Meet Renna Nightingale | Book Coach | Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Renna Nightingale and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Renna, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My genetic makeup is entirely comprised of stories. I have dedicated my whole life to stories; whether telling them, writing them, reading them, acting in them, or coaching others to tell them. Stories are the way humanity comprehends the world, connects with others, and processes the upsets in our plot lines by turning them into cathartic victories.

I have been a professional actor since the tender age of 8 years old. While other kids were playing soccer and swinging on monkey bars, I was acting out Judy Garland films and traveling to my next audition! My incredibly supportive mother drove me all across Southern California to find me the best opportunities, for which I am so grateful. I’ve lived the most magical adventures all over the world. I’ve worked with Oscar and Tony Award winners. I’ve “flipped my fins” and practiced “Brave” archery as a lead vocalist at Hong Kong Disneyland for over a year. I’ve performed my own cabaret show for Royal Caribbean on the high seas. I’ve brought classics to life onstage and breathed life into new works. You’ve likely seen my face on the big screen as well as the one in your living room.

And all the while, I was learning the craft of storytelling. From studying character arcs to digging deep into subtext, I was working to become a master of the art of story. In college, I earned a BFA in Acting for the Stage and Screen, but also a minor in screenwriting. There, my eyes were opened to the other side of storytelling: not just the interpreting, but also the creation of it. I became obsessed.

I wrote ceaselessly, in many different modes. I wrote spoken word poetry to be performed for corporate events and church services. I created video scripts for online content. I scribed curriculum and marketing copy as well as screenplays and stage plays until finally, one day, I decided to write a book.

This book entitled “Hack Your Acting Audition” focuses on the mental health side of auditioning before, during, and after the audition. I’ve read a million books on acting techniques, but I’ve yet to find resources that helped me to healthily process what can be a terrifying business. You are expected to vulnerably and continuously lay your art out for a production team over and over and over, only to be told, “You’re too tall, you’re too short; you’re too old, you’re too young, you’re too [insert adjective here].” So often, actors are framed as hungry beggars, approaching each opportunity with desperation. We are told, “There are a million more of you.” Needless to say, it can be soul-crushing without the proper mindset!

I wanted to be a voice that said, “Hey, there’s a healthy way to handle all of this. You are not a victim of your passion; you are the victor.”

I am so proud of that book! I published it on Amazon in May of 2023 and watched it skyrocket to #1 in its category! I immediately got to work on my next project, a book that will be released in summer of 2024. This work is called “Public Speaking as Storytelling.” I studied the impact storytelling has on the brain and discovered that storytelling fights stage fright and also helps audience members retain and implement information. The book breaks down how to create a killer speech that overrides the fear of public speaking while captivating an audience.

As I was regaling my friends with my writing and publishing journey, I had a friend share that she had always dreamt of publishing a book, but she didn’t know where to start. Fireworks literally (OK, metaphorically!) went off inside my brain! I knew exactly how she could start—and I also knew exactly how to help her see this dream through.

Coaching my friend ignited a fresh passion: empowering and equipping others to tell their stories! And behold, my company, Plot Twist Studios was born. I take my clients from page 1 to published. They share their book idea, and I help them untangle their thought knots until we solidify their book concept with themes, metaphors, and structure. I meet with them weekly as they birth a first draft, then refine it into second and third drafts, and then match them with a graphic designer and editor. Finally, I lead them through the self-publishing process! We celebrate that a dream has become a reality.

My job as a book coach is to be the hybrid of a Jedi master and a cheerleader. Nothing brings me more joy than illuminating the potential in each client. Together, we process the moments in their life that have sparked the idea for their book. We examine events and find the threads of truth that tie them together. Watching clients extract empowerment from their stories is beyond fulfilling. When one person decides to own her story, she inspires her entire community. It is literally life-changing work!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Plot Twist Studios isn’t like a regular coaching biz—we’re a cool coaching biz (shoutout to “Mean Girls” fans!). Plot Twist Studios is unique in that it’s a one stop shop. Elsewhere, you can find a life coach who encourages you to write a book before directing you to a writing coach, then you can find an editor, then you search for a graphic designer, before enrolling in a publishing class to figure out how to finally share your book with the world.

Or, you can allow me to lead you through every next step and walk alongside you.
Most writers have beautiful fragments of ideas and drafts sitting on their desktops and scrawled on napkins and hidden away in notebooks. Figuring out the first step to the gargantuan process of writing a book, let alone publishing it, is daunting! I know the stress, turmoil, fear, and frustration of not knowing where to begin. I felt stuck for so long staring at a Word document, wondering if my thoughts would ever go beyond my laptop!

Further, this journey is a long one. When no one is demanding deadlines to be reached, what’s to keep you pursuing your book writing dream? A big part of my business is providing the accountability necessary to reach the finish line. Plot Twist Studios extends far beyond our weekly one-hour coaching call. I find such joy in tailoring accountability to each client’s needs. They write on a Google doc so I can provide feedback in real time, and I always ask how I can support them the following week. She needs a pep talk via text twice a week? Done. He’s stuck on that one paragraph and needs a thought partner? I’ve got you.
Further, I work with each client to identify the “why” behind their project. Getting specific about a client’s unique purpose–their why– is what compels them to harness the grit to persevere and finally do the dang thing: finish their book!
Providing every step, from page 1 to published, is my secret sauce for taking this dream from possibility to published, from outline to online, and turning “someday” into “launch day.”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ironically, my bestie is visiting me soon for the first time–she hails from the UK, so I’m thrilled to share some highlights of our itinerary!

You’ll find us soaking up the sun on Balboa Island while munching on a famed Balboa bar (a sugary treat made of vanilla ice cream, hand-dipped in chocolate and then coated in the toppings of your dreams)! Strolling the 1 mile island and admiring the waterfront houses is definitely a pastime of mine.

Another full day will be dedicated to Santa Monica, beginning at my favorite place in the world, the Getty Center. There, I’ll take her straight to the art museum’s impressionist wing so we can stare at Van Gogh’s irises and Monet’s cathedrals. We’ll grab an iced coffee and finish our time at the Getty Center with a stroll in the garden. Since she’s from out of the country, we’ll have to hit Santa Monica Pier and enjoy the rides before grabbing another coffee at the famed and philanthropic La La Land. We’ll rent some scooters and buzz around town to enjoy the classic sunset ocean views before grabbing dinner at my favorite So-Cal family-owned Italian place, Fritto Misto.

My best friend and I met while working together at Hong Kong Disneyland, so we’ll definitely be paying homage to the Mouse, with a day in each park (Disneyland and California Adventure).

We’re not done yet! I’m excited for a little road trip to Palm Springs for a sparkling brunch (bottomless mimosas, anyone?!), visit to the Living Desert, and enjoy stunning views from the top of the Aerial Tramway!

Lastly, I can’t wait to take her to the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanic Gardens in the Pasadena area where all of the magnolias, camellias and flowering fruit trees are in bloom. The colors are jaw-dropping, and no visit is complete without a stroll in the Chinese garden!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to give a shoutout to my mom, Karen! Here is a perfect memory that encapsulates my mother as a person: I had an audition in which I needed to know how to roller skate, even though I’d never skated in my life! Instead of just buying one pair of roller skates, my mom bought two! One for me, and one for herself, because she was determined to metaphorically and literally skate right along next to me. She has been my constant support, cheerleader, adventure buddy and true north. I am so grateful for her larger-than-life spirit, generosity, wisdom and love! My dad, Tom, and brother, Tommy, also get varsity jackets for their endless support and enduring hundreds of performances as well as their willingness to lend help in practicing my lines for an audition or proofreading that day’s current draft!

Additionally, I am blessed to have two mighty mentors in my life: Allison Schrader and Kathy Roberts. Both of these women have shepherded me in my faith, always leading me back to truth. When I was making choices that didn’t align with the person I wanted to be, they each called me home. I will be forever thankful!

Last but not least, my incredible boyfriend, Michael Salazar, is a constant inspiration and giant advocate for my business! He has cheered me on from day one and helped me to deftly sculpt the vision of what Plot Twist Studios will become. He is my partner in all things and it is his smile that fuels my fire to empower storytellers!

Website: www.plottwiststudios.net

Instagram: @rennaissance

Other: Amazon: Hack Your Acting Audition, upcoming: Public Speaking As Storytelling

Image Credits
The headshots (the striped shirt, and purple and purple backgrounds) were taken by Huebner Headshots.