Maggie Smith is one of my favorite writers. I’m drawn to her books because I like her overall philosophy and approach to living life well. For instance, in her poem Goldenrod, she writes about driving on a highway and noticing the beauty of a field of wildflowers along the side the road—something that many of us would ignore or miss. This poem encourages me on even my busiest days to see the extraordinary in the ordinary and to savor the beauty in the world that is always there if only I dare notice it. In her poem Good Bones, she does not promise that life will be easy. In fact, she acknowledges the opposite, that life can hold hardship, cruelty, or even tragedy and pain, but I love that her words bring me back to my most creative self, that even in a world that holds both beauty and brutality, I can be the creator of my own beautiful life. Her poem reminds me that I can choose and construct my own beautiful life not despite but even during the harshest of times. In fact, I often find myself referring back to her words when I’m going through tough times, and I need to be reminded of what is important in life, or that I have it in me to construct the life I want.

Her newest book is Dear Writer. I was excited to hear about her new book and was eager to read it. In this book she goes behind the scenes and shares what inspires her to write, her editing and revising process, and tips for writing well. This book is part writing workshop with writing exercises and reading recommendations, part lecture on craft, and part encouraging words to anyone who wants to write. I was fascinated to hear her writing process behind some of my favorite poems, and the book gave me a deeper appreciation for what it takes for her to write poetry and how much thought is put into each poem. I also enjoyed reading the personal stories behind the poems or when she shared her real life—both the joys and struggles as an artist. I felt that by reading this book I got her honest perspective on how to best live a life of an artist in the real world.

Most of all, I loved that the author chose to write this book as a series of letters. She could have easily written a textbook or even series of essays on the craft of writing, but I was moved by this personal touch where she begins each letter with “Dear Writer” and then signs it “Maggie” with her actual signature on the page. This book is essentially a collection of letters from an experienced writer to new and all writers encouraging them to live their dreams.

While initially one might think that the audience of this book may be writers or artists, particularly poets, I honestly felt that this is the kind of book that everyone could read and benefit from, the kind of book that I would want my own daughter or son to have to take with them through life to inspire them. Many of themes in the book aren’t just about writing. They are about how to live well and be a human being in a world where both the tragic and beautiful exist often simultaneously. The lessons apply to all of us: how to develop your own voice, how to keep a sense of discovery and wonder, how to deal with rejection, how to communicate your ideas well, believing in the value of your own ideas, and most all, how to define your own life with both courage and exuberance. I feel grateful that Maggie Smith wrote this book to inspire us. Thank you Maggie Smith for your kind generosity and the continued positive impact you have on my life and the lives of so many.

I received a free digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A fascinating and intriguing insight into life as a writer. Made me think more deeply about writing as a process and just creativity in general.. Will be buying a hard copy for my friend who's an actual writer unlike me.

Inspiring ,helpful informative Maggie Smith has written a guide that anyone who aspires to be a writer will find extremely helpful.This book is told in an engaging style Maggie Smith never fails to draw me in by her literary style.#netgalley #atria

Both inspirational and shockingly practical for writers who are looking for tips and tricks for strengthening their work. Very motivating and energizing.

Bravo!! I loved this so much, I'm buying a hard copy so I can read it over and over again while making notes in the margins. I've never been much of a poetry fan but Maggie Smith makes both poetry as well as writing feel useful, approachable, mindful, and therapeutic.

I loved how she broke it down and really got into the process of writing, the choices, the 'rooms' etc. I found it to be so helpful and enlightening.

The format of the book is fantastic! It doesn’t feel like a textbook, yet I can see it being used in classrooms worldwide. This work prompted me to think about the numerous choices poets make, how stanzas can act as rooms, and so much more. The recommended reading has my To Be Read pile toppling over. But I'm excited to read them all.

Thank you NetGalley for the sneak peak at this book. It was worth it.

This book was full of inspiration, anecdotes, applicable craft advice, and a reminder that what we do as writers matters. Great read.

Maggie Smith's "Dear Writer" is a gem, but with a catch. The absolute best parts are the suggested readings and writing exercises at the end of each chapter. As a former creative writing teacher, I know how hard it can be to find perfect example texts, but Smith nails it. The exercises aren't your typical "write about your childhood pet" prompts either; they really get you thinking deeply about your creative process and help you develop a consistent writing practice that sticks.

Here's the thing though – Smith is primarily a poet, and it shows (not necessarily in a bad way!). While her insights about creativity are spot-on and the book's framework of ten elements (like attention, wonder, and play) is super helpful, poets will definitely get the most bang for their buck here. If you're working on a novel or creative nonfiction, you might need to do some mental gymnastics to adapt her advice to your needs. That said, I'd still recommend it – just maybe pair it with some genre-specific craft books if poetry isn't your main jam.

what I liked about DEAR WRITER is that it praises and reflects on the process of writing, not the product. it belongs next to ON WRITING, BIG MAGIC, WHY WRITE, & more on your bookshelf. in addition to process, DEAR WRITER also focuses on living: thinking & existing in the world count as writing if you’re a writer, & anyone can be, according to DEAR WRITER. much of the book is addressed to the reader, though given her focus on looking inward, I wonder if Maggie Smith was partially writing to herself. interspersed throughout the book are her own anecdotes, poems, reading recommendation lists, & the occasional writing prompt.

"I explain that people don't become poets. They either, as they grow up, become not-poets, or they stay poets. I told them I hope they would stay poets."

Good. From start to finish this book was just so good. I really enjoy books like this and this is one that I'll definitely be purchasing a physical copy of and re-reading with my highlighters and pens. Good advice for writing and just life in general.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. It is an exciting read about a variety of topics. You could easily read cover to cover or skip around and read the topics you are interested in. In part, it starts with a dear reader and is signed at the end by Maggie.

Dear Writer, by author Maggie Smith, is a beautifully composed book of lucid writing on living the creative life and developing the craft of writing. With writing exercises and prompts spread throughout the book, and with extensive references to further reading materials — this book is an uplifting, thoughtful, creative and incredibly useful writing and reference tool. Smith’s tone is generous, encouraging, and overall optimistic and this book would be a pleasure to return to again and again. I look forward to picking up a treasured hardcopy to add to my personal library when it is published.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, the Author, and Atria Publishers for access to a digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

I love Maggie Smith's work so was eager to read this. "Dear Writer" is well organized and clear, with writing that is very accessible. I also appreciated the reading lists Smith includes throughout and have made multiple notes of things to read. Highly recommended for writers and creatives. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Pub Date: April 1, 2025.
#DearWriter #NetGalley

Engaging and insightful. A recommended purchase for nonfiction collections where writing craft books are popular.

What the author accomplishes in this book is remarkable—she makes poetry and writing feel both accessible and deeply worthwhile.

The format of the book is fantastic! It doesn’t feel like a textbook, yet I can see it being used in classrooms worldwide. This work prompted me to think about the numerous choices poets make, how stanzas can act as rooms, and so much more.

It took me longer to read than I anticipated because I kept looking up the other poems she recommended. Maggie provides such gifts to the reader through her lists of "further reading."

Reading more of Maggie's poetry was a joy, and I found myself approaching her poems with new insights, thanks to this book. I believe anyone interested in creative living or simply seeking an inspiring pep talk from Maggie Smith will enjoy this book. Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy!

This book was just okay. It felt too researchey/thesis statement to me. It was a bit dull/dense. I do not think this was a book for me unfortunately

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Gets into the details of how we use language in creative pursuits, providing a lot of questions to ponder regarding word choice, habits in our writing, and so on. Also contains thoughtful reflections on other parts of the creative life.

(I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)

As a writer and want to be doing more writing this book was helpful! I enjoyed the chapters and how the topics were laid out. The presentation was organized and made reading accessible. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.