In this episode, Polly talks with memoir coach and author Wendy Dale, whose books include Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals and The Memoir Engineering System. Wendy shares how a deep dive into reading memoir manuscripts shaped her approach to writing and led her to develop seven core principles that help writers avoid common mistakes while still leaving room for creativity.

In this chat, Wendy breaks down her system of scenes and transitions and explains how understanding how they work can help us craft a stronger draft.

For more on writing craft and crafting a writer’s life, join the Simply Write community at simplywrite.substack.com.

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