Seized tapes, unreliable apps, and the tools that make writing easier.
A Pewabic Pottery Tour, a Lost Recording, and Cameron Crowe
Welcome to The Sunday Sip. Some weeks, the stories I plan to tell get hijacked by the stories I didn’t plan at all. This one started with Cameron Crowe, a set of tape recordings with the Allman Brothers—briefly confiscated—and a corrupted voice memo. It turned into a brief reflection on the tools I trust and what happens when they fail.
Cameron Crowe, one of my favorite writers and journalists, talks about his tape recordings so often in his memoir The Uncool that the tapes almost become a character in the story. His constant, if not obsessive, checking to make sure the recorder is working is something I can completely relate to.
I could feel his pain when Gregg Allman from the Allman Brothers Band freaked out about their interview and demanded Cameron hand over the tapes — and he did. Then came the aftermath: figuring out how to tell his editor at Rolling Stone he’d lost his notes and couldn’t write the cover story.
Crowe’s confession about the tapes resonated with me. Recordings help writers get quotes right, remember details, and stay present instead of scribbling furiously and getting lost in their own head. And honestly, there’s nothing more distracting than someone typing notes on a phone or scratching away on paper. You can almost hear the interviewee thinking, “What are they writing?”
Up until now, my iPhone’s voice memo app was the most reliable tool in my writer’s toolbox. It’s like Chuck’s camera — capturing details because memory is fickle. More than once, I’ve listened back and realized what I thought someone said was not what they said at all. Yikes. Thank you, voice memo app.
Recently, I used the app to record a docent-led tour at Pewabic Pottery in Detroit. Our docent, Toni, was a delight. She shared intimate details about Mary Chase Perry’s life — one of Pewabic’s founders — and gently guided us through displays, adding small bits of context that brought Mary’s world to life. And yes, like Cameron, I peeked at my phone obsessively to make sure it was catching everything.
Once I convinced myself it was working, I relaxed. I took in the room, watched the other tour participants’ faces, and stayed present so I could interact with Toni. If you love iconic Detroit artwork, this tour is for you. When it was over, I hit “End,” watched the recording begin to save, shoved my phone into my pocket, and didn’t think about it again until we got home.
Later, while writing a follow-up note to the marketing manager at Pewabic, I wanted to check a detail. I hit play. Nothing. Not one syllable. I scrambled searching my iPhone, iCloud, and backup files. Turned my phone off and on. Googled “recover corrupt voice memo.” I even tried again after a night’s sleep, as if the phone needed rest, too—still nothing. The file remained corrupted and refused to share its secrets.
The stakes for my Pewabic article are obviously much lower than Cameron’s. This wasn’t hours of interviews with a famous rock band in the 1970s. Everything Toni shared is published in books or online. I mainly wanted the recording to jog my memory and grab a quote or two to bring the story to life.
But still — the question remains: what happened? Why didn’t it save? I have a few theories, but they remain untested. Stay tuned.
That little disaster got me thinking about the tools I use. Right after spell-check and Grammarly, I use ChatGPT. I heard you gasp. Yes, I use it. It’s a fickle beast, so be warned. And it should never be trusted to write your first or second draft.
But if you ask it to review your nearly finished piece — say as an editor at Rolling Stone — and provide a list of suggestions, it’s worth its weight in gold. And if a sentence refuses to cooperate, I might ask it to wordsmith it. It gets me out of the rut.
Another tool I use: the Emotional Headline Analyzer. I’m terrible with headlines, and this tool reminds me just how horrible I am. A humbling experience every time. (This one I hit pay dirt with 50%!)
And then there’s reading my work aloud to Chuck — my favorite tool of all. Whenever I do, I think of David Sedaris reading to a live audience and taking notes. If I stumble over a sentence, readers will too. If Chuck laughs (or doesn’t), or looks confused, I know what’s working and what isn’t.
Finally: give your subconscious the reins. Hot showers and quiet walks in the woods are where the best ideas percolate. I’ve woken up from a dead sleep with a great sentence or lead and sent myself a text. It’s a little creepy to see the message the next morning — but incredibly useful.
What about you? I’d love to know which tools you rely on to improve your stories, remember your story ideas, or take notes.
GIG Magic: The Art of Michigan Music Experience
The GIG — The Art of Michigan Music Experience on November 8th is now just a wonderful memory. We are already planning 2026. We need your help. Tell us what you think, even if you couldn’t make it to GIG this year. Here is the link to our 2025 Survey. (The survey closes soon.)
And if you want the full behind-the-scenes scoop, check out our GIG Newsletter. Go ahead and subscribe if you have not yet.
Life In Michigan Updates
The latest Life Michigan Podcast episode is out!
Lorri Smith and Patty Barton: The Story of Peace Pie
In this episode, we visit with Lorri Smith and Patty Barton from Peace Pie in Marquette. Lorri shares Peace Pie’s humble beginnings, from apartment baking to the farmers’ market.
If you have an idea for a guest, email me (info@lifeinmichigan.com). We are looking for anyone who is creative, passionate, and has a story to share about their Life In Michigan. Don’t be shy.
The latest episode of Fans with Bands just dropped!
Chuck has a tasty review of Ramshackle Brewing’s Michigan Native Rebel! Click on the image to read the full story.
If you are a Sunday Sip regular, you know Chuck loves curating an events listing. We’ve created a public Google Events Calendar so you’ll never miss an event. Get over there and subscribe!
You’ll find things like this on the calendar!
On December 5 in Ann Arbor is the KindleFest Market, or Christkindlmarkt, as it is known in Germany. It will feature artisans and vendors selling their holiday wares, plus traditional food and hot mulled wine, in a festive outdoor setting. Throughout downtown Ann Arbor and in the Kerrytown District, retail businesses and restaurants stay open late this evening as they participate in the festivities. For more details, click on the picture.
We covered the KindleFest in 2014. It hasn’t changed much over the years, so if you want to get a taste of the event, check out our coverage.
Allie Carr shared an excellent list of writing tools on her Substack, “Is Good.”
Maddy Marquardt has a list of Great Lakes Winter Adventures you should check out if you love playing in the winter wonderland.
Thank you! It is assuring to know someone besides my family and friends enjoys our Sunday Sip.
I may buy a voice recorder! The voice memo app has never failed. Until now.
iphone user here, i use the voice memo to record details about film photography like where the shot was taken, shutter speed, aperture, etc. especially when i'm using new (to me) films and i want to see how they perform in certain conditions. that app never let me down. sorry to hear about your experience