Brian Francis

Sarnia

Writer at Quill & Quire

Contributor at Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

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Articles

Agony Editor: Just say no to unsolicited emails

1 month ago | quillandquire.com | Brian Francis

Dear Agony Editor,Recently, I began receiving regular email updates from an author who is an acquaintance. As a fellow author, I understand the need for self-promotion, but I’m annoyed whenever I get his emails. My hunch is that he’s simply emailing everyone in his contact list. I want to tell him to kindly stop emailing me, but I’m suffering from a writers-supporting-writers guilt complex. Should I just suck it up and continue to receive the emails? Signed,SpammyDear Spammy,Oh, the joys of email.
How AI Can Help Professionals on Daily Basis

2 months ago | uschamber.com | Jay Sapsford |Jordan Crenshaw |Jordan G. Heiber |Brian Francis

President/CEO, Lumin StrategiesFebruary 12, 2025 I am tempted to let AI write this blog and be done, but content creation is one of the least useful purposes of the large language models (LLM) right now. While these LLMs can save you time, they can also make you better through research, review, and refinement. Here is how professionals can best practically use LLMs.Google’s Notebook LM (free with a Google Account) should be every professional’s research assistant.
Agony Editor: Books are many things to many people – and that’s okay - Quill and Quire

May 8, 2024 | quillandquire.com | Brian Francis

Dear Agony Editor,Recently, a new friend invited me to her place for dinner. I was horrified to see she placed her books page-side out. When I asked why, she said she “liked the aesthetic of it,” and that she hasn’t read the books, anyway. As a writer, I was horrified. Have books become merely decor? Does anyone read anymore? What is going on in this world? Signed,Spine Side OutDear Spine Side Out,Books can inspire us, challenge us, open up new worlds, and create empathy.
Agony Editor: Take me to the librarians

Mar 13, 2024 | quillandquire.com | Brian Francis

Dear Agony Editor,I have a middle-grade novel coming out and would love to raise awareness about the book, as well as my profile as an author, among school librarians. Do you have any suggestions for how I should go about doing that? Signed,SchooledDear Schooled,It’s smart that you’re thinking about your potential audience in advance. Having said that, cracking into the education system can be complicated. I connected with a public-school teacher librarian for her thoughts.
Agony Editor: Spotting a reader of your book is a moment to savour

Feb 21, 2024 | quillandquire.com | Brian Francis

Dear Agony Editor,The other day, I experienced what many writers might consider the Holy Grail: I spotted someone reading my novel on the subway. I thought about introducing myself, but my nerves got the better of me. Also, I wasn’t sure it would be welcomed. Since then, I’ve had regrets. Do you think it’s appropriate for a writer to approach someone reading their book?
Best and Worst Cream of Mushroom Soup — Brian Francis

Jan 22, 2024 | brian-francis.com | Brian Francis

When it comes to soups, none are as reviled as cream of mushroom. It’s not comforting like chicken noodle, not sophisticated like squash, and not hearty like vegetable. Let’s face it – cream of mushroom soup is the colour of despair, and those little bits of grey mushrooms are reminiscent of rotten teeth. When I was growing up, cream of mushroom wasn’t even considered a soup; it was glue for casseroles. But have we judged cream of mushroom soup too harshly?
Agony Editor: How to cope with editorial notes

Jan 17, 2024 | quillandquire.com | Brian Francis

Dear Agony Editor,I just received my second round of edits from my editor. It was full of mark-ups as well as some deleted scenes. She’s also suggesting changes that I don’t agree with. This is my first time working with an editor. The experience has left me feeling deflated and doubting her vision for my novel. How do I handle this?
Try This One Framework if You Are a Creative Newbie.

Dec 28, 2023 | medium.com | Brian Francis

Try This One Framework if You Are a Creative Newbie. I’ve only started writing online this year. I paused for a few months because it was getting difficult for me. But why was it getting difficult? Because most of the time, I’m trying to be someone I’m not. In my head, I’m trying to be an expert, when in reality, I’m still trying to learn and figure things out that I don’t even know about myself. That’s the reality right there, that I will forever be a student.
Agony Editor: When weighing books over your relationship, choose what matters most

Dec 20, 2023 | quillandquire.com | Brian Francis

Dear Agony Editor,My boyfriend is constantly complaining about my book collection. Mainly, that it’s overtaking our apartment. I agree I have a lot of books, but I can’t bear the thought of parting with them. They’re like my children. Neither my boyfriend nor I are willing to budge. How do we resolve this? Signed,Sir Books-a-LotDear Sir Books-a-Lot,Relationships are all about compromises.
Caker Christmas 2023 — Brian Francis

Dec 17, 2023 | brian-francis.com | Brian Francis

After a four-year hiatus, 2023 marked the return of my annual Caker Christmas party. It’s been a tradition – for better or worse – for about 25 years. I invite my Italian in-laws and friends to bring a mangiacake dish. Think Cool Whip, cream of mushroom soup and Jell-O. Here are the highlights from this year. Or lowlights, depending on your perspective. Bertha’s Nuts and BoltsI found this recipe in one of my church cookbooks. Handwritten recipes inside of cookbooks are usually a good sign.