GoodReads has a whole section on quotes about writing by household names like Stephen King and Annie Dillard and Mark Twain. Hemingway and Faulkner and Salinger jump in, too. Some quotes are wise, like Sylvia Plath’s assertion that “the worst enemy of creativity is self-doubt” and some are blunt like Chuck Wendig’s “try very hard not…
Author: Maggie Smith
We’re All In This Together
The other day I got a note from a writer friend saying how much they appreciated how I supported my fellow authors. In fact, I host a podcast that’s centered around that very idea. Hear Us Roar, a program sponsored by the Women’s Fiction Writer’s Association, gives a showcase to its members when they publish…
Six Things I’ve Learned about Writing from Binge-Watching Reality TV
Everyone is hunkered down at home with time on their hands. Yet many of us are finding it difficult to put words to paper and instead are hauling out puzzles, posting pet videos, and inventing recipes based on whatever we have in the fridge. Me? I’m shamelessly binge-watching shows that highlight creative types, from Netflix’s…
How to Get Great Blurbs
Okay, maybe Oprah won’t welcome you with open arms onto the pages of her magazine, but you’ll still want endorsements from influencers before your book hits the shelves. BookBub and others have shown book descriptions featuring blurbs by reputable authors receive 30% higher click rates on selling platforms, so it’s a definite plus, particularly for…
Help Friends Review Your Book
The woman in your choir read your debut and identified with the main character’s challenges. Your child’s homeroom teacher raved about your ending, said it made her cry. Your aunt brags to all her friends about her talented niece, the novelist. Problem is, not one of them has ever written a review and posted it…