Craft lessons: pacing and 'arrive late, leave early'

Rosie shares craft takeaways from editing: show don't tell, scene timing, and killing darlings.

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Acclaimed debut novelist Rosie Storey spoke with us about her rejection advice for writers, chasing personal authenticity, and the "accidental catfishing" at the heart of DANDELION IS DEAD.

Rosie Storey left her corporate career to finish her hotly anticipated debut novel, Dandelion Is Dead. The book received significant buzz in early 2026, including a January 2026 Indie Next selection, an exclusive excerpt on Today.com, an NPR interview, coverage from Reader’s Digest, and optioned for TV, among many others.

Described as a “... witty, heart-wrenching debut that follows a woman who starts dating under her late sister’s online profile,” and a “... ‘messy millennial’ story that’s Fleabag meets P.S. I Love You.”

Booklist said of the book, “Storey's debut novel is striking, with staggeringly complex characters and messy situations reminiscent of real life…. filled with intimacy and kindness….Fast-paced but never hurried.” #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune called it “... the perfect book club book.”

Rosie Storey holds a master’s in creative writing, and lives in East London, where she works as a writing coach. She is working on her second book.

[This episode is sponsored by Ulysses. Go to ⁠ulys.app/writeabook⁠ to download Ulysses, and use the code FILES at checkout to get 25% off the first year of your yearly subscription."]

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In this file Rosie Storey, Milena and I discussed:

How it feels to be compared to your heroes

The many opportunities she had to give up the writing life

Getting support and much-needed advice from her editors early on

The importance of pacing for the novel

Writing about grief and the societal pressures on men and women

Dancing at Studio 54 with Miranda July

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

Rosie Storey on Instagram