“I believe that the memoir is the novel of the 21st century; it’s an amazing form that we haven’t even begun to tap…we’re just getting started figuring out what the rules are.” ~ Susan Cheever

"Something happens when you-the-writer make that switch and it isn’t subtle, at least not to me. The “you” version asks the reader to agree with an argument. The “I” version doesn’t ask them anything." ~ Huck Smith brevity.wordpress.com/2026/1…

"It’s not surprising that a memoir about a lost identity, a world turned upside down, and the search for truth has been difficult to write and equally challenging to structure." ~ Margo Warren brevity.wordpress.com/2026/1…

"Both now and for always, I intend to hold fast to my belief in the hidden strength of the human spirit." ~ Andrei Sakharov

“You’re always looking for a way to see the world as if you’ve never seen it before. As if you’d never really got used to living here on this planet.” ~ Martin Amis

"If your main objective is to leave a written legacy for someone in the future to find, it’s certainly doable. That’s what my dad did, and I’m so happy to have his memories on paper." ~ Jan Hogle brevity.wordpress.com/2026/1…

"I think we’re all born with potential, and while it takes thousands of hours of practice to turn that potential into something real, making that kind of commitment is what life is all about." ~ Bonnie Garmus

"Storytelling is what you do best, and your book contains more stories than the ones on its pages. Those stories deserve a life of their own—and can be good companions for your book on its publication journey." ~ Andrea Firth brevity.wordpress.com/2026/1…

"We all have our moments; some writers are just better at hiding it. Writing can wring you out, turn you inside out, make you wonder Why Do We Even Do This?" ~ Charlotte Donlon brevity.wordpress.com/2026/1…

"Nothing is more satisfying than to write a good sentence...it is a pleasure to achieve, if one can, a clear running prose that is simple yet full of surprises. This does not just happen. It requires skill, hard work, a good ear, and continued practice." ~ Barbara W. Tuchman

Revise your writing with support, community and craft this weekend, Oct 16-18. @GuerillaMemoir and I on openings and endings, layering in backstory, how writing your synopsis solves your plot & more. Live Editing with personal feedback for all writers. rebirthyourwriting.com/

"...maybe, everyone needs your writing. Maybe yours are the words that make someone realize they’re not alone. Maybe they’re the pages that change someone’s world. Maybe they will change the whole world." ~ Joselin Linder brevity.wordpress.com/2026/1…

"This is not the vast forest of plot, or the individual character of trees. This is background. No one will know how each word was considered individually." ~ Alison Colwell brevity.wordpress.com/2026/1…

"When I write, I feel like an armless, legless man with a crayon in his mouth." ~ Kurt Vonnegut

"Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little." ~ Tom Stoppard

"Our stories are, by definition, grounded in our emotional development, discoveries, and internal changes in our character. How can we show the process of, well, processing, as drama?" ~ Allison K Williams brevity.wordpress.com/2026/1…

Revision can be an enjoyable challenge. First though, you need a plan. @GuerillaMemoir and I are offering an online intensive to jumpstart, propel, push your project to the finish. Oct 16-18 | On Zoom | Limit 24 writers. rebirthyourwriting.com/

“The words we read and words we write never say exactly what we mean.” ~ Anne Carson