Category: Development

In the contemporary consciousness, we have learned to recognize “gatekeepers” as figures that stand, like St. Peter, before doors we want to pass through, policing who belongs in which spaces. Publishing is no exception to this idea. While there are

Writing a memoir (or any full-length book) is a marathon, not a sprint. While some great progress can be made in shorter, dedicated times like writing retreats or three-day weekend lock-ins, the fact of the matter is that you will

So, what’s your book about? This feels like it should be a relatively easy question to answer…until you are actually confronted with it. The answer might seem obvious, because all memoirs are about a person’s life experience. But you can’t

Reading like a writer is one of the core practices we emphasize in our memoir method program. Last week, we explored why this skill matters—how it sharpens your instincts, deepens your craft, and helps you understand the invisible architecture behind

A simple fact of the writing life is that you cannot write well if you are not also reading well. Not reading more, necessarily, but reading with intention. Reading with your writer‑brain switched on. Part of the pleasure of reading

Many writers know they want to tell their story someday but recognizing when “someday” has arrived is harder than it sounds. How do you know when you’re really ready? We often emphasize the importance of the development or “prewriting” stages

We want to stay informed and be aware of all that is happening in the world, but these days that can become overwhelming fast. That constant intake of bad news and conflict can fill our minds and make us feel

The cold days and long nights are here! I love this time of year as the chill sweeps in. It’s when we start reflecting on the year just passed and think about the year to come. I also always feel

Between us, Amanda and I have spent years ghostwriting and coaching others through crafting their memoirs and non-fiction books. Recently, we spent a long weekend taking a bit of time for a writing retreat to focus on personal projects. (Professional

Memoirs can be as different as the individual lives they represent, and that is part of why they are such a wonderful and valuable genre of storytelling. As we’ve said before, the act of writing a memoir is also powerful,