One of the biggest misconceptions about memoir writing is that successful authors simply have more discipline. The truth is far more encouraging: most unfinished memoirs aren't abandoned because of laziness—they're abandoned because writers get stuck.
Read MoreSome of the most memorable memoirs are built from seemingly ordinary moments that reveal something much larger about who we are. That lesson came to me over Fourth of July weekend.
Read MoreGreat memoir isn't built exclusively from dramatic events. It is built from meaning. It is built from reflection. It is built from ordinary moments that reveal something universal about being human.
Read MoreBut after writing my own memoir, surviving cancer, and helping writers in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s tell their stories, I have learned something important:
Your story does not have an expiration date.
In fact, the years that give us the most wisdom are often the years we hesitate to write about.
Read MoreI often talk to memoir writers about “threshold moments, ” small moments where something shifts. A brief conversation. A question. A pause. A simple hello. These moments may seem insignificant while they are happening. But years later, they often become the scenes that reveal who we were and how we lived.
Read MoreReaders don't connect to timelines. They connect to change. When you identify the transformation at the center of your story, something powerful happens. The thousands of memories competing for attention begin to organize themselves.
Read MoreLike many authors, I initially assumed recording an audiobook would be relatively straightforward. After all, I wrote the book. Surely reading it aloud would be the easy part.
Not exactly.
Read MoreIt’s the defining moments that create memoir. The strongest memoirs are rarely built from exhaustive timelines. They are built from transformation. Before and after. Who you were before the moment. Who you became because of it.
Read MoreBecause often the deeper issue hiding underneath the question is this: “How do I stop censoring the real version of myself on the page?” That’s the lifelong work of writing. And honestly? The writers most worried about voice are usually already becoming better writers. Because they’re paying attention.
And that matters.
Read MoreThe idea of writing a memoir doesn’t usually arrive like a dramatic knock on the door. There’s no soundtrack swelling in the background. No cinematic lightning bolt of inspiration. More often, it looks like someone standing at the kitchen counter unloading groceries while thinking, “Maybe I should finally write my story.”
Read MoreMost people assume they can’t write a memoir because they “aren’t writers.”
But that belief is often the real reason their story never gets started.
In this post, we’re going to unpack that assumption, challenge what it really means to be a “writer,” and explore why your memoir doesn’t actually require you to be one.
Read MoreStruggling to start your memoir? Discover the 3 biggest mistakes that keep your story stuck—and learn how to stop overthinking, find clarity, and finally start writing your memoir with confidence.
Read MoreFeeling stuck on your memoir? Learn how to start writing even if you don’t know where to begin. A simple 3-step framework to overcome overwhelm and find your story’s opening scene.
Read MoreMemoir writing asks more of us than information.
It asks us to return.
To linger inside the moments we’re often tempted to rush past.
Many writers have been trained to explain, report, and get to the point quickly. That works in business writing, emails, and even essays.
But memoir is different.
Read MoreCan you be sued for writing your memoir? It’s one of the most common fears writers face—especially when telling stories that involve real people. In this post, we explore the risks, the realities, and how to write your truth with confidence and care.
Read MoreDiscover how Oscar-winning films like One Battle After Another, Train Dreams, and Sentimental Value reveal powerful memoir writing techniques you can use today.
Read MoreQuerying takes patience. Agents receive hundreds of submissions each week, and rejections are part of the process. Yet every year, memoirs find their way into the world.
Read MoreSummary tells readers what happened. It explains. It condenses. It reports.
For example:
“I was nervous about walking into the courtroom for the first time.”
“I realized my marriage was over.”
“That day changed everything.”
All true. All valid. All emotionally important.
But the reader experiences very little.
Read MoreMemoir is personal. You’re not writing about abstract ideas. You’re writing about your life. Your mistakes. Your growth. Your relationships. Your pain.
That level of vulnerability naturally triggers self-protection.
Read MoreIf you’re overexplaining, you might notice:
Over-polishing: Trying to make every word perfect kills the story’s energy.
Self-censoring: Avoiding key events or emotions out of fear.
Second-guessing everything: Rewriting or deleting scenes because they feel “too much.”
The fear is real—but letting it dictate your writing is optional. You can choose courage instead.
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