This episode might ruffle a few feathers. Good. 😏 We're tackling one of the biggest assumptions in publishing: "Anyone can publish. That's the problem." Before you assume we're defending traditional publishing... you're probably going to want to hear the whole conversation. We're talking about standards, reader trust, AI, professional publishing, and why indie authors don't need fewer opportunities; instead, they need higher expectations. I'd love to hear where this community lands on it. Drop your thoughts after you watch the premiere tomorrow. I have a feeling this one's going to spark a great discussion.

We hope everyone has plans to take a break and celebrate with friends and family. At the Smek abode, we will be BBQing some hot dogs with my parents and playing poker with my kids. My dogs will be tasting colors when I load them full of Trazodone, and maybe I can keep them alive during the chaos. Hope you all have a wonderful and SAFE weekend.

Should a writer take days off? Steven King says write every day (so do I, usually). Writers will often brag about the hours they put in, and if you work a day job, is writing your job on your day job days off? Oof. Sounds like a lot of work. For me writing time is me time too. In a way, it’s part of my relaxation. Editing? Similar most of the time. Marketing, admin, and taxes? That’s work. But what does that mean to you? Well, as many other things, it depends. Some people need quiet time to think without writing. And even your creative brain needs a break. But you have to get to know you-your most creative time for writing, how to balance the rest of your life, and more. We can coach you. Offer advice. But you have to listen to you for all of this writing life to work. So, do you take time off? What does that look like?

I just finished a a couple of key chapters in my historical cozy - it's winding to its conclusion. I can't believe how ecstactic I was, dancing around my office (all by myself), hollering and whooping and pumping my arm! Yes! Filled with the giddy, butterfly-y feeling and marveling at my characters and that they escaped!! I feel like I know them so well, and sometimes (often) they are more real to me than some people I have met!! Am I crazy?? I LOVE spending time with them (which is definitely not enough!), but then everyone thinks I'm either a hermit or such an introvert I simply can't stand to be around people (they do get exhausting after awhile, tho'...). I see the light at the end of this tunnel and am thrilled!

We're going to combine writing craft with a little bit of woo-woo in this post. So buckle up! When creating my upcoming course on story analysis, one of the first questions we ask when doing character analysis is: Whose Story is This? Don't mix this up with POV. A Prayer for Owen Meany is definitely Owen's story, but not a single chapter is told from Owen's POV. We are shown his story from someone else's perspective. This allows the author (John Irving) to hide some of what Owen knows. That allows for a surprise ending, a twist that you don't see coming, but that was inevitable. But I digress. We first want to know whose story this is. Who, not what, is this story about. Die Hard is about John McClane, Lethal Weapon is about Martin Riggs (along with his partner, but the first movie at least is Martin's story. Think of your favorite stories. Who are they about? Hunger Games - Katniss. Harry Potter -duh. Go ahead, name a few. Then look at your own stories. Who are they about? Are they told from the POV of that character, or someone else? When you identify whose story this is, whose misbeliefs and struggles are at the core, the plot begins to fall into place. But when it comes to your writing career/journey, it is your story. You are the center. It is, despite what your spouse may say, all about you (at least in this area. Put your dish in the dishwasher for god's sake). So what story do you want to tell? What will your journey look like? Because everything in life is about story. That's it. Everything else is just - well, part of the plot.