by Kelly Branyik | Jan 22, 2026 | Writing
Before I talk about Shadows in Dream Stone, I want to say this clearly: I didn’t write this book to be shocking for the sake of shock. I didn’t write it to provoke outrage, or to punish readers, or to make myself look brave. I wrote it because I was angry. Because I...
by Kelly Branyik | Oct 15, 2025 | Writing
Most self-published authors don’t struggle because their books aren’t good. They struggle because no one can find them. Between confusing marketing advice from all directions, burnout from social media, and the myth that you just need to “write the next book,”...
by Kelly Branyik | Sep 15, 2025 | Writing
Do you love listening to music when you write? The right playlist can completely change your writing session—it can calm distractions, steady your focus, or even set the mood for the story you’re trying to tell. But with so many options out there, how do you know...
by Kelly Branyik | May 24, 2024 | Writing
Unpublish a book? But you worked so hard on it! That’s the voice that pounds in my head each time I look at this beautiful book I wrote. I published my first novel in December 2021 with high hopes that it would be a success. And it aches me to let it go. So why...
by Kelly Branyik | Jul 27, 2021 | Writing
I published my first book back in 2017 after I completed my Peace Corps China service. The book was called It Depends: A Guide to Peace Corps. I wrote the book with the intention of helping future Peace Corp Volunteers prepare for their service as best as possible. It...
by Kelly Branyik | Jun 21, 2021 | Writing
I started seriously writing about my emotions back in October 2020. I was a few months fresh off a break that didn’t end super well. I was heartbroken and hurt, I needed an outlet for my pain. Becoming a Reader on Elephant Journal Before finding Elephant...
