My Memoir Project

January 27, 2026

Delayed

There are two kinds of delays in life: the ones that happen to our flights, and the ones that happen to our writing. Occasionally—just to keep things interesting—both happen at the same time. Last Thursday, I flew to Oklahoma with the noble goal of spending time with my sister and catching an Oklahoma City Thunder… Continue reading

Musings

creative nonfiction, memoir tips, memoir writing, Oklahoma City Thunder, personal stories, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, travel delay, winter storm, writing inspiration, writing process

January 22, 2026

Dialogue (More)

Memoir isn’t merely the history of what happened. If that were the point, every family reunion would solve the problem—someone would stand up, clear their throat, and recite a timeline: We moved from Chicago to Des Moines in ’71. In ’73, we bought the blue station wagon. In ’74, shaving cream went up a quarter.… Continue reading

Advice

creative nonfiction, dialogue in memoir, how to write dialogue, memoir tips, memoir writing, personal narrative, storytelling techniques, writing advice, writing craft

January 20, 2026

Making My Money Work

The first time I robbed Peter to pay Paul was at fifteen. I was determined to get myself to a family reunion in Southern California, something Dad had no interest in attending or paying for, which meant I had to figure it out on my own. So I did what any financially strapped teenager with… Continue reading

Events From My Life

401k investing, Cal Ripken Jr, memoir writing, narrative structure, Oklahoma, storytelling craft, travel agency, unaccompanied minor, writing techniques

Delayed

Dialogue (More)

Making My Money Work

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