Writing about family can be a landmine. I have family members who don't care what I write, and others who have asked to see and sign off on anything I write about them.

I also have many writing clients who tell me fabulous personal stories that they can't write about because they don't want to anger the folks the stories are about.

That can be frustrating when you KNOW that a story they've just told you would make a killer essay.

But everybody has to draw the line where they feel comfortable.