Colby R. Rice's Blog

Are you a creative person looking for the right side hustle? Then you’ve come to the right place. Side hustles have gained a lot of traction in the last few years, and rightly so. They allow you to explore a passion that you’re interested in and make money from it. You can even then turn it into a full-time gig. Let’s take a look at some ideas for you to try.

1. Sell Your Art and Crafts

Firstly, it might be the case that you want to sell your art or any crafts that you create. If you are very artistic, you like to draw, paint, or you are into crafting, you could consider selling some of the things that you create. Of course, some people are very protective about their work, but if you know that you want to turn something that you love doing into a side hustle to make money from, this is always a great place to start.

2. Start a Blog

The next idea for you to consider is blogging. If you are passionate about a set subject or you enjoy writing, starting a blog is a great idea. You can get started with minimal cost and create a hub on the internet that allows you to talk about all the things you enjoy. And the best part is, you can turn it into a full-time career too. There are plenty of ways to monetise a blog, meaning you could start to generate an income pretty quickly.

3. Get into Game Creation

If you’re someone who loves gaming, then why not consider creating your own? It may seem like a lot of work goes into game design, but everyone has to start somewhere. If you are passionate about gaming and you have your own ideas for what could make a great game, it’s time to do something about it. You could look at a game design course, look into finding the best game server hosting, and get your plans underway. When you’ve created your final game design, it will all feel worth it.

4. Go Freelance

The next option is for you to become a freelancer. Maybe you like the idea of starting a side hustle that you can then go into full-time. If flexible remote working appeals to you, freelancing is great. You can become a freelance writer, a designer, a consultant, or many other things. Here, it’s all about finding the type of freelance work that suits your skillset and your interests, and just getting started. 

5. Launch a Passion Project

Lastly, you could also consider launching a passion project. This might be something that you start as more of a hobby, and because it’s something that you want to do. However, you can quickly turn it into a side hustle that makes you money. This is a great option if you’re not sure what you want to do. Maybe you like music or art, writing or anything in between. Getting started just to get it off the ground and seeing where it takes you could really work for you. And then before you know it, you’ll be able to monetise your passion and turn it into the creative side hustle of your dreams.

The post Want a Creative Side Hustle? Here’s 5 Ideas to Try first appeared on Colby R. Rice.

Hey Team! I’m back from magical Alaska and fantastical Canada (actually got back 7/25)! Then I got OBSESSED with the #2024Olympics and all the #BlackGirlMagic we got to see there, and I enjoyed feeling patriotic for like, 2 weeks, lol.

Now, I’m back in the swing of things, and GASP! Am I actually starting to feel like I want to make… goals?

::lightning strike::

Find out in today’s episode of The Epic, Fantastical Journey of a Black Female Sci-fi Writer.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

00:00 – Picture Time: My Trip to Alaska & Canada!
00:40 – My Favorite Places in Alaska & Canada & Souvenirs
06:09 – I’m BACK + My Intro! + I’m Still Just Chillin’…
07:30 – …but I THINK I’m starting to want “Goals” again! ::gasp!:: + Fall is Coming and I’m Stoked!
11:14 – My #1 Priority is STILL Self-care.
12:03 – The Beginning of My Gardening Hobby!
13:21 – Making Creative Writing a Daily Habit… because Writers Write!
14:25 – Writing the ASYLUM Series & The Books of Ezekiel Series, Working as a Freelance Screenwriter, and Worldbuilding/Plot-weaving/Character-building for my other series… and the Importance of Consistently Getting Words on the Page
17:48 – Omg, I actually have a GOAL, y’all! ::gasp:: ::lightning strike:: Tabling at 2025 New York Comic Con
18:40 – The Journey towards 100 Books and Leaving a Legacy as a Writer
20:12 – Living Out My Divine Purpose… what’s YOUR Divine Purpose?
24:43 – The Worst Kind of Death + Walking in the Light of Your Own Truth + Listening to Your Inner Compass
27:18 – Mini-Goals ::gasp!:: for the Next Few Weeks
30:40 – What’s Coming for Vlogging, Podcasting, and Social Media (for Me)?
32:30 – Take. It. Easy. Y’all.
33:24 – Colby, Signing Off!

MY 2024 “GOALS” SHORTLIST:

I DON’T HAVE ANY! Lol. I’m slowly stepping away from traditional goals (at an 90% level). But if you really need “a list”, here it is:

Mini Goals!Building my writing habitContinue worldbuilding, plotting, and character designFinish my screenwriting assignment for a clientKeep my projects on schedule at workRevamping social media, bookstore, Rebel Ragdoll fashion merch storesRamping up (slowly) the business and marketing side of Rebel Ragdoll Press & Rebel Ragdoll FashionSlowly building more brand awareness through social media and content marketingLeisure and pleasure. Reading books. Horseback riding. Painting. Drawing. Creative Writing. Gently. Joyously. Writing books. Gently. Joyously.Writing/developing TV shows. Gently. Joyously.Fashion Design.Filmmaking.Working on my businesses. Gently. Joyously.Playing more video games. WAY more. (Shout out to upcoming titles Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Star Wars Outlaws!)Journaling. Prayer. Reflection. Sleeping and naps. Tea time and coffee time.Baking. Cookies. Brownies.More kayaking!Planning a farmhouse cottage. Spring colors. Flowers. Garden. Orchard. Greenhouse. Horses. Chickens.Listening to Sade and summer cottage ASMR.This wasn’t in the podcast, but maybe collecting more vinyls, too!BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: Demon’s Dream by Elle Kayson Crave by Tracy Wolff (Book 1) Crush by Tracy Wolff (Book 2) A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass (Whole Series!) Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (Whole Series!) Apprentice: The Last Witch of Rome by Rhett Gervais

xo,
Colby

—
The Podcast: http://www.colbyrrice.com/the-epic-fa...
My Author Website: http://www.colbyrrice.com
My Novels: http://bit.ly/ColbyRRiceAmazonAuthorPage
Support the F’empire on Patreon: http://patreon.com/colbyrrice
My FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/ColbyRRicePage/
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColbyRRice
My Instagram: https://instagram.com/colbyrrice

The post CEFJ #118 Traveling to Alaska & Canada & The Rebirth of My Goals? (8/18/24) first appeared on Colby R. Rice.

::singing:: “It’s been awhile…” Yup, and frankly, I’m super lucky to be here. And grateful, and thankful. And I’ve learned a LOT of lessons from my experiences in the past year and a half. So grab your tea (or coffee, or wine, or daiquiri), and nestle on in.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

00:00 – Allow Me to Re-introduce Myself!

What Happened in 2023?
01:16 – The last time I saw you, this is what I said my goals were. (aka, What happened to being a Dean?) (Apr-Jun 2023)
03:06 – 2023 Summer Fun! Travel. Cruises. Suntans. Horseback Riding. KAYAKING, which I now love! (Jun-Aug 2023)
06:20 – Then, I got sick. REALLY sick… then I got better… BECAUSE I LEFT MY JOB. (Oct 2023 – May 2024)

And Now That We’re In 2024…
12:35 – Lesson Learned: Stress kills. It almost killed me, and never will again. Do NOT let it kill YOU. 
15:55 – Gentle & Joyous Creation: My New Life Mantra, lol
21:20 – I stopped “doing”, and started “being”
22:14 – …but art is still very important to me. So is leisure and pleasure!
23:02 – My New Era!
26:16 – Colby’s “Ultimate Leisure & Pleasure Wish List”. Creating with no end goals, no end game.
33:25 – Being Creative Shouldn’t Be Painful.
38:04 – Saying Goodbye to Goals (mostly), and Hello to… Dumps (LOL! It’s not what you think!)
44:55 – “It’s a Beautiful Morniiiiiinn’….” – Controlling how chaotic the chaos makes you feel.
46:35 – Things I’m working on this week + I GOT A SCHOLARSHIP TO THE ROCABERTI WRITERS’ RETREAT IN EUROPE! I’ll be going to Spain in 2026!
49:14 – My Unsolicited Advice for All Artists
51:00 – I’m headed to Alaska next week!! WOOT!
52:10 – Colby, OUT!

MY 2024 “GOALS” SHORTLIST:

I DON’T HAVE ANY! Lol. I’m slowly stepping away from traditional goals (at an 90% level). But if you really need “a list”, here it is:

Leisure and pleasure. Reading books. Horseback riding. Painting. Drawing. Creative Writing. Gently. Joyously. Writing books. Gently. Joyously.Writing/developing TV shows. Gently. Joyously.Fashion Design.Filmmaking.Working on my businesses. Gently. Joyously.Playing more video games. WAY more. (Shout out to upcoming titles Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Star Wars Outlaws!)Journaling. Prayer. Reflection. Sleeping and naps. Tea time and coffee time.Baking. Cookies. Brownies.More kayaking!Planning a farmhouse cottage. Spring colors. Flowers. Garden. Orchard. Greenhouse. Horses. Chickens.Listening to Sade and summer cottage ASMR.This wasn’t in the podcast, but maybe collecting more vinyls, too!BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: Crave by Tracy Wolff (Book 1) Crush by Tracy Wolff (Book 2) A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass (Whole Series!) Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (Whole Series!) Apprentice: The Last Witch of Rome by Rhett Gervais

xo,
Colby

—
The Podcast: http://www.colbyrrice.com/the-epic-fa...
My Author Website: http://www.colbyrrice.com
My Novels: http://bit.ly/ColbyRRiceAmazonAuthorPage
Support the F’empire on Patreon: http://patreon.com/colbyrrice
My FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/ColbyRRicePage/
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColbyRRice
My Instagram: https://instagram.com/colbyrrice

The post CEFJ #117 2024 is Hitting Different! Gentle and Joyous Creation (7/4/24) first appeared on Colby R. Rice.

 

No matter how confident you are, how cool you look, and how much you have to stay, strutting your stuff, acting, performing, or presenting on stage can be nerve-wracking for the best of us.

 

Even iconic figures well-respected in their field will often say they feel a little worried before a big show. Of course, you would be silly not to given how many eyes are looking at you. That said, small pre-show anxieties are usually surmountable and even completely normal. However, it’s when the stage fright prevents us from performing or even having the confidence to head out on stage that such an issue becomes a problem.

 

In this post, then, we’ll discuss three simple but effective antidotes to stage fright that shouldn’t impede your performance. After all, unhealthy methods, like taking a quick shot of alcohol, are hardly helpful if you’re about to give a TED Talk presentation or discuss your business acumen in a forum of professionals. With that in mind, please consider some of the following tips:

Deep Breathing Techniques

You’d be surprised at how well breathing techniques can help you in this instance. Your breath is more than your respiratory system, but also your composure and sense of presence, there with you since birth. That’s why it’s good to learn breathing techniques, such as deep, slow-counted breathing, to feel more centered. When we’re anxious, our breathing tends to become quick, hurried and shallow. Five minutes of deep, controlled breathing before heading onto that stage can only be helpful and also helps you feel control of the situation.

Herbal Anti-Anxiety Helpers

Taking medication, unless prescribed by your doctor, is not always a good substitute for exposure therapy and being confident. That said, it may be that you have a healthier alternative. Some herbal remedies can help reduce anxiety and help you feel more alert and focused. While caffeine may help for some, jitters can only make you feel a little more anxious along with the euphoria. Instead, valerian root, which is known to calm anxiety, and CBD products can be a helpful natural alternative. You don’t have to use these all the time, but a little helper when you’re most nervous just to soothe yourself very lightly can make a huge difference.

Posture

Research suggests that dominant postures actually help you feel more authoritative and in-control. After all – what does an athlete naturally do when they win a race or come first in an event? They throw their hands up in an act of defiance, showing that they’re the victor, they’re capable, they’ve achieved their goal. That shows just how much posture affects our mood. As such, using “power postures” in our daily life, or at least backstage (or in the restroom where no one is looking), can help you snap out of your embarrassed, curled-in physical state and instead physiologically believe that yes, you’re worth it, and you deserve to express yourself on that stage. 

 

With this advice, you’re sure to implement three simple but effective antidotes to stage fright. As time goes on, this should be less of a worry, and will always remain under control.

Happy New Year, lovelies!

This is my first vid of the year… and I’m not ashamed, lol. Been busy, and yes, tired as well. But I’m steadily making my way through 2023, working towards my goals one step at a time! This is what I got done:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 – Intro
01:57 – Why and How I Chose My 2023 Goals + My 2019-2023 Writing Journey
05:57 – My Goals for 2023
08:00 – The Evolution of My Writer Brand & Focus
11:46 – What I Accomplished in Q1 2023
—– 12:00 – #1 The Bohemian Badass: Prepping for the Launch of My First Course(s)
—– 16:03 – #2 Getting Clear on My Goals, Habits, and Processes
—– 18:46 – #3 Relaunching & Refocusing on My Author/Novelist Career (and WHY I Stepped Away from Writing in 2019!!)
—– 24:53 – #4 Built My Online Bookstore for Selling My Novels Direct! + Cleaning Up My Online Spaces & Social Media, Revising My Marketing Methods
—– 26:28 – #5 Hosted My First Author Giveaway (the #FutureIsFemale Giveaway) in SIX YEARS! And It Was FIRE! And super diverse, which I love!
—– 24:29 – #6 Joined a Bunch of Author Promos, Swaps, Features, and Sales Promos + More Novel/Author Marketing Stuff
—– 32:08 – #7 Personal Development, Self-care, and Health/Wellness
33:50 – My First Year as Dean of Students & Enrichment… CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! And My Philosophy on What We Do as Educators. Some Creative Accomplishments of Note:
—– 34:20 – Journeys and Successes in Leading Film & Theatre Club, Author’s Circle, and the School Store and What We’re Planning for all 3 at the End of the Year!
39:14 – Creative Goals for Q2 2023!!
41:15 – Sign Off and Smooches! (Keep writing!)

MY Q2 GOALS SHORTLIST:
1. Finish solid, sexy draft of the WHEN IN ROHM feature film
2. Publishing FRATERNITY, which is Book #4 of The Books of Ezekiel series
3. Finish creating my “Plot like a Badass” course materials in preparation for my BOHEMIAN BADASS brand & business launch the weekend of 6/17-6/19
4. Finishing my first year as Dean of Students & Enrichment strong:
— 4A. Helping my students to publish their first book, as well as hosting a book reading, signing, and book sale
— 4B. Helping the School Store at my school to become more self-sufficient and streamlined and hosting our first School Store auction
— 4C. Ensuring that our Enrichment Department finishes strong and ready for next year
— 4D. Creating a student culture & systems plan for 23-24
5. Take better care of myself, aka GET MORE SLEEP!

Phew! On the journey of 1000 miles, but I’m still walkin’. Thanks for walking with me, lovely!  

xo,
Colby

—
The Podcast: http://www.colbyrrice.com/the-epic-fa...
My Author Website: http://www.colbyrrice.com
My Novels: http://bit.ly/ColbyRRiceAmazonAuthorPage
Support the F’empire on Patreon: http://patreon.com/colbyrrice
My FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/ColbyRRicePage/
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColbyRRice
My Instagram: https://instagram.com/colbyrrice

Happy New Year, lovelies!

This is my first vid of the year… and I’m not ashamed, lol. Been busy, and yes, tired as well. But I’m steadily making my way through 2023, working towards my goals one step at a time! This is what I got done:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 – Intro
01:57 – Why and How I Chose My 2023 Goals + My 2019-2023 Writing Journey
05:57 – My Goals for 2023
08:00 – The Evolution of My Writer Brand & Focus
11:46 – What I Accomplished in Q1 2023
—– 12:00 – #1 The Bohemian Badass: Prepping for the Launch of My First Course(s)
—– 16:03 – #2 Getting Clear on My Goals, Habits, and Processes
—– 18:46 – #3 Relaunching & Refocusing on My Author/Novelist Career (and WHY I Stepped Away from Writing in 2019!!)
—– 24:53 – #4 Built My Online Bookstore for Selling My Novels Direct! + Cleaning Up My Online Spaces & Social Media, Revising My Marketing Methods
—– 26:28 – #5 Hosted My First Author Giveaway (the #FutureIsFemale Giveaway) in SIX YEARS! And It Was FIRE! And super diverse, which I love!
—– 24:29 – #6 Joined a Bunch of Author Promos, Swaps, Features, and Sales Promos + More Novel/Author Marketing Stuff
—– 32:08 – #7 Personal Development, Self-care, and Health/Wellness
33:50 – My First Year as Dean of Students & Enrichment… CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! And My Philosophy on What We Do as Educators. Some Creative Accomplishments of Note:
—– 34:20 – Journeys and Successes in Leading Film & Theatre Club, Author’s Circle, and the School Store and What We’re Planning for all 3 at the End of the Year!
39:14 – Creative Goals for Q2 2023!!
41:15 – Sign Off and Smooches! (Keep writing!)

MY Q2 GOALS SHORTLIST:
1. Finish solid, sexy draft of the WHEN IN ROHM feature film
2. Publishing FRATERNITY, which is Book #4 of The Books of Ezekiel series
3. Finish creating my “Plot like a Badass” course materials in preparation for my BOHEMIAN BADASS brand & business launch the weekend of 6/17-6/19
4. Finishing my first year as Dean of Students & Enrichment strong:
— 4A. Helping my students to publish their first book, as well as hosting a book reading, signing, and book sale
— 4B. Helping the School Store at my school to become more self-sufficient and streamlined and hosting our first School Store auction
— 4C. Ensuring that our Enrichment Department finishes strong and ready for next year
— 4D. Creating a student culture & systems plan for 23-24
5. Take better care of myself, aka GET MORE SLEEP!

Phew! On the journey of 1000 miles, but I’m still walkin’. Thanks for walking with me, lovely!  

xo,
Colby

—
The Podcast: http://www.colbyrrice.com/the-epic-fa...
My Author Website: http://www.colbyrrice.com
My Novels: http://bit.ly/ColbyRRiceAmazonAuthorPage
Support the F’empire on Patreon: http://patreon.com/colbyrrice
My FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/ColbyRRicePage/
My Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColbyRRice
My Instagram: https://instagram.com/colbyrrice

Whether you specialize in novels, short stories, or poetry, you’ve struggled through writer’s block at least once. Even if your creative endeavors are just a hobby, it’s still incredibly frustrating. No matter how hard you try, you cannot get words on the page, and even if you manage to do that, you delete them almost immediately. But, as frustrating as writer’s block can be, there are also ways to overcome it. If you’re finding it difficult to finish your latest project, consider these five tips to beat writer’s block.

Get A Change Of Scenery

If you spend all day sitting in your office or bedroom trying to write, you will always struggle to maintain motivation. Anyone struggling with writer’s block should try a change of scenery to give them a fresh and exciting perspective. A change of scenery is also great for stress relief, especially since you’re probably worrying about finishing your project on time. Go for a walk or visit a cafe with your notebook and see what your surroundings conjure. 

Read, Watch, Listen

Creative people need other sources to boost their creativity. Whether you love to read, listen to music, or watch movies, you can take inspiration from other media to help you get to the next part of the story. It’s best to focus on something related to your genre or theme so fantasy writers should put the Lord Of The Rings trilogy on for the one-hundredth time. While you need to be careful about stealing ideas or downright plagiarizing, this technique can help you overcome the problem and find the next thread in your story. 

Just Write 

You might think that writer’s block defeats the point of just writing. After all, you wouldn’t be in this predicament if you could just write. However, you may be focusing on the wrong area. While you may not want to lose focus on your story, using freewriting prompts can unlock the creativity you need to get to the next stage of your story. 

Try to Make It a Habit

Habits breed consistency, and it might just be that you’re not writing often enough to maintain your momentum. Setting aside time each day, such as writing at night, can keep the story fresh in your mind, helping you consider the next stages of the tale throughout the day. By the time you get to your desk, you already have the next chapter mapped out.

Take Some Time to Unwind

If you spend all day worrying about your projects, you are not giving your brain the chance to unwind. Instead of fretting over character arcs and tying up loose ends, give yourself a break. You can Buy Delta 9 Products, hang out with friends or family, and switch your brain off. This should help you recharge, and you’ll be ready to finish your story tomorrow.

Break Down the Walls 

Even if you aren’t entirely happy with what you’ve written, getting over the psychological hump of writer’s block is what’s most important. These tips can help you beat the tricky parts and hopefully unlock the secret that has been slightly out of reach for so long.