Creative Writing MFA Student Spotlight: Bria Mears

Creative Writing MFA Student Spotlight: Bria Mears

A blue background with yellow headers around the text. The Drexel University logo is at the bottom. The headings are in yellow and the regular text is in white. The photos are black and white. A selfie of Bria Mears, smiling with heart-shaped glasses and a black blazer, is on the left. She has short auburn hair. The text reads, "Why did you decide to pursue your MFA? ‘When I applied for the MFA program at Drexel, I felt like it would finally be the motivation I needed to fully dive back into the world of writing. I knew that if I entered a program full of smart and determined writers, I would pick up on some of that drive, and finally be able to work towards what I’ve been trying to do for over 10 years: regain confidence and actually feel like a writer again.’ What is your writing process? ‘Historically, I was a complete pantser. I would start writing at the beginning with no real direction and see where my characters end up! These days, I find that I do an extreme amount of planning and envisioning before setting off to write a scene. Like many writers, I am often inspired at the most inconvenient times, so it is difficult to nail down a specific time or method that drives me to keep going. However, I was recently introduced to the idea of writing flash fiction when I have an idea that inspires me. Getting the idea down on a page, as quick as necessary, not only saves it from completely disappearing from memory, but sometimes inspires totally different thoughts in me as I write—sometimes for unrelated characters or parts of the book.’”
The same background and style as the first. The Drexel University logo is at the bottom. A photo of Bria, smiling with a hand over her mouth, wearing a black leather jacket, red shirt, and black jeans, is in the top right. In the bottom left is a photo of Bria, with black hair, smiling outside while picking apples, and wearing heart-shaped glasses, and a grey and white checkered blazer. The text reads, “‘Stories are important because they allow us, as simple one-track humans, to see and experience many lives from various different perspectives. No matter the genre of story, there are always new lessons to be learned, unfamiliar emotions to be confronted, distant places to be explored. In storytelling exists the possibility to live out all the versions of your wildest dreams (and darkest nightmares)!’ Quick Facts: Avid World of Warcraft player of 19 years Can speak Korean; interest was sparked from love of K-pop and K-dramas Studied abroad at Korea University for four months during undergrad Finished writing first YA fantasy romance novel in the summer of 2009 as a high school sophomore Holds an MS in Digital Media from Drexel University Family raised in Southwest Philadelphia Has an unhealthy obsession with Hello Kitty and anything cute or sparkly (including a Hello Kitty wrist tattoo) Works as a full-time web developer Lover of fantasy romance, suspense, and gothic horror"