How to Make the Most of NaNoWriMo Preptober
October again! And has this been a year, or what? I would argue that, whether you’re feeling creatively drained or energized, NaNoWriMo is going to be even more incredible than usual. 🍁 Whether this is your first shot or you’re … Continued
The Fastest Way to Finish Your Novel
Need to find the fastest way to finish your novel? Maybe you’ve got a hard deadline squeezing you like a lemon wedge, or maybe you just need to shift this particular project from your to-do list and onto the … Continued
Two Back-to-School Opportunities for Writers
13 years in school, 4 years of college, 13 years working at a school… You might say I’m conditioned to refocus on education during September’s Back-to-School Season 😁 And even though I made a leap at the end … Continued
How to Make Tough Decisions in Your Writing
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
How to Make an Author’s Media Kit Using Canva
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
How to Choose the Right Idea to Write
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)
Why a Pen Name Makes Your Novel Feel Real [Guest Post]
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
Storytelling in Times of Trouble
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
Author Interview with Sarah Blizzard
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
How to Plan a Book Signing
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