It's possible that Janie confided in a trusted neighbor or a coworker. Maybe she needed someone outside of her immediate circle to listen and offer a fresh perspective.
Janie told her second adventure story to the local librarian, Mr. Brown. He was always full of knowledge and had a great interest in stories from all over. Janie thought he would appreciate her adventure story.
It could be that Janie tells her story to a journal. Writing in a journal is like talking to an invisible friend. She can pour out all her thoughts and feelings without any judgment. This way, she can also keep her story private while still getting it out of her system.
In 'Their Eyes Were Watching God', Janie tells her story to her friend Pheoby. Pheoby is a good listener and provides a sympathetic ear for Janie. Janie feels comfortable sharing her life experiences, her joys, and her sorrows with Pheoby. Through their conversations, Janie is able to reflect on her life journey, especially her relationships with different men, like Logan Killicks, Jody Starks, and Tea Cake. Pheoby's presence allows Janie to not only tell her story but also to make sense of it all in the end.
Attean might have told the story of Robinson Crusoe to his childhood companions while they were gathered around a campfire. Or he could have confided it to an elder who appreciated his storytelling skills.
There's no specific person named Janie that it's based on exactly. She is more of a fictional character created to represent victims of abuse in general.