A collection of meditations and essays on creativity and the craft of writing, by beloved bestselling poet and memoirist Maggie Smith

'How I wish I'd had access to this book when I was first starting out as a writer! Maggie Smith has created an offering here of great substance and generosity - walking writers of all levels through the sometimes wild and terrifying landscape of literary endeavour' ELIZABETH GILBERT

Drawing from her twenty years of teaching experience, bestselling writing career and popular newsletter, in Dear Writer Maggie Smith breaks down the craft of writing and creativity into ten essential elements: attention, wonder, vision, play, surprise, vulnerability, restlessness, tenacity, connection and hope.

Each element is explored through short, inspiring and focused essays on everything from writing habits to word choice, white space and redrafting. Throughout, Maggie offers practical writing prompts and generative activities that apply to the area of focus and sharpen creative skills. Dear Writer provides tools that artists of all experience levels can apply to their own creative practices and carry with them into all genres and all areas of life.

Details

ISBN13: 9781837260478
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 272
Edition: Main
Publication Date: 15 Jul 2025
Publisher: Canongate Books
Publication City, Country: United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 22(H)x14.1(L)x2.7(W)38
Weight (gm): 38

Author Biography

Maggie Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books of poetry and prose, including You Could Make This Place Beautiful, Good Bones, Goldenrod, Lamp of the Body, The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison and Keep Moving. Her newest book is My Thoughts Have Wings, her debut picture book for children, illustrated by Leanne Hatch. Smith's poems and essays have appeared in the New York Times, New Yorker, Paris Review, TIME, Nation, Atlantic and Best American Poetry.

@MaggieSmithPoet | maggiesmithpoet.com

Reviews

'How I wish I'd had access to this book when I was first starting out as a writer! Maggie Smith has created an offering here of great substance and generosity - walking writers of all levels through the sometimes wild and terrifying landscape of literary endeavour' - ELIZABETH GILBERT