The Destined Path For some, writing is a hobby; for Briana Gervat, it is a destiny she felt in her heart and soul from the beginning. However, the transition from “always knowing” to “physically doing” was a lifelong process of overcoming self-doubt and learning to stay true to herself. It wasn’t until she attended graduate school at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) that she began to treat writing as a serious, structured practice rather than waiting for a bolt of “divine inspiration” to strike.

The Myth of Flow One of the most profound lessons Briana shares is the deconstruction of the “divine inspiration” myth. Drawing from her background in sports, she realized that writing is not a magical flow that happens while you wander the world; it is a job that requires dedicated time, effort, and energy. “Writing, to me, is all editing,” she explains, describing the frenetic but empowering energy of seeing a project through from a messy first draft to a formatted book.

Apeiron: Expansion Beyond the Void When Briana self-published her first book, she didn’t just release a title; she created an imprint called Apeiron. The word represents expansion and the “forever expanding universe”. For Briana, this starting point of total openness and possibility is the foundation of her creative life. This focus on expansion has led her to publish three books, with five more currently in development.

The Physicality of the Craft Perhaps the most unique aspect of Briana’s writing life is her focus on the physical body. As a Pilates instructor, she takes the advice to “do back exercises” literally. She notes that hunched over a computer for hours can fatigue the mind just as much as the body, and finding that physical alignment is crucial to mental fortitude. Her morning routine reflects this discipline: coffee, a workout, and then writing during her “best quality time” before the distractions of the day take over.

The “RHB” and the Power of Community While many writers dwell in solitude, Briana emphasizes that community is the “outside fact teller” that keeps self-doubt at bay. She credits a very close friend—whom she affectionately calls her “RHB” (Right Hand B***h)—with giving her the final push to move from writing in secret to self-publishing for the world. This support system allowed her to cross the bridge of vulnerability, realizing that through her writing, she is speaking to a collective humanity rather than just her own experiences.

Replenishing the Fountain Briana’s final message for female authors is a call to end the “multitasking” myth. She believes that women cannot give from the “fountain of their soul” if they do not take the time to replenish it within themselves. Her advice is simple: if you are called to write, just write. Whether it is 15 minutes or half an hour, those minutes accumulate into something substantial over time. In the end, Briana reminds us that while writing is difficult, living with the regret of not doing it is far harder.