Please welcome Mariëlle S. Smith author of 52 Weeks of Writing Author Journal and Planner
52 Weeks of Writing Author Journal and Planner
byMariëlle S. Smith
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GENRE: Non-fiction / self-help creativity
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INTERVIEW:
1. What or who inspired you to start writing?
All the authors I read as a kid. The local library was at the end of our very quiet street, so I was allowed to go there by myself from a young age onwards and I devoured most of their collection. Writing stories down never was a conscious decision, it was just something I did. I couldn’t tell you when I started doing it exactly. I guess it was a natural extension of all the reading I did, all the worlds I was always getting lost in amongst those pages. At one point, I simply started creating my own.
Writing this down, I remember a scene from kindergarten that’s actually quite typical of me as a person and a writer. I was aggravating the other kids I was playing with because I felt we needed to know more about what we were playing and our different roles before we could start playing together.
The other kids just wanted to get on with it and play, but I needed to know where we were starting from and how our little story would develop. Who was going to do what, and why? I remember the look on their faces now… Does it come as a surprise that I’m a total plotter?
2. How did you come up with your idea for your journal/planner?
That’s another natural extension, this time of my coaching work. Throughout the years, I’ve come across a lot of struggling writers who need help but can’t afford a regular writing coach, and that’s how I decided to gather all the different material I’d been using in my coaching work. It took me a while to figure out how to format it all, but I had a great team of writers around me at the time who went through multiple versions of it.
Now, I know using this journal/planner isn’t the same as having an actual writing coach, but if you’re serious about overcoming your obstacles and are committed to do the work, I believe it can get you rather far.
3. What expertise did you bring to your writing?
Aside my own expertise as a writer and a writing coach, I let a group of writers test multiple versions of the journal/planner. Each year, I gather a new team around me to test the next version, just to make sure it still serves its purpose in the best possible way.
I’ve made some significant tweaks to the third volume because of the way my coaching changed during the pandemic, so I’m sure you can imagine how letting yet another team of writers go over it and use it for a while was extra important to me this year. After all, while I might use the journal/planner myself too, I didn’t design it for me. I made it for all those who needed coaching in a more accessible format.
4. What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?
That I’m much better at editing existing words than writing new ones, which makes me a really slow writer. The one time I produced work fast was when I was co-writing a lesbian romance series, which was published under the pen name Heather MacLee.
My co-author excelled at producing first drafts at a high speed but couldn’t plot for the life of her. Nor did she enjoy the editing process. I, on the other hand, love plotting and nothing makes me happier than attacking a page already filled with writing. It was a win-win situation, really.
Unfortunately, it means I’ll never be one of those authors who can steadily produce a fiction book or more per year by herself, but I’ve made my peace with it now.
5. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
I love being organised, but I have yet to sit down and plan for 2022. There’s so much I want to do next year, but I’m beginning to see I can’t do it all in one year. In five, maybe.
Of all the things I want to be doing, some of my priorities are updating the first two volumes of 52 Weeks of Writingwith the questions I’m asking in this new version. If all goes according to plan, the journal/planner will also be translated in French, German, and Dutch, but that’s far from set in stone.
As for my other non-fiction branch, I’ll be continuing the series I started on the Tarot’s suit of Wands and the chakra system, Seven Simple Spreads. If you’re into divination at all, you should definitely check those out.
Of course, I’ll also be working on my fiction every morning for an hour, slowly but steadily ;)
6. Can you give us a sneak peek into this book?
Of all the prompts and exercises included in the third volume, I think this might be my favourite:
Are you allowed to excel? To succeed? Plenty of writers struggle with fear(s) of failure, but a lesser-known fear is that of success.
Quoting A Course in Miracles, Marianne Williamson reminds us that ‘our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure’.
Grab your journal or open a new document on your computer and set your timer to fifteen minutes. Now be honest with yourself: Have you given yourself permission to excel?
If not, do it now. Write it down and stick it next to the permission slips you’ve created during the first two weeks.
This fear Marianne Williamson describes I’ve known for as long as I can remember, and it felt like such a relief to read those words when I did. I always thought something was wrong with me, but when I read this chapter of A Return to Love, I not only, finally, had the words to describe what I’d been feeling for a long time, but I also realised I wasn’t alone in this.
During the pandemic, and this is one of the reasons I made those tweaks in the third volume, that fear seemed more palpable than ever. One way or another, I suddenly recognised it in each of my clients. It was more present within myself as well. Suddenly, it seemed we all felt that much more ashamed, guilty, when things were going fine, or better than fine. Because who are we to not fall apart when everyone around us is? Who are we to have any kind of success when people around us are dying, losing their jobs, struggling to put food on the table? Who are we to do great things amidst so much fear and pain and uncertainty?
It’s why I included this particular prompt in this volume, because there’s no better time to be reminded of that right—to excel, to succeed—than now, when having such ambitions might feel so much more selfish and self-indulging than they usually do. We’re on this planet for a reason and it’s not to waste away our talents and keep ourselves small. So please, go ahead and give yourself permission to do brilliant things already.
7. Do you belong to a critique group? If so how does this help or hinder your writing?
I don’t anymore, but I used to sit down with a friend every couple of weeks to discuss the chapters we’d written since we last met. I also used to be active on Scribophile, until my editing business took off and I couldn’t find the time anywhere to critique people’s work for free.
These days, I have a very select group of writer friends I swap work with. It’s not the same as a critique group, since we only pass each other full manuscripts, but I find it very helpful in this stage of my career, the same way being part of a critique group (or couple) was when I just started taking writing seriously. I also use beta readers to learn what is and isn’t working in my work.
I don’t think my writing would be anywhere near to where it is now if it hadn’t been for all these people taking the time to read and comment on my work. And for all the works in progress and manuscripts I’ve critiqued and edited myself. That said, when you’re looking for a critique group or partner, make sure they’re a right fit. I’ve had a few mismatches over the year and it can be highly demotivating, which beats the entire purpose.
8. Do you outline your books or just start writing?
Even though outlining seems to be in my blood, I didn’t use to outline. I’m still picking up the pieces from the first novel I ever finished, trying to fix it. That’s me being stubborn, because many writer friends have told me to throw it out and just start over. Instead, I created an outline for it after finishing and am now trying to fit all the pieces in and fix all the story threads that don’t quite overlap because, well, I didn’t outline it.
I’m never writing anything without an outline ever again.
9. How do you maintain your creativity?
By reading a lot of books. And editing a lot of books. I live close to the beach and I go down there as often as I can to blow away the cobwebs and ground. Music inspires me too. Sometimes, I find myself stuck and then a song comes on and I know exactly how the rest of a scene or a chapter needs to be, or even an entire character arc. Talking about writing is another way I invite the muse in, which is why being part of a critique group can be useful too.
But perhaps the best way I maintain my creativity is by having a steady practice. The more I create, the more creative I feel. After a lull, inspiration doesn’t strike me as fast as it does when I’m already creating something else.
10. Anything else you might want to add?
Can I end the interview on one of my favourite quotes from the third volume? It’s by Neil Gaiman:
Because somewhere out there is someone who needs that story. Someone who will grow up with a different landscape, who without that story will be a different person. And who with that story may have hope, or wisdom, or kindness, or comfort. And that is why we write.
If you ever find yourself in doubt when writing (and you will), write this one down somewhere where you can see it and keep reminding yourself. This is why we write.
BLURB:
‘A brilliant, supportive, challenging workbook, highly recommend.’ Jamie Sands
You, too, can become the writer you’ve always wanted to be!
The 52 Weeks of Writing Author Journal and Planner:
• makes you plan, track, reflect on, and improve your progress and goals for an entire year long;
• invites you to dig deep through thought-provoking prompts and exercises; and
• helps you unravel the truth about why you aren’t where you want to be.
Two years after publishing the first volume of 52 Weeks of Writing, writing coach and writer Mariëlle S. Smith brings you the updated third volume. Similar in style but reflecting the tweaks made to her coaching practice during the pandemic, 52 Weeks of Writing Vol. III is even better equipped to help you get out of your own way and on to the path towards success.
Ready to start living your writing dream? Order your copy now.
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EXCERPT:
WRITING PROMPT
Each writing prompt is optional. If, for whatever reason, it does not speak to you, let it be. Who knows? It might make more sense to do the prompt later in the process.
Take a moment to reflect on all the writing goals you've set for this year. Now,
grab a piece of paper and write down the following words:
I give myself permission to create.
Once you're done, stick it in a place where you'll see it daily.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Mariëlle S. Smith is a writer, writing coach, and editor. She lives in Cyprus, where she organises private writer's retreats, is inspired 24/7, and feeds more stray cats than she can count.
Contact Links
Website: https://mswordsmith.nl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mswordsmith
Blog: https://mswordsmith.nl/blog/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18455235.Mari_lle_S_Smith
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariellessmith/
Other(s): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtnYOpjmj83mvMM2L348F1w
Purchase Links
All purchase links can be found on https://mswordsmith.nl/journal
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Weeks-Writing-Author-Journal-Planner-ebook/dp/B081Y6ZMPY/
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:
Mariëlle S. Smith will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4009
