The Plain Jane Project

08/12/2025

Choice in Storm

I choose to be happy, though storms fill my skies,
Though pain grips my body and tears flood my eyes.
Chronic illness is not something I sought,
And mental disorders are never self-bought.

Depression’s not sadness you shake in a day,
And OCD’s more than “I like things my way.”
BPD’s not just a temper that flares,
Anxiety’s more than occasional cares.

One dizzy spell isn’t the same as disease,
A moment of worry is not the unease
Of a mind that’s been trapped in a cycle so tight
That sleep becomes war and the day steals your light.

Some days I feel weak, every step like a chore,
Intrusive thoughts pounding, my heart waging war.
And yet I choose joy, not in spite, not because—
But because life still gifts me its moments to pause.

I’m breathing. I’m loved. I’m still here in this place,
And blessings like these are my anchor, my grace.
Happiness isn’t the end of the fight—
It’s a lantern I carry to guide me through night.

We all run a race, but our paths are not one,
Some start far ahead, some with weights to outrun.
Some leap over hurdles, some run without strain—
The race may be shared, but no two are the same.

So before you decide how another should be,
Or measure their worth by the things that you see,
Remember—our journeys are shaped by our start,
But we all share the same beating human heart.

08/12/2025

I choose happiness—not as a denial of pain, but as an act of resilience. Chronic illness is not a choice. Mental illness is not a choice. No amount of positive thinking can erase depression, obsessive and intrusive thoughts, the emotional dysregulation of BPD, or the physical grip of anxiety disorders.

Sadness is not the same as depression. Liking order is not OCD. Conflict is not BPD. Worry is not an anxiety disorder. Occasional symptoms do not always equal a diagnosis. Just as a moment of low blood sugar is not diabetes, there is a difference between temporary states and chronic conditions.

Living with multiple chronic illnesses—both physical and mental—is exhausting. Some days, I am weak, in pain, or overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts. Yet I still choose happiness, not in spite of these struggles and not because of them, but because I recognize the blessings in my life: I am alive, I am loved, and I am supported.

Happiness is both constrained and possible. I cannot “will away” my symptoms, but I can live meaningfully alongside them. Can I do everything someone without illness can? Perhaps, but with greater effort. We all run the same race, yet not from the same starting line—some begin ahead, others carry heavy burdens, and some face obstacles every few steps.

Before judging someone’s pace or capacity, remember: our paths differ, but our humanity is shared.

04/12/2025

The Plain Jane Promise
Hannah Jane Allison
A whisper of story, a flicker of flame,
A poem, a tale—etched with your name.
Not some book upon a distant shelf,
But words that echo your truest self.
You bring the spark, the seed, the thought,
A thread of gold, an aching, a plot—
And I, the pen, with care and grace,
Will give your vision time and space.
For I have written of silent cries,
Of stigma cloaked in soft disguise,
Of pain that blooms where no one sees,
Of hope that stirs on quiet breeze.
But now, I long for voices new,
For stories told in your own hue.
A graduate mind, a poet’s art,
A soul who listens with an open heart.
So send me your wishes, wild or wise,
A tale of stars, or lullabies—
A fight for truth, a gentle theme,
A love once lost, a daring dream.
And should you choose to hear it told,
With voice that's warm, and words that's bold—
I'll speak it too, so every line
Can echo back what's truly mine.
Let’s build a book that speaks of you,
Where every stanza feels like truth.
A partnership in prose and time—
Your story, shaped in rhythm and rhyme.

04/12/2025

Personalized Poetry, Stories, and Narratives — Written Just for You
From The Plain Jane Project
Have you ever wanted a custom-written novella, a collection of poems, or a short story crafted around a theme or topic you deeply care about?
Hi, I'm Jane — the writer behind The Plain Jane Project — and I’m offering a creative service that brings your ideas to life through poetry, prose, or narrative nonfiction tailored entirely to you.
This offering was inspired by my first manuscript, BPD: The Validation of Choosing to See — a project that explores the stigma surrounding borderline personality disorder and mental health. While it hasn’t reached a wide audience yet, I believe that's a reflection of how sensitive and often-avoided the topic still is. And that’s exactly why it needs to be talked about.
That experience led me to a new realization: I want to continue telling stories that matter — not just mine, but yours too. I want to gain more experience writing from diverse perspectives, and build a portfolio that includes work shaped in collaboration with others. And yes, like many creatives, I need to support myself along the way.
What You Can Order:
Whether you’re envisioning a heartfelt poem, a themed collection, a character-driven short story, or an in-depth narrative on a real-world issue, I’m here to make it happen.
Base Pricing (Includes PDF Format):
Single poem – $3
10–25 pages – $9
25–50 pages – $20
50–100 pages – $40
100–150 pages – $60
150+ pages – Starting at $100
Turnaround time: 5–10 days depending on topic, research, workload, and your feedback timeline.
You’ll receive a proposed outline within 48–72 hours of your request. One round of outline revisions is included. Additional revisions to the final draft are considered on a case-by-case basis and may incur a small fee, discussed ahead of time.
Add Personal Narration:
Prefer to listen? Every narrated project includes:
Your PDF manuscript!
An MP3 audio version, personally narrated by me!
My narration style is clear, grounded, and shaped to match the tone of your piece — whether it’s tender, powerful, reflective, or fierce.
Audio Package Pricing:
Single poem – $4
10–25 pages – $12
25–50 pages – $25
50–100 pages – $50
100–150 pages – $75
150+ pages – Starting at $120
Discounts and Publishing Opportunities:
20% off for works centered on:
Mental health, addiction, social work, stigma, or related social issues
50% off if you agree to have the final work published on my Gumroad page
(with the goal of transitioning to Books.by in the near future)
Why Work With Me?
I’m a graduate student with a focus on mental health, advocacy, and storytelling. This project is more than just writing — it’s about collaboration, creative dialogue, and giving your ideas space to unfold on the page.
If you're looking for something personal, meaningful, or simply one-of-a-kind, let’s create it together.
Reach out with your ideas, questions, or to see samples of my work. I'm excited to help bring your vision to life.

04/06/2025

Hey y'all, some of y'all have went to view my book on the gum Road website and had concerns about how downloading the PDF with the memory on your device. I wanted to share the following information with you. The summary is that there are two basic ways to access it, one requires while the other does not!

When you purchase a PDF book through Gumroad, you have two primary ways to access it:
1. Download to Your Device: After completing your purchase, Gumroad sends you an email receipt containing a “View content” button. Clicking this button directs you to the product’s download page, where you can download the PDF directly to your device for offline access. 
2. Access Online via Gumroad Library: If you create a Gumroad account using the same email address used for your purchase, all your acquisitions will be available in your Gumroad Library. This allows you to access your PDFs online at any time without needing to download them. 

If y'all have any further questions, please reach out!
Hannah Jane Allison

04/05/2025

💜 Breaking the Silence: Advocating for Mental Health Through Art 💜

"Hi, I’m Hannah Jane, founder of The Plain Jane Project, a mental health advocacy initiative using art to spark change. I’m now expanding my work by publishing a collection of poems and research on Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and the impact of stigma—a topic that affects countless lives. The first funds used to purchase the eBook (pdf) version will he used to publish the book on a platform that will allow for paperback copiess to be purchased!"

Happy birthday to creator Hannah Jane Allison!

Want to make her birthday extra special?? Head on over to her newly published manuscript page and check it out! Price is able to be set at what you think is fair, starting at 3.99!

Money will be used to help further her education in the field and to publish more books!

Thanks y'all!

04/04/2025

If you have a few minutes to spare, I would appreciate your time! At the end of this video, I will read the beginning of my upcoming book as well as a couple of poems to give you some insight into its contents!
***ALL poems within this video are subject to copyright laws and are the ownership of the author. They may not be shared or reproduced in any manner without the express consent of the author, Hannah Jane Allison. Thank you.***

04/04/2025

💜 Breaking the Silence: Advocating for Mental Health Through Art 💜

Hi, I’m Hannah Jane, founder of The Plain Jane Project, a mental health advocacy initiative using art to spark change. I’m now expanding my work by publishing a collection of poems and research on Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and the impact of stigma—a topic that affects countless lives.

To self-publish, I’m using Books.by, a more reader-friendly platform than Amazon KDP, with a $100 startup cost. However, due to an unexpected move and internship expenses, I need support to make this happen.
💜 No donation is too small! If just 1/5 of my 500 Facebook friends gave $1, it would be enough! Every contribution helps bring this project to life, break stigma, and create real change.
Thank you for being part of this journey! 💜
✨ Special Thank-You Gifts for Your Support! ✨
Every single contribution—no matter how small—means the world to me, and I want to give back in a meaningful way!
💜 Donate ANY amount – Receive a personalized poem from me about mental health awareness as a token of gratitude.
💜 Donate $5 or more – Get TWO personalized poems: one about mental health advocacy and one on any topic of your choice!
💜 Donate $20 or more – You’ll receive both personalized poems PLUS your name will be featured in the thank-you credits of my book, forever recognizing you as a supporter of this mission! (If you’d prefer to remain anonymous, just let me know—we’ll make it work!)

Your generosity helps bring this project to life, and I’m so incredibly grateful for your support!

💜 Every Contribution Makes a Difference! 💜
Every dollar given supports The Plain Jane Project, my mental health advocacy outreach, with 100% transparency. Once the $100 goal to publish is met, any additional funds will go toward marketing the book and expanding mental health advocacy efforts.
To keep everything open and accountable, I’ll provide a full donation report on 4/11/25, detailing exactly how every dollar is used.

Thank you for being part of this mission! Together, we’re breaking stigma and creating change. 💜
💜 Support The Plain Jane Project 💜
Your support helps us break the stigma around mental health and create change through art and advocacy. You can contribute in any way that’s easiest for you:
✨ Cash App: $theplainjaneproject
✨ Chime: $theplainjaneproject
✨ PayPal:

Thank you so much for your support!
With much love for all,
The Plain Jane Project
HHannah Jane Allison

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