How to Write Memorable Scenes

How to Write Memorable Scenes

by | Jun 18, 2026 | Writing

Some scenes you read once and forget. Others haunt you—a quiet kitchen conversation, a moment in a hospital hallway, a hand reaching for another and hesitating. Those are the memorable scenes that linger because they do more than move the plot. They move us. So what...
Tight Writing

Tight Writing

by | May 14, 2026 | Editing, Language, Writing

Every writer has a natural tendency to sprawl. We fall in love with words, we hedge our statements, we add “just,” “really,” and “very” as if they were seasoning. But as Jack Smith noted in The Writer magazine’s article “Lean and Clean,” writing gets stronger when it...
Creating Chapter Hooks

Creating Chapter Hooks

by | Apr 30, 2026 | Writing

Books need chapter hooks. Whether you’re writing a novel, memoir, self-help, or investigative journalism, each chapter must make the reader think, I’ll just read one more section. A hook is not a gimmick; it’s a promise—a reason to keep turning pages. You earn that...
So You Want to Write a Memoir

So You Want to Write a Memoir

by | Mar 19, 2026 | Publishing, Writing

I can’t tell you how many people come to me saying, “I think I want to write a memoir.” And my first question is always: “Why?” Not because I’m trying to talk them out of it, but because the answer matters. Do you want to leave a legacy for your family? Do you want to...
The Two Needed Book Files

The Two Needed Book Files

by | Mar 12, 2026 | Writing

I’m big on organizing. So, I have a file for every chapter where I put any relevant drafts, thoughts, or research. And I always have two additional and much-needed book files going: the Dumpster file and the I Don’t Know Where This Goes file. The latter...