Ask Tina
Ask Tina helps a debut author untangle the "memoir vs. autofiction" genre question and lands on some reassuring permission to stop worrying about the label and just tell the story.
August 06, 2026 Journal
Ask Tina
Ask Tina tackles the awkwardness of asking for public support and makes the case that a direct, honest ask beats a hopeful, silent wait every time.
July 02, 2026
Ask Tina
Ask Tina weighs the pros and cons of pursuing an MFA and offers lower-cost alternatives for writers seeking community, motivation, and craft development.
June 04, 2026
Ask Tina
A structure-craving memoirist asks Tina for the golden rules of memoir writing and learns which ones to follow, and which ones to break.
May 07, 2026
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A newly published writer asks Tina how to best support the lit mag that gave them their first big break.
April 02, 2026
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A lifelong journal keeper asks Tina if her decades of writing "count" and whether she can ever call herself a real writer.
March 05, 2026
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Ask Tina helps a writer balance Substack consistency with literary essay goals by following joy instead of force.
February 05, 2026
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Ask Tina shares six techniques for crafting a first page that hooks readers and sets the tone for the entire book.
January 08, 2026
Ask Tina
Ask Tina reminds an overwhelmed writer that reading is valuable but not mandatory, and encourages them to release the guilt and find what works for their own creative process.
December 11, 2025
Ask Tina
Ask Tina advises a wounded writer that the responsibility for thoughtful feedback lies with the giver, not the receiver, and encourages them to keep writing.
November 06, 2025 recent journal entries
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