This carefully maintained dock holds a growing collection of the written word. Here, you’ll find thought provoking articles, unique stories, private letters, personal notes, deep musings, and occasionally, even poetry. Much of the content here has never been shared publicly. For whatever reason, some pieces were tucked away by the writer for years. Now, it’s all available for you.
Every writer has a stash of “failures” hidden away—half-finished drafts, ideas that went nowhere, and maybe a rejection letter…or twenty. We all have them. It’s tempting to look at these and think, “What a waste!” But those pieces might just be the most valuable part of your creative process. Failure isn’t just one step on the journey; it’s a constant companion for anyone putting words on a page.
People often ask what it was like to receive 51 rejection letters when I was trying to get my first novel, The Traveler’s Gift, published. Well, actually writing the book was the hardest part, but the rejection stage wasn’t all that pleasant, either!
Walt Merrell opens with a story his grandfather told him on a sidewalk — less than 60 seconds long, words he didn’t understand at the time, that hit him like a ton of bricks at 18. From there, he and Andy Andrews make a compelling case that great material can’t be manufactured. You have to earn it by showing up for your own life. It’s also, somehow, one of the funniest conversations on the Writers Dock yet.
Writing your story is a beautiful beginning. But stories aren't meant to stay tucked away in a drawer or hidden inside a notebook. They're meant to be shared, remembered, and passed along to the people who come behind us. And the wonderful thing is, creating a legacy...
Every one of us has chapters we wouldn’t have chosen. Seasons that hurt, moments that changed everything, days we wish we could rewrite. When people begin writing their stories, these are often the parts they’re tempted to skip. And that’s completely understandable.
Most opportunities aren’t lost because someone said no — they’re lost because we never followed up. Tami Nantz breaks down the simple principles behind a well-timed follow-up: keep it short, assume good intentions, add value instead of pressure, and know when to close the loop gracefully. Because sometimes opportunity won’t knock twice — but it does answer a follow-up.
Have you ever listened to someone tell a story and felt like you were right there with them — you could picture the room, hear the laughter, and almost smell what was cooking in the kitchen? That’s not magic. That’s the power of details. In this post, Tami Nantz shows you how a few simple, specific touches can turn an ordinary memory into something your family can truly see and feel.
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to tell a story out loud — and how hard it suddenly feels to write it down? You can sit at the kitchen table surrounded by family and share a memory that has everyone laughing or leaning in close. But put a blank page in front of you, and suddenly everything feels stiff and impossible. The good news? Your family isn’t looking for a polished book. They’re looking for you — and Tami Nantz shows you exactly how to give them that.
Andy Andrews sits down with Walt Merrell — author, trial lawyer, and one of the most compelling storytellers you’ve probably never heard of — for a conversation that is equal parts hilarious and genuinely eye-opening. Underneath the laughs is something every writer needs to hear: the difference between someone who can write and someone who can story — and why that gap is the whole ballgame.