Every book has a heart. It’s not just an idea; it’s why the idea matters. Whether it’s a nonfiction book, a memoir, or a novel, every book has a purpose. It has a...

I am a fan of hypothetical scenarios, like “What if I was stranded on an island by myself…”

Without question, I’d be doomed. I’d never figure out how to make fire,...

First I got rejected, and then I got paid.

At the Big Bang of my writing life, years ago (in the heyday of magazines), I submitted an article to a publication. And it was promptly rejected.

I...

If you’ve spent time searching for tips on writing, you’ve probably come across the phrase “show not tell.” It’s a tip authors, editors, and agents commonly throw...

I’m a decorating nut. My home has been featured in both Country Living and Flea Market Style magazine. And in Spring 2023, it will be published in a book called ...

A good friend had a so-called midlife crisis at around 45.

He was a pediatric ophthalmologist, a high paying, meaningful profession: He performed eye surgery on children.

But he was restless.

He...

Shopping at Goodwill is a near-daily ritual for me.
 
I’m convinced thrifting is as much a part of my DNA as my dark brown hair.
 
Because my “jobby” selling vintage demands...

New writers know they need to revise their manuscript. But when you’re new at something, it’s often difficult to know where to start the revision process for novels and memoirs.

You...

Around this time every year, I receive a DM from my literary pal with a link to John Keats’ poem, “To Autumn.” 
 
That message combined with Starbucks’ DM reminding...

Roadtrippers Writing Coach Rob Lewis on appealing to the heart before the brain.

I am lucky to be married to a stellar woman. But it wasn’t luck that brought us together. 

I lived in CT...

If you’re self-publishing a book, you don’t want your book to look self-published. That means you need to pay close attention to the editing phase. Editing for self-published authors...

The semicolon is a mystery to many; just ask my friend. 

She’s a paralegal at a snazzy Chicago law firm.

One of her primary functions is to review legal briefs written by the attorneys...