Heart—or Craft? The Story Behind the Name

The name "Heart and Craft" acknowledges two distinct facets of life writing. Heart signifies that the best, truest, and most touching stories are poured onto paper from the depths of the writer’s heart. Some writers need help getting in touch with the contents of their hearts and learning how to spill those stories out. Life Writing Tips of the Day, books, and other resources here can help you get started.

The heart often spills words into formless puddles or rough, uncut diamonds. The Craft facet includes editing skills that shape and polish those diamonds to make your stories shine and sparkle at full intensity. You’ll find resources here for a wide range of polishing skills.

This site has tips, resources, and examples to guide and inspire any life writer. You’ll find writing prompts, planning tools, suggested reading, layout tips, stories, assorted articles and essays, and free eBooks along with blog posts and podcasts. Click here to learn more about various facets of life writing and how they combine to lend depth and meaning to your life.

Podcast Interviews

Listen to a podcast interview with Karen Walker, author of the moving memoir Following the Whispers – Creating a life of inner peace and self-acceptance from the depths of despair. Read my review here.

Right-click to download.

The Albuquerque Years

Sharon Lippincott's preschool memoir, published as a "Print-On- Demand" volume with Lulu.com, and available on their site as a free eBook.

Latest Book Review: Power in the Blood, by Linda Tate

Brutal honesty... Paragon of persistence... Blazing versatility... Role model for all family historians... These are a few of the cryptic notes I jotted as I read Power in the Blood: A Family Narrative, by Linda Tate. I was struck by the impact of the basic story, and my appreciation deepened as I considered the craft and research involved in writing this gripping six generation tale . . . Read more.

Layout Tips

Download Make Your Pages Picture Perfect, a free ebook with dozens of layout tips. You'll learn how to make your stories as pleasing to readers' eyes as they are to their ears.

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Read Review

A soup-to-nuts guide for lifestory writing projects, large and small.

Now in 2nd printing.
Great stocking stuffer.

Readers say....

"I have a pile of books about writing memoirs, and THE HEART AND CRAFT OF LIFESTORY WRITING is tops for reference material and inspiration." JoAnn M

"I gave everyone in my family a copy for Christmas. I want to read their stories!" Maureen L

"The book's clear instructions made it easy for me to plan and write my entire autobiography in less than two years and then start another volume." Paul O

"This book is worth the investment for the concise and useful summaries of grammar and layout tips alone." Alicia K