This episode is for the writer whose story is juggling so many themes that you have no idea how to make it come together. (You know who you are!) You’re the writer who sees the different connections between different experiences and intuitively know that they go together, but practically you’re drowning in actually piecing it all together. First off, you’re far from the first writer to struggle with this, and second, this episode is just for you. Let’s go.

This episode is for a lot of different writers: writers who are deep into that first-draft energy I like to talk about, writers who are deep into revisions and are feeling crushed under the weight of what they’ve written, and writers who don’t know how to use their writing time when they have it. Today I’m going to talk about the best emotional and mental state for memoir writing and also how to write when you’re not feeling that way. So let’s get into it.

This episode is for that writer who gives caveats. You know who you are. “Oh yeah, I’m writing a memoir, BUT I’m not a real writer yet.” Or, “I don’t know, I just like writing I guess. I don’t know if anyone would want to read it.” I have met with so many of you who lead like this. And I’m going to be very direct today: Stop it! Today’s episode is intended as a gentle callout to all of you listening who have a hard time taking yourself seriously as a memoir writer, because the truth is that if you don’t take yourself seriously first, no one else will either.

This episode is for the writer who finally carved out a two-hour block to write. You have your tea, you have your candle. The door to your office is closed, and you’ve put on your noise-cancelling headphone. Then you open up your memoir document, and you brace yourself. You scroll a bit, you tweak here and there, uncertain of where to really dive in. You add a comment that says in all caps REVISIT LATER. Then, even though you promised yourself you wouldn’t, you open up Instagram—but just for that saved post, right? And then before you know it, it’s time to make dinner. If any of that felt even a little familiar, you’re going to eat this episode up. Today I’m walking you through the six creative patterns I see occur most often with memoir writers and I’ll give you the antidote for each one. Let’s go.

This episode is for the writer who is wondering what actually happens inside of a Memoir Method cohort. This winter was my first time hosting The Memoir Method as a cohort since 2024, and I’m so glad I brought it back. What might surprise you is that the best part of this program isn’t the writing that happens, and that’s what I want to get into today. Let’s go!

This episode is really for the writer who has been burned before. You’ve worked with other editors, and you feel like you’re stumbling your way through the dark. You don’t know who you can trust, and you’re terrified of, at best, wasting your time and money, and at worst, being taken advantage of. And the worst part is that you don’t even know if you can trust the people you’re working with. Today’s episode will outline a clear litmus test for evaluating editors, red and green flags to watch for, and what to do if you’re paralyzed and don’t know where to go next. Let’s get into it.

This episode is for the writer who wants to take themselves seriously as a memoir writer. This is not a hobby for you. It’s not something you’re ambivalent about. Regardless of where you’re falling on the frustration meter right now, you know that your story needs to be in the world, and you’re ready to do whatever it takes to write your last draft. Today’s episode is for you. Let’s go!

This super short episode is a wake-up call for the memoir writer who is looking for an editor to save them, and in the process you’ve wasted hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars on editors and programs. Publishing is made to look complicated, but the pipeline is more simple than people realize. So today I want to bring you behind the curtain and give you a fun, free resource that will help you know exactly what type of help your memoir needs. Let’s go!

This episode is for the writer who is feeling that overwhelm: every time you think about your memoir your chest tightens, because you’re not nearly as far along as you think you should be. I’m talking to the writer who can’t let their memoir go but who also is feeling crushed under the weight of what you’ve written. Today I want to reframe overwhelm for you, so that you can see it as a tool instead of a block. Let’s get into it.

This episode could be for two different types of writers: Maybe you’re actually a really good writer. You’re confident in your writing. You know how to turn a phrase. Or maybe you’re writing your memoir and worried about not being a good enough writer. (Most of my clients fall into one of these two camps.) So what I’m going into in today’s episode is going to ask you to examine your writing in a new way, because the truth is that just because something is well written doesn’t automatically make it interesting. Today’s episode is going deep into the nuances behind both a good memoir and one that is well-written. So let’s get started.

This episode is for the writer who is overwhelmed at all the different steps of publishing and needs a guide, not just an editor. The story behind this episode comes from work I did in the earlier days of this business, and I learned a lesson that I’ve taken with me into how I support, work with, and interact with writers now. The way that I move as a memoir editor and writing coach now is a direct response to this mistake I made almost four years ago. Let’s dive in.

This episode is for the writer who is overwhelmed whenever you look at the publishing pipeline. There are so many thresholds to cross, gates to enter, and milestones to reach that what you thought would be a marathon is more akin to a super marathon, or multiple marathons run back to back. “Published author” may feel far in the future, but I want to offer you a reframe in this episode that will revolutionize how you approach not just the publishing process but the entire drafting and editing process as well. Let’s get started.

This episode is for the writer who is grappling with imposter syndrome. It happens to the best of us, and at least for me, that imposter syndrome led to a years-long creative famine where not only did I not write a single word, I also didn’t even consider myself a writer anymore. This episode gets a little personal, but I’m sharing the surprising key that pulled me out of that spiral and got me writing again. Let’s get started.

This episode is for the writer who has been doom-scrolling more than they’ve been writing. The headlines this month have been sobering, maddening, and frustrating. I’ve found myself at a loss for how to enact real change in areas that matter to me, and what’s come through on my end is an even greater conviction in this work. Consider this episode your invitation and call to take your story seriously in a world that feels like it’s falling apart. Let’s talk about it.

This episode is for the writer who wants to actually finish their memoir manuscript. This episode is also part of a four-part series that I’m running here on the podcast that I’m calling the 12-Month Memoir. Over the holidays I was thinking about you and what you might want heading into the new year, and what came through was a month-by-month plan for how to use your time, energy, and money as a memoir writer so that by the end of twelve months, you’ll have a finished memoir draft in hand, ready to move into publication. You can catch up on part 1–3 back in episode 113–115. Today we’re getting into our fourth and final installment! Let’s get started.

This episode is for the writer who wants to actually finish their memoir manuscript. This episode is also part of a four-part series that I’m running here on the podcast that I’m calling the 12-Month Memoir. Over the holidays I was thinking about you and what you might want heading into the new year, and what came through was a month-by-month plan for how to use your time, energy, and money as a memoir writer so that by the end of twelve months, you’ll have a finished memoir draft in hand, ready to move into publication. You can catch up on part 1 and part in episodes 113 & 114. Today we’re getting into part 3! Let’s get started.

This episode is for the writer who wants to actually finish their memoir manuscript. This episode is also part of a four-part series that I’m running here on the podcast that I’m calling the 12-Month Memoir. Over the holidays I was thinking about you and what you might want heading into the new year, and what came through was a month-by-month plan for how to use your time, energy, and money as a memoir writer so that by the end of twelve months, you’ll have a finished memoir draft in hand, ready to move into publication. You can catch up on part 1 back in episode 113. Today we’re getting into part 2! Let’s get started.

This episode is for the writer who wants to actually finish their memoir manuscript. This episode is also part of a four-part series that I’m running here on the podcast that I’m calling the 12-Month Memoir. Over the holidays I was thinking about you and what you might want heading into the new year, and what came through was a month-by-month plan for how to use your time, energy, and money as a memoir writer so that by the end of twelve months, you’ll have a finished memoir draft in hand, ready to move into publication. Today is part 1. Let’s get started.

This episode is for the writer who is looking back on the last year and feeling more discouraged than not when it comes to your memoir. Today I want to validate the frustrations you’re experiencing, highlight why what used to work for your writing doesn’t anymore, and show you how to reset your writing for the new year into a sustainable energy and structure. Let’s get into it.

This episode is for the writer who wants to finish their memoir in 2026. You’ve already invested years and years into this work, and you just want to be finished with your draft. Heading into 2026, this is what I want for you: Yes, I want you to finish your memoir manuscript. I also want you to love it. The thing is that if writing your way worked, you’d have finished and published by now. So let’s talk about why this is and how to shift it going into 2026.