Encouragement – Christine Smith

2024 in Review // Stories, Writing, Life, & Lessons

Post published:December 10, 2024
Post category:Encouragement Fangirling Life Reading
Post comments:8 Comments

2024. What a year it's been. I cannot claim it's been my favorite year. There have been a lot of hardships in these almost 12 months. But goodness has there been so much growth and blessings in all of it. The countdown to the end of 2024 is upon us, and as we're rapidly reaching 2025, I've been doing a lot of reflecting on the year. This year was one of stretching. Of finding contentment in the hardships, seeking peace in the storms, and being brave in each day. I cannot claim to have handled it all with grace and…

2023 in Review // My Favorite Things, Writing Highlights, & Growth

Post published:December 4, 2023
Post category:Encouragement Fangirling Life Reading Writing
Post comments:9 Comments

2023—a year of unexpected blessings and reaching for new dreams and mourning losses and praising God for renewal and failing and learning and so very much growing. It was a year of life. And though some (read: many) days were hard, there were blessings in it all, and I am grateful for each day given. Somehow we have reached the final stretch of 2023 and I'm looking over at March like, "Weren't you just here?" But my word chosen to live by for 2023 was PRESENT. I tend to fly through my days, always looking ahead and never stopping to…

{Hello 2022} Finding Enjoyment in Every Moment

Post published:January 31, 2022
Post category:Encouragement Life
Post comments:28 Comments

Happy 2022, my friends! A shiny new year has dawned with infinite possibilities and grand adventures ahead. I have officially returned from my long hiatus recharged, full of ideas, and so very happy to be back in the blogosphere with all of you. Breaks are most fabulous things, but how I miss the world of blogging when I’m gone. It was, indeed, a beneficial break though. After a happy Christmas break spent with family and a January of plotting out the year and digging into some exciting projects, I am feeling so very energized and truly ecstatic to tackle All…

Realm Makers 2020 Thoughts

Post published:September 21, 2020
Post category:Encouragement Life Writing
Post comments:32 Comments

Back in July, I attended Virtual Realm Makers and though it was vastly different from in–person Realm Makers, it still blessed me more than I can express. Not to mention vaulted me to the end of this first round of rewrites for The Nether Isle. So yes, this post is some 2 months late, but a wizard arrives precisely when he means to between a hiatus, book reviews, finishing rewrites, The Silmaril Awards, and just processing, well, a LOT, it’s taken me this long to at last recap my virtual writers conference experience. You’ll forgive me, yes? *puppy dog eyes*…

In Which I Got Rejected

Post published:April 20, 2020
Post category:Encouragement
Post comments:51 Comments

Rejection—it’s something we all have to experience, especially if you’re a writer. Unfortunately, it comes with the profession. But, believe it or not, rejection can be a POSITIVE thing. Whether you’ve submitted pieces to magazines, entered writing contests, queried agents and publishers, or just gotten a bad review on your already published work—chances are, if you write, you’ve experienced some form of rejection. I think you all know I’m pursuing traditional publishing. Or shall I say, I’ve wanted to pursue traditional publishing all my life. But let’s be real, guys, the publishing industry is a scary place. The immense amount…

Take Your Time: Thoughts and Encouragement for the New Year

Post published:January 21, 2019
Post category:Encouragement
Post comments:31 Comments

I feel like the last week of December is a peaceful, fun time, as we’re enjoying that final bits of Christmas without the bustle of getting ready for Christmas. A time to take a moment to cling to the last remnants of the year, before school and work and life take over once more. But then January 1st hits and it’s like the lulling roll of the train screeches to a sudden halt and you must leap out with the crowd and run, run, run or you’ll be behind, the whole year will be ruined, everyone will be ahead of…

Brief Hiatus Notice + Some Thoughts

Post published:July 16, 2018
Post category:Encouragement
Post comments:39 Comments

I know what you’re thinking. “Didn’t she just return from a hiatus???” Erm. Yes. Yes I did. I had no intentions of going on another one, buuuuut prep for Realm Makers (the writing conference I’m going to, if you’re not sure what I’m talking about) has sucked up all my time. Like all of it. Even time I don’t have. Which means I’ve had to make time and, unfortunately, that means not making blog posts. Because I’m pathetic and it takes me almost an entire day to write most of my posts. (No joke…) And since I still haven’t found…

Interview with Kate Marie – Creator of The Bubblegum Rebellion

Post published:February 19, 2018
Post category:Encouragement
Post comments:45 Comments

I have some delightful stuff going on with the blog today! My dear friend and fellow writer/blogger Kate from Story and Dark Chocolate has recently launched a new website. But it’s more than that—it’s a revolution. Introducing… THE BUBBLEGUM REBELLION What is The Bubblegum Rebellion? Let me share Kate’s own words about it: “ The Bubblegum Rebellion isn’t about your average revolution. It’s not about anger or defiance. Rather, this rebellion is a dare. A dare to live differently. To rebel harmlessly. To conquer winsomely. The Bubblegum Rebellion is about dancing even when others stop to stare and you let…

Self-Love vs. God’s Love

Post published:January 29, 2018
Post category:Encouragement
Post comments:45 Comments

“Believe in yourself.” | “Make yourself happy first.” | “Treat yoself.” | “Love yourself first. | “Be who you want to be.” | “You’re worth it.” Do some of these look familiar? Maybe you’ve seen quotes like this on Pinterest in front of a pretty, inspiring background. They’re common things to see on posters and makeup commercials, scattered about on Twitter and Instagram, hear people say on Disney Channel, or just passed from one person to the next. They’re motivating, right? Make you feel good about yourself. How about this one? “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man…