Category: Pen & Punch
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I’m not allowed to talk about 2026 yet
The author shares plans for 2026, including a collection of poetry and a first Spanish-language novel delving into profound themes.
Montse “M.B” Benavides
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I fell in love with the monster in the mirror
Embracing our inner darkness allows for acceptance and understanding, transforming fear into empowerment and creativity.
Montse “M.B” Benavides
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Is that a Thesaurus in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
The essence of writing is selecting precise words that evoke emotion, creating vivid imagery without unnecessary complexity or pretentiousness.
Montse “M.B” Benavides
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Writing is an exorcism… sometimes the demon is me
When I sit down to write, it’s not always gentle muses whispering poetic lines into my ear. Sometimes it feels more like a hostile takeover. The demon shows up uninvited, dragging all my unresolved grief, bitterness, and emotional hangovers into the room. Suddenly, I’m not just writing… I’m exorcising. And it’s messy. Think pea soup projectile vomiting, but with metaphors. The demon is wearing my face The worst part? Half the time, the demon looks suspiciously like me. My fears, my guilt, my self-sabotage, all dressed up and ready to monologue across the page. Writing becomes the only way to…
Montse “M.B” Benavides
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Every draft is a striptease of my mental state
Writing a draft is a personal journey, revealing layers from polite beginnings to chaotic honesty, culminating in an intimate, raw display of vulnerability and creative expression.
Montse “M.B” Benavides
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He said I’m too intense… so I killed him
He said I was too intense—like that was a flaw, not a fire hazard warning. So I killed him. In fiction. On paper. Turns out, intensity makes great literature. Shame he couldn’t handle the sequel.
Montse “M.B” Benavides
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I write for people who flirt like they have a god complex and commitment issues
There is an understanding through writing, reflecting the chaotic yet relatable nature of love and vulnerability.
Montse “M.B” Benavides
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Writing through the things I wasn’t supposed to feel
Montse reflects on overcoming emotional repression through writing, embracing complex feelings like anger and grief, and finding freedom in expressing what was deemed forbidden or unacceptable.
Montse “M.B” Benavides
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Running a business as an indie author who just wants to write in bed
Montse navigates the tension between artistic expression and business demands, struggling to balance creativity with marketing strategies while yearning for peaceful writing.
Montse “M.B” Benavides
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Crónica de una escritora en construcción
Montse describe su viaje personal y creativo desde la infancia hasta la adultez, resaltando su amor por la escritura, sus logros literarios, y su deseo de impactar a otros.
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In case you were wondering who writes this stuff
Welcome to my corner of the literary world. I’m Montse, a writer whose journey began in the shadow of childhood dreams and evolved into a full-fledged adventure. Born on June 26, I’ve always been drawn to the enigmatic and the profound. From my early, whimsical attempts like Alien School to the darker depths of The Devil’s Children, my writing has been a path of discovery. In my world, literature is not just an escape—it’s a journey through the darker, more vibrant corners of the human experience.
Montse “M.B” Benavides
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Why all my books add up to 26 (and other signs I need help)
Each character I create breathes in a rhythm you’ll learn to understand, tied to numbers and hidden meanings. But none of it is random. Every decision, every name, every fate is tangled in a web I spun long ago, when the idea of control was just as seductive as the stories I write. So when you ask, ‘Why do you write about murder?’ — maybe it’s not the blood that fascinates me. It’s the truth hiding in plain sight, the rebellion buried under layers of ‘acceptable.’ But trust me on this: I don’t glorify the violence. I only expose the…
Montse “M.B” Benavides