This is the week where Americans sit down around the dining room table, look at the people around them, and think “who are these guys?” Seriously, in two more days, we’ll all take a breather from everyday life and stop our incessant worrying about our next novel, our faltering ad campaign, the agent who hasn’t…
Author: Maggie Smith
The Joy of Promiscuity
Are you a monogamous writer? You get up every morning and all you can think about is the one novel, the one poem, the one essay you’re trying to write to the exclusion of all else. If a news item sparks a what if scenario, or a fascinating character comes to you in a dream,…
How Genre Can Drive Your Book’s Success
It’s a common lament among writers: Why is genre important? Can’t I just write whatever I want and let the marketplace figure out how to classify it? Or perhaps: My work is a mix of genres. I don’t want to be pinned down. I like to mix it up. Let’s look at why genre is…
The Challenge of Chit-Chat
With the RMFW 2023 Conference right around the corner, it’s time to think about one of the most important aspects of a gathering like this—networking! And not just with your fellow fiction writers but with industry professionals as well. You’ll have opportunities to pitch agents, ask questions of publishers, and listen in on panels with…
What The Great British Baking Show Taught Me About Writing
It All Begins with Preparation One of the first things you notice about the show is that all the ingredients and the equipment the baker will need for the challenge is already there at their table. That prep work helps the contestants stay focused. No scrambling for cream or flour – it’s at their fingertips….