You look at your ancestor’s life and worry nothing dramatic enough ever happened — no scandal, no disaster, no reason anyone would keep reading. So the story stays unwritten. This
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Why So Many Writers Begin in the Wrong PlaceWhy So Many Writers Begin in the Wrong Place
You open with her parents, her siblings, the times she was born into, the reasons she had to leave. Three paragraphs in, and we still haven’t met her. Let’s look
The Most Common Mistake in Family History WritingThe Most Common Mistake in Family History Writing
A timeline is not enough. A timeline tells you when your ancestor lived. It can’t tell you how. This week: the most common mistake in family history writing, why a
What I Look For First When I Read a DraftWhat I Look For First When I Read a Draft
Today, I want to let you in on a little secret. What I look for first when I read a draft. It might surprise you.
What Refinement Really IsWhat Refinement Really Is
Refinement isn’t about fixing what’s broken — it’s about clarifying what’s already trying to emerge in your story.This week on Storylines, I’m unpacking what refinement really is, why it feels
Why Revision Feels Harder Than DraftingWhy Revision Feels Harder Than Drafting
Revision often feels harder than drafting — not because something is wrong with your work, but because the work is asking something different of you now. Drafting runs on momentum
Beyond Resolutions: Why Knowing Where You Are Matters More Than Setting GoalsBeyond Resolutions: Why Knowing Where You Are Matters More Than Setting Goals
Resolutions rush us toward change without asking us to pause. This piece begins instead with orientation—taking an honest look at where you are before deciding what comes next.
Beyond Resolutions: Beginning with what you actually needBeyond Resolutions: Beginning with what you actually need
The turn of the year often brings a rush to declare resolutions — bold promises we’re meant to keep by sheer force of will. Beyond Resolutions invites a different approach:
When Your Writing Gets Sidelined in DecemberWhen Your Writing Gets Sidelined in December
When life fills up, even the most devoted writers step away from the page.This month, let’s explore how to honor the pause without losing your momentum.
When Writers Need to Pause: The Mindset of ReturningWhen Writers Need to Pause: The Mindset of Returning
As the year winds down, we often measure our writing in pages and progress.But what if this season wasn’t about finishing more?What if it was about returning — to our