The Purpose of the Villain in Your Story

One of the most common questions I am asked from anyone who is writing about their life goes like this:  How do I write about the people who hurt me?  Maybe you find yourself wanting to write about your parents, lovers, ex-lovers, siblings, neighbors, bosses, co-workers, etc but you aren’t sure h…

Moving Past Toxic Positivity

Research shows that a daily practice of gratitude can make you happier but have you had a time in life when “gratitude” felt impossible? Have you ever felt like “staying positive” might be blocking you from feeling what was true for you that day?  What is the line between “being grateful” and pret…

For When You Are Fumbling Your Way Through

Today’s episode is a love letter to anyone who feels like they are fumbling and stumbling their way through something right now. Whether it’s work or working out or parenting or creativity, if you feel like a beginner or like you don’t know exactly what to do next, you’re normal, you’re doing great…

Don’t Get Duped by This Publishing Scam

I heard recently about a publishing scam that would be hard to detect by an average consumer and that preys on the vulnerabilities of new, hopeful authors. And yet with just a little bit of publishing context you can arm yourself with enough information to sniff out the fakers and find a publishing…

Avoiding Suffering Is Hindering Your Story (and Your Life)

I had a conversation with a friend recently about raising boys (of all things) that reminded me of something I already know: a story without conflict or tension is not a story.  So why are so many of us trying to avoid conflict and tension in our lives?  Sure, problems are unpleasant to deal with…

A Better Question Than “What Will Make Me Happy?”

What will make me truly happy?  Recently I watched an Instagram reel where a psychologist shared data that suggests parents with young children are not as happy as those couples who are child-free or who have grown kids. In the comments section, you could hear the defensiveness. The frustration. T…

What to Do About an Impossible Problem (Hint: It’s Not What You Think)

Are you up against a problem in your life that you don’t know how to solve? Have you tried everything you know to try in order to solve it? Maybe strategies that worked in the past are feeling insufficient this time around?  Whether it’s a personal problem or a political, global or corporate one —…

You Don’t Have to Be OK. You Just Have to Be Honest.

Do you ever feel like you have to be the strong one? Like you have to get your ducks in a row, get your act together, pull it all off—or if you don’t do it, who will?  In today's episode I unpack the idea that your greatest leverage to shift any situation—personal or corporate—is not in your stren…

On Missing the Mess of Your Story

Have you ever felt like — once you get your act together — then your life can start? Once you find the right partner? Once you finally get pregnant? Once you write your book? Once you finish your degree? Once your business is profitable? Once your house is clean? Once you finally kicked that…

What Your Writer’s Block Is Here to Show You

If you’ve ever tried to write literally anything, you’ve dealt with that familiar, sinking feeling: staring at the blinking cursor, convinced you have something to say but unsure how to get the words right. But have you ever considered that writer’s block might be about more than just trying to fin…