Preptober: Create a Cast of Characters
Think of your favorite story. Have it in your head? What makes it your favorite? Chances are, it’s the cast of characters. Whether you side with the hero or the villain–or even the winning sidekick–the characters make a story come … Continued
Preptober: Research Your Novel
Bittersweet! It’s finally cooled off a little here in our part of the world. From eighties to this morning’s mid-forties, we have weather whiplash at the Smith Creative Headquarters. But no matter how balmy or breezy, it’s still Preptober! And … Continued
How to Speak to a Crowd
You’ve booked a public appearance to promote your work! Fabulous!! But, wait–that means you have to speak. Erm, like, in front of people. Maybe lots of people. Yikes. If the dread has you fantasizing of calling off the whole thing, … Continued
3 Creativity-Boosting Exercises
People carry a lot of baggage about creativity. They either think, “Oh, I’m just not creative,” or, “I’m creative as heck so I can’t be bothered by things like ‘routines’.” Well, you know what, I’m not “a math person” (<–not … Continued
Get More Done with Time Blocking
I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of trouble getting things done when there are a *lot* of things! I’m usually writing a book, marketing a book, and working on the blog every week. This summer, I … Continued
3 Resources for Writing Contests and Grants
Do you have a finished piece of work that you’re ready to share, but not ready to send out for publication? The answer might be a writing contest! Competitions and grants can be great ways to get your work … Continued
How to Build Confidence as a Writer
Is it possible to build confidence as a writer? I don’t know about you, but I find it incredibly difficult to talk about my work. I can talk for hours on writing in general, but to speak about my … Continued
To Blog or Not to Blog?
In certain writing circles, there’s a debate about blogging. “To blog or not to blog?” Some argue for its merits, others say blogging robs time and resources from writing projects. Here are three big benefits I’ve found through blogging … Continued
Back-to-School: Refocus Your Writing Routine!
Ah, back-to-school time. I greet it with mixed emotions, as do probably all school staff members. I love my school life, but I love my summer life, too! And I have different writing routines for both parts of the year. … Continued
Plan a Personal Retreat: Pay Attention to Details
You can take a personal retreat! What’s stopping you? We already brainstormed how to find the time and choose the right location. Now let’s pay attention to details! If this sounds totally contradictory to the spirit of a retreat, stay … Continued