I read the memoir, 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹 a couple of years ago and was stunned by its beauty. I then had the privelege of “meeting” the author via zoom at @zibbyowens book retreat in November. I walked out of the session so inspired by Maggie’s creative mind and amazed at just how damn smart she is.

I am not at all interested in becoming a writer. But I obviously love to read. I love language and words and what happens when beautiful words are strung together. Each section of this book begins with a letter to “Dear Writer” from Maggie. It then highlights different principles of writing and includes examples of her own writings demonstrating each principle at work. Suggested reading and writing activities are included in each section.

I appreciated the “inside baseball” look at the steps a writer takes to create. You absolutely don’t have to be a writer to enjoy this book. Anyone that loves to read or create would gain lots by reading this.

Maggie Smith is a gift as is this latest book of hers. While I'm not "a writer", I like to write for no other reason then to express myself in a way I can't seem to orally. This book is filled with inspiring ways to stay in the moment and appreciate beauty, tips and ideas for writing and receiving inspiration, and contains so many excellent resources to learn more. There are exercises to do and lovely anecdotes from her own life which I relish reading. A great graduation gift or gift to that person in your life you adore. Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy.

A must read for writers of all stages! This felt more like having a writing coach in your back pocket as Maggie shares her best encouragement and writing exercises. Very accessible and easy to read!

“But even when the world lets me down, even when it isn’t what I want it to be, I find things to love and to be grateful for.“ 🤍 @maggiesmithpoet

Maggie writes about “beauty emergencies” — the moments that stop us in our tracks — that call us to look and listen and be astonished. A sherbet sunset. A toddler’s waddle. Unexpected wind-chimes or woodpeckers. When the world keeps letting us down — it’s even more important that we stay awake and open to beauty — and keep showing up to create and share. This book is a comforting guide and companion for the writers, the poets, the feelers, and the makers. For those who are paying attention and practicing creativity — even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.

“If you love the world, give it the gift of your attention.”

DEAR WRITER releases on April 1st and if you’re a kindred spirit, you’ll want to preorder this one. Thank you, @netgalley & @atriabooks for this early copy.

This guide explores ten essential elements—such as wonder, vision, and tenacity—to help you unlock your creativity through insightful essays and writing prompts for artists of all levels. More inspiration than practical advice for commercial authors, it’s self-consciously literate and doesn’t address the needs of authors seeking to make a living from their writing.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Lovely book that gives supportive advice for writers and other creatives. Anecdotes from the author's life are a nice addition to the chapters and help to further expand on the concepts. Nice book overall!

Maggie Smith's "Dear Writer" is a literary compass that gently guides you through the labyrinth of the writing life. As you flip through its pages, you'll find yourself nodding in agreement, scribbling furiously in the margins, and feeling a renewed passion for your craft.

Smith's approach is refreshingly unique in the crowded landscape of writing guides. She doesn't just preach from a pedestal; she sits beside you, a fellow traveler on this writerly journey. Her breakdown of writing lessons feels like a series of intimate conversations, each one peeling back another layer of the creative process.

The book's structure is a testament to Smith's understanding of the writer's psyche. She alternates between sage advice and thought-provoking prompts, creating a rhythm that keeps one engaged and inspired.

One piece of advice that resonated deeply was Smith's emphasis on embracing vulnerability in writing. It's as if she reached through the pages, grasped my hesitant hand, and whispered, "It's okay to be afraid. Write anyway." This simple yet powerful message has become my mantra when facing the blank page.

"Dear Writer" has earned a permanent spot on my desk, right next to my coffee mug and favorite pen. It's more than a reference; it's a friend in book form, always ready with a word of encouragement or a gentle push when needed.

Thank you, Atria Books and NetGalley, for my free books.

Dear Writer by Maggie Smith is a gem. Whether you’re a writer or not, you can gain insight from this bestselling author. I can’t imagine there’s anyone who couldn’t benefit from “Pep Talks & Practical Advice For The Creative Life,” which is the book’s subtitle.

Through ten essays, with themes ranging from attention and wonder to vulnerability and restlessness, Smith offers tools especially useful for artists of any type or level. Her writing is encouraging and generous, as she writes with transparency from her own experiences. And, it goes without saying that a poet’s prose is always lovely, so it’s simply a pleasure to read.

Thanks to Washington Square press and NetGalley for the advance review copy.

What a fresh take on writing! Smith’s mix of personal experience and craft tips was the perfect blend.. the”Dear Wrier” letters sprinkled throughout the book were inspiring. I will use thi book when teaching writing classes. Wonderful read.

As a writer, I was instantly enthralled by this book's comps to Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic and Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. I loved the author's description of ten essential elements that comprise creativity. Her use of essays and writing prompts to illustrate each of these elements was very effective! While some craft books are often overwhelming, this book presented the wisdom in a very digestible format that made it easy to apply to my own writing. I was pleasantly surprised and will continue to return to this book to reconnect to my craft!

I really enjoyed reading this. It's focused more on poetry, but the lessons in it are to other forms of writing.

Even though I read an ARC from NetGalley (thank you), I will purchase my own copy to re-read.

Dear Writer is creative, inspiring and full of technical writing advice and tips. It is so well contained in this small book that it is easy to learn from and be driven to make your own work.
I would say reading this book would be helpful for all creatives and not just writers.

Atria Books provided an early galley for review.

As an amateur dabbler in writing, I always enjoy seeing advice from those who do it professionally. Smith's approach here is a collection of standalone pieces on a variety of topics related to the craft. Each is quick, digestible entry that can be sampled and savored in a variety of ways. Although poetry is her primary literary vehicle, much of the advice applies across all forms of the craft. This is one of those volumes that would be beneficial for revisiting periodically, to provide reminders of elements and aspects in need of focus.

This was a fun, quick, and inspiring read! I loved the short letter format, as it made it very easy to dip in and out of the book. I always looked forward to picking it up again. Maggie is a very deliberate and lyrical writer, and I appreciate how she writes with such intimacy. I feel this is a good companion book to Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. (Dear Writer, unlike Big Magic, also includes more specific craft advice.)

I did, at times, think a more apt title would have been Dear Poet, since there is so much focus on poetry. As a novelist, I skimmed some of those parts, and my favorite letters were the ones that applied more broadly to all types of writing. I highlighted many passages throughout the ebook, and they will stick with me. I especially loved what she wrote about allowing other books to give you permission to write certain things, and the importance of writing things that will give that same permission to other writers. That’s been a helpful reframe for me!

I also enjoyed all the book recommendations made throughout!

Highly recommend to any writer.

Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life by Maggie Smith is a must-have resource for all creative people. It contains advice, notes on the writing process, and suggested further reading that I found very valuable and I'm sure I will return to it often in the future.

This book is divided into ten major sections that make up the creative process, which include things like Vision, Vulnerability and Tenacity. Each is then further subdivided into relevant categories along with a writing activity and further reading. Each of these sections start off with personal letter from the author explaining her own process. This was particularly interesting and valuable for me because it often provided me with a new way of thinking about a difficult part of the writing process from the perspective of someone who has been there.

The author not only uses her own work to illustrate the concepts and the tips provided, but also gives detailed recommendations for further reading, which I really appreciate. While these tips are specific to writers, many are relevant and can be applied to other creative endeavors as well. I highly recommend this book to any creative person who could use some guidance and inspiration from someone who has been there. This book is scheduled to be published on April 1, 2025.

Thank you to Atria Books via NetGalley for making this title available for early reading and review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I don't fancy myself to be a writer, though I do write, but I love reading books about the craft and process of writing. Who better than the Midwestern queen, Maggie Smith? No one. I like that this was more about the parts of creativity and not a follow these rules kind of book. Her Instagram is creative and lovely also.

After reading Maggie Smith's memoir, "You Could Make This Place Beautiful", I knew I would pick up anything she writes in the future.

"Dear Writer" is a much different book, focused on her writing process, writing tips, and breaking down the parts of a poem. Although I don't consider myself a writer, I studied English Literature in my undergraduate degree and I wish I had this book in my hands during those 4 years. I would highly recommend this if you are an English major!

Besides her focus on writing, Maggie Smith always inspires the reader and makes you stop in your tracks with her incredible writing style. This book is not only for the writer but for any human who wants to reflect inward.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this incredible book!

There is no doubt that Maggie Smith knows what she is talking about in the realm of writing and her newest book: Dear Writer is filled with some solid advice/exercises that may well be able to help some writers. Where I had issues (and let me stress the I part of that statement, where ‘I’ had issues) is that Maggie is mainly a poet so that’s the main perspective from which she is coming and where her examples come from. And while novelists can still get get something out of this book, not everything translates well to the realm of fiction writing. At least that how it felt to me. Worth reading? Yes. As helpful as many other books I’ve read on the subject? Not so much. At least not for me personally. But as I said, I definitely felt it was worth reading. 3.5 stars (rounded up) Thanks so much to the publisher for allowing me access to an ARC of Dear Writer.

This book really focuses on the writing of poetry, which makes sense considering the author is primarily a poet. But I still found much of it interesting and transferable as a fiction writer and wound up highlighting several passages to refer to again later. It was also nice to get examples of some of the things Smith was talking about via her own (very good) poetry.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.
Dear Author, Thank you for writing such a warm and friendly collection of your writing experiences and work. It felt like I was sitting down to have tea and a chat with you. I know I will need a hard copy of this book when it is published for my reference library. What honest and lovely advice, too! Thank you.