Member Spotlights Member Spotlight: Jean Burgess April 17, 2026 Share on Twitter (opens in a new tab) on Facebook (opens in a new tab) on Linkedin (opens in a new tab) via email Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? My writer’s purpose is to be helpful to others and to encourage conversation. If my nonfiction and Retro fiction books can present ideas that cause reflection and spark conversation, then I’m pleased. Writing/reading has been essential for my well-being. It’s a way to balance, reflect, create, vent, grow… What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? I don’t really sink into writer’s block often. I do use the following to stimulate my writing: images (my office has several vision boards depicting the world of my book, artifacts, clothing, etc.); short meditations; removing myself from my office with a pen and pad to brainstorm ideas if a scene is causing problems; using a writing exercise if a scene/character is causing a problem. What is your favorite time to write? I write from 10am – 6pm. When I’m working on a book, I treat the project like a job. I tell friends and family that I’m not available and I turn off devices so that I’m not distracted. What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? This question is really tough because 1) I’ve received a lot of great advice and 2) I’m still soaking up every bit of new information about writing that I can. This isn’t advice but something I’ve learned: Even though I’m published by a small press, I paid for a developmental editor for both of my fictions. I learned so much from the editor both times that I felt like I paid for a private, customized course in writing. Money well spent! What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? I’m most excited about meeting readers face-to-face, even though it can be exhausting. Hand-selling, building my community, visiting book clubs, networking, knowing my target audience, understanding my author brand — I love the interaction. I do sell books online but I enjoy the real-time interaction the most. And this has led to a new spin-off career for me: presenting workshops and speaking engagements. I’m grateful that I am a published writer with two fictions and one nonfiction under my belt. Jean Burgess’s Navigating Her Next Chapter is out now with Apprentice House.
