I remember the existential crisis that came promptly as I shelved my first work, a portal fantasy YA that was trope-laded and suffered from lumpy pacing. As proud as I was of that book--having garnered multiple #pitmad likes and several full requests--what worried me was not the shelving of my first completed novel. It was … Continue reading Writing the Book of Your Heart (Again)
National Novel Writing Month--what used to be a once-a-year event held annually in November--has morphed into three-times-a-year writing marathon months. Held in April, July, and November, that's a potential for 150,000 words done in the span of 90 days. Writer friends, that is an insane amount of words. Book genres range in word count, but … Continue reading How to win at NaNoWriMo
While I usually talk about writing tips, I'd like to spare a blog for a personal reason: fundraising for UHCCF. I'm working to raise $500 to participate on behalf of UHC's Children's Foundation in the 2021 runDisney Enchanted 10k. I've always wanted to run for a charity, but was afraid of the challenges: I run … Continue reading Running Just as Fast as I Can
I am always completely taken aback by the scale and breadth of Nashville's Southern Festival of Books. Put on by Humanities Tennessee (with a huge helping hand from Parnassus Books), I can always expect to find local authors, fan favorites, and food trucks. No event is complete in Nashville without a line of food trucks … Continue reading Southern Festival of Books 2019
Almost into August and I've done it. I've completed my 2019 Goodreads challenge! With my full-time day job, my attempts to stay physically active every day, and writing time set aside, I made the goal to read one book a month. At the time, it seemed lofty. All writers will tell you that you must … Continue reading All About Audiobooks
Simple answer: the sooner, the better. There are two types of writers when it comes to joining in with a community of other writers. There are those who join all the groups, ready to launch themselves head-first into networking and learning. And then there are twitter lurkers, like myself. And readers, there is NOTHING wrong … Continue reading When to Join a Writing Organization
You've chased your plot bunny straight down the rabbit hole and now you're wedged in there with no place to go. The narrative was so crisp in your mind when you hammered out that first 3,000 words. But now--maybe 10,000 words in--the words aren't flowing as quickly. It's been days without a new scene. You've … Continue reading Breaking Through Writer’s Block
#PitMad works! Let's start there. I stumbled onto #PitMad in early 2015, when I was in the process of writing my first novel. Reading through the various pitches inspired me to knuckle down and finish my manuscript. Two manuscripts and several #PitMads later, I got the Like that changed everything. I sent off my requested … Continue reading Preparing for #PitMad
For the past decade, I've balanced a creative day job with a creative night job. On the surface, it seems like a good thing. I like marketing and I like writing, and there's a lot of crossover between day and night jobs that would make you think I get to do what I love all … Continue reading Avoiding Burnout When You Work A Creative Day Job
We all know the cycle. Words are flowing, our plot is weaving together nicely, and we're starting to feel like maybe, just maybe, we're nailing it. Our writing is even, dare I say, good? And then comes the next bit, the part where we doubt everything about ourselves, our writing, and our future in publishing. … Continue reading Writing Through Imposter Syndrome
Brianna Lieberman 