Knock, Knock. Who's there? Something that should matter to you. Something that should matter to you - who? Yes. And also Where and When and How and For What Purpose and For What Cause. Everything matters.   There's so much to care about. Everybody is giving me more things to care about.  The headlines are […]

It's Release Day for This Book Is For You: Loving God's Words in Your Actual Life. We celebrated the daylights out of her this weekend, and when I find my words again, I am eager to tell you about the greatness of that festival of Sharpies. I've heard that all the emotionally healthy authors keep […]

So this guy came to my brother.  He said, “Hey, man. I really love this girl. I want to ask her to marry me.” And Rob thought for a moment that the dude was asking my brother to be in the wedding, which would be weird since they weren’t *that* close. Then the guy said, “She’s very […]

I am writing in the library today. A mom and her little girl - probably four years old - walked by my spot near the movie section, and I heard the little girl begging her mom to get her The Naked Movie. Mom: "I'm sorry, what? I don't understand what you're asking me." Daughter: "I […]

This little book turns Seven Years Old this week. She's basically a first grader, out in the real world, tying her shoes and reading books on her own. I'd like for you to please notice Tucker, working the line and meeting the people. Now, please notice Tyler, working so hard to work the Sharpie. Peter […]

Tricia said: "Laptop, Open Manuscript." And the Laptop said, "File Not Found." Tricia said: "Look again, laptop.  Find it, please." And the Laptop said, "File Not Found." I had spent weeks working on my second round of edits for my new book, This Book Is For You: Loving God's Words in Your Actual Life. And […]

A Christmas Special: Give my book for Christmas!   For $20, I'll send to you a *personalized, signed copy* of the book of your choice, including gift wrap and shipping.   Straight to your door, complete with my love and doodles.   Available Books: ~ Just You Wait ~ You Can Do This   Available […]

“Tarbled.” adjective: wind-blown; lacking precision but compensating in charm; messy but cute. ~ ~ ~ "I am a lover of messy people; a tarbled mom of two teenage boys who are likely late to school and wearing mismatched socks; I have been known to absent-mindedly doodle in the margins of overdue library books; I have […]

"Because this business of becoming conscious, of being a writer, is ultimately about asking yourself, How alive am I willing to be?" ~ Anne Lamott I wrote a piece last week that got chewed to bits on the interwebs. Chewed. To. Bits. I mean, not by everyone. Probably not by you. But enough people pecked […]

In the writing world, your "Platform" is the broad term for "the people who listen to you." The size of your platform matters quite a lot to publishers. After all, if they're going to invest in your writing and give you a contract, they want to know who's waiting in line to buy this book. […]

“Hi. I should introduce myself. We’re actually really good friends,” she says as we pass each other on the sidewalk, each of us walking our dogs AGAIN. “You just haven’t met me yet. But I read your stuff every day. We have coffee together.” I love when this happens. When the cyber world around me […]

Registrations are open for The Pen and The Page: March 13 - 15, 2020 The Pen and The Page: Writing as Worship The Pen and The Page is carefully crafted for writers of every level to explore writing as a sacred pathway of worship. Whether you’ve written books or simply enjoy scribbling your thoughts, something […]

"Mom, is that what you're wearing?" They are teenagers now - one teen and one almost-teen - and they take great interest or offense in what I am wearing. "This is what I am wearing," I say, side glancing his way as I drop a package of peanut m&m's in my brown bag. "But it's […]

We were in the car one day.  The radio was on. The air conditioning was blowing at me. All three men of mine were talking or singing. The boys were playing some version of physical jackassery horseplay in the backseat.    In total exasperation, I reached forward and turned off the radio and the air […]

I love when I get letters like this one: Dear Tricia, Please help. I have a third/fifth/tenth grade kid/daughter/son/niece/nephew/grandson/neighbor, and I think he/she is a writer. I want to support and encourage him/her in this newfound love. What can you suggest to me, other than buying lots of notebooks and pens? Love, A Writer's Cheerleader […]

I am both horrified and mortified to tell you this, but it is true. I gained ten pounds in Chicago last week. One week.  Ten pounds.  This is not an exaggeration, and it is not even an estimation. It is exact and precise and appalling. Ten pounds. You see, I was in Chicago. And Chicago […]

Hands down, this is one of my favorite parts about writing a book: the launch. Writing is a solitary journey for so many hours of so many days that stretch into so many months.  And finally - finally - I get to throw open the doors and make it a group project. But not the annoying kind […]

I have kept this secret surprise under wraps for so long, and I cannot wait to tell you today. Introducing… November 9-11, 2018 Glen Eyrie Colorado Springs, Colorado Register Here I cannot even tell you how excited I am about this brand new event, The Pen and the Page, a three-day weekend retreat where I […]

I have wanted to meet her for a long time. Natalie Goldberg is the queen bee of memoir, and she taught me everything I know. Or it seems that way. I fell in love with Writing Down the Bones six years ago, and I've been carrying some version of her books in my writing bag […]

You guys, I'm so excited to present this to you, especially those of you who have long drives in the car or on the commuter train, those of you who like stories but hate reading, and those of you who have ever asked me to read aloud to you. Which, to my great delight, has […]