Writing is far from a solitary act; nothing is produced in a vacuum.

In addition to freelance editing, Briana serves as a workshop facilitator, international teaching assistant, and academic + reflective writing teacher.

I’ll be the first to admit it—I never envisioned myself as a teacher back when I was pursuing my MFA in Creative Writing at The New School in 2019. But I did know that “success”—or even more simply, security—is guaranteed to no one in the arts. So I promised myself upon graduating that I would say “yes” to every opportunity that came my way, which led me into a variety of facilitation and mentorship roles in the years that followed. And then came my first “official” instructor role, as the Creative Nonfiction Mentor of the low-res MFA program PocketMFA, and my love of teaching was solidified during that very first three-hour-long seminar. Since then, I’ve gone on to teach writers of all backgrounds and experience levels, and delighted at every opportunity to create safe, judgement-free, nonhierarchical spaces of learning, where everyone is encouraged to treat their lived experiences as a form of knowledge that is as valuable as any lesson from a lauded craft book.
While I’m open to teaching writers of any age, I specialize in working with folx who are high–school age and beyond.
- Crafting Compelling Narrators
- Great Communication Skills
- Resume Writing
- For Nonfiction Writers: Personal Essay vs. Memoir
- For Nonfiction Writers: Nonfiction Basics
- For Nonfiction Writers: Strengthening the Writer's Authentic Voice
- For Nonfiction Writers: Creative Nonfiction Forms & Structures
- PocketMFA Literary Seminar + 8-week Workshop (CNF), Spring ‘23
- PocketMFA Literary Seminar + 8-week Workshop (CNF), Fall ‘23

Book

My educational approach:

Just as I believe writers should aspire to be infinitely curious, so, too, should their mentor—leading with openness and genuine curiosity, a good mentor leaves room to allow themselves to learn and grow while they teach.

When curiosity is mutual, the often-limited dynamic of a teacher and a student is subverted. We engage, instead, in a reciprocal relationship of learning and developing that is profoundly enriching for both parties, and extends as good will and willingness toward others in our future interactions.

“Briana was an excellent mentor. Her emotional intelligence allowed our group to thrive and her supportive nature enabled us to trust the process and open up, which enriched the experience. I would do it all again.” — Jasmine H., PocketMFA

A few words from past students:

Elsie M.

"I’m so grateful to Briana for her work as a creative writing mentor. Her input has moved me toward a clearer vision of what I am trying to do in my writing. It was so helpful to have the viewpoint of someone who has so much editorial experience, so different from the responses of other writers. Also I was overall just impressed by the beauty of her spirit, the way she is always positive and yet can combine that positivity with astute criticism. I find that combination to actually be rare."
Pen W.

"Briana had a very fine line to walk, given different levels of experience with writing, a variety of comfort levels with weighty material, and contrasting communication styles that ranged from indirect to very direct. She navigated this with grace and kept us focused on moving our work forward—each and every one of us."
Fran M.

"I'm astonished at how much actionable feedback I received in such a short time. I have specific next steps for my book draft. The book as a whole look so much more manageable and achievable than it did. Feedback from people I didn't know before proved inspiring, empowering, sensible, and positive/safe. Briana was extremely helpful, open, respectful to the work and to my ideas. I wouldn't change anything."
Amy B.

"I met Briana at just the right time. She was my mentor for the Spring '23 Cohort of Pocket MFA. At that time, I had four years' worth of writing, a vague vision of what to do with it, and the need for direct guidance. Briana brings a spirit of generosity and possibility to her work as a mentor and editor. while Briana positions herself as your biggest fan, she doesn't shy away from direct feedback highlighting what's missing or needed to make my writing stronger. By the end of the program, I had new clarity, enthusiasm, and confidence—I attribute that largely to Briana. I look forward to working with her in the future."

Curious to work together?

The Anaphora Arts Publishing Program

In 2024, Briana was recruited as a guest-speaker for The Anaphora Arts Publishing Program, a yearlong intensive that helps BIPOC writers working in fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry to carve out pathways for publication. Over the course of a year, writers will have the opportunity to meet with guests monthly, engage in in-depth conversations and take masterclasses with award-winning and established writers. Other guests will include editors, literary agents and publishers. Writers will also have the chance to workshop their material and undertake major re-writing and developmental editing projects while attending the program.

Learn more here
Critique Group Instructor @ HerStry

In 2025, Briana will be joining the digital, womxn-centric literary organization HerStry as their newest critique group instructor.
Itching for a new writing community in the new year? HerStry Critique Groups are cohorts of six women (led by a critique group instructor) who gather online for six weeks to share their writing, give constructive feedback, and sharpen their writing skills. Virtual sessions last 90 minutes, with three women sharing their work each week. Writers of all genres and levels are welcome and encouraged to share work from any genre.

Learn more here