The 'Skill' Every Writer Needs

“Truth is, every writer has to be a good editor, and you have to edit yourself. It's a skill every writer has to acquire.” – Lisa Scottoline

A native of Philadelphia, Scottoline was born on this date in 1955, grew up in Merion – site of many of America’s great pro golf tournaments – and earned a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania.   On track toward a law firm partnership, she decided to try her hand at writing after the birth of her daughter Francesca, penned the award-winning crime mystery Final Appeal, and never looked back.

To date she has written 30 novels, been translated into 30 languages, and sold over 30 million books.  Among her titles are Look Again and Don't Go, both top 5 New York Times bestsellers.   An Edgar Award winner, Scottoline has served as President of the Mystery Writers of America.  And she has co-authored a number of bestselling non-fiction memoirs with her daughter (Francesca Serritella) who also is an award-winning writer.

“I love writing both fiction and memoir,” she said.  “Both have unique challenges; bottom line, fiction is hard because you have to come up with the credible, twisty plot, and memoir is hard because you have to say something true and profound, albeit in a funny way.”

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