Ben

Dad of three. Writer of words. I make myself laugh more than what would be considered normal. Gym, Golf and LUFC.

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

Nice little walk out yesterday in the sunshine.

Never noticed there was an old phone box being used as a library so close to home.

#library #phonebox #OldfieldLibrary

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

@roving_thinker Crime and Punishment
1984
The Blade Itself

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

@HouseOfHorrorCo Bram Stokers Dracula
The Crow
Evil Dead

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

@historyrock_ My favorite song of all time

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

@Kershaw444 I’m thrilled with what we’ve accomplished so far.

BUT! We need the same intensity as the second half at Man City again, the “fuck it, let’s get this done” attitude that turned our season round to begin with.

Also, Tanaka and Longstaff need to start.

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

@LUFC @ConnorMOT92 I just wanna say how happy I am that Tanaka is starting! #ALAW #MOT

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

Storm lit ruins breathe,

A city lost to the past.

Shadows follow all.

#AmWriting #WIP #AuthorsOfX #Haiku #WritingCommmunity #Writer

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

#ALAW #MOT

[Leeds United @LUFC]

@EmiratesFACup Anton Stach

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

Wind guards stale darkness,

History reaches for them.

Memory beckons.

#writingcommunity #amwriting #WIP #haiku #writers #writersoftwitter

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

Dead ground underfoot,

Life struggles to take a hold.

The past waits to speak.

#writingcommunity #amwriting #WIP #haiku #writers #writersoftwitter

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

Blood flows back to dirt,

Grief pushed down deep inside.

Vengeance rides the wind.

#writingcommunity #amwriting #WIP #haiku #writers #writersoftwitter

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

Lanterns glisten bright,
Sea air breathes in darkness.
Trust weaves through the night.

#writingcommunity #amwriting #WIP #haiku #writers

[J.A. Konrath @jakonrath]

14 Brutal Mistakes New Authors Make in 2026

1. A bad book cover. It will kill your sales before anyone even reads the first sentence.

2. A bad first sentence. Or first paragraph. Or first page. Or last page. Or any page. Don't write shit.

3. Trying to find an agent. Don't waste the time and energy. I had 500 rejections before I found my agent. This was in 1997, ten years before Amazon created the Kindle. If it's a good book, self-publish it on Amazon. Sell a ton and agents will seek you out.

4. Entering writing contests. Don't. Just don't. You should never spend money to be read, especially by folks who make money running contests. I say this as a former Writer's Digest judge.

5. Signing deals with vanity presses. A real publisher doesn't charge you for anything. If a publisher wants money, run. Which circles back to:

6. Don't pay for help. Self-pubbing on Amazon is free. Formatting can be challenging, so pay for that if needed, or take a day and learn how to do it yourself. Exception; unless you are a graphic artist, you should find a pro to do your cover art. Everything else is a slippery slope. Editors for hire? Join a local writers' group instead. Proofreaders? They're helpful, but AI is free. Manuscript doctors? If they were good, they'd be making money selling books, not charging authors.

7. Reading your reviews. I've had thousands of bad reviews. Everyone has an opinion. Don't take it personally. But if you aren't averaging at least 3.5 stars on Amazon and Goodreads, then maybe your book isn't ready for readers and you need to work on getting better.

8. Going wide. You should stick with Amazon KDP and enroll in KDP Select. You earn more than selling on all the other platforms combined. It's annoying that Amazon KU requires exclusivity, but that's the way it goes.

9. Going to writing conventions and conferences and expecting to sell enough books to pay for the trip. If you want to travel and get on some panels and hang out with peers, have at it. They're fun. But unless you are already a name author, you're not going to move many books.

10. Book signings. They are soul crushing. If fans want an autograph, offer signed books for sale on eBay. I signed at over 700 bookstores. It was great to meet readers and booksellers, but it was brutally hard and did not move the sales needle much.

11. Hoping for awards. You don't need the approval of your peers. Respect the fans you make, treat everyone with kindness, but don't worry if the cool kids clique doesn't accept you. They actually aren't that cool. They are frightened, needy, and riddled with self-doubt; just like you.

12. Making bookmarks. No one wants your bookmark. Have you ever bought a book because the author gave you a bookmark? No. Stop spending money on bookmarks and postcards and business cards and giveaways. They don't work.

13. Comparing yourself to other authors. Envy is the enemy of self-worth. You are unique in the world, and your journey is yours alone. The only one you should compare yourself to is the person you were a year ago. Are you a better writer? Have you gotten more words on the page? Are you working even harder? Compete with that person, not your peers.

14. Giving up. Life is hard. Everyone has been telling you that your whole life, because it's true. Writing is a brutal career, and it has ups and downs... mostly downs. You only lose if you stop trying. Don't be a loser. Work like this shit matters, because it does. You can't expect readers, and the world, to care if you don't care.

Fight like hell.

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

With that, I think Act One is actually finished.

Fourteen chapters split into 30,603 words.

Bring on Act Two 👊🏻

#amwriting #writingcommunity #writersoftwitter #WritingCommunity

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

Moonlight paints their path,

Home behind, but truth ahead.

Hope rides through the night

#writingcommunity #amwriting #WIP #haiku #writers

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

Relief heals the soul,

The wind brings with it new gifts.

One more night of peace.

#writingcommunity #amwriting #WIP #haiku #writers

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

Shock and surprise meet,

Deaths grip clings to the living.

Hope is still alive.

#writingcommunity #amwriting #WIP #haiku #writers

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

Relief floods like hope,

Reunion breathes back life.

Thoughts turn to the fallen.

#writingcommunity #amwriting #WIP #haiku #writers

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

@HJamesWrites Beyond Relika - Fantasy

1. Magic may not be forgotten
2. An ancient force resurfaces.
3. Familial bonds broken.
4. Found family.
5. Sprawling adventure
6. Hidden evil.

[Ben @BenSmithWriter]

Words cling to cold stone,

Hidden intentions now clear.

Night brings solitude.

#writingcommunity #amwriting #WIP #haiku #writers