Maggie Smith is just really good at this. Her calm and direct style is a balm! Her calm and direct style is a balm!

This was the perfect set of essays on creativity, the writer's life, and living a joyful, curious existence—I will return to many of them over and over again in the years to come!

This book is a great resource for new writers or writers trying to expand their craft. I found the book full of practical advice and it was interesting to read. I appreciate the motivating way she writes and it inspired me to implement some of her advice in my own writings. I also appreciate her suggested readings and exercises at the end of each chapter. I really like to have other resources or examples to look at to help me fully understand a concept. I wish I had this book when I took writing courses in high school! Thank you to Atria Books and Net Galley for the advanced copy!

Dear Writer is the rare book on writing that both inspires you to write and covers the craft. Written as a series of letters to the reader, the book is an intimate and honest look at how Maggie Smith writes, using many of her poems as models and guides. Reading this book made me feel like I was listening to the most encouraging friend who fully believed in my abilities, and who was willing to light a lamp to guide my path for the inevitable ways I will stumble and flounder.

Dear Writer is definitely for the writer who has been struggling for years and needs a hand, but it’s also for someone who is just starting and is looking for ideas on how to proceed. Even if you’re not a writer but are a lover of words and the way they fit together, this book is also for you. It’s a kind guide and an absolute celebration of writing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who has been looking to tap into their creativity, this is a book I really enjoyed!

In this book, Smith uses a variety of methods to help her readers not only be more creative, but also be able to pour that creativity into their writing. She gives writing prompts, walks people through her writing process, and gives suggestions on how to get through a writers block and produce a final piece of work. She encourages her readers to be vulnerable with themselves and in their writing, but to also “play” and experience new things to help spark creativity.

Smith has a background in poetry, so a lot of the advice she gives is geared towards how to tap into your creativity to create a poem, but this can defintiely be applied to novel or short story writing.

If you are someone who wants to begin to write more, either just for yourself or for an audience, I defintiely recommend reading this book to help get you started!

Thank you to netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review!

Maggie Smith's Dear Writer: Pep Talks & Practical Advice for the Creative Life is an inspiring guide that deeply resonated with me as a writer. Her blend of motivational insights and practical advice provided the encouragement I needed to navigate the creative process. Smith's empathetic approach made me feel understood and supported, transforming my perspective on writing challenges. This book has become an invaluable companion in my creative journey, offering wisdom that I return to time and again. A must-read for any writer seeking guidance and inspiration.

Maggie Smith is a beautiful writer, and it's no surprise that she's written a beauty of a craft book on writing. Her advice is practical, and she presents it in an easy to understand way, breaking down the creative process into ten elements: attention, wonder, vision, play, surprise, vulnerability, restlessness, tenacity, connection, and hope. She then explores each element through a short craft-inspired essay and writing prompt, ensuring that readers capture each element, and the writing process they inspire, in all its essence.

Maggie Smith is an incredible author and I was so excited to read a more prescriptive guide to writing. And that's exactly what this is. Targeted mostly at those who are either in the beginning stages or are looking to uplevel their writing, Dear Writer goes through different types of writing, how to make things better, and provides actionable steps to work on your craft. Mostly for poets (which I am not), I still found plenty for myself to try and implement in my own writing. This will be a great addition to any writer's shelf.

The insights in DEAR WRITER by Maggie Smith are actionable, encouraging, and incredibly relatable. I will be referencing this book just as much for the writing advice and practical ways to break down sentences, line breaks, and word choice as I will for the uplifting nature of it when I’m feeling stuck or hopeless. Can't wait to read Smith's poetry work next!

I didn't just look at or preview or even "read" this book -I parceled it out to myself a chapter at a time, not allowing myself to move on until I had completed at least some of the writing prompts from the chapter I had just finished. I took this as a series of assignments, or gifts, or challenges, or letters I received sometimes joyfully and sometimes with some resistance as I worked my way deeper into my own reflection and writing through the process. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for writers of any kind - I can attest that in my experience this adapts to poetry, fiction and nonfiction writing as I used it to prompt all three while I worked through it, and spending time with Maggie Smith is a joy and delight. If you aren't a writer - buy this as a gift for a writer friend. (But don't get one for for me, I've already pre-ordered my copy, and one for my writer-bestie as well!)

A beautiful book about the craft of writing with lots of practical tips; what she’s learned not just about writing but also about life. Note that the "writer" in question is imagined to be a poetry writer, which is totally fine, just good to know.

Smith’s latest book is a wonderful collection of practical advice for the average writer. Smith encourages writers to not fall victim to the typical advice—you have to write every day to be a writer!—and offers ways to, instead, slow down and pay attention. This book definitely leans more heavily toward poetry (specifically the writing practices outlined at the end of each chapter), which shouldn’t be surprising considering this is Smith’s preferred and primary method of writing, but many pieces can still be applied to fiction and other modes of non-fiction writing as well.

A lot of the advice in here, though nice to hear, felt a little too… “rah rah you can do it!” and it rubbed me weird. Still, scattered with writing prompts, reflections on the practice of writing, and recommendations on further reading, Dear Writer is a wonderful tool in any writer’s toolbox but I would mostly recommend it to those working toward writing more poetry.

Thank you Atria for the early copy in exchange for an honest review! Available Apr. 1 2025

A beautiful book about the craft of writing with lots of practical tips. Definitely leans more heavily towards poetry than fiction writing. (The author even says her ulterior motive is to woo the reader into loving poetry.)

The middle sagged with lots of intricate specifics—which some readers may love!—but the beginning and ending is where the book really shines as a piece of inspirational reference.

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Great book, especially for poets. I'm not a poet, but I really loved the book. Classic Smith attitude and, of course, beautifully written. I underlined many, many parts and have already recommended it to other writers. Hope she has many more prose books on tap. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review (and adore) this book.

Great writer guidance and lovely images and chapters. For those wanting a smart, inspiring read by someone working positively in the writer world, this is a great option.

Maggie Smith providing a peak into her process, and a pep talk along the way, yes please! Dear Writer, makes it feel less daunting to put pen to paper. Everyone has a story inside and we should not hold back because we are worried how others will respond to our story. Thank you to the publisher for the advance reader copy, I was so excited to hear what this beautiful writer had to say. Pre order your copy today, Maggie never disappoints.

What a lovely and meaningful book! I really enjoyed reading it and have highlighted so many tidbits of wisdom. It was inspiring and encouraging, and I felt like a cheerleader to anyone who finds meaning in writing.

One thing to note is that the technical advice here, which wasn't all of the book, was geared most toward creating poetry. Some of it applied to memoirists and essayists. If you write within any other genre, I think you will still get a lot from this book and feel very inspired, but the technicality of the prompts and advice may not apply to your work.

Her sections discussing the inner critic were very moving and contained exactly what I needed to read. I appreciate this work and recommend that all creatives read it for inspiration and encouragement!

Writing is an art, and this soon-to-be-released title is art at its finest. Using ten principles of creativity—attention, wonder, vision, surprise, play, vulnerability, restlessness, connection, tenacity, and hope—Smith shares what she’s learned about writing and life over the past 20 years. This book is filled with Smith’s usual insight, brilliance, and heart, but it means that much more to me as an English teacher and writer myself.

I think this book took me so long because of all the notes I was taking. Thanks to Net Galley for this ARC! Writers and teachers of writing will want this book when it comes out April 1st. I’ll be purchasing it and keeping it near me.

Lovely and inspiring. Dear Writer is practical and encouraging - like getting sound advice from your most supportive and grounded friend. The structure - chapters/sections focused on different themes like play, attention, surprise - is compelling and effective. I appreciated all the references and suggested reading Maggie provided, in addition to the generative writing prompts. This is an essential read for anyone looking to sharpen their writing skills or wondering how to get started.

Thank you very much to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

This book felt a bit like a pep talk at times. At others, a hug. It is chock full of practical advice and unrivaled prose.