Book Talk Unplugged

One of the most common fears writers have is this:

“I don’t think I have a voice yet.”

Here’s the truth most people won’t tell you:

You already do. You just haven’t stopped trying to sound like someone else long enough to hear it.

Your writing voice isn’t something you invent. It’s something you uncover.

And the harder you force it, the quieter it becomes.

🌱 What “Writing Voice” Actually Is

Your writing voice is the mix of:

how you think

how you notice things

how you feel about the world

how those things show up on the page

It’s not:

fancy words

perfect prose

sounding “like a writer”

Voice shows up in:

what you linger on

what frustrates you

what softens you

what you say plainly instead of poetically

If your writing feels stiff, it’s usually because you’re performing instead of communicating.

🚫 Why Forcing a Voice Never Works

When you try too hard to “sound right,” you often:

over-edit

delete anything too honest

avoid simple language

write what you think readers expect

That distance shows.

Readers don’t connect to perfection. They connect to presence.

✍️ Write Like You Speak (At First)

Try this:

Write one paragraph like you’re texting a friend about your idea.

No metaphors. No cleverness. Just honesty.

Then clean it up without removing the personality.

Your real voice lives in:

sentence fragments

emphasis

pauses

the way you explain things when you care

You can polish later. Let yourself be human first.

🔍 Notice What You Repeat

Your voice leaves patterns behind.

Look at your past writing and ask:

Do I ask a lot of questions?

Do I lean gentle, sarcastic, or blunt?

Do I explain through emotion or examples?

Do I circle ideas before landing on them?

Those aren’t mistakes. They’re fingerprints.

Stop editing them out. Start leaning in.

📚 Stop Comparing Drafts to Finished Work

You’re comparing:

your raw, unedited drafts to

someone else’s polished, curated final piece

Of course your writing feels “wrong” by comparison.

Voice doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from volume.

Write more. Judge less.

💬 Let Yourself Have Opinions

Your voice grows stronger when you allow yourself to:

take a stance

say “this didn’t work for me”

admit uncertainty

care openly

Neutral writing is forgettable writing.

You don’t have to be controversial—just specific.

🕯️ Trust Consistency Over Confidence

You don’t have to feel confident for your voice to exist.

Voice comes from:

showing up

writing through doubt

leaving imperfect sentences on the page

Confidence comes after the evidence.

🌙 Final Thought

You don’t find your writing voice because it isn’t lost.

You stop silencing it.

Every time you choose:

honesty over polish

simplicity over sounding impressive

curiosity over certainty

your voice gets clearer.

Let it be awkward. Let it evolve. Let it belong to you.

That’s the part readers recognize—and remember.

Happy writing,

For a long time, I thought there was a right way to be a writer.

I pictured writers as people who woke up early, wrote every day, never doubted themselves, and somehow always knew what they were doing. I believed that if writing felt hard, it meant I wasn’t cut out for it.

It took years—and many unfinished drafts—to realize how many writing myths I had internalized.

Here are the biggest ones I had to unlearn.

📌 Myth #1: Real Writers Write Every Day

This myth almost burned me out.

Consistency matters—but daily writing isn’t the only valid way to be a writer. Life changes. Energy shifts. Some seasons are for creating, others are for resting or learning.

Writing regularly matters more than writing daily.

📌 Myth #2: You Have to Feel Inspired to Start

I used to wait for inspiration like it was permission.

The truth? Inspiration usually shows up after you start writing. Some of my best work came from days I felt tired, unmotivated, or unsure.

Start first. Motivation follows.

📌 Myth #3: If Writing Is Hard, You’re Doing It Wrong

I thought good writing was supposed to be easy.

It’s not.

Writing is hard because it asks you to translate thoughts, emotions, and images into words. Struggle doesn’t mean failure—it means you’re doing real work.

Hard ≠ wrong.

📌 Myth #4: You Must Finish Everything You Start

For a long time, I felt guilty about abandoned drafts.

But not every idea is meant to be finished. Some exist to teach you something. Some help you grow. Some simply run out of energy.

You’re allowed to walk away.

📌 Myth #5: First Drafts Should Sound Polished

This myth kept me stuck for years.

First drafts are allowed to be messy. Awkward. Bad. They’re not meant to be perfect—they’re meant to exist.

Editing is where the magic happens.

📌 Myth #6: Other Writers Know What They’re Doing

They don’t.

Every writer struggles with doubt, comparison, and fear. Confidence doesn’t come from having it all figured out—it comes from continuing anyway.

No one is secretly doing this “right.”

🌱 What Unlearning These Myths Gave Me

Letting go of these beliefs didn’t make writing easier—but it made it kinder.

I write with less pressure now. I start without certainty. I allow my process to change. And most importantly, I enjoy writing again.

If you’re stuck or discouraged, it might not be your skill that needs fixing.

It might just be a myth you’re ready to unlearn.

Happy writing,

Brittany.

There’s been a lot of discourse in writing spaces about AI. Is it cheating? Is it lazy? Is it going to replace writers?

Short answer: no. Longer answer: AI is a tool — and like any tool, it’s only as good as the person using it.

And, honestly, I use it all the time to help me revise blog posts and chapters.

If you’re a writer, AI doesn’t have to be the enemy. It can actually make the creative process easier, faster, and less overwhelming without stripping away what makes your work yours.

Here’s how.

Use AI to Brainstorm When You’re Stuck

Writer’s block usually isn’t about having no ideas — it’s about having too many and not knowing which way to go.

AI works great as a brainstorming partner when you need:

plot twist ideas

alternative character motivations

theme exploration

metaphors that aren’t the same five everyone uses

You’re not copying. You’re sparking.

Use AI to Spot Story Problems You Can’t See

When you’ve reread a chapter ten times, everything starts to blur.

AI can help identify:

pacing issues

dropped tension

unclear character goals

scenes that exist but don’t do anything

Think of it like a beta reader who responds instantly.

Using AI to Edit Chapters (Without Losing Your Voice)

This is one of the most useful ways to use AI — and one of the most misunderstood.

AI doesn’t have to rewrite your chapter. It can help you refine it.

Try using it for:

clarity checks (“Where is this confusing?”)

emotional impact (“Does this scene land?”)

pacing (“Where does the tension drop?”)

dialogue flow (“Does this sound natural?”)

You can even ask for voice-preserving edits, like:

“Rewrite this paragraph while keeping my tone intimate and slightly sarcastic.”

You decide what stays. AI just offers options.

Use AI as a Drafting Companion (Not a Ghostwriter)

Fully AI-written chapters tend to feel hollow — because they are.

But AI can help you:

turn bullet points into rough scenes

explore alternate versions of a moment

get unstuck by producing a bad draft you can fix

AI gives you clay. You sculpt.

Use AI to Strengthen Language and Rhythm

When a sentence feels off but you can’t explain why, AI can help by offering variations:

tighter

softer

more emotional

more lyrical

more tense

You pick what fits your voice.

Use AI for the Boring Stuff

Not all writing is creative.

AI is great for:

chapter summaries

character sheets

timeline cleanup

continuity checks

formatting

Let the tool handle the chores so your brain can focus on the story.

Use AI as a Learning Tool

You can ask AI why something works:

why a scene feels flat

how tension escalates in romance

what makes a villain sympathetic

how pacing shifts in strong chapters

It’s like a craft tutor that explains things in plain language.

Your Voice Is the Point

AI is powerful — but it isn’t human.

It can help you:

brainstorm

draft

revise

edit

learn

But it can’t replace lived experience, emotional truth, or the way you see the world.

Readers come for your voice. AI just helps you amplify it.

Happy writing,

Writer’s block isn’t you failing. It’s your brain buffering.

Let’s fix that.

Why You’re Stuck

1. You don’t know what happens next. Your brain can’t write the scene if it can’t see it.

2. You’re expecting perfection. Instant perfection = instant paralysis.

3. You’re writing the wrong thing. If it feels like dragging concrete, your brain is saying “nope.”

4. You’re tired, not blocked. Exhaustion looks exactly like writer’s block.

How to Unstick Yourself

• Lower the bar. Write something messy on purpose.

• Skip to the fun part. Write the scene you want to write.

• Five-minute sprint. Just five minutes. That’s it.

• Change the medium. Phone notes. Paper. Voice memo. Anything different.

• Ask: “Why now?” If the scene changes nothing, your brain refuses to write it.

• Refill the well. Read, walk, vibe, breathe.

• Talk it out. Explain the stuck part to someone. Clarity = unlocked.

The Truth

Writer’s block isn’t a wall. It’s a message.

Listen to it, and the words come back.

Happy writing,

📚 Why Banned Books Still Matter

Every year, the conversation about banned books gets louder — and honestly, that’s a good thing. What used to be the occasional challenge to a “controversial” title has become a cultural battleground over who gets to tell their stories… and who doesn’t.

🔥 Book Bans Are on the Rise

Despite sounding like something from decades ago, book bans are still happening right now. Schools and libraries across the U.S. are seeing an increase in challenges, especially toward books that:

center LGBTQ+ characters

discuss race and identity

confront history honestly

deal with mental health

or simply make certain people uncomfortable

Banning a book doesn’t make it disappear. If anything, it highlights exactly why the story matters.

📖 Why Books Get Banned

Books are often challenged because they tackle topics people consider “sensitive.” But the truth is, the reasons books get banned tell us more about society’s fears than about the books themselves.

Stories aren’t dangerous. Silencing them is.

🪞 Banned Books Are Mirrors and Windows

For some readers, banned books are the first time they’ve ever seen themselves in a story. For others, banned books show them lives and experiences they’ve never encountered.

That mix of recognition + empathy? That’s exactly why these books end up on ban lists — and exactly why they’re essential.

Reading banned books helps us:

think critically

challenge bias

build empathy

explore tough subjects safely

grow

Books make us better humans. Period.

⚡ The Paradox of the Ban

Here’s the wild part:

When a book gets banned… more people read it.

It becomes an act of resistance, of curiosity, of reclaiming the right to think for ourselves. Reading a banned book is a reminder that the freedom to read is the freedom to learn.

📚 Want to Support Banned Books?

Here are simple ways you can make a difference:

Check banned books out from your library

Buy challenged titles from indie bookstores

Support educators + librarians speaking up

Share banned book recommendations online

Read them with your friends, kids, or book club

Every time you read a banned book, you’re sending the message:

Stories matter. Voices matter. Freedom matters.

✨ Popular Banned Books to Start With

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian — Sherman Alexie

The Hate U Give — Angie Thomas

Gender Queer — Maia Kobabe

The Bluest Eye — Toni Morrison

All Boys Aren’t Blue — George M. Johnson

Speak — Laurie Halse Anderson

The Handmaid’s Tale — Margaret Atwood

Happy writing & reading,

For years, fanfiction lived in the quiet corners of the internet — hidden forums, obscure archives, late-night scrolling sessions. Now? It’s everywhere.

Fanfiction isn’t just a hobby anymore. It’s modern mythmaking — a collective, evolving way of storytelling that echoes the oldest traditions of human creativity.

Mythmaking Isn’t New — But Who Gets to Do It Has Changed

Long before books or streaming platforms, stories were told by communities. Heroes, gods, legends — passed around, reshaped, rewritten.

Sound familiar?

Fanfiction does the same thing. Instead of storytellers around a fire, we have tags, comment threads, and endless AUs. And the best part? Anyone can participate.

Fanfiction as a Cultural Mirror

Fanfic doesn’t just rewrite canon — it reveals what readers actually want.

Reclaiming representation. Fixing injustice. Exploring the what-ifs canon was too scared to touch.

From queer reinterpretations to “this character deserved better” arcs, fanfiction lets communities reshape stories into something more resonant.

The Internet as a Digital Campfire

One reason fanfiction feels mythic is because it’s built on community.

Readers writing essays in the comments. Writers updating at 2 a.m. because inspiration struck. Fandoms collectively deciding what becomes iconic.

Canon is just the spark. Fandom is the flame.

When Fanfiction Becomes Mainstream

It’s no secret anymore:

Bestsellers started as fanfic.

Publishers scout Wattpad.

Tropes born in fanfiction now dominate entire genres.

Fanfiction hasn’t just influenced mainstream storytelling — it’s become a roadmap for what readers crave.

Why Fanfiction Feels Like Myth

Myths grow because communities reshape them. So does fanfiction.

Both thrive on:

Transformation. Collective ownership. Emotional resonance.

Fanfic isn’t derivative — it’s participatory mythology.

The Future Is Collaborative

As online storytelling grows, worlds will be built by many voices, not one. Canon will be a starting point, not the endpoint.

Fanfiction already shows us what that future looks like.

Final Thought

Fanfiction puts storytelling back where it belongs: In the hands of the people who love it most.

Stories have always belonged to all of us. Fanfiction just makes that impossible to ignore.

Happy writing,

Your story feels… off? Dragging? Flat? Don’t panic. Almost every writer hits this wall. Often, it’s not the words—it’s the invisible structure under your story. Here’s a gentle tough-love diagnostic:

🎯 1. Goal Clarity

If your protagonist’s goal is fuzzy, your readers drift.

What does your character really want?

Why should we care?

Can it fit in one punchy sentence.

Tighten that goal—it’s your story’s engine.

⚡ 2. Stakes Visibility

Stakes = what’s at risk. Not just life-or-death—think emotional, relational, personal.

What will your character lose if they fail?

Can the reader feel the tension?

Raise the stakes, even subtly, and your story will pop.

🔗 3. Scene Logic

Every scene should:

Reveal character

Advance plot

Raise stakes

If it doesn’t, it’s dead weight. Cut, combine, or rewrite.

💔➡️💖 4. Emotional Arc

Readers follow who your character becomes, not just what happens. Make sure inner highs and lows match plot twists. Conflict drives connection.

🚀 5. Small Fixes, Big Impact

Spot the invisible cracks? Small tweaks—tight goals, higher stakes, clearer scene logic—can transform your story.

Think of it like a house: fix the foundation, and suddenly the walls stand tall.

✅ Quick Structure Checklist for Writers

Goal: 🎯

Stakes: ⚡

Scene Logic: 🔗

Emotional Arc: 💔➡️💖

I hope this helps you in all your writing endeavors. Remember that there is no such thing as bad writing. You got this. I believe in you.

Happy writing,