by Brian Francis

Agony Editor: Don’t worry wallflower, it’s okay to choose TV reruns over the festival after-party

Dear Agony Editor, I’m undertaking a cross-Canada tour of literary festivals this fall. The last time I did this, I’d unwind in the evenings at the author hospitality suite. Given the one-upmanship, jealousies, bitterness, alcohol abuse, ... Read More »

September 14, 2017

Agony Editor: Provoking an author on social media isn’t a cool, but neither is bullying back

By Brian Francis

Dear Agony Editor, Recently, I @ mentioned a writer on Twitter. I thought her book was poorly written and said so. She retweeted my tweet to her 10,000 followers and made a comment about my ... Read More »

July 18, 2017

Ask the Agony Editor: Publishing your own book might feel rewarding – just check your expectations

By Brian Francis

Dear Agony Editor, My mother is 83 and believes she’s a brilliant poet. She is not. She has self-published three books of poetry and, while she’s tight-lipped, I’m guessing her printing bill to date is about ... Read More »

July 12, 2017

Agony Editor: Once the joy of being published fades, the challenge of growing as an author begins

By Brian Francis

Dear Agony Editor, I’m a novelist at the mid-point of my career. I thought writing novels would get easier the more I wrote, but it hasn’t. It’s gotten harder. What’s up with that? Signed, Not ... Read More »

June 7, 2017

Agony Editor: Getting paid for your work isn’t always easy

By Brian Francis

Dear Agony Editor, My novel sold in a number of territories. One of the publishers hasn’t paid me. It’s been close to a year and still no response. My agent says she’s trying. It’s a ... Read More »

May 18, 2017

Agony Editor: Honesty is the best policy when writing about family

By Brian Francis

Dear Agony Editor, My grandmother’s first husband abandoned her with three kids during the Depression. Her second husband was an alcoholic, and she eventually became addicted to pills. I’ve always wanted to write a novel ... Read More »

March 1, 2017

Ask the Agony Editor: Check your ego before writing from a cultural viewpoint that isn’t your own

By Brian Francis

Dear Agony Editor, I’m a middle-aged white woman working on a novel with a major character from a different culture. In real life, the people of this culture have been oppressed and racially discriminated against ... Read More »

March 1, 2017

Ask the Agony Editor: Technology is fine, but a writer’s best tools are discipline and determination

By Brian Francis

Dear Agony Editor, I’ve been writing pieces of a very long story for several years. I have trouble remembering what I did when, what the portions are titled, and where I’ve stored them on my ... Read More »

January 23, 2017

Ask the Agony Editor: Words of advice for authors looking to write for the playground set

By Brian Francis

Dear Agony Editor, (Illustration by Evan Munday) I wrote a children’s story with my oldest granddaughter in mind, and I’m not sure what I might do with it. I’ve thought of looking at some self-publishing ... Read More »

December 15, 2016

Ask the Agony Editor: Stop hoarding your work-in-progress and learn to share

By Brian Francis

Dear Agony Editor, (Illustration: Evan Munday) Writing fiction can be very solitary. How do I keep on writing when I’m always writing alone and no one sees my work? Signed, Lonely Lady Dear Lonely Lady, ... Read More »

October 17, 2016

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Quill and Quire

Agony Editor: Don’t worry wallflower, it’s okay to choose TV reruns over the festival after-party

Agony Editor: Provoking an author on social media isn’t a cool, but neither is bullying back

Ask the Agony Editor: Publishing your own book might feel rewarding – just check your expectations

Agony Editor: Once the joy of being published fades, the challenge of growing as an author begins

Agony Editor: Getting paid for your work isn’t always easy

Agony Editor: Honesty is the best policy when writing about family

Ask the Agony Editor: Check your ego before writing from a cultural viewpoint that isn’t your own

Ask the Agony Editor: Technology is fine, but a writer’s best tools are discipline and determination

Ask the Agony Editor: Words of advice for authors looking to write for the playground set

Ask the Agony Editor: Stop hoarding your work-in-progress and learn to share

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