Literary Birthday – 14 August – Mary E. Pearson
Happy Birthday, Mary E. Pearson, born on 14 August 1955.
Mary E. Pearson Quotes
- Read. Should I write that in all caps? READ. This is the single most important preparation in order to become a writer. There is a saying that, ‘You must read a thousand books before you can write one.’ This is absolutely true. Read widely. Read critically. And then reread.
- Write. Sounds obvious, I know, but a lot of people talk about writing, but never actually do it. You must be a doer. Great ideas are a dime a dozen. Everybody has them. Actual complete stories are rare.
- Study craft. Just because you are passionate about a great idea, doesn’t mean you know how to get it down on the page. No writer is strong in all areas, but strong storytelling draws on many components–character, plot, pacing, dialogue, twists, setbacks, setting, subtext, foreshadowing, backstory, tension, point-of-view, subplots, tense, first drafts, second drafts, tenth drafts!
- Rewrite. Yep. Many times. Great stories are not written in one sweep. A complete first draft is a huge accomplishment. Huge. Congratulations. Few writers make it that far. But it is not the end of the process by a long shot. My books usually go through at least six drafts, sometimes more. Revision is where you get to make that rough lump of clay into something beautiful, but it takes time and patience. Don’t jump the gun. You only get once chance at a first impression.
- Join a writers group. Essential. It might be one online, or one in person, but you must get feedback on your writing.
- Be Persistent. This is the single-most consistent trait I have seen among published writers. They didn’t give up. Neither should you. Your first book may not get published (mine wasn’t) and your second and third books may not either. Those are not wasted stories. They are part of your learning process, if you allow yourself to become your own best critic and learn from them.
Source for quotes 1-6: The ‘Magical’ Key
Mary E. Pearson is an American writer best known for young adult fiction. Pearson is the International and NYT bestselling and award-winning author of multiple novels including The Remnant Chronicles trilogy, the Dance of Thieves duology, The Jenna Fox Chronicles trilogy, and more. Her books have been translated into over 30 languages world-wide. Her first romantasy adult novel, The Courting of Bristol Keats was released in 2024 and its sequel, The Last Wish of Bristol Keats, was published in 2025. Visit Mary on Instagram @maryepearson.
Source for photograph: Author’s Website
by Amanda Patterson
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