 Between 2000 and 2003 he studied English literature at the University of East Anglia, where he set up a small poetry press called Egg Box Publishing.Egg Box published a number of new poets, including Richard Evans, Ramona Herdman and poetry collective Aisle16, and continues to add to its list of books.In October 1998, Smith published a creative writing guide, "Inspired Creative Writing", for Infinite Ideas Ltd. A follow-up guide, "Writing Bestselling Children's Books" was published in July 2007.