where every week, you receive writing tips, inspiration, prompts, book recommendations, answers to your questions, and fun stories.
If you have questions you’d like answered in this vlog, send them to me at patricia@writingyourlife.org.
Use this handy index to quickly find vlog topics sorted by category. Click on the tabs at the bottom of the index to narrow your search.
Search the Vlogs
The only way to do this wrong is to not do it at all!
Episode 135 – Is it “s’s” or “s'”?
Today’s viewer question may seem simple, but since it involves English grammar and punctuation, you know it’s not. I always say my heart goes out...
Episode 134 – Your Childhood Haunts
Grab last week’s drawing of your neighborhood and home, and let’s write.
Episode 133 – EAE Bite #118 – Try This
In today’s vlog, I introduce a new way to tap into old memories.
Episode 132 – Imperfectionism
In episode 132 of the Life Writers Vlog, I take a slight detour from my monthly memoir or writing book recommendations to discuss Meditations for...
Episode 131 – Making Space
Clearing out clutter—physical, mental, or emotional—can make a huge difference in your creativity. In this episode of the Life Writers Vlog, I share a conversation...
Episode 130 – An Early Experience with Death
In this week's Life Writers Vlog, we explore early experiences with death—a topic that, while not the happiest, is important to reflect on. This prompt...
Episode 129 – EAE Bite #48 Why Dialogue?
Allowing your people to speak tells more about them than anything else.
Episode 128 – Happy memoirs do exist!
Today, I’m sharing some happy-ish memoirs I found and ones viewers suggested.
Episode 127 – Contractions
Some argue that contractions shouldn’t be used in creative writing. What do you think?
Episode 126 – Something Special in the Sky
What’s something special in the sky you experienced?
Episode 125 – EAE Bite #192 – Super-Size It
Do you struggle with correct capitalization of titles? Then, watch this.
Episode 124 – “Growing Up” by Russell Baker
This isn’t exactly a “happy” memoir, but it filled with warmth, charm, and some humor.
Episode 121 – EAE Bite #20 – Make Yourself Accountable
Most writers need this essential tool–accountability!
Episode 120 – Surrender, Not Control
“ The first demand any work of art makes upon us is surrender.” C. S. Lewis
Episode 118 – Are You a Panster or a Plotter?
Pantser or plotter? How do you approach writing?
Episode 115 – “Homeland of My Body”
A different kind of book recommendation for this month…
Episode 113 – Tis the season!
Holiday cards and letters–send them, receive them, none of the above?
Episode 112 – EAE Bite 183 – Parentheses
There’s no such thing as a bad punctuation mark, but…
Episode 109 – An Experience Not Everyone Has Had
In today’s 109th episode of the Life Writers Vlog, we focus on uncommon…
Episode 107 – Imagining Your Great-Grandchildren on the First Date
It’s like imagining your great-grandchildren on the first date…
Episode 106 – “The Red Leather Diary” by Lily Koppel
I’m excited to share a fascinating story of…
Episode 105 – Do I Need a Good Vocabulary to Write?
Having a great vocabulary certainly helps a writer, but…
Episode 104 – Course Correction
How many times have we charted a course for our lives, only to see…
Episode 103 – EAE Bite #108 – “Reasons to Not Write”
Like noses, ears, and eyes, we all have them, but when it comes to writing…
Episode 102 – “To Our Children’s Children” by Greene & Fulford
When you don’t know what to write, here’s one idea with loads of possibilities.
Episode 101 – The Singular “They”
Today, we discuss the use of the singular “they,” “them,” and “their.”
Episode 99 – EAE Bite 99 Common Mistakes, Part II
Since today is the ninety-ninth episode of the Life Writers Vlog, I thought…
Episode 98 – Take It Bird by Bird
Today is the fifth Thursday of the month, so we are going to take a bit of advice…
Episode 96 – Split Infinitives
With no grammar police here in the US, language changes are a free for all.
Episode 94 – EAE Bite 61 – Say It With Meaning
Let’s talk about writing meaningful dialogue today.
Episode 93 – The Art of Writing Short
Today’s special: three, not just one, unique micro-memoirs.
Episode 90 – EAE Bites 80 & 81 – Setting
Today’s episode focuses on the importance of describing the…
Episode #89 – “On Writing” by Stephen King
In this episode of the Life Writers Vlog, I share my thoughts on Stephen King’s…
Episode #88 – Do I Have to Read to Be a Good Writer?
In this week’s episode of the Life Writers Vlog, I address a listener’s question, “Do I have to read to be a good writer?
Episode #87 – A Memory You’d Like to Erase
We’re going to continue with the theme of writing the hard things and write about a memory you’d like to erase.
Episode #86 – EAE Bite #115 – “Don’t Be Afraid of the Pain”
Today, we discuss the possible benefits of writing the tough stuff.
Episode #85 – A Drop in the Bucket
John McPhee, with thirty-three books under his belt, emphasizes the power of…
Episode #84 – “Slow Productivity” by Cal Newport
Cal Newport’s new book, “Slow Productivity,” challenges the hustle culture and advocates three things…
Episode #83 – What’s so wrong with cliches?
In episode eighty-three of the Life Writers Vlog, we talk about cliches! Cliches might seem harmless, but Gary Provost, in his book 100 Ways to...
Episode #82 – Bugs
Our sugar-ant situation is nothing compared to what will befall the Midwest and Southeast this summer.
Episode #81 – EAE Bite #10 – “Timeline”
Let’s talk about personal and historical timelines and where to find details to complete yours.
Episode #80 – “Lucky” by Alice Sebold
Today, we discuss Alice Sebold’s well-written and brutally frank memoir, “Lucky.”
Episode #79 – What’s ChatGPT?
Join us as we explore the buzz around ChatGPT, the AI chatbot.
Episode #78 – “Every piece of land has a story.”
Inspiration and fodder for stories surround us if we remain open to it.
Episode #77 – EAE #182 – “Comma Splice”
Today, we discuss what a comma splice is and how to avoid it.
Episode #76 – “Solito” by Javier Zamora
Today, in the Life Writers Vlog, we look at a unique memoir, written in present tense and in a child’s voice.
Episode #75 – Print, Audio, or E-Book
In today’s diverse reading landscapes that encompass print, audio, and e-books, the optimal choice for you hinges on your preferences and habits.
Episode #73 – EAE Bite #43 – “How Do They Think and Feel?”
How do you show what your characters think and feel?
Episode #73 – How Do You Hike in Florida?
How do you hike in Florida?
Well, I take a step with one foot and…
Episode #72 – Spandex and Action Verbs
What do spandex and action verbs have in common? Watch this week’s video and find out.
Episode #71 – “Mistress of Life and Death” – Susan Eischeid
At the end of January, three friends and I went to hear Susan Eischeid discuss her book “Mistress of Life and…”
Episode #70 – Ellipses
In episode seventy of Life Writers Vlog, we explore the versatile ellipsis.
Caution: Deadlines Ahead
At fourteen years old, I decided I wanted to write, specifically write feature stories about people, places, and…
Episode #69 – Why I Write
Today on the Life Writers Vlog, it’s prompt day! Let’s explore the diverse reasons behind writing.
Before Words Hit the Page
Since I switched from writing these Sunday Stories every week to once a month, I’ve noticed it’s much harder to write them.
Episode #68 – EAE Bite #101 – “It’s Just So Unjust”
In this episode of the Life Writers vlog, we explore the subtle words that sneak into our writing and hide right under our noses.
Episode #67 – The Oxford Comma
In episode sixty-seven of the Life Writers Vlog, I address a listener’s questions about…
Episode #66 – “Half Broke Horses” by Jeannette Walls
In episode sixty-six of Life Writers vlog, we dive into Jeannette Walls’ lesser-known masterpiece…
Episode #65 – Body Art
This Thursday Life Writers vlog explores tattoos, body art, ink, tatts, whatever you call them and…
A Clean Slate
Each January, we look back over the past year to see what we’ve accomplished toward our writing goals and where…
Episode #64 – EAE Bite #40 – What Do They Sound Like?
Today, we explore bite #40, “What Do They Sound Like?” which encourages writers to…
Episode #63 – An Alternative to Typing Your Stories
If typing is a challenge, try this alternative.
You Mean Santa Claus Isn’t Real?
The topic of believing in Santa Claus came up, transporting me back to playing with my neighbor-friend Randy Frederick when he told me…
Episode #62 – In a Fisherman’s Language – Captain James Arruda Henry
Let me introduce you to an inspiring autobiography written by an amazing man.
Episode #61 – Your Relationship with Books
I discovered a fascinating tidbit from Alberto Manguel’s A History of Reading. He wrote about…
Episode #60 – EAE Bite #120 – Just a Few Scribbles
Bite #120 from “Eating an Elephant,” encourages writers to incorporate…
I’m Kind of a Grinch
I’m kind of a grinch when it comes to the holidays. Well, to tell the truth, I am a grinch.
Episode #59 – Feeling Like an Imposter?
Today, we delve into the insecurities of prolific writer who always felt like an imposter.
They Are Finally Here!
Recently, my husband Bob and I unloaded 1,800 pounds of brand-new five-year journals. Whew and wow!
Episode #58 – Is It Okay to Edit While Drafting a Story?
In this fifty-eighth episode, we explore the question: Is it okay to edit while writing? The short answer…
I Thought I Was Going to a Holiday Party
Weeks ago, my husband Bob told me his salon was having a Christmas party and asked if I wanted to go. Sure, sounds like fun.
Episode #57 – “World of Wonders” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Here we are again to talk about another book I adore…
Episode #56 – The Worst Pain Ever
In 1991, I had a bad horseback riding accident that left me…
It Could Happen Again
Etya Krichmar quieted the Zoom room of our Life Writers open mic night as she read her story, “A World of Darkness.”
Episode #55 – EAE Bite #30, Not Just Adjectives, Baby
In this episode, we talk about spicing up your writing without drowning it in adjectives.
Thank you for your service!
I went to the VA clinic/hospital in Orlando with my husband Bob this week for a routine medical check. Bob has…
Episode #54 – Writing Rituals
Writing is more than just scribbling black marks on white paper; it’s a process. The four steps of the writing process are…
Are You a Pool Person?
I’m not a water person. Since I learned to swim as a kid, I can count the times I bobbed around in a pool on one proverbial hand with a few fingers left over.
Episode #53 – “Where I Come From” by Rick Bragg
Today, I introduce you to one of my two favorite authors–Rick Bragg and his collection of essays…
Defining Success
This morning, I listened to an “influencer” talk about success. He raised the question: What does success mean to us, and how do we define success?
Episode #52 – Home Remedies
On a recent trip to Louisiana, my godmother offered an unusual remedy for my post-Covid cough. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.
Do It Anyway!
I began going to Dance Trance classes in 2008, and I loved it from the beginning. The choreographed, energetic routines…
Episode #51 – Bite #19, A Writing Schedule
Michael Hyatt, author, speaker, and business coach, says, “What gets scheduled gets done.” It works for business, and it works for writing too.
Obsessions
I’m obsessed—with a lot of things. Thankfully, with a lot of help, I grew past my most destructive obsessions. Now, my obsessions are more entertaining, at least to me.
Episode #50 – Writer’s Block
I know you’ve heard other writers say it, and maybe, you’ve even said it yourself: I have writer’s block.
One viewer asked if writer’s block is a real thing.
A Slothful Weekend
After a stressful couple of months of sickness and my mom’s death, I chose to have a slothful weekend last week. I dragged myself
Episode #49 – “Can We Talk About Something More Pleasant” by Roz Chast
Memoirs come in all shapes and sizes, and I believe there are as many ways to write memoir as there are people to write them.
Episode #48 – Barefootin’
In our forty-eighth episode of the Life Writers Vlog, we introduce a creative writing prompt titled “Barefootin’.”
Forgiveness
Thank you all so much for the outpouring of love and good wishes sent to me this past week after posting about my mom’s death. I would love to have…
Episode #47 – Bite #85, How to Write a Title
You should always give your stories working titles before you begin to write. You can change the title later, but every story deserves a name. This week's...
Still a Shock
My mom took her last breath at 6:00 p.m. last Wednesday. Even though this was a call I had been expecting for four-plus years, it still came as a shock.
Episode #46 – Exclamation Marks
When there's a fifth Thursday in the month, we look to acclaimed authors for writing advice. Today, we tap into the wisdom of F. Scott...
A Dull Sunday Story
My husband Bob and I just returned from a marvelous trip that took us to eight countries and gave us a world of new experiences. On the island…
Episode #45 – Past or Present Tense
Logically, you'd think all memoir should be written in the past tense because the events happened in the past. But one listener asks, "Do I...
Episode #44 – “The Ride of Our Lives” by Mike Leonard
Whenever you have a chance to hear an author speak in person, do it. It is so worth your time, effort, and gasoline.
Change Your Perspective
My husband Bob and I just returned from a marvelous trip that took us to eight countries and gave us a world of new experiences. On the island…
Episode #43 – It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane!
Today, let’s look to the skies of our memory and recall the wonders we have seen.
If You Like Monkeys…
If you like monkeys, Costa Rica is the place to go! I visited Parador Nature Resort and Spa in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, in June to finalize…
Episode #42 – EAE Bite #165, Tighten Up
This being the first Thursday of the month, we take another bite from my book, Eating An Elephant: Write Your Life One Bite at a...
Episode #41 – Should I write by hand or a computer?
I speak to many different groups about the importance of writing their life stories—writers groups, genealogy groups, civic groups, truly, all kinds of groups. I...
Episode #40 – “100 Ways to Improve Your Writing” by Gary Provost
Usually, I recommend memoirs on the third Thursday of the month, but instead, I will tell you about a little book that has helped me tremendously.
Episode #39 – I Didn’t Know It at the Time
My mom started teaching me to type when I was five years old. My small fingers could barely press down the keys of that old...
Episode #38 – EAE Bite #95, Hold It Up to the Light
Today, our focus is Bite #95, “Hold It Up to the Light,” from Eating an Elephant: Write Your Life One Bite at a Time, and...
Costa Rica…Wow!
How do you feel about trying new things? Some people thrive on the energy derived from tackling something new and unknown. But, if you’re like most…
Episode #37 – Memoir Is a Window
On this fifth Thursday of the month, I want to feature a quotation from William Zinsser, an accomplished journalist and author of On Writing Well,...
Be More Otter-Like
How do you feel about trying new things? Some people thrive on the energy derived from tackling something new and unknown. But, if you’re like most…
Episode #36 – Do I really need to hire an editor?
Do I really need to hire an editor to help me with my book or story collection? I’m asked this question a lot, and there isn’t a clear-cut answer.
Try Something New
How do you feel about trying new things? Some people thrive on the energy derived from tackling something new and unknown. But, if you’re like most…
Episode #35 – “The Puma Years” – Laura Coleman
In Life Writers, we practice close reading as we study a published memoir over several months. Close reading is…
Three Cheers for…
It’s not often you witness someone fulfilling a dream. I had that chance this afternoon. Lon Michael struggled throughout his young life.
Episode #34 – Fathers
When I wake to the sound of construction across the lake, I find it pleasant. Some would find it annoying. The sound of sawing and...
A Dream Fulfilled
It’s not often you witness someone fulfilling a dream. I had that chance this afternoon. Lon Michael struggled throughout his young life.
Episode #33 – EAE Bite #38, Profiling
Today, we crack open Eating an Elephant: Write Your Life One Bite at a Time and look at Bite #38 - Profiling. Profiling is the...
“Wild”
A few weeks ago, I heard Cheryl Strayed, author of the popular memoir, “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail,” speak at the Nonfiction…
Episode #32 – Should I Include Photos in My Stories?
Today, I tackle a common question I hear from people writing their life stories. Should I include photos in my stories?
Rites of Passage
As I banged away on my keyboard this week, I looked at my left wrist and saw a spot. I did what my mother always did to me when I was a kid and had dirt on my face
Episode #31 – “I Could Tell You Stories” – Patricia Hampl
Today, I visited some old book friends from my grad school days and lingered on a collection of essays by Patricia Hampl titled I Could...
In Celebration of Mothers
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who have children or served as maternal mentors or role models for others. I visited my mom this afternoon…
Episode #30 – Names I’ve Been Called
As we do on the second Thursday of every month, we are going to write in response to a prompt. We've probably been known by...
Mercury in Retrograde
Nearly ten years ago, I offered my first writing challenge. But, if you’re new to Writing Your Life, you might not know what a writing challenge is.
Episode #29 – EAE Bite #112, Come On Over to My Place, Baby
It’s sometimes good to change where we draft our stories, but I think it’s important to have a dedicated space to write as I talk...
What’s a Writing Challenge?
Nearly ten years ago, I offered my first writing challenge. But, if you’re new to Writing Your Life, you might not know what a writing challenge is.
Episode #28 – Do I “Always” Have to Brainstorm?
I am a big believer in brainstorming as a warmup to writing. I encourage people to spend five to ten minutes brainstorming before they write....
So Excited, I Could Just Spit
I fell in love with Costa Rica in 2018 when Bob and I visited the Caribbean and Pacific coasts and many points in between.
Episode #27 – “Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
I certainly love and respect books and all the wonderful stories they contain. As usual…
Uninspired Writing
Often, something happens during my week, and I know exactly what I want to write my Sunday Story about. Other times, I’m not so lucky....
Episode #26 – Whose Face Do You See?
Have you ever sat down to write but had no idea what to write about? Every second Thursday, we solve that problem for you because...
Sunday Stories: Bunny ears, Easter egg hunts, and cloves
As a kid, Easter was my favorite holiday. It wasn’t just about the candy, which I loved. Gold Brick Eggs, bunny ears, the crunchy bunny...
Episode #25 – EAE Bite #104, Stop in the Middle
Many of us have rituals to begin and end our writing sessions. Today, we're going to talk about how and where you end your writing...
Sunday Stories: Misophonia
I learned a new word the other day: misophonia. Merrium-Webster defines misophonia as “a condition in which one or more common sounds (such as the...
Episode #24 – Anne Lamott’s Writing Wisdom
No matter what class I teach or talk I give, the question always comes up, “How do I write about people in my family?” On...
Sunday Stories: How Do You Want to Be Remembered?
Yesterday, I went to the memorial service for a gentleman who had been in my Orlando writing classes years ago. His name was Al Pfeiffer,...
Episode #23 – How I Started Doing This Work
Whenever I tell someone I help people write their life stories and family histories, they always say: “That’s so interesting. How did you end up...
Sunday Stories: Florida Is Weird, But…
Florida is weird. I’ve lived in Orlando just about as long as I lived in South Louisiana, so I feel entitled to tell the truth...
Episode #22 – “Heart in the Right Place” by Carolyn Jourdan
The memoir I want to share with you this week is Heart in the Right Place by Carolyn Jourdan. I enjoy passing on books I...
Sunday Stories: Lessons in Letting Go, Part Two
Lessons in Letting Go, Part Two Follow this link to read last week's Sunday Story, Lessons in Letting Go, Part One. One hotel chain has...
Episode #21 – Grief
How do you write the hard things, the emotions you’d rather avoid? Today, we’ll try our hand at it together. From an unlikely source, we...
Sunday Stories: Lessons in Letting Go, Part One
Recently, I had two lessons in letting go. The first involved the Costa Rica writing retreat I had scheduled in…
Episode #20 – EAE #90 Don’t Edit Too Soon
When drafting a story, does it bug you to no end to see a typo or the wrong word in the paragraph you just finished?
Sunday Stories: A Literary Greek, Part Two
Last week, I began the story of meeting one of my literary heroes, Jeannette Walls, author of “The Glass Castle” and “Half Broke Horses.”
Episode #19 – When Am I’m Finished?
On this, the fourth Thursday of the month, we answer your writing questions. Today’s question comes from…
Sunday Stories: A Literary Geek, Part One
It’s a drizzly Saturday afternoon as I write this. I sit on the second floor of one of my favorite bookstores…
Episode #18 – “The Liars’ Club”
Studying–not just reading–a well-written memoir is like taking a master class with the author. Today, we learn from…
Sunday Stories: What’s That Noise?
I kept hearing this loud squawking at dawn every morning and again after dark. I mean, really loud, and I couldn’t…
Episode #17 – Bills I Hate to Pay
On the second Tuesday of the month, we write in response to a prompt, so grab your laptop, pen and paper…
Sunday Stories: Marie and Me
Marie and Me! Thank you to those who missed my Sunday Story last week and asked where it was. I felt excited to hear you...
Episode #16 – Start, Stop, Repeat
Do you remember the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray and Andie McDonald? In it…
Episode #15 – Differing Family Memories
Today’s question is, “What if my family’s memories don’t match my own?”
Sunday Stories: I Love Pelicans
I’ve mentioned before how fortunate we are to live on a lake near downtown Orlando thanks to a generous landlord…
Episode #14 – A Happy Memoir
Do you want to be a strong writer? Reading will help you achieve that goal, which is why we look at a specific memoir and...
Sunday Stories: New Eyes
A couple of weeks ago, a friend told me a story a buddy shared with him. This buddy served in the navy aboard…
Episode #13 – Pickles
Welcome to our second vlog of January 2023. That means it is writing prompt day! Grab your pen and paper, laptop, or whatever you use....
Sunday Stories: Tiny Is Good
Next door to the condo complex where my husband Bob and I live is a tiny house community…
Episode #12 – Make Writing Fun
Can you believe it is 2023? Ready or not, here we are. A new year can be a catalyst for new things, like writing your...
Sunday Stories: I Have a Decision to Make
I have a big decision to make today. I was a failed…
Episode #11 – Driving at Night
Today, we have the rare treat of a fifth Thursday vlog with writing advice from an accomplished writer. Our spotlight falls on a quote from...
Sunday Stories: Sounds Surround Us
Most mornings, I do a short guided meditation to start my day. I don’t sit on the floor…
Episode #10 – What Can Help Me Write?
Today is the fourth Thursday, so our focus is on answers to your writing questions. I’m often asked, “What’s one thing I can do to...
Sunday Stories: Love to Stare
I love to stare. No, not the creepy, I’m-looking-at-you kind of stare. I love to stare into the distance and allow my mind the freedom to romp…
Episode #9 – “Ava’s Man” by Rick Bragg
How well do you write similes? On this third Thursday, I share a recommended memoir and what you can learn from it. The writer is...
Sunday Stories: Florida’s Two Seasons
We have two seasons in Florida.
The beautiful one we’re in now is the this-is-why-I-live-here season.
Episode #8 – Scars Tell a Story
Have you heard the phrase cat got your tongue? As life story writers, I suppose it would be more like blank page got your pen....
Episode #7 – Bite #4, Start Anywhere
How do you know where to start writing your life story? Need help figuring that out? If the thought of writing your life story from...
Episode #6 – Twain’s Writing Wisdom
One of the United States’ favorite bards, Mark Twain, offers us great writing advice in the way…
Episode #5 – No Time to Write
All the time, I hear, “I want to write my life stories, but I never find the time.”
Episode #4 – “The Glass Castle”
To be a good life story writer, I believe you have to be a good…
Episode #3 – Sounds of the Night
We are going to dip into a little book of writing prompts I wrote called…
Episode #2 – EAE Bite #1, The only way to do this wrong…
When a woman in my class asked me to write a saying I used on the board every week, I had no…
Episode #1 – Welcome to the Life Writers Vlog!
If you’re not sure what a vlog is, this video answers that question.
This is the most important thing you’ll ever hear me say: The only way to do this wrong is to not do it at all!
So go ahead and write the stories only you can.
You can clean up the grammar, spelling, and punctuation later, but first you have to have something on the page.
From bite #1 of Patricia’s multi-award-winning book, Eating an Elephant: Write Your Life One Bite at a Time.
If you’d like to hear the story behind this saying, click on episode #2 of the Life Writers vlog.
Not yet a member of Life Writers?
Check out what you’re missing…
- supportive community of fellow writers
- step-by-step, get-started roadmap
- live and video writing instruction
- built-in accountability
- extensive library of instructional videos
- study of published memoirs
- weekly check-in call
- weekly time to write alongside fellow members
- monthly feedback sessions
- helpful, caring buddy groups
Click here to learn more about Life Writers!
