We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hope Smashey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hope, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

No matter what your creative area of interest is, it is always important to first learn the craft. As a writer, I love reading books on the writing craft. There is so much to learn! Back in 2017, I graduated with my BA in English, a concentration in Creative and Professional Writing, and a minor in History. Learning and practicing the writing craft did not end there. Over the years, I have read a variety of books on the writing process. Last year, I became acquainted with James Scott Bell’s work. If there is one thing I recommend for aspiring writers, it is to read James Scott Bell’s books on the writing craft. Also, The Creative Penn podcast by Joanna Penn is another excellent resource for individuals interested in the writing industry. If finances allow, search for writing classes taught by people in the industry. I did this last year. I took an Introduction to Screenwriting class with William Rabkin, and it was the best class I have ever participated in. So always be on the lookout for learning opportunities. If you want to excel in your field of interest, you want to prepare yourself by mastering the techniques and skills needed to succeed.

Hope, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My mission is to entertain individuals through stories that inspire. I love the creative process. My current goal is to be able to turn my writing interests into an income producing activity. At the moment, I do still work a part-time job as a Reference Research Assistant, and spend the other half of my time pursuing my entrepreneurial writing interests. One of the consistent messages about making it as a writer is to diversify your income streams. So, in addition to writing fiction, I have also started a blog called Travel Destinations with Hope. Blog writing is a great way to produce content to share with the world. I love writing on my blog and sharing travel recommendations with others. Blogging also gives writers the opportunity to push past the fear of sharing their writing with the world. I think most writers, including myself, question whether their writing is good enough. However, like President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Blogging allows writers to confront that fear and push past it by producing content and sharing that content. One of my goals for 2024 is to build my blogging business. I also want to continue working on my scriptwriting interests because my long term goal is to write, produce, and act in my own scripts.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

This is such a great question. When I decided to cut back to part-time at my regular job so that I could pursue my creative interests, I quickly discovered that non-creatives struggled to understand why I would give up a full-time position just so that I could pursue my own creative interests more. The truth is creating takes time. It was hard at first when some people I knew tried to dissuade me in my decision, but switching to part-time was one of the best decisions I made. The lesson that I hope all creatives will be encouraged by through this story is this: don’t be afraid to pursue the dreams in your heart–even when those around you don’t understand. This is your dream not theirs. Not everyone is going to understand your dream, mission, and passion. That’s okay. You have to believe in your dream. You will be the one taking the risks, making decisions, and acting on those decisions. How do you know you’ve made the right choice? Well, that’s hard. For me, my faith helps me in my decision making process. If I have peace in my heart, then, I find courage oftentimes accompanies me as I step out into new opportunities. My recommendation is consider your long term goals. What steps do you need to take to reach those goals? Then, evaluate your current situation (financial, employment, etc.) and decide what you need to continue doing and what things you need to adjust in order to pursue your creative interests. Don’t be afraid of what others say. This is your life. You can decide what kind of life you want. No journey is easy–especially for creatives. It’s going to take time and patience. In life, we don’t get blueprints clearing outlining the paths we need to take, but if we can take baby steps towards our creative dreams, at least that is something. You’ll be one step closer to fulfilling your creative mission, and while you are waiting, learn all you can about your subject.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love the creative process. Don’t get me wrong. Writing is hard work, and it can be frustrating. Still, I love the challenge. It’s so rewarding to brainstorm a story and type those words on a document. Actually, today, I finished my first draft of my very first script for a TV pilot I have been envisioning. I loved being able to sit down and let my imagination go wild as I wrote the first draft. Sure, I know there will be lots of edits to make, but I am excited about that part of the process too. I think writing is rewarding because there are different levels to completing a manuscript. Each level offers a new challenge. It allows me to use my critical thinking skills in different ways than I normally do. It’s almost like a game. I love asking two questions: how can I make this story better and how can I make these characters jump off the page?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://traveldestinationswithhope.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traveldestinationswithhopeblog/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hope-smashey-5b2183a5/