We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jennifer Smith a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jennifer, thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.
As the author of “The 56 Tips to Dolo Dating” and the content creator for all visuals on the “Dating is in the Details” Instagram page, I have come across my fair share of creative blocks. When ever I get in to one of those ruts, a do a few things to get over the hump. First and foremost, I change my environment. Whether that is finding a new office, coffee shop, or friend’s house to go work I make sure I am not experiencing the same 4 walls when creating or writing. New environments can spark new ideas so I tend to move around or find a place to people watch to keep my mind from stalling. Second, I pause on creating new work and shift my attention to work I’ve already completed. There is power in re-reading or re-experiencing work you’ve already created. It gives you a sense of accomplishment, it can remind you of material you wanted to expand on, or it can simply make you laugh and remind you how good you are at what you do! Lastly, I beat creative blocks by ditching the formality of it all and just do. Creating the material by simply living it is a sure way to give you the material you need. “The 56 Tips to Dolo Dating” is a journal that takes a reader through solo (dolo) date suggestions to explore as a form of self love. As I was writing the journal, I had to remind myself to do just that! The material was going to come from doing and not just writing.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am known for solo (“dolo”) travel and outings! These adventures sparked an idea to create “The 56 Tips to Dolo Dating” in the form of an expanded journal that not only shares my adventures but also encourages you to create your on. I noticed that many of us enter into friendships, relationships and even parenthood without fully appreciating what it means to date ourselves. This journal starts with a personal story and my definition of “dolo dating”, moves into some misconceptions around taking yourself on a date, then goes through 56 tips / date ideas to do just that.
Although I am viewed as “the life of the party” to some, I truly enjoy alone time as a form of self care. There is so much power in navigating this world independently, without relying on someone else’s schedule, budget, or attitude. Ask yourself, “Are you co-dependent on your friends or your spouse”? When was the last time you went out by yourself”? If you don’t like your answers to those questions, you should buy my journal.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities come to mind when I think of how I started this journey; confident, adventurous, and a “know it all”. My confidence to try something new and not be scared of the outcome made the difference for the initial “just start” thought. Not too many people in my immediate circle has written books. I didn’t know where to start but I knew my voice was needed in this world. Whether I am New York Times Best Seller or a modest Etsy Seller, I am just proud that I took a chance on my self. I am confident that someone out there will explore every single dolo date idea and in return have many memories to share with self and others. That is what it is all about.
Adventurous because I love trying new food, music, atmospheres, cultures, all of it. Of course, I have some favorites but I always tell myself that you can’t have an opinion on something if you’ve never tried it. I try to keep that in the front of my mind when going on my dolo dates.
Lastly, being very detailed oriented and pretty much a “know it all” gave me the skill to research different events, pop up shops, activities, etc., going in in my city. With that, of course I wanted to go experience them! Again, I emphasize that not everyone was willing or could come to the random adventures that I found so I went by myself. Doing the proper research saves money and has the potential to create a safer “dolo” adventure.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I would love to partner with the Office of Tourism for various cities around the world. As a solo traveler of color, I would love to highlight the many great things your city has to offer through my unique POV. If you are looking for a content creator to cover the hidden gems, restaurants, or unique experiences in your city or town please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @DatingIsInTheDetails
- Other: Purchase “The 56 Tips to Dolo Dating” https://www.amazon.com/Tips-Dolo-Dating-Jennifer-Smith/dp/B0BRDJ1GBH
