Vanessa Riley

Vanessa Riley

@vanessariley.com

Vanessa Riley, award-winning author, explores hidden narratives of Black women, sisterhoods, and power in historical fiction, romance, and mystery genres.

2.2K followers234 following1.5K posts

Vanessa Riley
@vanessariley.com

📣 New Podcast! "Right to Write - The Ballot and the Page are Two Things a Writer Needs." on @Spreaker #address #and #directly #discipline #drafts #episode_s #finding #first #motivation #overcoming #perfectionism #practical #prioritize #the #these #to #value #voice #writing #your

spreaker.comRight to Write - The Ballot and the Page are Two Things a Writer Needs.You can’t edit a blank page, and you can’t find your writing voice if you never use it. In this episode of Write of Passage, bestselling author Vanessa Riley explores the power of writing through chaos, overcoming perfectionism, and embracing the freedom of an imperfect first draft. From journaling and dictation to character development, civic engagement, and even cheesecake, discover why exercising your right to write begins with one simple action: putting your butt in the chair and words on the page. Keywords: Vanessa Riley, Write of Passage, The Right to Write, writing podcast, writing advice, creative writing, writing motivation, writing inspiration, writing discipline, writing habits, overcoming writer’s block, overcoming perfectionism, first drafts, fast drafting, messy first draft, dictation for writers, journaling for writers, writing through emotions, writing through chaos, finding your writing voice, creative freedom, writing and self-expression, author mindset, writing process, novel writing, fiction writing, character development, character arcs, character motivation, character beliefs, character relationships, writing pseudofacts, storytelling techniques, editing and revision, you cannot edit a blank page, butt in chair writing, writing accountability, writing productivity, civic engagement, voting rights, power of your voice, writing as empowerment, writing and social change, author life, writing community, independent authors, bestselling author advice
Vanessa Riley
@vanessariley.com

📣 New Podcast! "Your Lying Manuscript" on @Spreaker #consistency #daily #day #every #finding #finish #habit #how #motivation #novel #overcoming #perfectionism #procrastination #routine #time #to #write #writing

spreaker.comYour Lying ManuscriptHow do you finish your novel when everyday life keeps getting in the way? Walter Mosley says write every day—and Vanessa Riley agrees. But what does a daily writing habit actually look like when you’re balancing a career, family, deadlines, and laundry?In this episode of Write of Passage, Vanessa explores writing consistency, creative discipline, procrastination, and the perfectionism that keeps unfinished manuscripts unfinished. From late-night writing sessions to dictating book ideas while walking in Taos, New Mexico, she shares how small pockets of time can move a project forward.With reflections from Nina Foxx’s Writing Sisters Summit alongside fellow faculty members Wanda Morris, Pamela Samuels Young, and Sheila Williams, this essay celebrates writing retreats, sisterhood, and making room for your creative life.Your words deserve a respected place in your routine. Start with what you have—and commit to coming back. Remember to check my https://vanessariley.com/blog/writing-resource-shop/ on my website for my writing downloads. Lots of free and low-cost tools that I’ve made available to help you on your writing journey. If this podcast sparked something in you, show some love—hit like, share the episode, and subscribe to Write of Passage! You can find my notes on Substack or on my website, https://www.vanessariley.com/, under the podcast link in the About tab. Pictures and more on https://vanessariley.substack.com/p/your-lying-manuscript Keywords: how to finish a novel, write every day, daily writing habit, writing motivation, writing routine, writing consistency, finding time to write, overcoming writing procrastination, perfectionism in writing, creative discipline, novel writing advice, writing tips for beginners, small daily writing goals, unfinished manuscript, writing practice, dictation for writers, journaling, writing retreats, writing community, women writers, Black women writers, Writing Sisters Summit, Nina Foxx, Wanda Morris, Pamela Samuels Young, Sheila Williams, Walter Mosley, Vanessa Riley, Write of Passage podcast, putting your writing first
Vanessa Riley
@vanessariley.com

📣 New Podcast! "A Writing Life You Can Actually Live" on @Spreaker #a #book #count #daily #finish #goals #habits #how #life #novel #practice #realistic #routine #schedule #to #word #write #writing

spreaker.comA Writing Life You Can Actually LiveWhat does it take to build a writing life you can sustain? Author Vanessa Riley reflects on a Vermont writing retreat, three book proposals, and choosing the stories she wants to tell next. This episode of Write of Passage explores realistic word-count goals, daily writing habits, research, author identity, and balancing creative ambition with everyday life. Whether you write every day or only on weekends, learn how understanding your pace can help you finish your book. Includes a free StoryMetric™ writing goals tool. https://vanessariley.com/blog/product/writing-goals-calculator/ https://vanessariley.substack.com/p/a-writing-life-you-can-actually-live Keywords: writing life, writing habits, writing routine, writing goals, word count goals, how to finish a book, how to write a novel, realistic writing schedule, daily writing practice, weekend writing, writing motivation, writing discipline, sustainable writing habits, writing productivity, work life balance for writers, author identity, author brand, historical fiction writing, novel research, book proposals, writing retreat, writing goal calculator, StoryMetric, Vanessa Riley, Write of Passage, writing podcast, creative writing podcast