Today we’d like to introduce you to Riley Smith

Hi Riley, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I’ve always been a writer. As far back as I remember, I was performing and reading and, as soon as I could figure out how to hold a pencil, writing.

I fed that passion exhaustively in college, but after I graduated, I felt dissatisfied. Like a lot of people, my day job was leaving me too tired to do the things I loved. In my case, that was comedy and writing. I was pushing myself to do some projects, but mostly, I felt too depressed to get anywhere near my goals.

Long story short, I shifted my life to make room for creativity. And as I talked more with my friends, I realized most of the people I knew had the same kind of problem: after college, making time for creative pursuits feels nearly impossible. It’s like after you pass 22, we expect people to take out their art and put it on a little shelf for the rest of their lives, and maybe you can do something in retirement if you’re lucky!

I couldn’t stand the thought of all these creative, inspiring people putting their passions to the side. So I started MakeGood Creative Network.

We’re here to help indie and amateur artists stay inspired, feel better, and make more stuff.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

We’ve definitely hit some challenges! For example, I put in a ton of work on one of our products. I collaborated with a really smart, talented creator to make it happen. Working together, it took us over a year, maybe two years total.

I was so excited to launch the product. I was really confident that it would help people.

But we launched it, and we haven’t sold one single unit. That’s NO SALES.

That was hard to grapple with. But it taught me several important lessons, not least of which is: design with customer ease in mind. I have since come up with several ways to redesign the product that will help people use it more easily, and will hopefully increase sales.

But it was a good lesson, because it made me slow down and take a second to think about what I really want MakeGood to do for people.

We’ve been impressed with MakeGood Creative Network, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

MakeGood Creative Network provides support for indie and amateur creators so they can stay inspired and make more stuff. We have big ideas for the future on how to make that happen, but for now, our main offerings are:

1. Free video, blog, and PDF resources to answer common questions and provide inspiration. This is by far our most popular stuff so far.

2. Product guides, like the Be More Creative activity guide and the How to Nail Your First Audition actor’s guide.

3. Access to the Members’ Network, currently a FB group where you can ask questions, get support, and share wins with other creators.

There are a lot of coaching services out there, but what I think sets us apart is our lack of toxic positivity. I have PTSD and ADHD, so I recognize how hard it can be to have all these big goals while struggling with mental health or managing neurodivergence. This is reflected in all of our products: I recommend reasonable steps, offer ways to break things down so they’re more manageable, and encourage without telling you to just magically be better.

Also, our products are more accessible than most other coaching services. We don’t hide stuff behind huge paywalls. Our most expensive item is $10. Maybe that makes us seem like we’re “lower value,” but I don’t care. I want the majority of people to be able to afford our support.

The last thing I’ll mention is that we’re made by an artist for artists. I am a writer and comedian who has transitioned from being a busy businesswoman to a full time creator. That’s why I keep the price low and our language honest: because I’ve been there, and I’m still there.

Who else deserves credit in your story?

My partner Gennady deserves a huge round of applause. He’s always supportive and pushes me to keep going. If I have a dream, he’s there to talk about it, edit any writing involved, and remind me to get back on it. He’s especially helpful if something flops or isn’t going well. He’ll just say, “Well, try something different.” He’s tested and read pretty much everything I’ve made. That kind of support is unmatched.

I’ve also been lucky enough to work with many wonderful collaborators. Juan Sebastian Cruz is a Houston-based actor who provided much of the knowledge for our Audition guide. Yena Han (actress/hand model), Jill Tenney (actress/director), and Kristin Mothersbaugh (actress/spiritual business owner) all created their own videos to share their expertise on our channel.

Besides that, I’m just generally inspired by our Network Members. We have fashion designers, theater producers, artists, poets, musicians, and more, and they’re all making stuff and making the world a better place. When I think about them, I know I’ve got to get back to work and do what I can to help.

Pricing:

• Blog/video resources – FREE
• Helpful guides – FREE
• Be More Creative adventure guide – $10
• How to Nail Your First Audition guide – $10
• Network Membership – FREE with purchase of guide

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.makegoodcreativetips.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makegoodnetwork/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/makegoodcreativenetwork
• Twitter: https://x.com/MakegoodNetwork
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJmaQoUDPgviJSRojFngs3w
• Other: https://linktr.ee/makegoodcreativenetwork

Image Credits

Riley E. Smith
Shutterstock