The Writer from Atlanta
A note for Brittni: Well hello there gorgeous! Thank you for being apart of this special segment it really means a lot! I have read your writings and I am very much hooked let me tell you! I love your poetry, wisdom, and your knowledge of the world around you in which you try your best to see the good in. Not everyone can do that, but you do. You appreciate the little things in life and I love that because there are not may people who have the energy to sit back and think about the small things to be grateful for. Like a walk in the park, the leaves as they blow in the wind. I watch your stories on IG and without. you even saying it, I can tell you see beauty in those things. You are a keeper in this world. Now let's allow my readers to get to know you!
Where are you from and where did you grow up?
I was born in Atlanta, GA and raised in the metro Atlanta area.
How old are you now and how old were you when you first took an interest in being a writer?
I'm 33 years old. I was 6 years old when I first started writing. It started as a journaling practice and ended up becoming a companion that would nurture me throughout my life.
What is your favorite childhood memory that involves art? It could be in the sense of drawings/paintings/poetry or one of the other forms of art.
My favorite childhood memory would have to be when I wrote my first book. I was six years old and in the first grade. My teacher asked us to write a story about a recent memory. I wrote about being the flower girl at my mom's Las Vegas wedding. She loved it so much that she had it bound and displayed in her classroom. It really sparked my desire to continue creating and writing.
What was life like for you growing up? Do you think things that were going on in your life as a kid sparked your interest into writing/a need for a creative outlet?
Life was definitely interesting for me growing up. I was the oldest child and home life wasn't always easy. Had it not been for my obsession with reading to comfort me, I don't know what I would have done. I used to get lost in large fiction novels, sitting in my room reading for hours. I would also listen to plays on older radio stations. Literature and writing became my escape. I could not only vent and write about what I was experiencing but also use my imagination.
What inspired you to become a writer? Think back to that very first time you picked up a pen, or sat at a computer with the intention of writing something impactful. What inspired that very moment?
I honestly can't pinpoint a big moment or the aha moment that made me want to write. I just remember picking up the pen one day like it was just innately within me to express myself in the written form. It may have been because I didn't always feel supported or nurtured enough to express myself verbally. Writing was always just this effortless art to me. It flowed from me. Whether it was writing short stories and poems or academic writing, it was the easiest way to put my ideas and thoughts out there. I think encouragement from teachers helped, too. They would always say I wrote well. So, I continued.
What does your creative process look like and what keeps you focused as you are creating a rough draft/writing a poem?
I won't lie and say I have a perfect creative process, because I don't. Every morning, I spend time meditating, praying, and centering myself at my altar. Then, I do a little morning flow yoga. After that, I journal for a bit. I used to think being a free spirit meant I could just go with the flow every day, but I do my best with somewhat of a routine - a spiritual one. It keeps me grounded enough to write and create from a centered space. So, a tailor-made routine helps keep me focused when writing. It gives my inner creative the discipline she needs to show up to the page. I also spend a lot of my time outside in nature. I need to be connected to the Earth to keep my creativity flowing. I try to take myself on Artist Dates once a week as well. It fills my 'creative well' so that I can stay focused on creating from a place of abundance and connection within. What keeps me focused really is my love for craft and knowing I have something to say, so I need to give it the room to be said.
As a writer myself, I absolutely love night time writing. Something about the night light, quiet house, and a glass of wine that helps me set the mood for some great writing. What time of day do you feel you do your best work in and why?
I do my best journaling early in the morning when it's quiet and no one is talking to me. I like to write 'Morning Pages' first thing in the morning. It's like a free-flowing dump of thoughts just to clear my mind. I like to do nonfiction writing between 10am-2pm. I find that I've allowed my mind to awaken and simmer a bit around that time. If I write at night, it's normally adding 500-1000 words to a fun short story I'm working on.
I see that you are a published author on Amazon with 3 bodies of work out for the world to see! Black Girl, You Can Do This, Love & Authenticity and one being a poetry collection called The Narrative. What a major accomplishment to be published! . Tell us a little bit about these books and what inspired you to write and publish these bodies of “word art” as I like to call writing that has a beautiful and peaceful energy attached to it.
Thank you! It is a major accomplishment that I am proud of. 'Black Girl, You Can Do This' was inspired by a time in my life when I really needed to encourage myself. I was working this job that I hated. I felt lethargic and burned out. I was lying on the floor one night asking myself what I would say to 12-18-year-old me if given the chance. So, I started writing little love letters to myself - lessons I wish I'd been taught or at least the ones I wished I had listened to. I wanted to encourage myself and younger women to get to know themselves and show up in this world embracing every ounce of their power. 'The Narrative' was my first time wanting to share my poetry with the world. I was nervous and almost talked myself out of it, but I had to push myself to show up as me.
So I am subscribed to your Substack page which has some truly vulnerable and soft prompts/pieces. One of my favorites was a post on a Rainy Tuesday in which you wrote a few love poems to yourself. I cannot tell you how much I could relate to these especially when you spoke of censoring yourself out of fear of rejection and putting others before yourself. I know this feeling all too well. What would you say you were going through during the time of writing these poems?
I'll be honest and vulnerable here. I ended a marriage earlier this year that prompted me to do a lot of self-reflection and inner work. The sudden ending of a marriage that only lasted a few months really forced me to pause and look at myself and my life. I wanted to identify all the ways I was playing small and the experiences that led to that over the course of 33 years. I had to face the shame, people-pleasing, self-sacrificing, toxic perfectionism, and the ways I've settled in my life for decades. Those poems were me healing myself out loud.
What was one of your favorite writing pieces that you’ve written thus far?
One of my favorite writing pieces that I've written so far has to be a book I'm writing called, 'The Queen of Storms & Nightmares'. It is the first of a series about a young woman who comes into her own and discovers she had deep magic within. It's my first time writing a fiction novel. It isn't published yet, but I am very excited about the different characters and pushing my imagination to new heights.
When you hit creative blocks/writing blocks, what helps you get those creative juices flowing again?
When I hit creative blocks, I go to the park and do nothing. I just sit and relax, staring at the clouds and trees. I take myself on an Artist Date. Then, I normally go to a small coffee shop. It's something about being in a coffee shop that gets me every time. I find it soothing to be surrounded by other creatives and the energy is palpable. Once I'm there, I normally find myself able to at least get a few hundred words out of me if I just let it flow without thinking too much about it. I know it's cliche', but you have to keep writing even if you think it's trash. Keep creating to gently guide yourself through those blocks.
How would you describe your writing style and what do you think sets you apart from other writers?
I don't know if I can identify my writing style. What sets me apart is that I just write from Brittni's unique view and experience. A lot of the time when you read my writing, you'll see that I use "we" a lot. I have a 'call to action' type of style in a lot of my writing. "We" as the collective - I want to see us free and liberated as humans. So, that's the type of love and vulnerability I try to infuse into my words.
What is the ultimate message you are sending through your writing?
To free yourself. Free yourself from the narratives that have been forced on you. Free yourself from your past and create a new life. Free yourself from playing small and not living as your most authentic, connected self. Free yourself so that others may see you free and liberate themselves. Awaken to your personal power, inner peace, and connection to yourself, others, and nature.
Are you currently working on any writing projects that you hope to have published soon/in the future?
I am currently working on several projects. I'm writing a fiction novel series, a few short stories that I would like to turn into a published collection, adding poetry and random ideas to my blog, and a nonfiction book about moving from what has held you back to setting yourself free.
What are you most thankful for in your life right now?
I am most thankful for the peace I've created in my life. This year was rough for me in the beginning. I didn't let it keep me down, though. I never do. I never have. I always have hope flowing through me. So, I did the work, held myself accountable for some things, took responsibility for where I wanted to be by the end of this year and surrendered to every lesson. Now, I'm living exactly how I envisioned I would be, and I have more peace than ever in my life. I am so grateful.
Do you have any other passions/hobbies? If so, what are they?
I paint. I recently bought an acoustic guitar that I want to learn to play. I would also like to take up pottery sometime soon. My biggest passion is sleep, though. I love a good nap and some quality rest.
What is the end all goal for your life personally and professionally? What will be the catalyst in your life that will make you say, damn, I have finally made it?
My end-all goal is to be a successfully published writer living on her farm in the country minding her business. When I'm able to wake up on my time, meditate, do my morning yoga, then head out to my garden or to play with my ducks and chickens, I'll be able to say, "Damn, I'm here." Also, throw in all the traveling I want to do. I'm big on traveling. So overall, living life how I want to live it - successful on my own terms, able to rest, frolic, and just exist.
Are there any special people you’d like to recognize or give thanks to?
I would love to recognize my two best friends. Without them, I don't know how I would have pushed through sometimes. I love them both unconditionally.
I was born in Atlanta, GA and raised in the metro Atlanta area.
How old are you now and how old were you when you first took an interest in being a writer?
I'm 33 years old. I was 6 years old when I first started writing. It started as a journaling practice and ended up becoming a companion that would nurture me throughout my life.
What is your favorite childhood memory that involves art? It could be in the sense of drawings/paintings/poetry or one of the other forms of art.
My favorite childhood memory would have to be when I wrote my first book. I was six years old and in the first grade. My teacher asked us to write a story about a recent memory. I wrote about being the flower girl at my mom's Las Vegas wedding. She loved it so much that she had it bound and displayed in her classroom. It really sparked my desire to continue creating and writing.
What was life like for you growing up? Do you think things that were going on in your life as a kid sparked your interest into writing/a need for a creative outlet?
Life was definitely interesting for me growing up. I was the oldest child and home life wasn't always easy. Had it not been for my obsession with reading to comfort me, I don't know what I would have done. I used to get lost in large fiction novels, sitting in my room reading for hours. I would also listen to plays on older radio stations. Literature and writing became my escape. I could not only vent and write about what I was experiencing but also use my imagination.
What inspired you to become a writer? Think back to that very first time you picked up a pen, or sat at a computer with the intention of writing something impactful. What inspired that very moment?
I honestly can't pinpoint a big moment or the aha moment that made me want to write. I just remember picking up the pen one day like it was just innately within me to express myself in the written form. It may have been because I didn't always feel supported or nurtured enough to express myself verbally. Writing was always just this effortless art to me. It flowed from me. Whether it was writing short stories and poems or academic writing, it was the easiest way to put my ideas and thoughts out there. I think encouragement from teachers helped, too. They would always say I wrote well. So, I continued.
What does your creative process look like and what keeps you focused as you are creating a rough draft/writing a poem?
I won't lie and say I have a perfect creative process, because I don't. Every morning, I spend time meditating, praying, and centering myself at my altar. Then, I do a little morning flow yoga. After that, I journal for a bit. I used to think being a free spirit meant I could just go with the flow every day, but I do my best with somewhat of a routine - a spiritual one. It keeps me grounded enough to write and create from a centered space. So, a tailor-made routine helps keep me focused when writing. It gives my inner creative the discipline she needs to show up to the page. I also spend a lot of my time outside in nature. I need to be connected to the Earth to keep my creativity flowing. I try to take myself on Artist Dates once a week as well. It fills my 'creative well' so that I can stay focused on creating from a place of abundance and connection within. What keeps me focused really is my love for craft and knowing I have something to say, so I need to give it the room to be said.
As a writer myself, I absolutely love night time writing. Something about the night light, quiet house, and a glass of wine that helps me set the mood for some great writing. What time of day do you feel you do your best work in and why?
I do my best journaling early in the morning when it's quiet and no one is talking to me. I like to write 'Morning Pages' first thing in the morning. It's like a free-flowing dump of thoughts just to clear my mind. I like to do nonfiction writing between 10am-2pm. I find that I've allowed my mind to awaken and simmer a bit around that time. If I write at night, it's normally adding 500-1000 words to a fun short story I'm working on.
I see that you are a published author on Amazon with 3 bodies of work out for the world to see! Black Girl, You Can Do This, Love & Authenticity and one being a poetry collection called The Narrative. What a major accomplishment to be published! . Tell us a little bit about these books and what inspired you to write and publish these bodies of “word art” as I like to call writing that has a beautiful and peaceful energy attached to it.
Thank you! It is a major accomplishment that I am proud of. 'Black Girl, You Can Do This' was inspired by a time in my life when I really needed to encourage myself. I was working this job that I hated. I felt lethargic and burned out. I was lying on the floor one night asking myself what I would say to 12-18-year-old me if given the chance. So, I started writing little love letters to myself - lessons I wish I'd been taught or at least the ones I wished I had listened to. I wanted to encourage myself and younger women to get to know themselves and show up in this world embracing every ounce of their power. 'The Narrative' was my first time wanting to share my poetry with the world. I was nervous and almost talked myself out of it, but I had to push myself to show up as me.
So I am subscribed to your Substack page which has some truly vulnerable and soft prompts/pieces. One of my favorites was a post on a Rainy Tuesday in which you wrote a few love poems to yourself. I cannot tell you how much I could relate to these especially when you spoke of censoring yourself out of fear of rejection and putting others before yourself. I know this feeling all too well. What would you say you were going through during the time of writing these poems?
I'll be honest and vulnerable here. I ended a marriage earlier this year that prompted me to do a lot of self-reflection and inner work. The sudden ending of a marriage that only lasted a few months really forced me to pause and look at myself and my life. I wanted to identify all the ways I was playing small and the experiences that led to that over the course of 33 years. I had to face the shame, people-pleasing, self-sacrificing, toxic perfectionism, and the ways I've settled in my life for decades. Those poems were me healing myself out loud.
What was one of your favorite writing pieces that you’ve written thus far?
One of my favorite writing pieces that I've written so far has to be a book I'm writing called, 'The Queen of Storms & Nightmares'. It is the first of a series about a young woman who comes into her own and discovers she had deep magic within. It's my first time writing a fiction novel. It isn't published yet, but I am very excited about the different characters and pushing my imagination to new heights.
When you hit creative blocks/writing blocks, what helps you get those creative juices flowing again?
When I hit creative blocks, I go to the park and do nothing. I just sit and relax, staring at the clouds and trees. I take myself on an Artist Date. Then, I normally go to a small coffee shop. It's something about being in a coffee shop that gets me every time. I find it soothing to be surrounded by other creatives and the energy is palpable. Once I'm there, I normally find myself able to at least get a few hundred words out of me if I just let it flow without thinking too much about it. I know it's cliche', but you have to keep writing even if you think it's trash. Keep creating to gently guide yourself through those blocks.
How would you describe your writing style and what do you think sets you apart from other writers?
I don't know if I can identify my writing style. What sets me apart is that I just write from Brittni's unique view and experience. A lot of the time when you read my writing, you'll see that I use "we" a lot. I have a 'call to action' type of style in a lot of my writing. "We" as the collective - I want to see us free and liberated as humans. So, that's the type of love and vulnerability I try to infuse into my words.
What is the ultimate message you are sending through your writing?
To free yourself. Free yourself from the narratives that have been forced on you. Free yourself from your past and create a new life. Free yourself from playing small and not living as your most authentic, connected self. Free yourself so that others may see you free and liberate themselves. Awaken to your personal power, inner peace, and connection to yourself, others, and nature.
Are you currently working on any writing projects that you hope to have published soon/in the future?
I am currently working on several projects. I'm writing a fiction novel series, a few short stories that I would like to turn into a published collection, adding poetry and random ideas to my blog, and a nonfiction book about moving from what has held you back to setting yourself free.
What are you most thankful for in your life right now?
I am most thankful for the peace I've created in my life. This year was rough for me in the beginning. I didn't let it keep me down, though. I never do. I never have. I always have hope flowing through me. So, I did the work, held myself accountable for some things, took responsibility for where I wanted to be by the end of this year and surrendered to every lesson. Now, I'm living exactly how I envisioned I would be, and I have more peace than ever in my life. I am so grateful.
Do you have any other passions/hobbies? If so, what are they?
I paint. I recently bought an acoustic guitar that I want to learn to play. I would also like to take up pottery sometime soon. My biggest passion is sleep, though. I love a good nap and some quality rest.
What is the end all goal for your life personally and professionally? What will be the catalyst in your life that will make you say, damn, I have finally made it?
My end-all goal is to be a successfully published writer living on her farm in the country minding her business. When I'm able to wake up on my time, meditate, do my morning yoga, then head out to my garden or to play with my ducks and chickens, I'll be able to say, "Damn, I'm here." Also, throw in all the traveling I want to do. I'm big on traveling. So overall, living life how I want to live it - successful on my own terms, able to rest, frolic, and just exist.
Are there any special people you’d like to recognize or give thanks to?
I would love to recognize my two best friends. Without them, I don't know how I would have pushed through sometimes. I love them both unconditionally.