Welcome back to The Narrative, my (somewhat) monthly newsletter to help you learn how to shape the stories that have shaped your life. I say “somewhat” monthly because I fell off the wagon writing this newsletter when I moved to Texas three months ago. It’s been quite a transition going from Chicago to Oregon to Texas in just two years. My brain and life were in chaos, and I had to pause certain endeavors to make time for unpacking and figuring out where the heck I am.

But I’m back now and grateful as ever to be writing this newsletter again. If this is the first issue you’ve read, welcome!

In this issue:

• What's the Big Idea?
• 3 Fears Every Memoir Writer Faces (and How to Move Through Them)
• Your Journal Can Shape Your Memoir
• My Summer Reading Stack

📝 What's the Big Idea?

If you feel scattered or unsure how to start writing your life story, don’t worry—you’re not alone. Before you chase structure or scenes, you need to find your memoir’s big idea. This idea gives shape and purpose to your story.

In this recent blog post, I walk you through how to identify your memoir’s premise—and why it matters more than you think. Once you find it, the rest starts to fall into place.

 👉 Read the post

✨ 3 Fears Every Memoir Writer Faces (and How to Move Through Them)

Writing your life story is brave—and fear is a natural part of the process. But fear doesn’t have to stop you. Here are three common fears memoir writers face and how to meet them head-on:

1. Fear of what others will think – Tip: Write for yourself first, edit for readers later.
2. Fear of getting it wrong – Tip: There’s no perfect version—there’s only your truth.
3. Fear of being seen – Tip: Vulnerability is powerful. And healing.

Whatever fear is holding you back, naming it is the first step toward freedom.

👉 Read more here

📓 Your Journal Can Shape Your Memoir

Journaling isn't just for venting—it can be the raw material that shapes your memoir. Try these prompts to help bridge the gap between daily reflections and personal narrative:

• What's one moment from this week you want to remember?
• What surprised you recently about how you reacted to something?
• Is there a memory that keeps resurfacing? Why now?

Keeping a daily journal helps build your writing muscles and deepen your awareness. Check the full article for more tips.

📚 My Summer Reading Stack

I waited all day for the Amazon driver to arrive. When the box finally showed up, I tore it open and found the three new books I ordered to add to the memoir I’ve already started for my summer reading. Here’s what will be on my nightstand for the next couple of months:

We Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith
Smith is known for her poetry, which shines through in her memoir of heartbreak, reinvention, and hope in the midst of her divorce. Written as a series of short, poignant essays, Smith’s rich sensory details make every scene feel real and relatable. 

No Ship Sets Out to Be a Shipwreck by Joan Wickersham
I love tales of the sea and of shipwrecks, and in this short book, author Joan Wickersham weaves together a collection of essays that are part memoir, part history to explore the aftermath of personal and historical tragedy. I’m curious to see how she takes an esoteric historical artifact and uses it as a metaphor for her own life.

The Fix by Ian Morgan Cron
I learned about this new book by Ian Cron in an interview with Dan Allender on The Allender Center Podcast. (FYI, this is a fantastic podcast for learning all about trauma and the ways that story work can lead to profound healing.) I’m excited to dive into The Fix to see how Cron, the guru of the Enneagram, blends storytelling with a funny yet spiritual look at how everyone can be transformed by working the Twelve Steps.

Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas by Stephen Harrigan

I figured I ought to learn about this new state I now call home, but I may have bitten off more than I can chew. This Texas-sized book is 829 pages of history with another hundred pages for the index and bibliography. Yikes!

What’s one perfect beach read I should add to this serious nonfiction stack?

Hit reply and let me know. I love getting good recommendations from other book lovers. And remember, good readers make better writers. Keep reading…and writing!

What’s on your summer reading list?