Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kia Smith . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Kia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

Aside from creating me, one thing my parents did 100% right was support me in all my endeavors. Growing up, I had a lot of friends and peers whose parents had their whole lives planned out for them. As a result, many people I know only do certain things because their parents wanted them to.

As for me, my parents always encouraged me to follow my dreams and do what makes me happy. They always let me know that I didn’t have to stay stuck anywhere I did not want to be and that they were always proud of me. That type of support and encouragement goes a long way, especially because we live in a world full of people who are fearful and timid when it comes to following their dreams. Some parents may mean well, but by instilling fear into a child, they then become adults who need everyone else’s approval when they do something. To me, that sounds like a miserable life to live.

I make my parents proud by showing up as my authentic self and relentlessly pursuing my passions.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Kia Smith, and I’ve been a writer for over half my life.

Writing came about in the most natural way for me, by simply filling up college-ruled notebooks with stories, poems, haikus, and even songs. It served as a form of escapism for me which went hand in hand with my addiction to curling up with a good book and reading for hours on end. Eventually, I got around to sharing my writings with my classmates and enjoyed seeing their reactions to the stories I weaved together.

Little did I know my passion for escaping between notebook pages would eventually be something I pursued as a career.

When I was 15, I joined an afterschool program called True Star and blossomed into a young journalist, writing articles and interviewing notable people. Almost three years after that, I started a blog where I commented on different social issues and pop culture and a YouTube series where I interviewed local Chicago artists and entrepreneurs. That was my thing for a while, but eventually, I stopped interviewing and just focused on writing, rebranding into more of a lifestyle blog where my niche was writing about love and relationships.

Throughout the years, I’ve freelanced for different publications, but what I am most proud of is making my childhood dreams come true by becoming a 2x self-published author in 2020 and 2021. I always knew I would write books, just never knew when but those years were the perfect time to do it since the world was in semi-lockdown.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative person is the impact of my work on people. Creating started as a form of escapism for me. An outlet of everything in my head that I don’t always get to share with people around me. That can get lonely at times, so I had no idea that people would one day relate to my words or to how I’m feeling.

Even if it is just ONE person, I know I’ve done my job my first sharing, and then inspiring or encouraging someone.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Before I depart from this Earth, I want to follow all my heart’s desires. The cool thing about being a writer is that I don’t have to stay in a box.

My favorite thing about being a writer is how many things it can transcend to.

You can write:

– a song
– a film
– a tv show
– a love letter
– a blog post
– an article
– books

Honestly, anything!! And that’s the rawest thing because you don’t gotta stay in a box.

So, that’s what drives me. I’m here to enjoy myself, the impact I make is an extra blessing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kiasmithwrites.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kiasmithwrites/
• Twitter: @KiaSmithWrites_

Image Credits
Sterling Gilmore