Charles W. Smith

Born in 1940, C. W. Smith built a varied literary career as a novelist, short-story writer, and essayist. Before focusing fully on teaching and books, he worked as a reporter and film critic, experience that helped give his writing its clear, observant tone.

He taught in the Department of English at Southern Methodist University from 1980 to 2012, and later served as the Dedman Family Distinguished Professor. Alongside his academic work, he continued publishing fiction and essays, earning a reputation for thoughtful, character-driven writing.

Smith is also associated with the Texas literary world, and his career reflects a steady commitment to both storytelling and literary teaching. For readers, that often means fiction that feels grounded, intelligent, and closely attentive to the way people actually live.