Writing a memoir can be a powerful and transformative experience. The process of writing about your life allows you to reflect on your past, share your life story with others, and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.

Despite all the potential benefits of writing a memoir, many people...

As the second quarter of 2023 begins, it's a great time to reflect on your writing goals for the year. Have you made progress towards achieving them? Have you encountered any obstacles or challenges along the way? Whatever your current status may be, now’s the perfect time to make a fresh...

You're ready to write your memoir. But how long will it take to finish your first draft? The answer to this question depends on a few factors. 

First, a couple of questions and some quick math.

How long will your book be?

Are you writing a full-length book or just a...

I’m a goal-setter. I can’t help myself. At the end of the year, I like to take time to reflect on the year I’ve just lived. What were the high points, low points, and points in between? How far did I get in achieving my goals for the year? For my writing especially, I like to...

I was sitting at a picnic table, eating food cart pierogies, minding my own business. I wasn’t even thinking about my memoir. Suddenly, a thought intruded out of nowhere: What if people don’t think the trauma I write about in my memoir is that big of a deal?

I put my fork down....

If you live in a place where you experience the four seasons, you likely notice a change in your mindset and energy level when there’s a change in temperature and weather patterns. I definitely feel a shift in my creativity with each change of season. 

I live in Chicago, and though...

When you get to the end of 2022, what do you want to look back and remember the year for? Spending more time with your friends? Losing 20 pounds? Reading a book a month? Decluttering your closets? 

I’ve made several goals for 2002, but chief among them is finishing my memoir: “By...

One of the most common and paralyzing obstacles for memoir writers is telling stories that expose family secrets. The fear of being ostracized—or worse, excluded—from your family for disclosing long-held family secrets can cause you to get stuck in your...

I work with words all day, every day. I write and edit memoirs. I help others learn how to write memoirs. I ghostwrite people’s life stories. I’m a copywriter and a content marketing strategist. I write in my sleep. Literally. Just the other night, I spent a good part of my dreams...

My schedule was all set. I had my writing time blocked out for the week—30 minutes first thing every morning. The week started out great. Monday I woke up early and put in an hour-and-a-half of writing, which basically pushed me ahead of my writing schedule for the week. Good thing, because...

When Clara* suffered a near-death medical incident, she felt prompted to write about it. Though she had returned to full physical health, she was still wrestling with some residual emotional effects of the ordeal.

Clara came to me for help in writing her story. She wasn’t sure...