We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brittany Mack a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Brittany, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
As ironic as it sounds, my work ethic came from four years of getting nowhere with my goals. During my four years of undergrad, while I dreamed of writing and publishing, I didn’t do anything about it. When my fragmented and improvised plans didn’t work, I believed it was because of the timing, not because of my half-hearted efforts.
In my first year after graduating college, when life was still just as busy, I finally realized choosing to write required proactivity—I had to prioritize writing if I were to succeed at it. My current work ethic now comes from the mindset that no one will write my books for me; I have to be the one to make the time to do it. The time will pass either way, so I want to use it to create the life I want to live.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a YA dystopian and fantasy author who writes stories with real-world truths dipped in hope and bits of magic. I self-published my debut novel, The Queen’s Device, in May 2024, and my platform is all about sharing my author journey and empowering others to write despite living a busy life. I really enjoy connecting with other writers and hearing their stories!
The Queen’s Device is on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and most places books are sold.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I moved every 2-3 years growing up, and this was undeniably beneficial. It helped me experience new places, meet diverse people, and adapt to environments of every kind. This lifestyle led me toward flexibility, empathy, and resilience, and these three qualities come into play in my writing and in the more administrative side of publishing just about daily.
For those early on in their journeys, I challenge you to simply go for it. Don’t be afraid of failure — see missed opportunities as a “not yet” instead of a “no.” You can always pivot as needed along the way, but the only way to move toward your goals is to begin. You’ll find all the answers along the way.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My book was written entirely because of the writing community I stumbled upon back in 2022. The other writers on Instagram going through similar stages and situations really inspired me to continue forward with my book, even when it became difficult. I still learn so much from the reading and writing community today, and it’s really helped me feel like I’m not alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://writerbrittanymack.square.site
- Instagram: @writerbrittanymack
Image Credits
First photo by Lillian Rose Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
