CREATE. WRITE. THRIVE.
Why, oh why, do writing decisions feel like a neural hostage negotiation? Whether it’s choosing a genre, making a difficult call about a character’s fate, or — congratulations, look at you! — wondering if it’s the right move to accept … Continued
Do you have an author’s media kit? If not, let’s make one! It can be a great tool to have on hand so you can leap at opportunities as they arise, rather than hesitating. It’s also a useful weapon … Continued
I’m writing you this love letter in response to one of the most common frustrations that readers share with me. It goes something like this: “I know I’m meant to write, but when I sit down and try to start, … Continued
![Why a Pen Name Makes Your Novel Feel Real [Guest Post]](https://i2.wp.com/www.colesmithwrites.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/pen-name-novel-real.jpg?fit=1920%2C1280&ssl=1&resize=365%2C365)
Lewis Jorstad, excellent blogger and writer at The Novel Smithy, and I are turning things upside-down this week by swapping blogs 🙂 We kept running into one another on Pinterest, and I knew you would love to hear what he … Continued
I think it’s safe to say that the last month and a half has been an intense time. You can use several words to describe it, actually. Uncertain. Distressing. Emotional. Pick your adjective! And if you’re a storyteller, I’ll bet … Continued
A few days ago, I got an email from a reader and thought, “Wow–she needs to talk with my friend, Sarah!” I started to connect them, then realized we all could benefit from hearing Sarah’s behind-the-scenes account of her author’s … Continued
Nervous when it comes to figuring out how to plan a book signing? Answer this: Is it harder to write a book or host a book event? Way harder to write the book, right? So don’t freak out … Continued
Sometimes I blog for published authors. Sometimes, for those who’re sitting on a finished manuscript and scared witless about the next steps. And sometimes I blog for you–the one who just wants to know how to start writing a book. … Continued
Frequently, I hear from writers who feel miserable. “I know I want to write, but I don’t know what.” Or, “I want to be an author but I’m not sure how to start!” Honestly, is there any writer who hasn’t … Continued
Have you seen the statistics? How many adults in the US report not reading a single book last year? :::Go ahead, guess. I’ll wait right here.::: It’s 27%. Over a quarter of Americans say they didn’t read even one book, … Continued