpeg) [![A420E91B-0C22-4399-8397-72CC3228E8B4_1_105_c](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/A420E91B-0C22-4399-8397-72CC3228E8B4_1_105_c-150x150.jpeg "A420E91B-0C22-4399-8397-72CC3228E8B4\_1\_105\_c")](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/A420E91B-0C22-4399-8397-72CC3228E8B4_1_105_c.jpeg) [![23C7FAB5-5453-4E6A-9813-9084D89904DA_1_105_c](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/23C7FAB5-5453-4E6A-9813-9084D89904DA_1_105_c-150x150.jpeg "23C7FAB5-5453-4E6A-9813-9084D89904DA\_1\_105\_c")](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/23C7FAB5-5453-4E6A-9813-9084D89904DA_1_105_c.jpeg) [![A576AF4F-12C9-4F8C-895F-4CB3CAF50F90_1_105_c](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/A576AF4F-12C9-4F8C-895F-4CB3CAF50F90_1_105_c-150x150.jpeg "A576AF4F-12C9-4F8C-895F-4CB3CAF50F90\_1\_105\_c")](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/A576AF4F-12C9-4F8C-895F-4CB3CAF50F90_1_105_c-683x1024.jpeg) [![72BACA8E-8E73-4FEE-9E15-713EA49454C3_1_105_c](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/72BACA8E-8E73-4FEE-9E15-713EA49454C3_1_105_c-150x150.jpeg "72BACA8E-8E73-4FEE-9E15-713EA49454C3\_1\_105\_c")](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/72BACA8E-8E73-4FEE-9E15-713EA49454C3_1_105_c.jpeg) ## Script Cookies ## [7 Screenwriting Books That Actually Made Me a Better Writer](https://jessifinnwilder.com/7-screenwriting-books-that-actually-made-me-a-better-writer/ "7 Screenwriting Books That Actually Made Me a Better Writer") By [Jessi Finn Wilder](https://jessifinnwilder.com/author/jessi-finn-wilder/ "Jessi Finn Wilder") | September 29, 2026 I have read a lot of books about screenwriting. Some were helpful. Some made writing feel approximately 400 times more complicated than it needed to be. These are the seven I actually come back to. I don’t think there is one “right” way to write a screenplay, and I definitely don’t follow every rule in […] ## [10 Mistakes New Screenwriters Keep Making](https://jessifinnwilder.com/10-mistakes-new-screenwriters-keep-making/ "10 Mistakes New Screenwriters Keep Making") By [Jessi Finn Wilder](https://jessifinnwilder.com/author/jessi-finn-wilder/ "Jessi Finn Wilder") | July 30, 2025 When I first started writing screenplays, I thought I needed to learn all the rules before I could be good at it. Where does the inciting incident go? How long should Act One be? How many pages should a screenplay be? Can I write “we see”? Can I use camera directions? And yes, you need […] [![The Tidal Method: A Story Structure That Flows with Emotion](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Codex-Image-Sep-29-2026-05_55_34-PM-200x300.png "The Tidal Method: A Story Structure That Flows with Emotion")](https://jessifinnwilder.com/the-tidal-method-a-story-structure-that-flows-with-emotion/ "The Tidal Method: A Story Structure That Flows with Emotion") # [The Tidal Method: A Story Structure That Flows with Emotion](https://jessifinnwilder.com/the-tidal-method-a-story-structure-that-flows-with-emotion/ "The Tidal Method: A Story Structure That Flows with Emotion") By [Jessi Finn Wilder](https://jessifinnwilder.com/author/jessi-finn-wilder/ "Jessi Finn Wilder") | April 22, 2025 Over time, I realized I needed a structure that focused less on hitting exact beats and more on following the emotional truth of a story. I didn’t want it to feel like I was filling in blanks or checking boxes. I wanted it to feel like movement. Like something alive. That’s where The Tidal Method […] ![1](https://jessifinnwilder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1.png "1") ## SEND A MESSAGE Your namePlease enter your name. Your emailPlease enter a valid email. Your messagePlease enter a message. Send Message Sent!Message failed. Please try again. - [Home](https://jessifinnwilder.com/ "Home") - [Subscribe](https://mailchi.mp/e0fc5a6c013a/newsletterjfw "Subscribe") - [Blog](https://jessifinnwilder.com/blog/ "Script Cookies") - [Privacy & Cookie Policy](https://jessifinnwilder.com/privacy-policy/ "Privacy Policy") - [Terms and Conditions](https://jessifinnwilder.com/terms-and-conditions/ "Terms and Conditions") - [Accessibility Statement](https://jessifinnwilder.com/accessibility-statement/ "Accessibility Statement") - [Contact](https://jessifinnwilder.com/#contact "Contact") Copyright © 2026 [Jessi Finn Wilder] | Powered by [Bleagolf] ## People - [Script Services by Jessi Finn Wilder | Feedback](https://jessifinnwilder.com/script-services/) ## Article - [7 Screenwriting Books That Actually Made Me a Better Writer - Jessi Finn Wilder](https://jessifinnwilder.com/7-screenwriting-books-that-actually-made-me-a-better-writer/) - [10 Mistakes New Screenwriters Keep Making - Jessi Finn Wilder](https://jessifinnwilder.com/10-mistakes-new-screenwriters-keep-making/) - [The Tidal Method: A Story Structure That Flows with Emotion](https://jessifinnwilder.com/the-tidal-method-a-story-structure-that-flows-with-emotion/) ## Other Pages - [Screenwriting Insights by Jessi Finn Wilder](https://jessifinnwilder.com/category/screenwriting/): Screenwriting insights from Jessi Finn Wilder: top books, common missteps, and the Tidal Method for writing with emotion. - [The Tidal Method: Screenwriting Structure with Emotion](https://jessifinnwilder.com/category/writing/): Explore The Tidal Method: a story structure that flows with emotion for screenwriters by Jessi Finn Wilder. - [Privacy Policy - Jessi Finn Wilder | Cookies & Data](https://jessifinnwilder.com/privacy-policy/) - [Projects by Jessi Finn Wilder – Screenplays](https://jessifinnwilder.com/projects/) - [Screenwriting Blog by Jessi Finn Wilder - Tips](https://jessifinnwilder.com/blog/): Jessi Finn Wilder’s screenwriting blog with craft tips, common mistakes, and the Tidal Method for emotive structure. - [Scripts I’m Reading by Jessi Finn Wilder | Blog](https://jessifinnwilder.com/scripts-im-reading/): Scripts I'm Reading by Jessi Finn Wilder - explore screenplays, blog insights, and updates with a cookie-friendly browsing experience. - [Terms & Conditions for Jessi Finn Wilder](https://jessifinnwilder.com/terms-and-conditions/) - [Accessibility Statement for Jessi Finn Wilder](https://jessifinnwilder.com/accessibility-statement/) - [Jessi Finn Wilder – Screenwriter & Script Consultant](https://jessifinnwilder.com/)