I was on Reddit the other day and saw a question from an aspiring writer:

"My writing just doesn't seem to flow well, and no one I know is offering very good constructive criticism so I thought...

How do you start your memoir?

Some people just start telling stories from their life.

That’s one way. But it’s shortsighted.

A memoir, like all books, requires a strong idea—a...

We all want to write so people love to read us: "I picked up her book, and I couldn't put it down."

That is a high compliment.

Here's another: "I asked our book club to read it!"

Whoa! Now that may be...

Don’t tell my son (who thinks he has superior taste in movies), but one of my favorite horror films is The Blair Witch Project. 
 
The film is about three aspiring filmmakers who...

I’ve never met a person who loves how they look or sound on video. I know I don’t. 

Is my voice that nasally?
 
Is my hair that thin?
 
Do I look that...

“How do I know if my manuscript is ready for submission?”

You might never know fully. But careful review of your manuscript can get it closer to being publishing-ready.

Reviewing your...

I feel sleazy admitting it, but the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard defamation trial has been on in the background at our house for the past few weeks. 
 
I’ll blame it on my husband. He...

Every spring my mom crosses her fingers and prays a thousand little prayers that the poppies will bloom at the base of the Organ Mountains, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. 
 
It’s the...

Flashbacks are essential in memoirs and fiction.

They are also indispensible in writing narrative nonfiction.

Here's a basic definition of a flashback:

"A flashback interrupts the chronological order...

“Is traditional publishing for me?”

It’s a question all writers ask at some point in their journey. And the answer depends on each individual. We interviewed Jamie Weiner, author...

Word choice matters.

Mark Twain allegedly said that the difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.

I often struggle to lay...

“Is my idea any good?” “Is this idea good enough for a book?”

At the heart of the creative journey is a good idea. And we all want to know if our idea is good enough for a...