Paused between takes. The story’s still unfolding. What began as a therapeutic and creative outlet slowly turned into a source of pressure. Writing—once my safe space—became another item on my to-do list, tangled in deadlines, algorithms, and constant promotion. The joy faded, and burnout crept in. I’ve loved writing since I was a child. I started because I wanted to share pieces of my life through fictional stories—stories with meaning, heart, and a twist. But as I grew, certain topics no longer resonated with me. I wasn’t ashamed of what I’d written before, but I wasn’t in that place anymore. The ideas stopped flowing, and I didn’t know what to write next. That in-between space—between who I was and who I was becoming—was uncomfortable, confusing, and creatively paralyzing. So, I stepped away. A break to shake off the pressure. A break to rediscover the joy. A break to live. A break to figure out where my writing journey is truly headed. How Did I Get to that Point? At first, handling the business side of writing felt exciting. I knew how to promote my books, ride the wave of trends, and build content across platforms. I had momentum—speeding full steam ahead. But doing everything right didn’t guarantee the success I had pictured. Slowly, that drive began to fade. Writing didn’t feel like a creative outlet anymore—it felt like a job. And not the kind you wake up excited to do. Writer’s block set in and I felt that I lost the drive, the will, and the overall talent I used to become a self-published author. I found myself in a creative drought, stuck in the ebb, unable to reach the flow. I wanted to do anything but write.  The Break Eventually, I shut my laptop and gave myself permission to rest. Real rest. Not productivity-masked-as-rest. I tapped into things I hadn’t made time for in years. I remembered how I came up in the “Team No Sleep” era—where hustle was glorified, and rest was weakness. But the true inspiration for my writing? Life. Real moments. Quiet moments. Not constant output. One month turned into three… then six… then nine. Still nothing. No new stories. Just a growing list of hobbies and reasons to not return:
I wanted more. More genres. More truth. More growth. The Growth Part I let those old stories sit. Maybe I’ll return to them—maybe not. And that’s okay. I started thinking about what I love to read: horror, self-help, true stories of resilience. Why couldn’t those stories be part of my portfolio? I explored what it would take to write compelling narratives in those genres and quickly realized—I’m not ready to jump back into late-night writing sessions. And that’s okay too. I reminded myself: I chose self-publishing for the freedom. Yet, I’d been depriving myself of that very thing. So, I went back to resting. Unapologetically.  Where Am I Now? Less Pressure More Freedom These days, I’m rebuilding. Slowly. Intentionally. I’m allowing myself to wander creatively without pressure. I read articles for a few minutes, then switch gears. I journal when I feel inspired, but I don’t force it. I’m learning not to burn out the spark before it becomes a flame. I no longer carry the weight of needing to produce just to keep up. I don’t panic if I don’t have everything figured out in one night. Because I’ve realized—I don’t have to. I don’t need to release a book every year. I don’t need to race anyone to the finish line. This break? It was necessary. I needed space to grow. To breathe. To celebrate how far I’ve come. I had unknowingly boxed myself in: write…release, write…release. Now? I’m still on the journey. But I’m setting the pace this time. These quiet moments matter. They’re where I reconnect, reflect, and remember why I started in the first place. To tell stories. From a place of experience and creativity, not pressure.  The Blakk DahliaThe Blakk Dahlia (E. Alexcina Brown) is a New York City author/blogger from Macon, GA. Recently, she released the book series, the Heartbreak Diaries outlining different perspectives of heartbreak. The Dahlia Diaries is a lifestyle blog penned by The Blakk Dahlia, sharing her story in NYC along with life lessons and tips she's learned in her journey.Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.
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I've personally received great feedback on the Heartbreak Diaries Series. Every purchase, read, and kind words are greatly appreciated. Reviews Matter! Indie authors need reviews/ratings to stay competitive. Reviews help boost the credibility of a self-published author while sharing your thoughts/views on their work! Loved a book from the Heartbreak Diaries Series? Speak on it! Visit your favorite retailers to leave a review or click stars to rate! Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Apple Books | Kobo  About the Heartbreak Diaries the Heartbreak Diaries is a romance-suspense series with stories told from the heart’s perspective. The fiction series tackles how one’s heart approaches dating, relationships, marriage, and even "situationships" within the mind frame of living in the past, or concerns about the future. What's unique about this series is that it dives into these heart types from a real and vulnerable place. Each book has a "dear diary" moment from an integral character, displaying their true intentions within the story.  The Blakk Dahlia (E. Alexcina Brown) is a New York City author/blogger from Macon, GA. Recently, she released the book series, the Heartbreak Diaries outlining different perspectives of heartbreak. The Dahlia Diaries is a lifestyle blog penned by The Blakk Dahlia, sharing her story in NYC along with life lessons and tips she's learned in her journey. Keep it in Rotation The excitement surrounding a book release tends to die down after it has been on the market for a while. Book launch activities are complete, and initial sales and reviews are in. But the buzz around the book shouldn't fade because it is no longer a new release. Some authors take a break or start on another project not related to the book. More than most find themselves at a standstill asking: “What’s next?” The opportunity to gain new readers/followers for books and authors is endless. Take advantage of that when the hype around the book has died down. In addition, creating new and engaging promos for the book catches the attention of book lovers who may have missed the initial release. Many self-published authors are solely responsible for marketing/promoting their book(s). Fortunately, through the gift of social media, there are opportunities to gain a new buzz and new readers. Here are tips on refreshing the excitement about your book for yourself and your readers: I. Revisit and revamp book promotion content. How consumers receive and engage with content tends to change with new trends and styles of marketing products. Updating book blurbs and promotional text for social media and websites can help grab the attention of old and new readers.  To do this, review previous promos and check the engagement from followers and book lovers. Use that as a guide to find keywords/phrases that received the most clicks, comments, and likes. In addition, look at the latest trends and searches on social media. Create a way for it to correlate with the book. Lastly, find new book excerpts to highlight, giving a fresh sneak peek to kick off a new promotion. II. Get some press. Media buzz opens your book to a range of potential buyers. Luckily, media features and interviews aren't only for a book launch. Follow up with previous media outlets and show how well the book has gained traction post-launch. Talk more about the response from readers to the book, highlighting the post-release excitement. The pandemic birthed a big wave of podcasters and bloggers. Find ones that highlight books, entrepreneurs, creatives, etc. Pitch your book/story when inquiring about being featured. If the book has been out for quite some time, include reviews and positive responses. Find an angle that makes the book stand out enough to be featured: What are the readers saying? What conversations does the book initiate? How is this book helpful in the current times?  III. Take candid pictures. Consumers have become more visual with the booming rise of apps like Instagram and TikTok. Posting your book consistently on social media timelines is a reminder that this body of work is available. Social media has become the primary source for the general public to learn about products and services. Even though the release date has passed, a new wave of supporters is only a post away. Feature yourself and your book on social media outlets. Ignite the fun of your work by showing candids with your book OR placement in random setups/decor. Ask a friend or family member to take a selfie/picture with your book to show more people are happy with your work. IV. Book Giveaway. Everybody loves a freebie! Push the buzz about your book and get readers excited by hosting a book giveaway. New book lovers will sign up and get more details with the hope of winning a good read. The promotions surrounding the giveaway expand followers and subscribers. Include fresh content and add a few extras to enhance the chance of people signing up. (i.e. Character breakdowns, book quotes, etc.) Even if they don't win, there is still a chance they will learn more about the book and purchase it anyway.  Sitting in the "post-launch" season isn't a place where books go to rest forever. There are so many new people to reach. Don’t allow them to miss out on your book. Keep it in rotation!  The Blakk Dahlia (E. Alexcina Brown) is a New York City author/blogger from Macon, GA. Recently, she released the book series, the Heartbreak Diaries outlining different perspectives of heartbreak. The Dahlia Diaries is a lifestyle blog penned by The Blakk Dahlia, sharing her story in NYC along with life lessons and tips she's learned in her journey.Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.  The story that kicked off the Heartbreak Diaries Series: Rushing to Distraction (The Foolish Heart): I'm sure this book had a different title but, I'll have to dig through old notes to remember what it was. With this book, I earned a new title, Published Author. The feeling of seeing my work become a published book was the most amazing one ever! I remember being very proud and motivated to get others on the market. "Rushing to Distraction" was definitely a learning process. From not knowing how to even get the book to print, to now understanding the logistics of book publishing and gaining even more knowledge during new phases of this journey.
The process from concept to release was a hard one. I started writing this book in 2015 and it was released in 2018. During that time, I didn't think I was "ready enough" to publish the book. Then one day, it hit me to just put it out there and see what happens. Four books later, I have a complete book series all because I dared to try! About the book: Rushing To Distraction (The Foolish Heart) How do you know when to give up? Farrah is driven, focused, and knows her worth until she runs into Jamie. After a long time of putting love on the back burner, the guard quickly crumbled over this man's potential. She wasn’t asking for romantic feelings, but when they showed up it was hard to let go.   The Blakk Dahlia (E. Alexcina Brown) is a New York City author/blogger from Macon, GA. Recently, she released the book series, the Heartbreak Diaries outlining different perspectives of heartbreak. The Dahlia Diaries is a lifestyle blog penned by The Blakk Dahlia, sharing her story in NYC along with life lessons and tips she's learned in her journey.  Deepest secrets hidden in written words... Writing has always been a form of expression. I have notebooks and saved files keeping my most hidden thoughts. As I grew older, I started to creatively express myself. Intertwining my secrets and feelings within fictional stories. That's how I decided to share my truth. Through that, I built a solid foundation for healing. Share Your Thoughts in the Comments! What is Writing to You?  The Blakk Dahlia (E. Alexcina Brown) is a New York City author/blogger from Macon, GA. Recently, she released the book series, the Heartbreak Diaries outlining different perspectives of heartbreak. The Dahlia Diaries is a lifestyle blog penned by The Blakk Dahlia, sharing her story in NYC along with life lessons and tips she's learned in her journey.Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. |
"I LOVE to write and create. These are the diaries of how I work and deal in my world of writing and LIFE!"
- The Blakk Dahlia from the Heartbreak Diaries Book Series
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