come smack

[mia0815]

This first act in picture books needs to come smack at the beginning--certainly within the first half-page of your typed manuscript. It's a brief act that forces you quickly into Act II.

Writing Picture Books by Ann Whitford Paul

What does come smack mean? Please help. Thank you.

 

[wandle]

needs to come smack at the beginning

'Smack' in this context is an emphatic colloquial way of saying 'right'.

The meaning is: 'needs to come right at the beginning'; i.e. 'at the very beginning'.

 

[mia0815]

Thank you!

 

[Dale Texas]

Also, to be clear for the benefit of any future readers of this thread, "smack" has its own independent meaning and does not attach itself to any particular verb. "comes smack" is not a declension of a phrasal verb here.

See these WRD references for smack as an informal adverb:

1. suddenly and violently:He drove smack up against the side of the house.
2. directly;
   straight:The post office is smack in the center of town.