As you no doubt know, memoirs emerge from the ashes of life’s most painful and unexpected events. Cruelty from others. Illness. Abuse. Addiction. The death of a loved one. These wrenching, upside-down events hit all of us at one time or another. They are the fires that change […]
When choosing your publishing journey, it’s important to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks in order to make the right decision for you and your work. Author Rick Lauber lays out 17 pros and cons of traditional publishing vs. self-publishing.
By Rick Lauber (Originally published in Writer’s Digest, […]
This past weekend, I was at the California coast with a group of women I lived with in the dorms during college. We hadn’t seen each other since before the pandemic and there was a lot of catching up to do.
At one point, one of the […]
I read this story in the New York Times and it holds so many lessons for aspiring memoirists I wanted to share it here.
When Brooks Barnes, a correspondent who covers Hollywood for The New York Times, pitched an essay late last year about what it was like to grow up […]
Three months ago, fearing my life had gotten too comfortable, I decided to stretch myself and do something that scared me, something for which I had no inherent talent.
I signed up for singing lessons.
It took every ounce of resolve I possessed to make it to the first lesson. When I […]
There was a time in my early forties when I once spent the better part of a day shopping for a soap dish and toothbrush holder that would perfectly match the brushed nickel faucets in my newly remodeled spa bathroom. Back then, I was extremely proud of my just-spicy-enough jambalaya […]
I’ve worked as a writer ever since I graduated with a journalism degree in 1982. For almost every piece of writing I’ve done, I’ve had a contract to write it ahead of time. I’ve known the topic, the length, the audience, and how much I’d be paid for my efforts.
With […]
I was recently interviewed for a podcast sponsored by the Hoffman Institute. If you’ve never heard of Hoffman, well, let me say that if you’re ready to make some important changes in your life–or, if you’re stuck and have no idea where to turn–you may want to check […]
