CREATE. WRITE. THRIVE.
Map your plot! Confession: When talking shop with another writer, if they tell me they don’t plot their novels, my heart sinks. It’s not because I’m a novel snob. (But, I mean, aren’t we all?) It’s because I’ve read too … Continued
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
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
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
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
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
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. Could I write more novels if I stopped dividing my … Continued
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
I’d wanted to publish a novel for so long. And the year I finally did it, I had tunnel vision. I kept my eyes on my goal and paid little attention to whether anyone else thought it was possible. When … Continued
Have you ever stood in the corner of a conference room full of strangers and wondered, “Now what?” Many writers are introverts, and jumping into the crowd at a conference can seem daunting and a little disorienting. But networking is … Continued