by Kelly K. Branyik | Jan 27, 2026 | Musings, Writing
We’re at the start of a United States Civil War. People around me are saying we should only focus on what we can control within our own circles, and that the more celestial (larger) problems are too big to confront. I can’t think of a more horrifying thing to say in...
by Kelly K. 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 K. Branyik | Dec 13, 2025 | Short Stories, Writing
Sensitive Note: Story contains mentions of death and starvation. Originally posted on Reedsy Prompts. “Water signifies Spirit and cleansing,” her father said, pouring warm, clary sage-infused water over her hand from a silver pitcher. The extra liquid trickled like a...
by Kelly K. 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 K. 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 K. 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...
