Gideon Smith

Why “Write What You Love” Is Only Half the Advice “Write what you love” is some of the best writing advice you’ll ever hear—and also some of the most incomplete. And with Valentine's day coming, it seemed an apropos theme for today. On its own, the advice is freeing. It gives permission. It pushes back against trend-chasing and imitation. It reminds you that the emotional engine of a story has to come from somewhere real, or the work will feel hollow.

Why “Write What You Love” Is Only Half the Advice

“Write what you love” is some of the best writing advice you’ll ever hear—and also some of the most incomplete. And with Valentine's day coming, it seemed an apropos theme for today. On its own, the advice is freeing. It gives permission. It pushes…

Why Characters Matter More in Genre Fiction Writers often talk around a distinction between literary and genre fiction without ever quite naming it. To me, it hinges on the relative importance of theme vs character. In literary fiction, characters are expected to be fully realized, three-dimensional, and psychologically believable. But here’s the uncomfortable part: they almost don’t matter. You don’t have to like them. They don’t have to change.

Why Characters Matter More in Genre Fiction

Writers often talk around a distinction between literary and genre fiction without ever quite naming it. To me, it hinges on the relative importance of theme vs character. In literary fiction, characters are expected to be fully realized,…

Had a great time at #MarsCon this weekend — thanks to everyone who came to the panels on magic systems, fighting in fiction, and science in SF. Really fun discussions.

Voice Isn’t Something You “Find”—It’s Something That Survives Revision Writers talk about voice the way people talk about buried treasure. As if it’s something hidden inside you, waiting to be uncovered if you just dig deeply enough. Find your voice. Trust your voice. Don’t lose your voice. That framing sounds romantic—but it’s also deeply misleading. In practice, voice isn’t something you discover fully formed. It’s something that survives the process of writing, revising, cutting, receiving feedback, and writing again anyway.

Voice Isn’t Something You “Find”—It’s Something That Survives Revision

Writers talk about voice the way people talk about buried treasure. As if it’s something hidden inside you, waiting to be uncovered if you just dig deeply enough. Find your voice. Trust your voice. Don’t lose your voice. That…

Year in Review 2025: A Year of Middle Grounds, Big Leaps, and Quiet Transformations For the last few years I’ve made a habit of writing a New Year's “Year in Review” post—a way to remind myself that even when the milestones aren’t the ones I once imagined, the work still matters, the trajectory still curves upward, and the person doing the writing continues to evolve. 2025 was the year that principle felt especially true. This was a year of middle grounds, of in-between places… but also a year with some of my biggest leaps forward.

Year in Review 2025: A Year of Middle Grounds, Big Leaps, and Quiet Transformations

For the last few years I’ve made a habit of writing a New Year's “Year in Review” post—a way to remind myself that even when the milestones aren’t the ones I once imagined, the work still matters, the trajectory…

Your Approach to Rejection Matters Less Than That you Risk it It’s often said that moving is one of life’s top stressors—right up there with divorce and death. Having endured a move earlier this year (complete with nightmare movers and chaos in cardboard), I can confirm that’s no exaggeration. But whoever came up with that list clearly wasn’t a writer. Because if they were, “literary rejection” would be right up there too.

Your Approach to Rejection Matters Less Than That you Risk it

It’s often said that moving is one of life’s top stressors—right up there with divorce and death. Having endured a move earlier this year (complete with nightmare movers and chaos in cardboard), I can confirm that’s no exaggeration. But…

2026 Submission Schedule | Flash Fiction Online Get more from Flash Fiction Online on Patreon

Just a quick heads up, as I am part of the slushers for Flash Fiction Online, the 2026 submission schedule just posted. Sharpen your pencils! (dust off your keyboards?)

www.patreon.com/posts/2026-s...

When an Acceptance Turns Sour One of the most thrilling moments in a writer’s life is receiving that long-awaited yes—an acceptance letter after dozens, maybe hundreds, of rejections. It’s the kind of moment that’s meant to be savored, a bright spark of validation in a career often defined by perseverance and uncertainty. But sometimes, even that joy can curdle. Recently, I had a piece accepted by a publication.

When an Acceptance Turns Sour

One of the most thrilling moments in a writer’s life is receiving that long-awaited yes—an acceptance letter after dozens, maybe hundreds, of rejections. It’s the kind of moment that’s meant to be savored, a bright spark of validation in a career often defined by…

Why Rejection Doesn’t Mean Your Story Is Bad As a slush reader for various speculative fiction magazines, I’ve learned one fundamental truth: taste is messy. It’s subjective, inconsistent, and often deeply personal. If you’ve ever submitted a story and been rejected in the first round, you’re in good company—and you might be surprised to know how many of those rejections have less to do with quality and more to do with the unpredictable Venn diagram of reader taste.

Why Rejection Doesn’t Mean Your Story Is Bad

As a slush reader for various speculative fiction magazines, I’ve learned one fundamental truth: taste is messy. It’s subjective, inconsistent, and often deeply personal. If you’ve ever submitted a story and been rejected in the first round, you’re in…

Thrilled to be in this anthology - not just because I loved the piece they accepted from me, but because its an awesome TOC of authors I admire!!

This is the magic of social media - I had no idea one of my fav authors had a new book coming out! Retweeting for others who loved the Pact and Pattern series and want more from the author :)

Free to read now, my strange little story that found its home at @crepuscularmag.bsky.social !

When Revision or Feedback Kills the Magic As a slush reader, one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve experienced is seeing a story I loved—a story that stood out from the pile, that felt fresh and alive—come back as an R&R (revise and resubmit)... and lose everything that made it special. It’s not that the writer lacked talent—far from it. The original version was strong enough to catch an editor’s eye, after all.

When Revision or Feedback Kills the Magic

As a slush reader, one of the most heartbreaking things I’ve experienced is seeing a story I loved—a story that stood out from the pile, that felt fresh and alive—come back as an R&R (revise and resubmit)... and lose everything that made it special. It’s…

The Myth of the ‘One Piece of Advice’ To be succesful at writing, I've come to believe that its more your ability to juggle, than anything else that will help you. But there’s a peculiar myth that runs through popular culture—the idea that success boils down to one secret, one golden rule, one repeatable habit that will unlock greatness. Ask a Hollywood star how they got shredded for a role, and the answer is often “chicken.” Just lots and lots of chicken.

The Myth of the ‘One Piece of Advice’

To be succesful at writing, I've come to believe that its more your ability to juggle, than anything else that will help you. But there’s a peculiar myth that runs through popular culture—the idea that success boils down to one secret, one golden rule, one…

Thank you @crepuscularmag.bsky.social for giving voice to this little piece! I can't think of a better home for it :)

The Creative Power of Chaos: Why Randomness Makes Your Writing Stronger Writers love control. We plan plots, build worlds, craft character arcs, and agonize over word choice. Writing can feel like architecture—careful, precise, calculated. But sometimes, we need a little chaos. Enter randomness. Randomness might seem antithetical to craft, but it’s actually one of the most powerful tools in a writer’s creative arsenal. Whether you’re rolling writing prompt dice, opening a dictionary to a random page, or combining unrelated ideas (pirate + ghost + IKEA catalog = yes please), inviting chance into your process can unlock surprising depth and originality in your work.

The Creative Power of Chaos: Why Randomness Makes Your Writing Stronger

Writers love control. We plan plots, build worlds, craft character arcs, and agonize over word choice. Writing can feel like architecture—careful, precise, calculated. But sometimes, we need a little chaos. Enter randomness.…

Dragon Con - Largest Multi-genre and Pop Culture Convention Dragon Con is an annual multi-media and pop culture event held on the Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia. Hosting the parade, gaming, art show, awards, and other events.

Off to #dragoncon tomorrow to receive the Baen Fantasy Award! Very excited to meet the Baen folks as well as anyone from here who might be there!

dragoncon.org

Writing Is Like Going to the Gym: Why It Gets Harder, Not Easier—and What to Do About It When you start going to the gym, it’s hard. Your muscles ache. You’re not in the habit, so every visit feels like a chore. But then—suddenly—it starts to click. You feel stronger. You might even look a little better in the mirror. The early “easy gains” roll in. You get hooked. And then? It gets hard again. You’ve passed the beginner gains, and to improve now, you have to lift more.

Writing Is Like Going to the Gym: Why It Gets Harder, Not Easier—and What to Do About It

When you start going to the gym, it’s hard. Your muscles ache. You’re not in the habit, so every visit feels like a chore. But then—suddenly—it starts to click. You feel stronger. You might even look a little…

It's #QueerPit and my incredibly talented friend @abbookster.bsky.social has a great pitch - go go A.B. !

Would love to read this! Such a great, rich concept! :)

The Struggle of Long-Form Writing: How to Overcome Midway Meltdowns Earlier this year, I found myself hitting a wall with my longer writing projects. I don't mean my novels here, I'm referring to the longer short story, novelette territory. The same issue kept cropping up: I'd get to about 7,000 words, and then... poof. The excitement fizzled out, and my story would lose its spark. At that point, I'd hit a frustrating dead end.

The Struggle of Long-Form Writing: How to Overcome Midway Meltdowns

Earlier this year, I found myself hitting a wall with my longer writing projects. I don't mean my novels here, I'm referring to the longer short story, novelette territory. The same issue kept cropping up: I'd get to about 7,000…

Just got an acceptance from @crepuscularmag.bsky.social ! Very happy this strange little piece found a home. :)

I’ve written a lot of stories no one read
This week, one of them got noticed

Traitor to the Wolfguard Creed won the 2025 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award

Thank you to everyone who’s encouraged me along the way.

And to my fellow #writers Keep writing. Believe in yourself. Moments like this are gold :)

Press Release - Baen Books Announces Winner of the 2025 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award Press Release - Baen Books Announces Winner of the 2025 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award

Still reeling, but thrilled to share—I’ve won the 2025 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award!

This story is personal, and having it find a home at @baenbooks.bsky.social means the world to me. Eternal thanks to the judges and everyone who believed in it. 🐉⚔️✨

www.baen.com/pr-2025-fant...

When Is a Story Truly Done? Five years ago, when I sat down to write a short story, it was a different experience entirely. Back then, my main concern was the plot: What was the neat science idea? What was the twist? Once I had delivered a clean arc with a beginning, middle, and end, I called it finished. A quick polish for spelling and grammar, and I moved on.

When Is a Story Truly Done?

Five years ago, when I sat down to write a short story, it was a different experience entirely. Back then, my main concern was the plot: What was the neat science idea? What was the twist? Once I had delivered a clean arc with a beginning, middle, and end, I called it…

Press Release - 2025 BAEN FANTASY ADVENTURE AWARD FINALISTS ANNOUNCED Press Release - 2025 BAEN FANTASY ADVENTURE AWARD FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Yay, I made finalist 😲
In disbelief but couldn't be happier 😀
congrats to all finalists, and all who entered, for being brave enough to put your work out there!
www.baen.com/pr-fantasy-a...

The Power of Words Inside Your Brain Sometimes I find it hard to get started. Ironically, this happens most when I have too much time to write. You’d think a wide-open afternoon or a quiet weekend would be ideal—a golden opportunity to sink into the novel, churn out a short story, or finally respond to one of those tempting calls for flash fiction. But instead, my brain spins.

The Power of Words Inside Your Brain

Sometimes I find it hard to get started. Ironically, this happens most when I have too much time to write. You’d think a wide-open afternoon or a quiet weekend would be ideal—a golden opportunity to sink into the novel, churn out a short story, or finally…

Mastering Dialogue: Dos and Don’ts Writing dialogue can be one of the most challenging aspects of storytelling. Well-crafted dialogue brings characters to life, advances the plot, and engages readers. Poor dialogue drags, bores, disconnects your reader from your character and derails your reader's experience. To help you master the art of dialogue, here are some dos and don’ts I have been told and found to be true.

Mastering Dialogue: Dos and Don’ts

Writing dialogue can be one of the most challenging aspects of storytelling. Well-crafted dialogue brings characters to life, advances the plot, and engages readers. Poor dialogue drags, bores, disconnects your reader from your character and derails your reader's…

The Hidden Ground: Layers of Meaning in Storytelling When I paint, I begin with a ground—a foundational layer brushed across the canvas to prepare the surface. Sometimes it’s a neutral tone, sometimes a subtle color. You don’t see it in the final image, not exactly. But it’s there, affecting everything laid on top. A cool blue ground makes the warm tones above it vibrate with contrast. A red-toned ground can lend even a green landscape a strange sense of urgency.

The Hidden Ground: Layers of Meaning in Storytelling

When I paint, I begin with a ground—a foundational layer brushed across the canvas to prepare the surface. Sometimes it’s a neutral tone, sometimes a subtle color. You don’t see it in the final image, not exactly. But it’s there, affecting…

Congrats! This is the good karma you have been building for all these years coming back to be paid off - so I am certain this is just the beginning and even more good news is to come shortly!