Maria A Smith
@mariaasmith.bsky.social
Writer of dark fiction, urban fantasy and paranormal, enjoys mind mapping and journalling too.
New garden in 2024, and also new to watercolour painting. Wishes she could draw!
Motto - Stay Curious.
New garden in 2024, and also new to watercolour painting. Wishes she could draw!
Motto - Stay Curious.
Sign the Petition
Save Melton Theatre
c.org
October 22, 2025 at 10:50 PM
I’m learning to draw and paint. It’s not natural to me but it’s good to step outside of your comfort zone isn’t it? 🤣
February 5, 2025 at 11:45 PM
I’m learning to draw and paint. It’s not natural to me but it’s good to step outside of your comfort zone isn’t it? 🤣
I ate a huge fruit scone earlier today - it made my tea cup look very small indeed.
I have to say, it was delicious. 😋
I have to say, it was delicious. 😋
January 22, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I ate a huge fruit scone earlier today - it made my tea cup look very small indeed.
I have to say, it was delicious. 😋
I have to say, it was delicious. 😋
Caved and gave in to the chocolate! #smallpleasures
January 16, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Caved and gave in to the chocolate! #smallpleasures
Reposted by Maria A Smith
Unsolicited writing advice, #17171617:
Don't just write. Read books. Watch films. Look at paintings and sculpture. Play games. Go to plays. Listen to music. Think about how these things make you feel.
Making art is a two-way stream. To make art, you have to consume art.
Don't just write. Read books. Watch films. Look at paintings and sculpture. Play games. Go to plays. Listen to music. Think about how these things make you feel.
Making art is a two-way stream. To make art, you have to consume art.
January 13, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Unsolicited writing advice, #17171617:
Don't just write. Read books. Watch films. Look at paintings and sculpture. Play games. Go to plays. Listen to music. Think about how these things make you feel.
Making art is a two-way stream. To make art, you have to consume art.
Don't just write. Read books. Watch films. Look at paintings and sculpture. Play games. Go to plays. Listen to music. Think about how these things make you feel.
Making art is a two-way stream. To make art, you have to consume art.
Come along writerly friends, put you thoughts down for the good of us all.
MORNING WRITERS - I HAVE A QUESTION! I’m putting together this year’s content for The Write Place YouTube channel. What #writing topics and #writingadvice should I be covering? #writingcommunity
a cartoon of spongebob saying " tell me " with his mouth wide open
ALT: a cartoon of spongebob saying " tell me " with his mouth wide open
media.tenor.com
January 13, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Come along writerly friends, put you thoughts down for the good of us all.
This is FREE and informative.
Thank you @wakellyauthor.bsky.social
I need to get back in track. #amwriting
Thank you @wakellyauthor.bsky.social
I need to get back in track. #amwriting
Writer pals! How has your writing year started? I created this FREE Writer’s Survival kit to help keep us all on track. Grab it here - bit.ly/writeordiesi... #writers #writing
January 13, 2025 at 3:32 PM
This is FREE and informative.
Thank you @wakellyauthor.bsky.social
I need to get back in track. #amwriting
Thank you @wakellyauthor.bsky.social
I need to get back in track. #amwriting
Saturday reading. How minuscule changes can grow into life-altering outcomes.
P.S. The coffee and cake is fuel. 😀
P.S. The coffee and cake is fuel. 😀
January 11, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Saturday reading. How minuscule changes can grow into life-altering outcomes.
P.S. The coffee and cake is fuel. 😀
P.S. The coffee and cake is fuel. 😀
And there my friends, is the truth of the matter.
I wish you all a Happy and Healthy 2025.
I wish you all a Happy and Healthy 2025.
January 1, 2025 at 12:51 PM
And there my friends, is the truth of the matter.
I wish you all a Happy and Healthy 2025.
I wish you all a Happy and Healthy 2025.
Ooer here’s an idea to bring you some cheer.
December 31, 2024 at 9:41 AM
Ooer here’s an idea to bring you some cheer.
Reposted by Maria A Smith
"It has been a year of many surveys. Many … have examined what authors earn. Many … what we think about … AI. These are important topics, but … What do authors spend on editing, marketing, and cover design?"
selfpublishingadvice.org/favorite-sto...
#Writers #Authors #WritingCommunity #Writing
Favorite Stories of the Year: Author Spending, Marketing Trends, and More in Self-Publishing News with Dan Holloway
Survey findings reveal one of Dan Holloway’s favorite stories of the year: insights into spending trends on editing, marketing, design.
selfpublishingadvice.org
December 26, 2024 at 5:07 PM
"It has been a year of many surveys. Many … have examined what authors earn. Many … what we think about … AI. These are important topics, but … What do authors spend on editing, marketing, and cover design?"
selfpublishingadvice.org/favorite-sto...
#Writers #Authors #WritingCommunity #Writing
I bet a few people giggled when they read this… I know I did!
How to be a Writer, #28367
Look at calendar.
Boxing Day, hooray. Day of rest, and leftovers, and mince pies, and taking it easy in front of the TV.
Open laptop
Look at WIP
Just once
One more time
Four hours later: WTF?
It happened again, didn't it?
Tea
Look at calendar.
Boxing Day, hooray. Day of rest, and leftovers, and mince pies, and taking it easy in front of the TV.
Open laptop
Look at WIP
Just once
One more time
Four hours later: WTF?
It happened again, didn't it?
Tea
December 26, 2024 at 7:55 PM
I bet a few people giggled when they read this… I know I did!
I was kinda shocked at the Christmas meal.
December 20, 2024 at 9:34 AM
I was kinda shocked at the Christmas meal.
When I first came on here I thought how refreshing not to have all those hateful posts. Just lately I’m noticing a lot of the same hateful topics have wheedled their way over here. 😢
December 20, 2024 at 9:18 AM
When I first came on here I thought how refreshing not to have all those hateful posts. Just lately I’m noticing a lot of the same hateful topics have wheedled their way over here. 😢
Reposted by Maria A Smith
This morning I saw a post from an author talking about their book
I am already aware of their book and when I see them post about it I'm usually like "I should pick that up."
But THIS time their post caught me at the right moment and I bought the book.
PLEASE YELL ABOUT YOUR BOOKS. Thank you.
I am already aware of their book and when I see them post about it I'm usually like "I should pick that up."
But THIS time their post caught me at the right moment and I bought the book.
PLEASE YELL ABOUT YOUR BOOKS. Thank you.
December 18, 2024 at 2:18 PM
This morning I saw a post from an author talking about their book
I am already aware of their book and when I see them post about it I'm usually like "I should pick that up."
But THIS time their post caught me at the right moment and I bought the book.
PLEASE YELL ABOUT YOUR BOOKS. Thank you.
I am already aware of their book and when I see them post about it I'm usually like "I should pick that up."
But THIS time their post caught me at the right moment and I bought the book.
PLEASE YELL ABOUT YOUR BOOKS. Thank you.
Watching friends play Pádel in the sunshine whilst getting my steps in too!
December 18, 2024 at 12:46 PM
Watching friends play Pádel in the sunshine whilst getting my steps in too!
Loving listening to The Cages playing live at lunchtime. Lots of tunes from the 1980’s -
I’m in Spain so this is not an everyday occurrence. Normally, I’d be in the gym around now. 😜
I’m in Spain so this is not an everyday occurrence. Normally, I’d be in the gym around now. 😜
December 17, 2024 at 2:12 PM
Loving listening to The Cages playing live at lunchtime. Lots of tunes from the 1980’s -
I’m in Spain so this is not an everyday occurrence. Normally, I’d be in the gym around now. 😜
I’m in Spain so this is not an everyday occurrence. Normally, I’d be in the gym around now. 😜
Sharing this with my writerly peeps.
Starting to make think about those New Year's Resolutions for your writing? Then @drrachelknightley.bsky.social will be leading a four-week course that could be just the thing for you... www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/realise-yo...
December 15, 2024 at 6:51 PM
Sharing this with my writerly peeps.
It’s been a relaxing kinda Sunday, which has given me space in my head to get organised for the week ahead.
Feeling well and happy.
Might even play a game of online Scrabble before I retire for the evening.
Feeling well and happy.
Might even play a game of online Scrabble before I retire for the evening.
December 15, 2024 at 6:50 PM
It’s been a relaxing kinda Sunday, which has given me space in my head to get organised for the week ahead.
Feeling well and happy.
Might even play a game of online Scrabble before I retire for the evening.
Feeling well and happy.
Might even play a game of online Scrabble before I retire for the evening.
We desperately need to get our children reading.
This is a wise essay by Neil Gaiman on how there is no such thing as ‘the wrong book’ for younger readers and what is important is to establish the habit of reading for pleasure. www.theguardian.com/books/2013/o...
Neil Gaiman: Why our future depends on libraries, reading and daydreaming
A lecture explaining why using our imaginations, and providing for others to use theirs, is an obligation for all citizens
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2024 at 10:03 AM
We desperately need to get our children reading.
Today is a kinda of Curried Cauliflower Soup Day.
So unusual for me…
So unusual for me…
December 14, 2024 at 2:16 PM
Today is a kinda of Curried Cauliflower Soup Day.
So unusual for me…
So unusual for me…
An interesting road to publication.
Last year, I was interviewed by Sri Lankan journalist about writing romance. She asked me relevant questions, which allowed me to rant about a genre I love (but wasn't allowed to read when I was young).
www.themorning.lk/articles/5KX...
www.themorning.lk/articles/5KX...
‘Romance is the only genre judged by its worst examples’
Romance is a genre that tends to be seen as frivolous easy-reads in the world of fiction, with many judging readers and writers of the genre rather unfairly. However, it is a genre
www.themorning.lk
December 11, 2024 at 10:52 AM
An interesting road to publication.