Giving heartbreak somewhere creative to go
Break Your Heart Open is about journaling the art of transforming the broken heart, with artists, music and each other.
From The Love Story to Break Your Heart Open
- 2016
The Love Story is founded
Mingjie Zhai founds The Love Story Media, Inc., a nonprofit that brings people together through artist interviews, live showcases, inspired journaling and opportunities to share personal writing.
- 2018
Break Your Heart Open begins
BYHO starts as a nonprofit initiative, bringing art, storytelling and guided journaling together around heartbreak and grief.
- Pilots
Ten pilot sessions
Mingjie hosts five in-person and five virtual pilot sessions, shaping the format of listening, writing and optional sharing.
- Next
For us, by us
The next stage is community-powered and locally organized: sessions that grow through local artists who bring their work and hosts who open their spaces.
Mingjie Zhai
Founder, The Love Story · Creator, Break Your Heart Open · Educator & Author
Mingjie Zhai is a nonprofit founder, educator, published author and entrepreneur dedicated to helping people transform heartbreak into creative expression and connection.
At the heart of her work is Journal-Artism: a practice of turning personal experience into fiction and creative expression. Her work with Break Your Heart Open builds on that foundation, bringing together art, storytelling and guided journaling to create opportunities for reflection and community.
Mingjie brings 13 years of teaching experience and 10 years of entrepreneurship to designing accessible learning experiences, leading volunteers and developing mission-driven programs. As the author of The Producer’s Playbook, she connects her experience as an educator and creative entrepreneur with her commitment to helping others find and express their voices.
- Master’s in Secondary Education
- California Single Subject Teaching Credential in English
- Founder of The Love Story Media, Inc. (2016)
- Author of The Producer’s Playbook
Help it grow where you live
Sessions happen when local people make them happen. Join the waitlist, or tell us you’d like to perform or host.