Christine Smith

How to Achieve Great Story Pacing with “Character Fireside Chats”

Post published:June 11, 2018
Post category:Writing
Post comments:40 Comments

For the past few years I’ve discovered my love for modern stories—whether they be TV shows, movies, or books—has decreased. For a bit, I couldn’t figure out why. So many had unique premises, exciting plots, interesting scenery. On the surface, everything seemed as though these should be enjoyable stories. Yet…I couldn’t fall in love with them. And it bugged me. So me, being the writer I am, began to dissect these stories and figure out WHY. Why did these tales with such great potential fall so very short? Then, finally, finally, it hit me. The pacing was off. That was…

Lifely Recap – Finishing Edits, Lots of Painting, Even More Fangirling, and I’m Back!

Post published:June 4, 2018
Post category:Life
Post comments:54 Comments

WELL HELLO THERE. Guess who’s back from her hiatus???? Did you miss me? Did you even notice I was gone? Do you even remember who I am? Do *I* remember who I am? *has mini existential crisis* Ahem. Anyways! Apparently May is no longer with us (wow, that sounds like May got murdered or something. Then again…that would explain why it just vanished suddenly, hmmmm), and since I did say I would be returning in June, well, HERE I AM. And my goodness, have I missed you guys! I feel like so much has happened since I was last here…

May Hiatus Notice

Post published:May 1, 2018
Post category:Uncategorized
Post comments:35 Comments

Hello, my dears! Happy May to you all! (*pretends I’m not freaking out over the fact that it’s already May when it should still be February or something*) If the post title and big picture above isn’t clear enough… I’m going on hiatus for the course of May. I hate to do it. I always hate going a while without blogging. Buuuut Realm Makers is looming. (Like seriously, we’re less than 3 months away, people!!!) Annnnd I have much RM prep that still needs doing. Including finishing up edits for Burning Thorns. My original plan was to really focus on…

What If…? Fantasy Tag

Post published:April 30, 2018
Post category:Fangirling Reading
Post comments:31 Comments

I think at this point it’s pretty common knowledge that I fail at keeping up with tags. (You should see the amount of tags I have bookmarked that I’m supposed to do…) Buuuut I love tags, and some come my way that I know I MUST do. Basically if they involve books, fantasy, or characters, I’M IN. Well guess what? This tag features ALL THOSE THINGS. The What if…? Fantasy Tag was originally created by the lovely Jenelle Schmidt for her awesome February is Fantasy Month celebration. And it’s still toootally February right? Right??? (Please leave me in my delusions.)…

Beautiful People – Favorites Edition {And the FINAL Beautiful People!}

Post published:April 23, 2018
Post category:Writing
Post comments:30 Comments

My absolutely favorite blog linkup is ENDING. And I’m a blubbering ball of sadness. *cue the waterworks* I’m sure most of you know about Beautiful People—a linkup hosted by Sky @ Further Up and Further In and Cait @ Paperfury, in which each month they ask questions for us to answer about our story characters. Talking about my characters (or, ya know, ANY fictional characters) is my favoritest thing on this earth, so naturally I was alllll about this linkup! And GUYS, I’ve been doing it since my first year of blogging. Since before Cait was one of the hosts and…

7 Things in Fiction I Wish to See More Of

Post published:April 16, 2018
Post category:Reading
Post comments:90 Comments

Looky here, another list of 7! I make no apologies. Lately I’ve been pondering stories (lol like I ever think about anything else), and was thinking about the types of things I wish I found more of within the fictional world. There are a looooot of things that bother me about the fiction we’re fed these days (which I’m sure you’ll get plenty of posts about ‘cause that’s who I am as a person), and there are a loooot of things I want but don’t find too often. SO THAT’S WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY. 7 things I wish was…

{Book Review} The City Beyond the Glass by Suzannah Rowntree

Post published:April 9, 2018
Post category:Reading
Post comments:22 Comments

As a daughter of nobility in Renaissance Venice, Gemma Caloprini must marry - or die behind convent walls. When an unwanted betrothal goads her to defy her father, she risks her most dangerous secret: the Glass Doge, a sinister nobleman living behind the glass of her mirror. Now Gemma faces a brutal dilemma. If the suitors competing for her youngest sister's hand discover her secret, she'll be locked in a convent. If the Inquisitors find out, she'll burn as a witch. And if she can't pay her debt to the Glass Doge, she'll lose her soul forever. THE CITY BEYOND…

Five Ways To Expand Your Story

Post published:April 2, 2018
Post category:Writing
Post comments:42 Comments

Some of you may know that my current WIP, Burning Thorns, was originally a 20k novella that I later turned into a full novel. That was my first time ever doing anything like that. I’ve always written novels, but I’ve never turned a novella/short story into a novel. It was a new experience. But it went well. Surprisingly well. That little 20k novella is now a 95k novel and I’m currently editing the 3rd draft. Crazy what little story ideas can become, amIright? I probably should have done a post like this during the expansion days (that was like 2…

The Spring Cleaning Writerly Challenge Tag

Post published:March 26, 2018
Post category:Writing
Post comments:41 Comments

Can you guys believe we’ve made it to spring? (Probably not judging by the frigid temperatures…) Hoooow is it nearly April? Pretty sure Christmas was yesterday! But since spring is pounding on the door like an uninvited guest (seriously, I want it to still be January!), I suppose I better let it in and offer it cookies and tea or something. (Please don’t waste your precious lives trying to make sense of my analogies.) In honor of spring arriving and the urge to spring clean, my frabjous and brilliant friend Deborah O'Carroll has created a spring cleaning tag. But we’re…

{Sage Blog Tour} Interview with Jamie Foley + Giveaway!

Post published:March 19, 2018
Post category:Reading
Post comments:26 Comments

GUUUUUYS. I AM SO EXCITED!!! Like five-year-old-in-a-candy-store pumped. Why? Becaaaause… Sage, book 3 of the Sentinel trilogy, has just released!!! OKAY. SO. You’ve probably seen me talking about this trilogy on multiple occasions for months on end now. I first read Sentinel (book #1), last summer and instantly fell in love. I then proceeded to devour the prequel novella, Viper (though I believe it’s titled Vanguard now) and the second book, Arbiter. In which I wept once I was done because I had read all the books available and book #3 wouldn’t be out for a while. BUT IT IS…