The Magic of Putting Pen to Paper: How Writing Opened My World @JaneBertch

LUCY BURDETTE: Today I’m so pleased to welcome my friend Jane Bertch back to the blog. You may remember that she moved to Paris from Chicago via London and founded the very popular La Cuisine Paris. Then she wrote a wonderful memoir about the project, The French Ingredient, and now she has a new adventure beginning— a podcast, a newsletter, and a series of retreats in Paris focused on creativity. 

JANE BERTCH: There’s something magical about putting pen to paper. And what I’ve found, through my writing journey, is that the simple act of writing can open you to versions of yourself you never even knew existed. 

When I first began writing, it wasn’t with grand ambition—it was during a difficult time when I needed a distraction. I needed to reconnect and speak with myself. To listen to what I needed to say, I started writing, not for anyone else, but for myself. To explore my thoughts. To give shape to feelings that were difficult to name. To test my voice. It was clumsy and frustrating, but at the same time exhilarating. 

That quiet practice of self-connection blossomed into something bigger. I wrote a book. It felt like the boldest thing I’d ever done—exposing my thoughts, my voice, and my vulnerability to the world. But something magical happened: people responded. They didn’t just read—they reached out. They shared their stories. I soon realized that the beauty of human connection is that when I dared to share my story, I quickly recognized it is a shared story—it soon became ‘our’ story. 

Writing gave me more than clarity—it gave me connection and community.

Through the book, I found my community: women, creators, and thinkers who needed to be reminded that at any age, no matter the circumstances, anything is possible. Sharing my voice, as imperfect as it may be, allowed others to share theirs. That connection became so meaningful that I wanted to keep it going. So, I launched a personal newsletter—separate from my business—to continue testing and refining my voice and, most importantly, to nurture and build connections. I found freedom in writing more personally and now relish a space where my vulnerability and curiosity can exist openly, basking in the light of day rather than remaining in the recesses of my mind.

But it didn’t stop there. Writing not only helped me find others—it made me realize I wanted to build a community with them. To create a deeper space for authenticity, which then led me to dream of an entirely new business. One that would be a new chapter of my life – or as I like to say, another petal on my flower.  The idea of GenerateHER retreats was born— a dream to focus on cultivating real community. A place where women can come together and remind themselves of the wonderfully creative and courageous beings they are.

All of this—just from daring to put pen to paper.

So, writing is more than a tool – it’s a key to a new door waiting to be opened. It’s how we meet ourselves, and often, how we meet each other.

So the next time you pick up that pen, just imagine what new, beautiful community you might meet along the way. You might just uncover someone very special amongst them….a new version of you!

You can learn more about Jane here.

About La Cuisine Paris:  

La Cuisine Paris is a French culinary school in the heart of Paris. With a team of classically trained French chefs, we offer cooking classes and food tours in English. We welcome visitors from all over the world with the focus of sharing food and culture.