Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster Marian Keyes
Aug 27, 2025
Internationally bestselling author Marian Keyes joins for a delightful conversation. She shares insights about her latest novel, 'My Favourite Mistake,' and her experiences blending creativity with collaboration. The hosts engage in humorous tales about the Easter Bunny and culinary expectations, particularly around Irish cuisine. They tackle deep topics like alcohol addiction, reflecting on societal pressures and personal anecdotes. With playful banter and nostalgic discussions about food, Marian's warmth and wit shine through, making for an entertaining listen.
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Praise Needs Constructive Pain
- Praise without critique rings false; creative work benefits from both encouragement and measured pain.
- Keyes argues that a mix of warm praise and constructive edits produces better books.
Editor Battles Turn Into Collaboration
- Keyes describes a long, collaborative editor relationship where editors give many suggestions and she implements a portion.
- She stomps in fury initially then accepts changes that improve the book while preserving her voice.
Use Editorial Feedback Selectively
- Accept external critique because editors push a manuscript toward its best form.
- Implement a portion of suggestions and keep the rest to preserve your authorial voice.
