Listen, Watch, and Read
New pieces arrive on the Content Barge every week — conversations, films, recipes, music and Andy's own programs.
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Twenty-three docks of films, conversations, music, recipes and Andy’s own programs — new pieces every week.
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.
In December of 1959, C.S. Lewis answered a letter from a young writer asking for advice. So what would happen if we put him in a room with Hemingway, Steinbeck, Twain, Orwell, Stephen King, Jerry Jenkins and J.K. Rowling? Tami Nantz digs into what great writers have actually said about writing — and finds they don’t all agree, but they agree a lot more than you might expect.
There is no such thing as a woolly pug. But watch the short film “Meet the Great Woolly Pug,” and for two minutes it almost feels like there could be. That “almost” is the whole idea behind a writing project in the Writers dock — and now it’s your turn.
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.