books – Gideon P. Smith

Keep the Habit: Why Writers Must Keep Writing (Even in the Gaps)

One of the biggest dangers for a writer isn’t failure—it’s silence. Life has a way of crowding out creativity. Maybe it’s a high-pressure job, a move, a tough parenting stretch, or the illusion that you’ll “get back to it when things calm down.” But here’s the truth: if you stop writing, the skills begin toContinueContinue reading “Keep the Habit: Why Writers Must Keep Writing (Even in the Gaps)”

How to Pitch Non-Fiction to SFWA, BSFA Focus Magazine, and Other Speculative Fiction Venues

A couple of people have asked me to write up some advice on this, so I thought ‘Why not!’…. When we think about writing for the speculative fiction community, we often think of short stories, novels, and poetry — the imaginative worlds that readers escape into. But non-fiction is just as vital to the field,ContinueContinue reading “How to Pitch Non-Fiction to SFWA, BSFA Focus Magazine, and Other Speculative Fiction Venues”

The Top Practical and Inspirational Writing Craft Books that I Read in 2024

I tend to read a lot of craft books. Last year I made a list of 20 craft books I had read giving just a one-line impression of each. It’s here if you want to give that one a look. The best thing about doing that was I got a ton of messages from peopleContinueContinue reading “The Top Practical and Inspirational Writing Craft Books that I Read in 2024”

Writers: Do Your own Thing

All of the typical goals we have as beginning writers – writing for publication in a magazine, or to win a writing contest, push us to follow convention. To look at what exists, what has won, what has been published by that magazine, and make something that will win over the same editor. In otherContinueContinue reading “Writers: Do Your own Thing”

20 Craft Books

I tend to read a lot of craft books. My nature is, when I cannot do something, to study it more intensely till I can. I thought I would list the books I have read this year and give just a one line impression of each. Hopefully, someone finds something here intriguing, and if youContinueContinue reading “20 Craft Books”

Fyrecon

I have attended a few conferences over the last year (Worldcon, Boskone, Readercon) and each have had their unique aspects. This past weekend I had the chance to attend Fyrecon, which was again different and I thought I would write a few thoughts about my experience. To start Fyrecon, though it used to be inContinueContinue reading “Fyrecon”