Eva Barrows Writing Services

A Story’s Hook Is More Than the First Line

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 21:53:32 GMT

Have you ever picked up a book, turned to the first line, and instantly been transported to another place and time? A good first line funnels readers into the rest of the story. If what comes next is just as intriguing, there’s little chance the story will be abandoned by the reader.

Sure, it’s wonderful to encounter first lines that:

Introduce a distinct narrative style
Set up the point of view attitude
Put actions in motion
Paint a picture through setting and mood

The Great Gatsby starts off this way:

“In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.”

From this first line, we learn a little about the narrator's past and that their father's advice has stuck with them. Fitzgerald immediately plants a story question: What was the advice? This is the beginning of the story hook—a reason to keep reading.

The advice comes right after the first line, and believe me, it's worth the read.

Great as this first line is, the story hook isn’t done yet.

What happens next is what keeps readers reading.

The story hook is the period of time an author has to prove the story is worth sticking with. Every reader reaches the point of being "hooked" at a different moment. When I start to read a book, I root for it to hold my attention. I’m looking for something I can immediately relate to, a character, a situation, an emotion.

Frustration sets in when something doesn't add up, like characters who don’t affect each other or a lack of anchoring in the setting. I read at least a full chapter before I decide to give up. If I’m not into the story by then, it’s difficult to believe I’ll ever become invested in what happens next.

The best stories are compelling from the start. The thought of “Do I want to keep reading this?” never occurs. This momentum continues to build from the very first line.

The story’s hook is subconscious to the reader. It’s a feeling of being on board for the journey or realizing they’d rather be doing something else. But for the author, the story hook is a planned strategy to provide everything a reader needs to keep reading.

So what hooks a reader? Curiosity.

Curiosity is the engine that keeps readers turning pages. Story questions and their answers fuel curiosity about what is to come. What are these characters trying to achieve? And what will happen if they do or don't get what they want?

Emotional investment in the story is key. Making your readers feel some kind of way for your characters—concern, excitement, a little bit of a crush—makes them invested in what happens next. Maybe your character isn’t that likable at the start of the story. A sense of mystery around them entices readers to find out why they are the way they are.

Now, you've got them hooked!

Don't stop at crafting a memorable first line. Build curiosity, introduce compelling characters, and create story questions that carry readers from one page—and one chapter—to the next.

If you’re revising your opening pages or are stuck on how to get started, my Hook Your Reader Assessment provides professional feedback on where reader curiosity, tension, or emotional investment may weaken early in the story. Book a session with me today!

Where does your story really begin?

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 21:46:58 GMT

One of the biggest reasons readers stop reading early is when stories begin before the real movement starts. As you write and revise your story, you have to figure out where the story really begins.

If a story starts too soon, the opening feels disconnected from what happens in the inciting incident.

Sometimes stories get a false start through “throat clearing.” These are passages writers use in search of where to start the story.

Filling the first pages with backstory slows or even stops reader momentum. Instead, sprinkle backstory throughout the story on a need-to-know basis, not frontloaded at the start.

Let’s use the classic movie, The Wizard of Oz , as an example. How does this story start?

In sepia brown, the film opens on a Kansas farm. Dorothy, a teenage girl, is concerned about the mean neighbor’s treatment of her dog, Toto. We meet Dorothy’s family and farmhands. Then the wind picks up.

Which leads to the inciting incident—the tornado that picks up Dorothy and her house and deposits them in the Technicolor Land of Oz. This event puts Dorothy into an entirely new world she must navigate to find her way back home = the rest of the story.

We can learn a lot from what this start doesn’t do:

Start when Dorothy was born (too early)
Show her at school (not relevant)
Use backstory or long conversations before story movement starts

In just a few minutes, the beginning does a lot really well:

Set up family dynamics
Show the love Dorothy has for her dog and the people she lives with
Dorothy’s yearning for adventure

Your story might have a more subtle, less color-dependent start, but there’s an ideal place to set up the launch into your story’s journey.

Answer these questions:

What information does the reader need to understand before the inciting incident changes everything?
How can I best introduce the story’s theme and underlying message in the first few pages?
Is the main character taking action and making choices in the first pages?

What Form Should Your Story Take?

Thu, 07 May 2026 18:01:09 GMT

Last month, I moderated a panel of local authors at Palo Alto Rinconada Library’s inaugural book fair. The panel featured authors who tell their stories in a wide range of formats, including poetry, comics, nonfiction, and novels. It was a challenge to find a topic that united all the authors, and I landed on “The Shape of a Story: How Writers Choose the Right Form.” Together, we explored one of the biggest questions an author must answer when planning their story: what form is this story meant to take?

There are so many exciting ways to express a story idea. The constraints and freedoms of each vessel give shape to the meaning, focus, and impact your story has on readers.

Screen and playwriting communicate through dialogue and action
Poetry plays with concise language to compose beauty and emotion
Comics and graphic novels combine pictures and words for an immersive experience
And length matters too; a short story, novella, or novel each demands a different level of depth

Most of the panelists had a gut feeling about how they wanted to express their ideas, especially the poet and comic book artist. The artist knew she wanted to pair her illustrations with compact dialogue and description. The poet channeled her creativity into poetry. Like these authors, sometimes you know what feels right for your story. But when a story could go in several directions, be open to experimentation. Allow yourself to play with the idea and try expressing it in different forms until you find what works best.

For years, my default story form was short stories. I noted socially awkward situations and tasked my characters with navigating them. Wanting to lighten the tone of my writing, I took classes in sitcom screenwriting and sketch comedy writing. These classes took me out of writing detailed descriptions and shifted my focus to crafting dynamic dialogue that communicated beyond the words. I also learned story beats and narrative structure that could sustain a longer story. So when I was struck by a story idea that required world-building and a cast of characters, I realized writing it would mean writing a novel. This was both an exciting and daunting assignment, but I accepted it and am working my way through the process.

A key takeaway from both the panel and my own writing journey is this: when you learn to write in different forms, you gain tools you can carry into any story form. Writing dialogue full of subtext, descriptions that quickly evoke images, and scenes that hook you from the start all meld to tell a fascinating story, no matter which form you choose.

When starting a new story, authors don’t always realize how much the form they choose can shape the direction of the story itself.

In my story coaching sessions , I help authors discover the best way to tell their story, especially when an idea could go in several directions.

We explore questions like whether a story is best told as memoir or fiction, as a single narrative or as a collection, and which structure will support it most effectively.

I’d love to help you figure out how to tell your story in a clear and compelling way.

Book a free discovery call with me to start!

Create Clarity, Not Confusion, with Your Newsletter

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 20:29:01 GMT

As a story coach and developmental editor, I help writers shape clear, compelling narratives.

But I also have a soft spot for crafting newsletters.

Newsletters are not just a marketing tool. They are mini-publications. It’s a place where your story, your voice, and your value show up consistently for your audience.

I read a lot of newsletters and see some of the same mistakes pop up over and over again. Some of them are small. Some of them are instant unsubscribe triggers.

Here are a few of the biggest ones, and how to fix them.

Who Dis?

When I don’t immediately recognize who a newsletter is from, I’m likely to delete it. If I really can’t figure out who sent it, I’ll probably unsubscribe too.

Your reader shouldn’t have to work to figure out who’s emailing them.

Fix this by :

Using a recognizable “from” name. Add a title like “Author,” “Coach,” or “Artist” to your name to help jog someone’s memory of who you are
Creating a branded header with your headshot photo, logo, or both
Including a tagline that reminds readers what you do and why they’re here

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Newsletters that randomly appear in my inbox, like once or twice a year, make me scratch my head. I easily forget who the sender is, where I met them, and why I signed up for their newsletter.

Inconsistency breaks trust and familiarity.

Fix this by :

Choosing a mailing cadence you can stick to, like once a month
Consistently showing up will naturally remind readers who you are

Weather Report Opening

So many newsletters from authors and organizations alike open with commentary about the weather, the season, or other generic updates.

Your newsletter’s opening lines are prime attention-grabbing real estate.

Fix this by :

Opening your newsletter with value for the reader
Transporting readers into a relevant story about your creative process
Above all, get to the point quickly!

Missed Opportunity

I know you have something valuable to share—a product, a service, original artwork, or a published book—but you never mention it in your newsletter. Gah!

Readers can’t act on what they don’t see.

Fix this by :

Mentioning your book, service, or offer naturally as part of the newsletter body
Including a thumbnail graphic linked to where readers can learn more or make a purchase in the newsletter’s footer
Connect your content to what you offer

What’s In It for Me?

Yes, pet updates, recent and upcoming events, and book reviews are considered “news.” But newsletter readers need to connect with the sender, or else they’ll feel there wasn’t anything in it for them.

Fix this by :

Ending the newsletter with a clear insight, question, or next step
Giving your reader something to think about or act on

Most newsletter problems are story problems. Clarity, structure, voice, knowing what to say and why it matters, these are the same things I help clients with in writing and revising their stories.

If you are questioning the effectiveness of your newsletter, I offer:

Newsletter Jump Start Coaching to help you create or revamp your newsletter
Ongoing Newsletter Support focusing on structure, content, and consistency

How One Conversation Can Unlock Your Story

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:24:52 GMT

The magic of a story coaching session often happens when I ask an author a simple question like:

“What if X happened?”

The author takes a moment to consider the story implications of the question, then a delighted smile crosses their face. They’ve just had a breakthrough that has opened powerful story possibilities. Moments like these are why I love coaching conversations with writers.

I constantly look for ways to expand the author’s thinking about what’s happening in their story. We might examine the dynamics of a scene that feels flat with questions like:

What is the real purpose of this scene?
How does it connect to the scenes around it?
What does it reveal about the protagonist’s growth?

Sometimes the protagonist isn’t tied closely enough to the events of the plot. We’ll assess if they are making active choices, and if those choices create consequences they have to navigate. When that connection strengthens, the author becomes more confident in the story’s direction.

I love the collaborative energy that develops during coaching sessions. The author brings the world they’ve created: the characters, the situations, and the driving motivations. From there, we explore new possibilities to build on what already exists. I often get as much mental stimulation out of these conversations as the writers I work with!

Writers come to story coaching sessions at many different stages of their work. Some are just starting with an idea and want to think through the big creative decisions that shape a story. We might explore what drives the protagonist, what major plot points could anchor the story, and how the characters might change by the end.

Others come when they feel stuck. Maybe several scenes aren’t working, or the author is unsure about the order of chapters in a multi-POV storyline. Or they are revising after receiving feedback from early readers and deciding which suggestions to incorporate.

And sometimes what a writer really needs is to talk with someone who understands story structure and can ask the questions that lead to those aha moments. Just explaining your story to someone else can spark new insights!

Momentum Story Coaching is tailored to the specific challenges you’re facing in your manuscript. Writers often book a Momentum Story Coaching session when they’re facing challenges like these:

Scene & Story Structure — figuring out the right order of events, strengthening cause and effect, and making sure each scene moves the story forward
Plot Development — identifying missing story beats and removing elements that don’t serve the narrative
Character & Motivation — clarifying what your protagonist wants and what stands in their way
Genre Expectations — shaping your story so it satisfies the readers you’re writing for
Revision Strategy — deciding what feedback to incorporate and how to strengthen tension and emotional impact
Accountability & Support — staying motivated and making steady progress on your manuscript

By the end of a session, writers often leave with clearer story direction, solutions to specific problems, and renewed excitement about the book they’re writing.

Sometimes all it takes is one good conversation to unlock the next stage of your story.

If you’d like help thinking through your manuscript, I’d love to work with you.

Book a Story Coaching Session

How to Transform an Idea into a Story That Works

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:49:57 GMT

So, you have an exciting story idea. But how do you know if it will be any good? Stories can stall when writers try to work with an idea that isn’t yet a story. Sometimes, initial ideas are just part of a story, a kernel that needs additional elements to grow. If you’ve ever taken a screenwriting class, you may have been asked, “Does your story idea have legs?” It’s a strange question, I know, but what it really asks is this: once you start writing, will the story easily carry you all the way to a satisfying conclusion?

Writing prompt : Take a moment and jot down the idea that excites you most right now. This is your starting point.

Where ideas come from

Ideas can come from various places and be sparked by situations you find yourself in. Maybe you spot an interesting person on the bus and start to wonder what their life is like. Maybe you love to travel, spend time in certain places, and want to explore those locales through your writing. You’ve probably noticed yourself thinking, I want to write about X…

a place
a person
a memory
a dream
a situation (political, belief-based, family-related)

It’s great that these things inspire you to write, but they are still raw material. On their own, they are not yet a full story.

The importance of a story question

For instance, while reflecting on a recent family outing to the zoo, you might think, I had a great time watching animals in their habitats and observing other visitors enjoying their day. I want to write a story inspired by my trip to the zoo. The zoo is a fun, dynamic place to set a story, and there is plenty of potential for interactions with animals, friends, and family.

But the key question is: what will the point of this story be?

What turns an idea like “I want to write about a trip to the zoo” into a story is the story question. A story question is something revealed through what you write. It uncovers a truth, a consequence, or a meaningful change.

Writing prompt : Think about your story idea. Which of these questions could guide it?

What would happen if…
Why would a character do X?
How does a community change because of X?
What impact would X have on Y?

The question you aim to answer should spark a deep interest in you. It needs to be compelling enough that you feel driven to write the story to discover where it leads.

Animate your idea

Writers often abandon story ideas when the writing feels boring or when they get stuck. Avoid these writing ruts by choosing an idea you are curious about, one that you care enough to stick with and commit to seeing it through to the end.

When an idea holds your interest, it will captivate others as well. Animate your idea and bring it to life. Curiosity drives momentum. It creates discovery on the page, and that discovery keeps you writing and readers reading. Write to entertain yourself first, and your readers will follow.

Writing prompt : Take a moment to describe why your idea excites you. What about it sparks your curiosity?

Adding the engine

Once you’ve identified the story question and committed to seeing the story idea through, it’s time to add the engine. The engine of a story is character growth and change, shaped by the plot: the sequence of events that forces change to occur. By the end of the story, things should be different for your character than they were at the beginning, both internally and externally.

As you prepare to write, the guiding question becomes: how will the character change by the end of the story?

Returning to the idea, “I want to write about a trip to the zoo,” consider how different aspects of the zoo experience might impact your main character. Let’s say the main character is an eight-year-old girl. She might:

Learn a lesson about respecting animals during her visit.
Develop stronger interpersonal skills through interactions with a sibling, friend, or parent.
Be inspired to care for animals and imagine becoming a zookeeper when she grows up.

Within the same setting, different character change outcomes lead to entirely different stories.

Writing prompt : Which change feels most compelling for your character? Write it down.

Write toward an endpoint

Having an endpoint in mind for your story helps, even if it changes as you write. Knowing where things might end up gives you a goal to write toward and reduces the risk of getting stuck.

As you work with your story idea, ask yourself: what needs to happen in the story to reach the end? The endpoint can change, but having that direction gives you a structure to work with.

What makes a story work

A working story keeps readers reading, makes them want to know what happens next, and keeps them concerned for your character’s well-being. In terms of the zoo trip, this might be an investment in the girl’s goal of becoming a zookeeper and rooting for her to make her dreams come true.

When a story idea strikes, you don’t need to have the whole story figured out from the start. You need a motivating question, a character, and a direction. The rest can be discovered as you write.

If you want guidance turning your idea into a story that works, I offer story coaching sessions to help writers discover their story question, animate their idea, and develop the engine that carries them to the end. Learn more here .

The Story Plan: How to Avoid Overwhelm at Any Stage of Writing

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:19:55 GMT

When one of my author friends told me she was overwhelmed by the thought of revising her draft, without hesitation, I told her she needed to create a story plan. Overwhelm creeps up on authors when they think about the enormity of the project before them. Maybe they’ve reached ninety thousand words, have three hundred pages to wrangle, or keep staring at a blank page. The key to combating this sense of dread is to make it manageable. A story plan shrinks the area of focus into something you can work on piece by piece. It will empower you to envision, write, and revise your story, no matter how long or nonexistent it is.

Give Yourself Accountability Check Points

There are several ways you can encourage yourself to make writing progress through checking in with other writers. I belong to a critique group that eagerly reads new pages of my work-in-progress once a month. They inspire me to keep writing, provide valuable feedback, and serve as thought partners as I create my story.

Sitting around a table with other authors at weekly in-person writing sessions at a local cafe has been a huge boost to my writing progress. It gives me dedicated time to think, draft, and revise with people who understand the challenges of being a writer.

Working with a story coach offers authors personalized professional feedback on their specific story challenges delivered in a way that accommodates their learning style. As a story coach, I get to collaborate with authors and help them bring their powerful stories to life.

Creating Your Story Plan

When I show up to a writing session or critique group meeting, I always get more out of it if I know what I want to work on or have a clarifying question to ask the group to help me get unstuck. But sometimes I use my dedicated writing time to create my story plan. I review where I am in the story, think through the plot and character goals, and strategize my next steps.

When assessing my next steps, I prioritize story structure and character development. I track how chapters and individual scenes build on one another. Once plot events make sense to me, I look at how my protagonist navigates what happens, their emotional growth as they pursue their desires, and how this propels the story’s momentum through cause and effect.

As you write your draft and revise your story, you will start to notice what story craft issues you need to focus on developing. A common challenge writers face is ensuring each scene contributes to the story’s momentum.

The following scene checklist is a story plan tool that works for drafts and revisions.

Identify each scene event. (Does it move the story forward?)
What does the point of view (POV) character go into the scene wanting to accomplish?
What is the turning point? (something happens: antagonist, another character, circumstances)
What decision does the POV character make?
What does the POV character go into the scene feeling?
How does the POV character’s emotion change because of what happened?

In addition to this checklist, my story requires some research. My story plan currently includes looking up how to use a rotary saw for carpentry, basic horseback riding instruction, and frontier medicine. Each story will have its own unique components to look into.

Implementing Your Story Plan

Knowing that you will complete several rounds of rewriting as you focus on different items will go a long way to reducing overwhelm. You don’t have to make all the changes at once.

When you have the list of things you want to work on, isolate one or two items to concentrate on next. Bring these selected topics to your next writing session. Focus on making changes to just one scene or one chapter. Going through the full manuscript will probably be too much for one writing session. By the end of your writing time, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment because you’ve successfully made progress.

Fuel Momentum with Your Story Plan

Schedule your next writing session and make a note of what you’ll work on next. This will keep the excitement level high. You might continue working on the same item over several sessions, or you'll move on to the next point. Progress isn’t about fixing everything. It’s about knowing what to focus on developing next.

I’d love to help you troubleshoot your way out of overwhelm. Book a free discovery call with me to find out how story coaching sessions tailored to you and your story can help you get unstuck and make real progress.

4 Ways to Write Beginnings That Grow with Your Story

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 21:20:20 GMT

Your story’s opening line, first few pages, and first chapter are responsible for compelling readers to keep reading. Known as the story hook, these frontline elements must grab attention, build curiosity, and entice readers to find out what happens next. Story beginnings have many simultaneous functions that include introducing primary characters, conflict, and the protagonist’s motivating goal and emotional need.

The start of a story tells readers, "This is a journey you have to take. ”

With so much riding on a story’s first few pages, it’s no wonder authors often get caught up in a never-ending first chapter editing loop. As the story develops, the beginning will have to change to match. Let’s look at some strategies to keep writing forward while holding space to strengthen the story hook.

Plot Focus: Build to the Inciting Incident

The inciting incident is the first major plot point occurring within the first ten percent of a story. This is when the protagonist’s world is shaken up, propelling the story in a new direction. In a story’s first draft, being aware of what the inciting incident is and its impact on your characters might provide enough insight to write through and beyond the beginning hook without getting stuck refining.

Character Focus: Set Up the Protagonist’s World

In the first few pages, focus on setting up your protagonist’s world before whatever happens in the inciting incident disrupts them. Introduce their initial emotional state, the challenge they face, and the goals they have at the start. These internal stakes will be measured as the protagonist evolves and adapts throughout the story, and keep readers rooting for them.

Writing Technique: Keep the First Pages Adaptable

Try looking at the first pages as placeholder text when you start writing. Keep the opening pages loose and give yourself permission to revise as you discover who your protagonist really is as the story progresses.

Writing Technique: Note Revisions to Make Later

Instead of revising the first pages over and over, keep a list of revisions you want to make down the line . Notice what will need to change, but resist the urge to go into deep revision until you complete the first draft. Noting what will change at the story’s start should be enough scaffolding to keep writing forward.

Try not to worry about nailing the story hook at first because so much changes along the way. Concentrate on writing the full story, then circle back and revise the beginning. When you reach “the end,” go back and craft a perfectly tailored story hook that will launch readers into the tale you’ve crafted for them.

For more tips on how to immerse readers in your story, watch my Ask an Editor session with Copy Editor Lila LaBine, “How Can I Hook Readers With My Story?”

Show Readers Your Story

Wed, 28 May 2025 21:18:50 GMT

One of the many goals of storytelling is to place readers into a world they can imagine for themselves. This is where the writing advice, “Show Don’t Tell,” comes into play.

Showing in writing expands and highlights what is important to the story experience. You may decide to “tell” when information is not vital to understanding the story or would take readers out of the current scene.

For instance, one of your characters may be a tall person. You wouldn’t want to waste space describing their height if it’s not crucial to the story. A telling sketch outlining the basics of what someone looks like can be enough.

But, sometimes, details are too subjective and not specific enough to create similar imagery in the minds of your readers. If being tall means your character has to stoop to get through doorways, you need to show this. For this character, being tall impacts their life and should be emphasized for readers.

Some of the things “showing” accomplishes include revealing:

What the setting and characters look like
What is unique about your characters
The feelings your characters experience

—all with the hopes of placing readers into your story.

The good thing about writing is that you don’t have to capture all of this in the first go-round. Writing is an iterative process spanning the conception of an idea, transferring what’s in your mind onto paper, and piecing together a rough draft that sparks early feedback, all leading to a solid first draft.

As you work through these layers, you’ll be concerned with capturing different story aspects. During the first iteration, you might concentrate on capturing the plot: what happens in the story. Once the basic structure of your story appears, start thinking about how to best immerse readers into the world you’ve created. Ask yourself if readers can envision what you intend them to experience from what appears on the page.

During the revision stage, focus on bringing character motivation alive through dynamic, visible reactions and interactions. Identify opportunities to describe sensory and visual details to show rather than tell what’s happening in your story.

Discover how to infuse your writing with sensory details to put readers in your stories in this Ask an Editor session I co-hosted with Copy Editor Lila LaBine.

Give Your Readers What They Expect and More

Wed, 28 May 2025 21:12:38 GMT

Imagine browsing the shelves of your local bookstore’s romance section and picking up a novel. The cover is candy pink with an illustration of a stylish woman walking a cute dog. You flip the book over and read the story blurb, effusing a quirky romantic romp awaits inside. This is just what you wanted: a fun female-led love story to disappear into over the weekend.

But when you start reading the first few pages, it just does not capture your interest. You put it down, look at the cover again, and give it one more try. Nope. This story is not turning out to be what was promised by the cover. It’s not the story you expected, and you never pick it up again.

There are many, many reasons why stories might not appeal to readers. Some of it is about personal taste and there’s not much an author can do about that. However, there are elements of storytelling authors must get right to have the best chance of holding readers’ attention and delighting them along the way.

Stories Are About Change

Readers will hesitate to invest in reading a story all the way through if they sense it’s not progressing with meaningful character change. The purpose of a story is to transport readers into the lives of characters who emotionally experience the plot, what happens, and are changed by it. Readers go on a journey with the characters and experience their evolution without having to live it themselves. If characters remain in the same emotional state they start in, there is no story.

Characters Need to Want Something

Readers are eager to root for multi-dimensional characters. So authors need to populate their stories with characters driven by external wants and internal needs that conflict with what other characters want and need. These clashing objectives create story momentum and tension and make it difficult for readers to put your book down.

Stay In the Genre Playground

When a reader picks up a book in the romance section of a bookstore, they expect a certain type of story. Genre, the type of story being told, is created by incorporating certain elements and milestones that make the story being told a “romance.” Genre expectations create a familiar playground for unique characters and settings to interface. There is plenty of room for authors to surprise readers within the genre framework.

All Story Questions Are Answered By the End

A sure way to disappoint readers is by leaving story questions unanswered. Readers keep reading to find out what happens next. At the end of the story, they expect to know the answer. If an author writes a romance, the genre itself begs the question, do the lovers get together in the end? The main character has their own question to resolve, like whether they achieve their goal of having their dream career and the guy that makes them swoon.

Pick up more tips on how to write stories that meet reader expectations in this Ask an Editor session I co-hosted with Copy Editor Lila LaBine. We examine what must be included in a story to answer its promise to readers.

Bring Stories to Life With the Right Point of View

Wed, 28 May 2025 21:02:11 GMT

When I started to plan the writing of my novel, the biggest craft question I had was, which narrative point of view (POV) should I use? I felt like I couldn’t start writing until I knew how to tell the story.

I hadn’t put too much thought into selecting a POV when writing short stories. I tended to follow the story idea, and the narration flowed naturally. Most of my stories use the third person limited POV to closely follow the main character’s thoughts and actions.

When Thelma got the all-clear to go back inside her apartment, she looked up and down the hall to make sure no one watched her return to the site of the incident. She slinked inside and gave the middle finger to the now silent smoke alarm.

I’ve also put some distance between the main character and the narration by designating an outside observer as a first-person narrator.

I saw Nancy, the president of the HOA, nail a hot pink notice, like the ones I’d received a time or two, on Marsha’s front door. No, it wasn’t a condolence but a nasty letter telling Marsha to cut the lawn or else.

I thought about the role I wanted POV to play in my novel. I knew I wanted to create immediacy while closely connecting to the main character’s thoughts, emotions, and actions. This ruled out a know-it-all omniscient third-person narrator and second-person point of view that would pull the reader in as a character, “you.”

So, I decided to write my novel in the first person present tense. This POV puts the reader right alongside my heroine, Bessie, as she makes discoveries and experiences the plot.

I clench my teeth and suck in my breath as I pluck another stinger from the back of my arm. The red blouse ripped in several places where the bush sliced the fabric. Horse riding is a joke I don’t want to be a part of.

The first-person present-tense narration has several limitations or trade-offs. Readers won’t see what other characters are doing when Bessie is not present. And Bessie can’t talk about what happens in the future, although that doesn’t feel unusual to me because that’s realistic to how time works.

If it was important to talk about the future in my story, I could use past tense in first person or third person POV. If it was important to show what other characters are doing, I could use omniscient narration, have another character narrate, or trade-off POV characters.

These types of things need to be considered when choosing a POV for your story. I’m happy with my decision and can always revise the story if I run into a stumbling block. On my POV journey, I’ve found it helpful to try a few different narration techniques to see what works best and, most importantly, tell the story in a way that is not confusing for the reader.

Learn more tips about selecting the right POV for your story in this Ask an Editor session I co-hosted with Copy Editor Lila LaBine.

3 Ways to Attract a Publisher to Your Book

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 23:03:54 GMT

There’s the fantasy of bumping into a book publisher at a fancy New York cocktail party and instantaneously landing a book deal upon pitching your story. And then there’s the reality most would-be authors live in with no immediate proximity to those in publishing power. So, how do you grab attention for your book from the outside ground level of that New York skyscraper?

#1 Get Your Manuscript in Great Shape

If you are writing a fiction novel, finish it before shopping it to a publisher. (If you have a non-fiction book idea that’s not a memoir, skip to step #2 and get going on your book proposal to entice potential publishers.)

A complete novel has a sound narrative structure that hits story arc and genre beats. It is populated by dynamic characters who make emotional shifts and take action as they change and evolve throughout the story. Working with a developmental editor or book coach can help authors keep their plot and characters on track.

Once you are contracted with a publisher, they will have a copy editor comb through the text to correct grammar and punctuation for clarity. But if you are hunting for your first publisher, sloppy writing won’t impress anyone. Review your manuscript several times, scouring it for errors, bulky sentences, and language choices. Consider hiring a copy editor to review your novel before submitting it to the publishing world.

"Writing is a solo endeavor, but publishing takes a team."

#2 Get an Agent

Easier said than done, right? If you want to work with a small or independent press, you can submit your novel to contests or open submission periods without an agent. But if you prefer to publish with a midsize to large publisher, in most cases, you’ll need to go through an agent.

Memorize your exciting elevator pitch to capture the attention of an agent—or anyone who asks what your story is about.
Have a well-crafted query letter ready to send to potential agents if they request more information and when making first contact over email.
If you are writing a non-fiction book, prepare a book proposal and query letter as a submission package.

#3 Build Your Writing Community

Writing is a solo endeavor, but publishing takes a team. Assembling that team of support—ideal readers, editing professionals, agents, and publishers—happens when you connect with others. Visit local writing groups like the California Writers Club and genre-based writing groups like the Historical Novel Society . Attend publishing events, including conferences, workshops, and book fairs.

Every elbow you rub gets you a step closer to being the featured author at that New York City cocktail party.

Cheers! ��

Just Shut Up & Write

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 18:25:31 GMT

Unfortunately, authors often get derailed from writing projects. I got off track with my novel, even though I’m excited about my story. I’ve intended to sit down and write for many days, weeks, and months, but matching available time with the right frame of mind has been difficult.

By the end of the workday, my brain is tired, and my typing hands deserve a rest. A change of venue usually helps me focus, but it’s hard to leave the comfort of home for Starbucks in the dark of winter or coop myself up on warm summer days.

My subconscious realizes there’s a large task before me. Once I reacquaint myself with my completed chapters and am ready to write the next chapter, there will be hundreds of pages ahead of me to tackle.

Last month, I started breaking down the enormity of evaluating chapters, plotting, and scene planning into manageable steps. I decided to do some of this nitty-gritty work during a Shut Up & Write session.

I’d dabbled in attending SU&W before at a friend’s house, at the library, and even online. But something about the in-person, Tuesday morning gathering of local writers at a café has hooked me.

Shut Up & Write provides a time and place to do just that—shut up and write. The California Writers Club San Francisco Peninsula branch hosts three SU&W sessions : the in-person one on Tuesday morning, and two online on Wednesday, one in the morning and one at night. The sessions are dedicated blocks of writing time long enough to accomplish a writing goal.

I’ve been attending every week since I gave it a try. I did all the preliminary structural scene work, and yesterday, I wrote a rough draft of the next scene—this is real progress! I got far enough into the draft to continue working on it during the week—layering in research and character development.

I’m delighted to have generated momentum to create something new to show my critique group. It’s about darn time.

The Art of Receiving Editorial Feedback

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 23:08:28 GMT

For an author, receiving feedback on their writing can be terrifying. Having someone read what you’ve spent so much time on only to find out it bored them and they stopped reading after the second page is downright demoralizing.

Things could also go the other way. Someone might “say” they read it and tell you they loved it. But you have the feeling they aren’t telling you everything.

These mostly unhelpful situations don’t give the author anything to go on other than making them feel bad or putting them on the wrong route if they aren’t at the publishing stage yet. This is most likely to happen when a friend or family member reads your work and doesn’t know how to give actionable feedback to help you revise.

When working with a professional editor, an author will find out what is working and what is not working in their writing with detailed guidance on how to start the revision process. This type of feedback is empowering because there are solutions and possibilities to get where you want to go.

If you’re working on a large writing project and know you’ll need outside feedback, watch my " Ask an Editor: Stress-Free Ways to Process Editorial Feedback " workshop recording co-hosted with Lila LaBine . Learn what helpful feedback looks like and how to be ready to receive it so it doesn’t crush your creative momentum but helps you move forward.

#1 Self-Editing Tip: Walk Away From Your Draft...Yes, Really!

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 18:56:12 GMT

Every time I write something, I struggle with the urge to edit as I go. I’ve begun to bargain with myself. I’ll think, “Ok, let’s just get this section on the page, then we’ll go on a walk, then we’ll come back, read it over and mark it up.” For me, it’s the dissection, marking up, and re-arranging that makes my writing sing.

As I work on my novel, it’s so, so hard not to edit as I go. But if I can at least get something down, a scene or two, maybe an entire chapter, I can allow myself to read it through to make sure I’m laying the foundation to support the next chapter.

If you’ve completed the first draft of something or are getting close (so exciting!) and are wondering how you can self-edit, I’ve got a few pointers for you.

Once you’ve arrived at the end, whatever that looks like for your project, save your work or put down the pen. Take that walk. Make it a long one. Maybe go on a long weekend vacation, start a new project…pretend like you don’t have a complete draft sitting around begging you to edit it.

If ideas about what you could change in your project pop up, write them down, but don’t implement them immediately. Stay away from your project long enough to approach it again with fresh eyes. This emotional distance will allow you to be a more objective reader once you return to the draft.

When you do read it again, your brain will identify things you didn’t see before. You’ll ask yourself, “What the heck was I trying to say here?” This is the kind of question you’ll need to answer before allowing anyone else to read your draft. Do the easy pickings yourself, then get outside feedback from a critique group or writing partner to help direct you on your next round of edits.

If you missed my April Ask an Editor workshop “ Self-Editing Strategies to Revise Your Manuscript ” with my cohost Lila LaBine of LaBine Editorial , watch the replay on YouTube and learn story, scene, and line-level editing strategies. We highlight ways to revise your manuscript as much as possible before hiring a professional editor or approaching agents and publishers.

Keep writing!

Is a Writing Critique Group Right For You?

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 22:55:23 GMT

Before I started my freelance writing and editing business, I was looking for ways to spark my creative writing practice. In 2016, I joined a critique group formed at my branch of the California Writers Club. At the time, I craved accountability and deadlines to keep me motivated to write.

We had about ten people show up for the first meeting. Over time, attendance shrank as people discovered being a member of a critique group takes work—reading and preparing feedback for the other writers before the meeting, and listening to what everyone has to say about your work at the meeting.

We discovered not everyone knew how to give and receive feedback thoughtfully and respectfully. One way to grow the necessary "thick skin" a writer needs to survive countless rejection letters from potential publications is to join a critique group! So, we devised a set of ground rules to keep our meetings running smoothly and limit hurt feelings.

Over the years, all of the original members of my critique group have left except for me and one other member. This turnover allowed us to screen and hand-pick replacement members. We do our best to help guide each other in revision and act as a sounding board to work through the stories we want to tell.

My original goal for joining a critique group was to produce fun-to-read short stories—a few of which have been published. Pre-critique group I never dreamed of writing a novel, but responding to my fellow writers' novel chapters made me think I could do it too! So now I'm in the middle of writing a novel, and I don't think I would be if it weren't for the support and guidance of my gals!

If you are curious about joining or starting a critique group,watch the March replay of my monthly "Ask an Editor" workshop cohosted by Lila LaBine on "Getting the Feedback You Need to Hear: Beta Readers and Critique Groups." We explore how to get editorial feedback from author peers and your book's ideal audience before you publish.

I’m Thankful for My Writing Life

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 22:35:28 GMT

I used to dread getting out of bed on weekday mornings to head off to a job that did not utilize my skills and talent or provide me with any creative fulfillment. My days were filled with tedious document processing and repetitive phone calls in a highly regulated environment. I felt trapped and didn’t know how to get out.

To give myself some time to think, I took a vacation day and went to the beach. After enjoying a crab sandwich on Miramar Beach Restaurant’s patio in Half Moon Bay, I strolled down a long stretch of beach. Hands shoved in jacket pockets, I mulled over what I was doing with my life. I wanted the freedom to go to the beach whenever I felt like it. I wanted to put my time and effort into doing the work I was called to do.

There seemed to be an elusive alternative way to work where people worked for themselves and transformed a table at Starbucks into their office. At the time, this way of working seemed so foreign yet thrillingly enticing.

As I explored the beach, I walked by an art house. It appeared to be made of driftwood and frozen in the aesthetics of another era, perhaps displaced from a fantasy land. Faces of creatures emerged from wood carvings. The house offered a peek into the creative artist life others were leading. The next day, I slunk back to my cubicle in what I envisioned to be a black hole.

Time passed. Then, one day, I was informed the office would shut down in a few months, and I would be out of a job. I wasn’t angry or worried. I was relieved and excited. Opportunity had arrived. I decided to start my own business as a freelance writer. I dove into learning how to run a business and line up writing projects to work on. My artist husband understands my drive to be in business for myself and has always supported me, for which I am thankful.

Since starting my business seven years ago, I’ve been helping individuals and businesses realize their publishing dreams. I use my writing and editing skills every day, sharpening them as I go. With each article, blog post, newsletter, and book editing project I work on, I constantly grow my knowledge of the topics I cover while strengthening my craft. When I get up in the morning, I’m excited about what the day will bring.

On a random Tuesday a few weeks ago, I tagged along with a travel writer friend as she took photos of local beaches for one of her articles. As we photographed from the bluffs of Half Moon Bay Beach overlooking the blue waves lapping the fine sand below, we walked by the art house. It was seemingly unchanged. Those same whimsical wood faces watched us. But this time, when I looked at the house, I did not long for an artist’s life. I was thankful for the one I am living.

Tone & Voice: What Your Writing Really Says

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 15:38:53 GMT

I’ve been thinking about how I use the literary devices, tone and voice in my writing as I help promote Jordan Rosenfeld’s upcoming “Nail Your Story’s Tone and Voice” workshop hosted by my California Writers Club branch. I’m working on writing my first novel, a historical fiction set locally in Niles, California when silent films were made in the Bay Area. The story is in the early draft stage, so I’ve been primarily concerned with the plot and character development. Fortunately, the tone of the story and the narrative voice are flowing without much struggle on my part. Hopefully it stays that way.

A story’s tone is the attitude in which it is told. You, the author, create the tone you use in emails sent to friends and co-workers. Often, the narrator or point of view character’s opinions and experiences shape the attitude in which fictional stories are told. The tone sets the overall feeling and how things are viewed by the reader. Here’s an example of tone from my work-in-progress:

I wonder why she’d want to be gawked at by the masses as a flickering ghostly screen projection. Real performance art is created in the flesh on stage, ever-evolving.

The main character’s attitude here is loaded. With genuine curiosity, the tone introduces elitism, an actor’s self-worth, a right and wrong way to create art, and the clash of established art forms versus emerging ones.

It’s difficult to define what voice is in writing. To me, voice is the creative part of writing. It’s how an author applies all of the technical tools they’ve gathered through reading other authors and keeping up their own writing practice. Voice is how you construct your writing when your brain is on autopilot. The first draft will look like a mess, but you can work with it. Add to it. Delete things here and there. Sculpt your writing to convey meaning and feeling how you want readers to experience it.

After graduating with a degree in creative writing, I didn’t like the short stories I attempted to write. They were dark and boring. So, over the years, I took comedy writing classes and learned how to write sitcom scripts, comedy sketches, and jokes for late-night TV. I can’t reliably write jokes anyone would laugh at, but my writing conveys meaning through action and flowing dialog, and most importantly—my writing style has lightened up considerably. I can’t tell you how I put my writing style on paper, but I can tell you I’m happy with how it flows and how it makes me feel when I read it.

To learn more about harnessing tone and voice in your writing, check out the details of Jordan Rosenfeld’s upcoming workshop. I’d love to see you there!

How Many Books Are Too Many to Bring on Vacation?

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 18:56:03 GMT

This stack represents most of the books I accumulated on a recent two-week driving tour of Northern California. Because I could fill my big suitcase with as much weight as I wanted, I packed books, writing materials, and a laptop in the same compartment as my clothes. It was so heavy I couldn’t lift it myself. At times I hoisted the back end of the rolling suitcase, and my husband took the front, but most of the time, he moved all of it.

We roamed Napa, El Dorado, Mendocino, and Humboldt counties, tossing open the doors of local bookstores and purchasing even more books to stuff into our luggage. A little voice in my head questioned whether buying more books was wise. I’m on vacation, I replied. I permitted myself to buy as many books as I wanted.

The original intention was to blend novel writing and recreational reading time with exploring the places we visited. During the trip, I opened my laptop to write zero times. I spent one warm afternoon reading magazine articles from 1912 to further my novel research. But mostly, instead of focusing on the materials from home, I spent several hours reading books detailing the places we discovered during the day.

For example, our stay in El Dorado was plagued by over one hundred-degree temperatures. After ditching the searing heat for a cool, damp half hour underground inside Placerville’s 1880s Gold Bug mine, we went to see where the gold rush started, Sutter’s Mill inside Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park.

The main drag of historic ruins and replica mining town buildings was quiet under the sun’s white blaze. We made a beeline for the air-conditioned mercantile store, where I picked up “The Gold Discovery: James Marshall and the California Gold Rush.”

The book was the perfect substitute for poking around the oven-hot park. I then gathered up the book, “Twain’s Feast: Searching for America’s Lost Foods in the Footsteps of Samuel Clemens,” figuring it would be a fun way to learn about our country’s food traditions. And I left the mercantile with a bag of root beer sanded drops—an old-timey sweet impulse buy.

So that’s how my collection of reading material grew over my vacation. I’m worried about what I’ll do the next time I pack for an airplane flight.

Should I take just one book and buy books during my travels?

But what if I buy too many books?

Help…

6 Things You Need To Know Before Starting a Newsletter

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 22:35:08 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

Are you curious about what it takes to start and maintain a newsletter? Creating a newsletter template and then writing new ongoing, engaging content takes a level of commitment. But the reward is watching your subscriber list grow and the ability to interact with readers directly in their email inbox. You’ll need to consider the following categories when starting a new newsletter.

Who is your audience?

Knowing who your newsletter audience is will guide all decisions, from what the newsletter should look like to what content to include.

What will be your newsletter content?

Think about how you can bring value to your subscribers. What tips and solutions to problems can you share? Help your subscribers learn and grow in an entertaining and engaging way.

What will your newsletter layout look like?

There are many design and layout decisions to make when starting a newsletter. You’ll need to decide what sections to include: a graphic header, contact information in the footer, article column orientation, etc. What the newsletter looks like and how long articles are before linking to other places on the web create the newsletter’s vibe.

What calls to action will you use?

As you strengthen your relationship with subscribers, you can ask them to take action. A call to action or CTA can ask subscribers to buy now, read more, book a session, and call for more information via web links, clickable graphics, and buttons, sending readers to other places on the internet.

Which newsletter email platform will you use?

Many content marketing email platforms offer a free trial to experiment with their features. Mailchimp offers a generous free plan for accounts under 500 email addresses. I like using Constant Contact because their layout is intuitive and displays predictably in various email systems.

How often will you send a newsletter?

Consider how often you want to appear in your subscribers’ email inboxes. A monthly newsletter is a good place to start. From there, you can gauge if your subscribers would welcome more frequent bi-weekly newsletters, or if you’re short on time, you could scale back to every other month.

If you want more guidance on how to set up or revamp your newsletter, book a one-on-one Newsletter Jump Start Coaching session with me to gain confidence in creating a newsletter that’ll engage and wow your subscribers.

4 Ways to Research & Bring Your Stories to Life

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 19:36:23 GMT

I’ve been working on plotting a historical fiction novel for about a year now. My challenge is to recreate an accurate setting, including location detail, period-correct technology, and believable interpersonal and social scenarios for my characters. While my characters can be based on real people or invented ones, they must be governed by the “rules” of the historical setting.

My story takes place in 1913 Niles, California (now part of Fremont, CA) when silent films were made there, especially Wild West westerns. Real cowboys mixed with theatrical stage-trained performers to act in the start-up film industry. Many actors left Oakland and San Francisco playhouses and boarded the train en route to the quiet agricultural town. What they might have had access to in the city might not be available in the small town—think indoor plumbing and electric wiring. Automobiles and moving pictures themselves were all new to the characters inhabiting my novel.

As the author, my job is to bring to life my characters’ experience for 21st-century readers. But how can I do this since I wasn’t around a hundred years ago? The answer is through research.

I’ve always envisioned myself poring over stacks of books in a library and doing research for my writing. This project ticks that box, but I’ve found other more tangible and immersive ways to discover what life was like back then.

Library System

Yes, my research journey did start with the library . From the comfort of my home computer, I searched the San Mateo County Libraries’ online catalog. I have access to books anywhere in the county, even libraries throughout California and beyond, delivered to my local branch for pick up. Perusing books about the silent film industry, the key players—filmmakers, producers, and actors—and how silent films arrived in Niles, I pieced together the stage for my novel’s setting.

Museums

Describing particular objects from the era and learning how they were used is essential to my story. There are some fantastic local museums where I took lots of photos of exhibits displaying the exact items I needed to see. Of course, the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum , housed in an old movie theater in Niles, was where I started. There are examples of early film cameras, clunky projection equipment, actual Essanay movie props, and colorful illustrated movie posters. I learned about the studio’s history, actors and crew and walked the block where the studio once stood.

I’ve recently checked out several other museums, where each helped inform my understanding of the early 1900s. The Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto has recreated the interior of a general store with an array of brands and goods that would have been available to purchase at the time. I saw some of the technology and gadgets in an early 20th-century kitchen, and the museum’s garage houses a 1915 Ford Model T Touring car.

The classic car collection at Danville’s Blackhawk Museum had several gleaming examples of cars dating back to the early 1900s and a comprehensive exhibition, The Spirit of the Old West. Seeing a Concord stagecoach, clothing cowboys wore, and vintage horse riding gear up close will help me build realistic characters.

Digital Archives

When it’s time to go from generalities to specifics for building a plot and bringing characters to life, the incredible Internet Archive’s preservation of cultural periodicals of the time is gold. The 1912 Sears Roebuck and Co catalog shows exactly what people wore and the products and equipment they used. The Niles Essanay studio films and stars were featured in The Motion Picture Story Magazine’s August 1912 through Jan 1913 issues, all discoverable on the Internet Archive. And a librarian at the San Mateo Public Library helped me find a specific archived 1958 Oakland Tribune interview with an actress and scriptwriter who greatly contributed to the Niles studio on the newspapers.com site.

Hang Out on Location

To get into the creative frame of mind, visiting historic Niles Boulevard sparks my imagination. Many of the early 1900s buildings are being used as shops and restaurants. The yellow train depot framed against the grassy rolling hills—sometimes green, sometimes brown—still dotted with mooing cows is largely unchanged over the hundred-year expanse. Getting back to where the idea for my novel started offers inspiration to continue my storytelling journey.

5 Tips for Making a Creativity Getaway

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 17:19:21 GMT

After a long day of writing and editing projects for clients, I find it challenging to focus on my creative writing projects in the evenings. I’m excited to work on my novel idea every chance I get, but brain overload, long to-do lists, and getting cozy on the couch tend to override thoughts of writing time. But if I take myself away from those pesky calls to do other things, I can focus on my writing. This quick creativity getaway usually has me claiming a café table for an hour or two.

My favorite writing haunts are the Barnes & Noble bookstore café and a local Starbucks that usually has enough seating for me to grab a private table. Venturing into the world does come with its distractions. I’ve listened to a man across the room schedule a doctor’s appointment over speakerphone and cringed every time a high-energy child belly-laughed, which was many, many times. But most of the time, I can tune out the background noise and hone in on my writing.

Here are some things I’ve found helpful in making the most of my creative escapes:

Set a goal for the writing session.

This goal guides my time and helps me feel productive when I meet it. It could be something like write out the plot for the first three chapters or deep dive into my character’s wants and hang-ups.

Don’t bring excess reading material.

If I bring resources I find more interesting than what I’m currently writing, I can easily get off track reading them and not writing. Hello, phone search.

Keep a dedicated book bag for project materials.

I keep my notepad, binder of printed research and worksheets, novel writing guides, focused research material, and pens, highlighter and Post-it notes in a book bag, so it’s easy to grab and take to the café.

Be cautious about cookie intake.

Of course, I order tea or coffee when I’m writing in a café, but there’s also the dessert counter to contend with. I’m all for getting a cookie once in a while, but there may be weeks when I go to the café several times. I can’t always get a cookie!

If getting out of the house isn’t an option, find an alternate space to work in at home.

The motivation to pop out to a café can dissipate with the days getting shorter. Or if something pressing keeps me home, I’ll do my creative work in the bedroom away from my regular work desk. The location move, although not far, helps reset my thinking, putting me on a creative brain wave.

Happy writing!

The Tasty and Fun Perks of Being a Writer

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 20:11:10 GMT

As a writer and editor with a penchant for local flavor—food and otherwise—fun opportunities to explore the Bay Area and taste what’s cooking come my way. Sometimes I get insider access for “research” purposes, and other times, I get to partake in my clients’ generous appreciation events. Last month all these things converged, prompting me to reflect on how extraordinary my job is because of the people I meet and their acceptance of me in their world, even if just for a few hours.

I never dreamt I’d get to do a luxury cake tasting session, especially since no significant cake-worthy events are on the way in my life. But PUNCH Magazine assigned me to write an article about Jamie Cake SF’s sculpted designer cakes. I met with Creative Designer Jamie Li, cake making extraordinaire, in her Bay Meadows neighborhood, where she had a gorgeous spread of cake slices ready for me to taste. She walked me through each bite: cake, filling and topping flavor. I got my first taste of gold flake and a forkful of moist vanilla cake with tangy mango-coconut filling.

My newsletter client, ProActive Network Consulting, surprised me by inviting me to their 25 ^th -anniversary celebration aboard the Empress Yacht for a San Francisco Bay cruise. I got to bring my hubby along, and we enjoyed a different perspective of San Francisco’s skyline from the Bay. ProActive, a family-owned business, has built many strong and enduring relationships with San Francisco Financial District firms. As I chatted with other guests, I found that the appreciation ProActive has for its clients is wholeheartedly reciprocated.

And my new blog client Devour Tours took me on a culinary tour through San Francisco’s North Beach and Chinatown neighborhoods. I participated in the tour’s test run and did my best to pay attention to all the details, especially the flavors. My tour guide knew how to find fresh neighborhood-made focaccia bread after it sells out at the bakery, and she showed us how to experience tourist hot spots and the delicacies hidden within neighborhoods. I tasted everything from dim sum to cioppino, and it was all delicious .

How to Repurpose Your Marketing Content to Reach More People

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 19:49:43 GMT

Creating new marketing content for your business can be challenging, especially if you don’t enjoy writing. But if you tweak a single idea, so your message fits in several marketing channels, you can reuse the same idea to communicate with different audiences. What is this magical method called? Repurposing .

Repurposing does two things.

First, it provides you with marketing content to use in several places, freeing you from generating different ideas for each channel.

Second, having your message appear in several places will naturally reach more people—giving you a wider audience to speak to.

When I wrote the article “How to Curate a Consistent Web Presence” aimed at small business owners and entrepreneurs, I published it on my own marketing channels. It appeared in:

My newsletter

My blog

On my LinkedIn page, using the LinkedIn Article feature

Facebook

I used the same article in four places with only minor tweaks to fit each marketing platform.

Taking it a step further, I thought the article’s message could benefit several additional audiences. I tweaked the idea to speak to a general writing audience, and a version of the article was published in the state-wide California Writers Club newsletter.

Later, I found another opportunity to tailor my message to novelists and wrote a deep dive on the topic for the Romance Writers of America newsletter. Each rendition of the article was based on the same idea but was specific to the needs of each audience.

Repurposing doesn’t eliminate the need for new topics, but it does help stretch the content-filling life of a single great idea.

Beyond your own marketing and social media channels, where can you share your important message?

I’m sure I can come up with a few possibilities with you. Let’s chat !

3 Reasons to Return to the Library

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 20:07:32 GMT

Sometimes I need to get away from my desk to get into a creative frame of mind. During the pandemic shutdown, I frequented the Barnes & Noble parking lot. I went inside the bookstore, looked at some books and magazines, picked up a coffee drink, then cuddled up inside my car to write. It took dreaming up an ambitious idea for a story (maybe a novel?) for me to realize libraries are open again. I don’t have to overheat inside my car anymore; I can go inside comfortable libraries to research and write!

Research

Seeing what’s on the library bookshelves has helped me research my story’s setting and time period. To dig deeper into the characters who populate my story, I’ve ordered books from within the San Mateo County Library System and used the LINK+ service to check out materials from all over the state and have them delivered to my local branch for pickup. I appreciate being able to borrow and consult these books without the expense of travel or having to purchase them.

Quiet Place

Having a distraction-free place like the library to go to is very helpful when working on creative writing projects. Sitting in a comfortable chair at a well-lit, clean desk means it’s time to get down to business. Leave the chores at home and make space in your mind for inspiration.

Community

But if you need a little companionship to get in the mood to write, see if your local library facilitates programs for authors or entrepreneurs. I’ve attended “ Shut Up and Write ” sessions at the San Mateo Library, where writers meet in a room, open their laptops and get to it. We write, undisturbed for as long as we can go! I’ve also participated in a program through the San Carlos Library with other small business owners where we helped each other grow our businesses.

Discover what community events, services, or materials your library branch offers that can help you reach your passion!

How to Set Up a Newsletter to Promote Your Business

Mon, 16 May 2022 17:42:11 GMT

Organizations like clubs, associations, and non-profits have long harnessed the power of newsletters. Before email, newsletters were akin to “mini” magazines that were printed out, folded and mailed. Now newsletters have largely gone digital and are easily distributed via email marketing tools like Constant Contact and Mailchimp. Since the barrier to creating frequent newsletters is minimal, businesses are experiencing the benefits of sending newsletters to their super fan audience.

If you are thinking of retooling or starting a newsletter for your business, here are a few guidelines to help you create valuable business-related content for readers.

Length Ties to Purpose

Many of the newsletters I receive from the organizations I belong to could take an hour to read. These types of newsletters act as a town square to keep members in the know. But newsletters sent from businesses have a different purpose. They are a marketing tool to keep readers engaged and aware of products and services. Be respectful of your newsletter subscribers’ time by keeping the length of the email to a 3 to 5-minute read.

Header

It’s important to start the newsletter off with a branded header to identify who the email is coming from. I’ve seen some newsletters where this is missing, and I had to search the text to figure out what business was contacting me.

Teaser Question

This is optional, but I like to play games. In my newsletter, I show readers a hard to identify photo of a local destination and ask them to guess where it is. At the end of the newsletter, all is revealed. Many people have told me they enjoy playing this game and challenge themselves to figure it out!

You can start your newsletters with a trivia question, a poll or a quote. The idea is to get readers thinking and excited about what comes next so they read to the end.

Main Article

The main article is the meat of the newsletter. A good target length for it would be about 250 words, and it can be written in the form of a “ how to ” or “from experience” style article. These are great ways to give value to your readers while keeping the topic focused on what your business does.

I’m a content writer, book editor, and publication manager for newsletters and blogs, so the topic of “how to create a newsletter” hits on exactly what my business does, and I hope it brings readers value.

If coming up with an article topic idea is difficult, think about the answers to the following questions and jot down what comes to you:

When you talk to potential clients, what are they most often asking you?
What are you noticing people need help with related to the products or services your business offers?
In what ways are you acting on your company’s core values, and how do you help others attain those values?

Turn those answers into topics and get writing.

Always end your main article with a Call to Action (CTA). Such as: If you’re looking for more support getting started with your newsletter, contact me . I’m ready to help.

Blurbs

This could be an optional section if your main article is pretty long. But including two to four “blurbs” in the newsletter adds variety and gives your readers an opportunity to see what your business has been up to. Share current exciting developments, upcoming events, product promotions, new services and highlight accomplishments. I usually share the most recent publications my writing has appeared in and link to the latest book I’ve had a part in editing as my blurbs.

Answer the Teaser

It’s very important to reveal the answer to the trivia question asked at the top of the newsletter. Believe me, you’ll hear about it if you don’t.

Wrap with Contact Info

Wrap up your newsletter with your contact info. You can use a “business card” format at the bottom of the email with your professional headshot photo or business logo. Succinctly state what your business does and include your contact information and social media links.

This is my recipe for creating a newsletter that informs, engages and brings value to readers.

Keeping Your Creative Spark During Stressful Times

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 22:33:21 GMT

Keeping Your Creative Spark During Stressful Times

It’s a stressful time. Trying to follow our creative impulses and live in a place of inspiration can seem out of reach. Guest blogger Rose Atkinson-Carter shares her thoughts with us on how writers and other creatives can be muses for positive change in the face of raging world events.

There’s no end to heartbreak in the world: first, it was the pandemic, now a war, and devastating news from all over the world pours into our phones every second of the day. Reading the news, it’s hard to think of anything but uncertainty and stress.

So how do you safeguard your creativity from the chaos of current affairs or other stressors? Slowly, gently, and with patience. Let’s look at some approaches that can help you.

Address the Stress

Even on good days, creativity doesn’t always flow abundantly. It often flourishes in the appropriate environment with the right stimuli, but stressful situations can disrupt that, and coming to terms with this reality is the first step toward keeping your creative spark.

Of course, current affairs are beyond our control, but that doesn’t mean we can’t decide how to react to them. Start by creating some degree of normalcy in your space: tune in to your own needs and understand how you might better nurture yourself — e.g., by sleeping more or walking without headphones in. Listen to your own needs before listening to the news to keep in touch with your creativity.

Throughout the day, stay grounded by designating times for working and relaxing. Hopefully, this rhythm will get your mind focused on new ideas and how to implement them, rather than frantically bouncing between them and endless worries.

Mull Things Over

With less stress, hopefully, you’ll see some room open up in your schedule. With that time, you can explore your ideas in greater depth. In other words, focus on quality rather than quantity—coming up with just a few thoughtful solutions to problems or new things to try is much more gratifying than several undeveloped, unrealistic, ultimately stressful ideas.

Elaborate on and refine your brainstormed ideas before running them by other people. Your ideas will turn out well when you or someone you partnered with ask the right questions regarding their execution.

Journaling is a wonderful way to tease out your ideas. Many people find it easiest to organize their thoughts through writing, whether in the form of bullet points, mind maps, or free-writing. Also, consider using writing software to monitor your progress and even analyze the contents of your work—you might come out of this process a much-improved writer.

Talk to Someone

If you’re having trouble concentrating, talk to your colleagues, friends, or fellow creatives about your situation. Even if they can’t help you practically, speaking to someone helps alleviate feelings of imposter syndrome. Being open and honest can remove the shame from a situation and turn it instead into a space where people can step in and offer you help.

Beyond helping you face whatever’s blocking you squarely and honestly, speaking to someone can also lead to practical help. For example, if it’s an endless to-do list that’s paralyzing you, an accountability buddy who can set goals with you for the day can help you break past that paralysis.

If your problems go deeper than procrastination and lack of focus, there’s never any shame in speaking to a therapist. They can offer professional guidance to identify what’s causing your difficulties and suggest ways to move forward.

Do Some Creative Discovery

Books are a classic way to dodge unpleasant thoughts. Now is the perfect time to make a dent in your reading list. With services like Kindle Unlimited for ebooks and Audible for audiobooks , you can find creative inspiration in as many genres or formats as you like.

If you feel the urge to create something yourself, why not try writing without self-editing ? At the very least, you’ll be sharpening your creativity and becoming a better writer . And who knows: there might be an author in you ready to write a novel!

Exploring can also help your creativity. Go to a town you’ve never visited before, or if you live in a big city, walk around randomly until you find yourself somewhere new. There’s no shortage of wonderful things you might discover when you least expect it!

Whatever you do, be patient with yourself: don’t fall for toxic narratives telling you to “attack” your wandering mind. It may work for a day, but ultimately a mental good cop is a lot more sustainable than a bad cop. Give yourself time, and this, too, will pass.

Rose Atkinson-Carter is a writer with Reedsy , a marketplace that connects authors with the world’s best self-publishing resources and professionals like editors, designers, and ghostwriters. She lives in London.

Where on the California Coast is This?

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 16:13:20 GMT

This is a gray whale skeleton on the Santa Cruz coastal bluffs around the Seymour Marine Discovery Center . A blue whale skeleton also runs the length of the center and requires three photo frames to capture it all. Learn about UC Santa Cruz’s marine biology research through visual, hands-on and aquarium exhibits. My new favorite Monterey Bay sea creatures are the spiny lumpsucker fish—small puffy fish that create suction with their flattened bellies and stick themselves to rocky surfaces.

How to Curate a Consistent Web Presence

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 16:10:04 GMT

Along with setting goals for the upcoming year, the first few months of the new year are a great time to review the consistency of your online presence. Keeping your business website and most often used social media profiles updated with current branding and messaging is obvious, but are there corners of the web you've forgotten about?

I recently renewed my membership with the California Writers Club and was surprised to discover my profile in their online directory was way outdated. My bio predated my freelance writing and editing business, and my photo was ancient too! So I contacted the club’s webmaster with a new bio crafted from information on my website’s about page along with my current headshot and asked them to update my profile.

You might have to do a little digging to find all of the places your bio is listed online. First, Google yourself. Social networks you might have forgotten signing up for will surface and publications you or your business contributed content to in the past. Second, think of all the clubs and networks you belong to and check your profile listing on those websites.

It’s unnecessary to have your bio updated everywhere online because people understand that content from years ago becomes dated and so would your bio. But it’s a good idea to be aware of all the places your bio or profile lives online. It makes sense to update profiles on websites you use often and the ones appearing at the top of Google search results.

Keep it simple, use the same bio tweaked slightly to fit various website platform requirements, and don't forget to update your photo too for a consistent web presence.

#5 Where on the Peninsula Is This?

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 22:04:50 GMT

The smell of wood-fired pizza and smoked BBQ meats waft through the air around Rossotti’s Alpine Inn in Portola Valley. Now a restaurant and beer garden, the historical structure was built in the 1850’s serving as a roadhouse and saloon at a busy crossroad in the Peninsula hills. Many equestrian activities happen in Rossotti’s quiet forested surroundings, hence the “Horse Parking” area, complete with small hay bales. I enjoyed a piping hot Margherita pizza and a pint of Juicy IPA on a sunny afternoon dining outside with my hubby. Cheers!

3 Easy Types of Articles & Guest Posts to Write for Magazines, Blogs and More

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 21:44:13 GMT

As an expert in your career field or that thing you do for fun, you never know when you might be invited to write an article for a publication. Expert knowledge is needed in industry magazines, niche blogs, newsletters and anthologies. If you can share some of your knowledge in publications like these, you stand to gain new followers and will build credibility as a go-to person in your field of expertise. Sound intimidating? Let’s put the jitters aside and start forming a plan of action to write that article!

Tip List

A tip list is the kind of article I’m writing right now. First, I came up with a topic I thought my audience might be interested in learning more about, “Easy types of articles or blog posts to write for an industry publication.” I’ve turned the topic into the article’s title.

Then I made a list of the simpler types of article and blog post structures I’m familiar with. Once I knew I had enough “tips” to support my topic, I wrote the introduction and descriptions of each tip, connecting them back to the topic.

Question & Answer (Q&A) Interview

If you are writing a guest blog post or are contributing to a magazine for the first time, a Q&A style article helps readers get to know you. Determine what you want the focus of your interview to be. Do you just want to introduce yourself in general, or do you want to set yourself up as an expert in a specific area?

Depending on how much space you need to fill, create 4-5 questions (or more if needed) to answer. Make sure the questions will help you fulfill the goal of your article when you answer them. Craft questions that need more than a yes or no answer, like What led you to become a XXX ? This way, you can tell us your story and how you got to where you are today.

Then it’s time for the fun part, answering the questions. Keep in mind any word count guidelines. If your answers are too long, they might get edited down. So make sure everything you want to say gets in there!

Whether you write them first or last, you’ll need an introduction and title. Use details from your bio in the intro to support the angle of your article. I’ve been creating titles for Q&As by combining the person’s name, expertise, and their resulting impact, ie. “Writer & Editor Eva Barrows Turns Raw Interviews Into Insightful Stories”

Opinion Piece

This one is all on you. An opinion piece is something you write based on your own experience. It can be about a discovery you’ve made, a methodology you’ve developed, or how your preference for something came about. I wrote an opinion piece about how I re-discovered the library and all of the free resources I have access to there.

Tell us your take on something we know about, or introduce us to something only you’ve figured out!

The structure of an opinion piece is simple enough. In the introduction, set the scene—what’s the problem you encountered? Take a few paragraphs to tell us how your discovery unfolded and wrap it up with what you learned and the wisdom you want to leave your readers with.

Feel free to reach out to me if you want to write one of these types of articles yourself. I’m always here to cheer you on and get you going on your writing journey!

Interview Yourself to Update Your Professional Bio

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 19:48:00 GMT

It’s difficult to write about yourself. You do what you do best and don’t spend much time analyzing how you do it. But as an expert in your field, you need a current professional bio. You need it for your website about page, LinkedIn profile, media kit or job application, and as an intro for public speaking engagements or workshops.

Review your bio at least once a year to make sure it still captures your current career focus. It should tell a mini-story about how you arrived at this point in your career, how you’ve developed your expertise and what you’re currently doing with it.

If your bio needs a little tweaking or is missing pertinent information, interview yourself to fill in the blanks.

Create Your Interview Questions

Like any good story, your professional bio should have a beginning, middle and end showing how you arrived at where you are today within your career. Identify the areas of your story that are missing. Ask yourself interview-style questions to help fill in your narrative.

Questions to help illustrate the beginning of your career include:

What college or training did you complete to start on your career path?

What foundational work experience did you do in your career?

How did you decide this career path was right for you?

Questions to help illustrate the middle of your career include:

What challenges have you faced in your career and how did you overcome them?

Do you specialize in a certain area within your career field? Why do you enjoy this specialization?

What sets you apart from others in your field?

Questions to help illustrate your current career include:

What do you love/enjoy most about what you do?

What are some of your current career priorities, and how are you acting on them?

Share recent accolades, testimonials or successes.

How to Interview Yourself

There are a few ways you can interview yourself.

Interview yourself on paper : Write out or type up the answers to your tailored interview questions.

Respond on a voice recorder : Read the interview question aloud and record your answer on a voice recorder or app.

Do a traditional interview : Have someone else ask you the questions. The other person should voice record your spoken answers and also jot down written notes to capture what you say.

Write Your Updated Bio

Once you’ve answered the interview questions, you’ll have a lot of content to work with to either create a new bio or update an older version. Edit down your answers to their essence, keep your answers in story order beginning, middle and end, which should result in a compelling bio that showcases your expertise.

If you need a little more guidance or want someone else to write your bio for you, contact me for assistance. I’d be happy to create a glowing professional bio to present your best self.

#4 Where on the Peninsula Is This?

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 19:39:00 GMT

The tide is out, and all sorts of strange marine items are exposed, including a sunken sailboat in the distance, a rusted out barge and a smattering of dock pile stubs. At Bay Beach along the Bay Trail following Beach Park Blvd in Foster City, pieces of an old wooden structure lay on the shell mound beach. Was this from an old dock, or maybe a chunk of the original San Mateo Bridge span? Whatever it is, be careful not to graze against its protruding rusted hardware.

#3 Where on the Peninsula Is This?

Sat, 12 Dec 2020 00:11:00 GMT

Grab a coffee, taste wine or sip some tea at the shops in Pacifica’s Rockaway Beach area. If you need more sustenance, order a crab sandwich at Nick’s or fish and chips from the Moonraker’s lunch truck. After watching the ocean waves roll in, take a walk up the trail behind Nick’s. This photo was taken on the switchbacks that lead up and over the hill and into the San Pedro Valley. On the other side of the hill, you’ll find Pacifica State Beach and the “World’s Most Beautiful” Taco Bell.

5 Tips for Writing and Editing Professional Emails

Sat, 12 Dec 2020 00:06:00 GMT

When I email a new business contact for the first time, I put a lot of care into the email I send. Most likely, the person I’m writing to doesn’t know me very well. We may have met briefly at a networking event or are being referred to each other and never met previously. The first email I send to them is important because it represents me and my business. It will convey if I’m knowledgeable, have something to offer them, and am someone they would want to get to know better and possibly work with. As I craft my virtual “stand-in” emails, I use the following steps to write and edit them.

Type Emails in a Word Processing Program

This step might seem a bit antiquated depending on the type of email server you use, but I highly recommend typing up important emails in a word processing program like Microsoft Word.

The first reason to do this is to ensure you don’t lose the text of your email. From past experience, I am afraid of the email compose window closing, freezing, or deleting the email I’ve been laboring over. If rewriting an email would cause you pain, then type it up (and save it) in a Word document first.

Spell Check and Grammarly Help

The second reason I recommend using Word to compose your email is to use spelling and grammar checking features. Word’s spell check lets you know as you type if you’ve spelled something wrong. I also suggest trying out the free version of Grammarly ( www.grammarly.com ). For me, Grammarly is like having a writing partner looking over your shoulder to point out where phrases could be tightened and where a comma is definitely needed.

Give Yourself Time to Respond

Sometimes when you receive an email, either from the new contact you’ve reached out to or someone you are already working with, it may feel emotionally charged. Maybe the email contains feedback, criticism, or it’s asking you to do something. It’s ok to let an email sit unanswered for a few hours.

Give yourself time to respond so you can gain perspective. Ask yourself what are the important parts of this email that need a response? If you detect a negative tone, try to make your response measured and thoughtful. By giving yourself the time to figure out how you will incorporate feedback or how you will find time to do the new task, your anxiety level should go down, allowing you to respond professionally.

Ensure a Professional Look

Limit the use of exclamation points and smiley faces in your professional emails. Ok, I am guilty of using a few too many exclamation points and at least one smiley face per email. But in that very first email to a new contact, I edit back my enthusiasm!

Email Subject Line

I know it’s hard to figure out what to say in the email subject line, especially for an important email. “Hi” or “Hey There” is fine between longtime friends, but you’ll want to include a little more detail for a professional email. Remind the person how you met, like “Great Meeting You at City Networking Meeting” or simply what the topic of your email is “Business Opportunity with XXX.”

An Easy Way to Look and Feel Better On Zoom

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 18:23:00 GMT

I started taking a late-night comedy writing class in September. That means I’m learning how to write monologue jokes based on real news headlines à la Stephen Colbert or Conan. How about this one,

Microsoft pulled its underwater data center out of the Scottish sea, which means the Loch Ness Monster has lost its favorite chew toy.

This class is offered through The Second City, where many of today’s comedy greats have honed their craft. Normally, I would have had to be in Hollywood to take the class, but under the current circumstances, I’ve been able to Zoom to class and have classmates from across the U.S. and even one in Canada. Connecting through Zoom is a great thing, but I started to feel self-conscious about letting all these talented people look directly into the inner workings of my apartment living room.

They could see overstuffed bookshelves and my husband walking around behind me as he unwinds after his workday. Since the start of the pandemic, I have been participating in Zoom meetings, and I did realize people could see all the stuff behind me. I think I was holding out hope that this video meeting thing was going to be short term. I thought to myself, We should be at a local restaurant right now having a lunch meeting–not connecting over a computer screen .

I was resentful of having to change how I do things, so I did little to figure out a new arrangement, and as a result, people could see all the stuff behind me. It took experiencing a little embarrassment to get me motivated. After the first comedy writing class session, where things out of my control happened behind me, I decided to do something about how I presented myself.

I bought a woven rattan room divider off Wayfair. I had it set up behind my chair at the next class session. The teacher called me out on it saying, “I remember seeing a room behind you and someone walking around. That panel is so smart!” Other than me being slightly allergic to the rattan, which smells like a cornfield, the panel works. I do feel better knowing that whatever’s going on behind me is blocked from myself–which helps with my concentration during video calls—and the people I’m on the call with don’t have to choose where to put their attention when I’m speaking.

So my message is if you’ve been waiting to make a change or investment in your business that could help you professionally consider going ahead with that change—as long as it makes sense to you, of course. It could be a small change that makes you feel more comfortable, and that will be enough to make a noticeable difference in your life.

#2 Where on the Peninsula is This?

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 18:02:00 GMT

Make your guess before reading on!

Tucked away behind the Electronic Arts, aka EA office building in Redwood Shores is this labyrinth . Meant to help office workers destress during their breaks, the gravel path weaves in, out and around itself. If you make it to the middle before its time to go back to work, you are rewarded with a snail statue greeting right in the center of it all. This green space between office buildings is a great place to stretch your legs, get some fresh air, and the labyrinth is a fun way to coax you into exercise.

#1 Where on the Peninsula is This?

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 23:54:00 GMT

Guess where this photo was taken before reading further. Ready to find out if you are right? Read on!

Several years ago, before I knew the Peninsula very well, I had a temp job in Redwood Shores that I drove to from the East Bay. While I manned the front desk of a web photo product company, I wondered where the trails along the shoreline went. I remember a few employees biked the trails to and from work or took a jog during their lunch break. Now that I’ve been living on this side of the Peninsula for so many years, I decided a few weeks ago to relocate the shore access and try the trail myself.

We took Marine Parkway and a left onto Bridge Parkway to follow the Belmont Slough and picked up a section of the Bay Trail to explore. Marsh grasses, salt ponds with shorebirds, crunchy gravel paths, and bay water lapping against muddy embankments reinvigorate visitors seeking to connect with nature.

Finding My Tribe: Tips for Collaborating On Your Business Journey

Wed, 20 May 2020 17:06:00 GMT

It can feel lonely when I think about ways to market my writing and editing services. In the beginning, I sent out “cold emails” (emailing businesses I’ve never met) to introduce myself. A few people answered back but didn’t need my help at the time. Cold emailing, like any marketing method, is a numbers game, but it left me feeling chilly. It took me forever to figure out who to contact at each business and personalize my emails so they’d be taken seriously. It felt like I was wasting too much time sending emails into a cyberspace black hole.

So, I began in-person networking. It’s been a great way to get to know local business people, and they have helped me grow my business by employing me to do some work for them or referring me to businesses they know.

I’ve always been envious of the “power partner” relationships that grow out of networking. For example, a realtor, mortgage broker and estate attorney will team up and endlessly refer clients to each other. These professionals are on the same wavelength. They know each other’s skills, abilities and specialties and can send the right potential clients to each other.

I wanted that level of collaboration for myself. While my business was humming along the end of last year, I reached out to a graphic designer friend who was interested in creating a power partner group with me. When the pandemic disrupted how business was conducted and reshaped the needs of many, I decided it was time to get serious and form a specialized creative services team.

I want to share a few reasons why you should consider establishing your own power partner team.

Support Group

The businesses represented in your power partner team should be related to what you do. In my case, a graphic designer knows quality writing is a key factor for a website. Since we are familiar with the expertise that goes into creative projects and what it’s like to obtain new clients, we have an understanding of how to support each other.

Specialized Networking Group

When I’m working on a client project, it often includes a design, web or video component. Being in constant contact with my power partners who are specialized in those areas makes it super easy for me to refer work to them. I’m confident that they will do a great job for my contacts.

Automatic Team

There’s a high probability that I will have the opportunity to work on client projects with my power partners. Since our skills are often needed in tandem, it only makes sense that we offer our combined services to businesses making the process of finding creative experts easy.

Create a power partner team in your field. You’ll be there for each other on your shared journeys and never feel alone again.

Mail A Little Love & Cheer

Thu, 16 Apr 2020 16:34:00 GMT

Growing up, I loved getting mail. I still do – as long as it’s not a bill! I was a prolific pen pal with writing contacts in other states and even other countries. Sometimes it was difficult to come up with something to say in my letters to someone who hardly knew me. It was good training for becoming a professional writer because I had to fill the page with something. I’d pick out a slice of my life that was amusing in some way, get it down on cotton candy-colored Lisa Frank stationary, seal the envelope with a few stickers and clip the letter to the mailbox. I can’t say for sure that my pen pals cared about what I shared, but they wrote back. The drive behind all this effort was getting a letter in return.

"The surprise of something coming in the mail intended just for you is a joyful experience."

Receiving mail is magical. Think about what has to happen for that letter, card, or postcard to get into your hands. The paper, the pens, the stickers (yes, must have stickers), choice of stamp, to include glitter or a recent photo? When the letter is out of the sender’s hands, it goes through the postal service, onto a truck, an airplane, it gets sorted and brought around to the recipient’s mailbox.

Then you wait.

Wait for a response.

And one day, when you’ve started to think about other things, a pink envelope peeks out from the day’s stack of ads and bills.

The surprise of something coming in the mail intended just for you is a joyful experience. Savor the moment. Don’t open your letter or card along with all the junk mail. Wait for a moment when you can sit down and really take in the correspondence. Sometimes the design of a card is so special, or the message inside so touching, I find myself holding onto it for years. If simply sending a card, note or letter in the mail could be this cherished by the receiver, why aren’t we sending more cards?

Over the years, I’ve collected a variety of blank cards for their designs. I have quite a few with chickens on them! Because I love to receive mail so much, I realize others must take a similar delight in it, so I am diving into my collection to send out cheer to my friends and family. I think this is a good time to disseminate my stash and spread the joy of receiving mail.

I encourage you to send good wishes to your loved ones through the mail and put a smile on their face!

Wrapped in Holiday Magic at Filoli Mansion Woodside, CA

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 20:43:00 GMT

Filoli has been a daytime getaway for me over the past decade. I was delighted when I discovered that the 1917 home and garden was open to the public and just a ten-minute jaunt away in Woodside, CA. I’ve visited the wooded country estate with family, friends and even stopped by on my own to sit in the sunny garden. I’ve watched the afternoon ocean fog cascade over the coastal mountain tops and have enjoyed a refreshing walk in the garden in the crisp early morning.

This year I was treated to a completely new perspective of the mansion at night. My husband and I attended the media preview of Holidays at Filoli , where the mansion and gardens are all aglitter with festive holiday lights. Golden lights accentuate the simple elegance of the home’s front entrance.

Inside, each room has its own holiday theme, décor and historical stories of the people who lived and worked in the home. Docents gather up visitors in different areas of the house, like the main stairway to talk about changing trends in holiday decorations over the years, and in the kitchen where staff prepared holiday delicacies.

After touring the home, we made our way outside to the patio where oversized golden ball ornaments dangled from tree branches. Conversation fireplaces offered warmth for visitors to get cozy and chat over a hot beverage. Recharged, we walked the English Renaissance gardens transformed by holiday cheer.

Hedges, topiaries, and lawn ornaments are all aglow in red, blue, green and gold lights. Holiday music followed us as we walked around the sunken garden, swimming pool, and out to the rose and herb gardens. It felt intense to walk between the bright rows of golden hedges decorated in lights from the ground to head height. Once clear of the hedges, the holiday lights danced around our feet covering low lying plants.

On our way out, we stopped at the Clock Tower Shop where estate made gifts like hard apple-pear cider, teas and spices can be purchased. Historical and Filoli inspired items are for sale, and other unique items. Plant lovers coming to enjoy the garden can take a new plant friend home with them!

Holidays at Filoli is not just lights and decorations but also special events like evenings with Santa and chocolate decadence nights with See’s Candies wine and chocolate pairings. Visit www.filoli.org/events/holidays for event information and to buy tickets.

Photo-Ready and Social Worthy in Hollywood, CA

Fri, 06 Sep 2019 00:15:00 GMT

We ripped off our jackets and tossed our hair back like supermodels as we stepped off the Southwest airplane we had boarded in overcast San Francisco, to arrive in Burbank’s summer heat at the start of our Hollywood weekend. As Editor-in-Chief of FitNFabs Magazine, I was invited by its publisher, Rosalidia Dubon to tag along with her as she prepared for the summer issue release pool party. Rosalidia got behind the wheel of an over-sized sedan and whisked us off to our Airbnb accommodations at the La Belle apartments neighboring the famed Hollywood Tower.

Killer Selfies

Stop number one on our itinerary was lunch at Dream Hollywood Hotel’s rooftop poolside restaurant. I wore a blue shirt dress with flip-flops, and my companion went with a form-hugging burgundy dress. Our table for two looked out on the city streets below and onto the rooftop pool deck across the street. Aromatic planter boxes overflowing with lavender plants lined the low concrete barrier and protective glass panel walls.

As we waited for our lunch order to arrive, Rosalidia said, “Let’s take a selfie!”

Phone at arm-length we took a few pics. In one of them, my smile was too goofy, and in the other I had a low-key bemused look which was good enough to go social. Rosalidia got to work adding virtual eyebrow darkener and lipstick to my face with an Instagram app. I nodded consent when she was done touching us up and out it went onto Instagram and Facebook.

Still not completely comfortable with taking selfies, I had the chance to watch Rosalidia in action as she took selfies after getting her makeup done by a professional makeup artist the next day. Snapping pictures in a booth with perfect front lighting, she kept the phone high above her head and to the side. I’m thinking this helps slim the face and eliminates double-chins and wrinkles.

Social Photo Ops

That night we rocketed to the 71 ^st floor of the US Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles. OUE Skyspace occupies the building’s top floors and offers 360 panoramic views of the LA skyline. A clear slide attached to the outside of the building descends two stories at the height of 1,000 feet. The slide attracts tourists during the day, and a new ultra-lounge with unbeatable views draws adults at night. We were invited to check out the unique digs by a past FitNFabs cover model, singer Ranella Ferrer.

When we arrived and were looking for the lounge, we passed several photo opportunities. There was a recording booth with hanging mic, LA sports memorabilia and an odd psychedelic decorated mailbox to nowhere. Rosalidia struck a Mariah Carey pose in the booth, while I pretended to put a letter in the mailbox commemorated by a super silly Boomerang video.

We found our way to a staircase that took us down a level to the lounge. A DJ played mid-90s hip-hop/R&B the same stuff that was blasted at my high school dances. Two outdoor viewing decks looked out on the sparkling hillsides and streets below. From our vantage point, we were looking down on nearby skyscrapers. A glass deck panel had a set of decorative fairy wings decaled on it. Rosalidia took my picture in front of the wings and city below. I feel pretty good about the picture, although it’s dark!

Back inside, two touchscreen photo stations were set up so that visitors could take pictures against different fun backgrounds. It was difficult to figure out where the camera was within the screen and made for many disconnected and awkward shots. Finally, one came out where we were both looking in the right direction.

Many Ways to Social Share

The next day, FitNFabs pool party was held at Sunset & Vine Apartments, with the Hollywood Walk of Fame as the sidewalk. Apartment residents and FitNFabs fans from LA and the San Francisco Bay Area joined in the tropical pool-side fun. Another DJ played hip-hop while swimsuit-clad 20 and 30-somethings cooled off, socialized and drank up around the pool.

A mix of selfies, live-streaming to social media and photo booth collaborations documented the release party. The FitNFabs sponsored photo booth offered outlandish hats and funny disguises for attendees to play with. A camera took automatic shots of the crazy poses, either printing them out or delivered them via email.

At the party, I exercised my new found selfie-taking skill and took part in a few photo booth shoots. Thanks to my trip to Hollywood, I got enough practice to feel confident in whipping out my cell phone to take great-looking selfies!

Chalking It Up At Courthouse Square, Redwood City, CA

Fri, 12 Jul 2019 22:59:00 GMT

I appreciate a well-executed artistic composition and can cobble together a decent looking craft project or two. But I’m no artist. So when my artist husband hinted he wanted me to help him create a chalk sidewalk painting, I thought I’d be more of a hindrance. The chalk painting started at 7 a.m. on the 4th of July at Redwood City’s Courthouse Square. There was no way I’d be getting up that early to apply chalk to cement. If John wanted to go, fine but I’d be in bed for another few hours. However, John was tired from his work week and was ready to go to the festival at noon. I was up by then so I tagged along toting water bottles and a roll of paper towels.

When we arrived at the festivities, the parade crowds were just breaking up. We were definitely getting a late start. After finding parking, we booked it over to the chalk art sign in. I spotted our “canvas” right away, a blank 12’x 12’ space for Art Bias wedged between already completed chalk paintings. Art Bias is the San Carlos art community, where John rents his art studio. Many artists had left or were putting finishing touches on their large scale chalk art. Upon check-in we received two boxes of pastel chalk starter kits with basic colors and were pointed toward poster paint we could use to even out the cement surface.

Woefully behind from the moment we arrived, I wondered where John’s art compatriots were because we could have used a few more hands. I had come to support John because I knew this was something he wanted to do after watching other artists work with chalk at festivals. I didn’t realize we’d be staring down an outdoor shed-sized space, with festival goers walking past and wondering why they were seeing a huge blank cement square.

With no option but to get started, John jumped sketched out where his portrait of Uncle Sam would lay within the square. Next, he painted white poster paint on the ground where Sam was to go. I filled in the remaining background with gray paint we mixed from our two options, black and white. Once we got our foundation down, we put the paint rollers away and stopped to get lunch while it dried.

Before we left our square, I heard a passerby say something like “This one’s weird,” after she looked at our sea of gray with white splotch in the middle. “It’s not done,” I called after her. She seemed to turn and look at me like maybe she didn’t realize I could interact with her, since I was inside the cordoned off area. “It’s not done yet,” I said again with my hands on my hips. I was taking ownership of our burgeoning creation.

After lunch, I let John go back to the square on his own. His heart must have sunk when he went back to conquering the huge task on his own. I walked around other parts of the festival and found there was a chalk art alley on the street divided into smaller squares. The size wasn’t as impressive as the one we were dealing with but a lot more manageable.

I went back over to where John was hard at work. He had drawn in Uncle Sam with black chalk. I pulled up a knee pad and asked him how I could help. “Oh good, you’re going to help me with this?” He seemed relieved. “If not me, who?” I asked, or at least thought. I started with Sam’s hat filling in patriotic blue around the hat’s white stars, then filled in red vertical stripes. I caked the chalk on. I had tried to mix the chalk into the painted surface, only to pull the chalk dust up with the paper towel I was using as a mixing tool.

John worked on Sam’s face blending red, peach, white, and black to get his features to stand out, nose, lips, eyes, beard. John blew on an area of extra chalk dust only to create a dust bowl sized cloud which carried across the courtyard on a gust of wind. At one point, John went to ask one of the experienced chalk artists how they got their chalk to adhere to the ground. What they did differently was bring their own high-quality chalk in an array of color shades, and they methodically applied the chalk to the ground. These guys got to their spot early and stayed late getting all the details down. Since good chalk and loads of time were not an option for us, we continued to cake on the dust to simulate vibrant color.

We kept at it. I filled in Sam’s white hair, trying to “draw” in the boundaries of his hair only to be vetoed by the artist. I had to laugh at John for wanting to be precise within the context of how far behind we were. But I didn’t let his exactness stop me; I knew he needed my help. So I caked blue chalk on Sam’s jacket, added a light layer of yellow to his shirt and blending it with white for a creamy appearance. After all the colors were down, John re-drew the definition in black chalk and created Uncle Sam’s iconic finger pointing at the viewer.

As the event organizer packed up for the day, we finished our piece. Festival-goers interested in how our square turned out swung back around our aisle. A few let us know they were glad to see we got it done, and a few people took pictures of it.

Our creation was not the best, but it was patriotic in celebration of the 4th of July. We did our best for first-timers who didn’t fully realize what they were getting into. John’s drawing talent shown through especially at the end where he quickly and expertly added the definition that gave shape and life to the chalk painting. After taking pictures with Uncle Sam, we left Courthouse Square and tried not to think of the city workers who’d soon be by with power hoses to wash it all away.

8 Reasons Why Your Business Needs to Send e-Newsletters

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 22:48:00 GMT

If you have a business, you should be sending an e-newsletter. Newsletters are a consistent form of marketing that if done right, provide value to your readers. In other words, the people you send your newsletter to once a month, want to open your email. Why do they want to open it and not toss it in the “trash” folder? Because they know, from reading your previous emails, you aren’t selling something, but giving something they want to read.

The following reasons will give you an idea of how having your own newsletter will bring value to your business and your potential clients.

Reason to Stay in Touch

Once a month, twice for the ambitious, you get to say, “hello” to your newsletter readers. If you’re doing it right, only emailing people who want to hear from your business, you will quickly build an anxious audience awaiting your next email.

Prove Your Expertise

In every email, you get a chance to educate, inspire and challenge your readers. Place the heavy stuff up front. If you’re going to talk about the merits of sending newsletters, do that first, before you get to the fluff.

Show Your Products and Services in Action

Highlighting a client success story is a great way to show your product or service solving a problem. Like I can talk about helping a personal trainer plan, edit and launch her e-newsletter!

Increase Your Blog and Website Clicks

Include links to new blog posts in your newsletter. People won’t know about your posts if you don’t tell them to take a look.

Shine With Your Business Branding

Recently, I was asked, what’s the best way to share a blog post with clients, without using a plain email with embedded link? Sending an e-Newsletter was my first thought, because you can, and should, personalize the newsletter template with your business branding. A professional look is easy to achieve through an e-newsletter service like Constant Contact or Mailchimp.

Invite People to Events

Want to publicize your next open studio, gallery opening, workshop or class, presentation, or client appreciation party? Include an invite in your upcoming newsletter.

Share Business Updates and Milestones

As you build your newsletter mailing list, a core group of people interested in what you or your business is up to will develop. So, tell them about your new product or service launch, anniversary celebration, or new hire. They really do want to stay in-the-know about these things.

Make Special Offers

Reward your dedicated following with “only for newsletter readers” coupons and discounts. Make it something good for you and for them.

Are you starting a newsletter from scratch and don’t know where to begin? I can help you strategize what to include in your newsletter and who to send it to. Already have a newsletter but need editing support? I do that too! Email me to start a conversation about how I can help you with your e-newsletter.

Now go write your newsletter, your audience awaits!

The Ocean Side of Devil’s Slide Trail – Montara to Pacifica, CA

Thu, 16 May 2019 22:54:00 GMT

“We can park on either side of the tunnels,” I say to my husband as we drive north on HWY 1 to Devil’s Slide Trail.

“But I want to park on the ocean side,” he says.

“Yeah,” I say, “either side will do.” I glance over at him, he grips the steering wheel at ten and two. There’s a contemplative stare behind his sunglasses. Still, I see, he’s not picturing it.

Devil’s Slide is the link between Pacifica, CA at the north and Montara, CA at the south of San Pedro Mountain. Highway 1 used to snake around the mountain ledge with rocky ocean surging below and loose rocks sluffing down the hillside above. As of 2013, motorists now drive through the mountain via the Tom Lantros Tunnels, circumventing coastal erosion related hazards. The old highway was transformed into Devil’s Slide Trail for pedestrians and bike riders to enjoy.

I look out for roadside signs to guide us as we rapidly approach the mountain from Montara. Fortunately, a traffic light was installed at the Devil’s Slide Trail parking area, making it easy to get across the opposite lane of traffic without holding cars up behind us. We are definitely on the ocean side. The mountain and tunnel entrance sight lines give way to coastal bluffs overlooking the seemingly indefinite Pacific.

We drive around two small connected lots a few times waiting for someone to leave. I mention again there’s a parking lot on the Pacifica side, but my husband ignores the suggestion. I know he feels he’s holding out for the ocean view – even though both sides are on the same trail. We successfully stalk a family, wait for them to pack up their SUV, and swoop into their vacated parking spot.

The first thing we do after winning our parking spot is take in the unobstructed ocean view. A cooling wind hits our skin; the sun warms us from overhead; the ocean water bobs below. We walk to the trailhead leaving the cars blasting their horns in the tunnels behind.

I think my husband is amazed he can walk on the road his family used to drive when he was growing up in Pacifica. You can pick up so much more detail walking the 1.3 miles than you would zooming by in a car. Yes, the rocks are still sliding down the mountain. Fencing restrains the rubble, but it’s a good idea to keep some distance. A tenacious tree grows within a cliff-side crevice resulting in a lone pine wedged into a rock. Colorful wildflowers and grasses brighten the earthy hillsides. The smell of old, salty, fish waft up to the trail. I assume birds toss their catch onto the cliffs, trying to split open shells against the rocks.

The trail’s easy to moderate incline begins about a third to halfway in. I am glad to tackle the climb first so that our return is easier. We stop at a lookout area with plenty of bench seating. The ocean and sky are blue; the sun is still out. Back on the trail, we make it to the Pacifica side parking lot. True we did take a turn away from the ocean through brown dirt-exposed hillsides for a few yards. My husband and I take a turn around the Pacifica parking lot. He shoots photos of the horse ranch below.

“So, this is the other parking lot,” I say. We turn around to start back on our ocean side walk.

What’s your favorite coast side trail, and what makes it special?

Curating Sea Life: Beach Arrangements in Pescadero, CA

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 17:56:00 GMT

Once we scaled down the muddy coastal bluff, we landed on a rocky beach. This wasn’t a spread-out-a-blanket-for-sunbathing kind of beach; it was way too lumpy for that. My husband’s family had gathered for the weekend at a palatial oceanfront rental home to celebrate my sister-in-law’s wintertime birthday. The home, located in the small coastal community of Pescadero, CA between San Francisco to the north and Santa Cruz to the south on Highway 1, has access to a private beach we were allowed to visit.

I scanned the beach and noticed bits of sea life wedged between the rocks. Pieces of abalone and snail shells, colorful clumps of seaweed in shades of pink, purple and white, and ocean whittled driftwood mixed in amongst the rocks. As the afternoon sky darkened with an impending rainstorm pushing toward the coast, I quickly arranged the sea life into pleasing formations then took pictures of them. The time pressure sped my decision making about how to place the sea life. I quickly moved to the next spot on the beach as I only created arrangements of ephemera within arms-reach.

My sisters-in-law liked my idea of curating beach arrangements. One of them spotted a rock holding down a feather which looked like an eye with eyelashes. I added a smaller blue rock, a pupil, to the formation. After a windy half-hour on the shore looking for sea treasures, we trekked back up the bluff and into the house as the rain began to fall.

Talking to the Source 37 Interviews and Counting

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 21:36:00 GMT

I’d say a majority of the interviews I conduct are for the Midpen Media Center newsletter. Last month I interviewed a Stanford professor who developed MyShakespeare , an online multimedia website presenting Shakespeare’s plays in a fun, interactive and dynamic way. From speaking to the site’s creator, I learned the history of the project, what goes into developing it and the positive ways students and teachers have used it to delve into the world of the plays. I wouldn’t have reached a deeper understanding of the MyShakespeare website without speaking to its creator. I was able to bring the knowledge I gathered during the interview into my article through direct quotes and synthesizing information.

Over the course of these 65 interviews, I haven’t had a bad one yet. I know how to frame questions in a thoughtful way and I get more than a “yes” or “no” answer. Several times I’ve had interview subjects pause and say “That’s a great question.” It’s usually something they have to think about for a moment but it’s relative to what we’re talking about and adds depth to the conversation. I use interviews in my writing to capture quotes and information for people profile articles, expert perspectives, introducing new works or projects, Q&A interview features, and professional bios.

I’ve already got another interview scheduled for tomorrow and one next week. The FitNFabs Magazine and Midpen Media Center articles below are samples of recent interviews. If you have a writing project requiring information only the source can tell, I’d love to ask you some questions about it!

Feel Good about Your Writing: Get an Editor

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 17:27:00 GMT

No matter how you feel about the act of writing – a difficult chore with tons of roadblocks or you love it so much you can’t stop writing – having a second set of eyes on your creation is a good idea. I’ve been taking on more and more editing work. Many of the people I’ve edited for are experts in other fields like real estate, beauty industry or fitness gurus. I get to read the expert’s article before it’s published and I help them find what needs to be clarified.

As an editor, my goal is to cut away words and sentences that are not contributing to the overall message of the writing. Sometimes words just sit there taking up space instead of propelling the momentum or meaning of the piece. Today’s reader doesn’t have time to sift through paragraphs searching for the point.

Some of the top issues I edit for are:

One of the experts I edited had this to say:

I was relieved to be getting such positive feedback because I realize being edited can feel invasive like you’re under a microscope. But I made this writer feel comfortable, and she appreciated how the suggested changes made her look as a knowledgeable author. So before you hit “send” on an important email, newsletter or article, it really won’t hurt to have an editor take a look-see.

Crabbing at Pacifica Pier, Pacifica CA

Thu, 06 Dec 2018 17:49:00 GMT

When my husband and I visit his hometown, Pacifica CA for a day at the beach, he usually incorporates a little reminiscing, whether that’s driving by one of the homes he used to live in or telling tales about the adventures he had with his gang of friends. These friends, four teenage boys, roamed free atop their bicycles and later inside a 1975 AMC Matador. Bike or car these guys grabbed up their crab nets, slung them over a shoulder or inside the trunk, and ditched their suburban tract homes for a day out on the pier over the Pacific Ocean. I’ve heard tales of the guys dragging up six Dungeness crabs in one day, and bringing the feast home to share with their families.

I grew up further away from the ocean in the San Francisco East Bay. My family would visit the coast, but we never tossed nets in the water to see if anything would crawl in to be our dinner. It never occurred to me until recently that I can give crabbing a try myself. It doesn’t just have to be something my husband did growing up; it could be something we do together…now.

The crab season opened in early November giving us the opportunity to get out over the water with a net and lots of hope of catching delicious Dungeness on my husband’s birthday. Before hitting the pier, we stopped by New Coastside Bait & Tackle to get geared up for crabbing. The store clerk sold us everything we needed to get started, brand new crab net, a gauge to make sure any crabs we caught were big enough to take and attractive bait – frozen blocks of squid and sardines, yum. Other things we brought with us out on the pier were protective gloves for handling sea life, a cooler to store bait and anything we would catch and an always handy pocket knife – used for exposing bait guts.

My parents and one of my husband’s friends from his carefree Pacifica teenage days, Scott joined us for the birthday crabbing expedition. John and I arrived first to stake our spot on the pier. We passed fishermen lining both sides of the wood-planked cement-walled pier. They expertly cast their fishing pole lines yards out into the ocean below, grooved to boom boxes blasting music and teased each other with no concern for political correctness as they waited for something in the depths to take their bait. John picked a spot between fishermen who’d been out there for hours already, near the end of the pier where the structure takes a right turn as our home base.

He took out a few thawing squid and sardines, roughed them up with slits to their bellies, and stuffed them inside the bait cage attached to the inside of the crab net. He tied the end of the crab net’s rope line to a lamp post. We unfurled the full length of the rope, and he tossed the basket over the side of the pier like it a giant Frisbee. When the net landed in the water, it settled directly below us. Then the waiting for a crab to walk into the net began.

Our guests arrived shortly after we put the net in the water. John hauled the net up a few times to find nothing in. We messed around with the bait a little to see if we could make it stink more to attract a crab. The hard thing is, we don’t know when a crab is walking through the net. If we leave it down there for lengths of time, a crab could walk up, eat all the bait and get off the net before we pull it up. After a few hours we got some activity, a cluster of muscles rolled into the net and a small fish but no crab. We put all these back into the ocean. The next time we pulled up the net there was a crab in it but it was too small to keep, and it was a female. I made John bring it up to the pier so I could take a picture and document that we were somewhat successful.

After this, John felt like we might be on a roll and closer to catching a crab big enough to take home. Scott told us a story of how John made him stay on the beach for hours when they were teenagers because John was so excited that he might catch something. Crabbing is like gambling, you may catch a jackpot, but you have to keep spending time to win, at some point you need to pack it up and go home.

We didn’t catch a Dungeness crab dinner, but we did stop by the grocery store and bought a few crabs in honor of John’s birthday!

Networking My Way to Editor-in-Chief of FitNFabs Magazine

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 01:08:00 GMT

For the last few years, I’ve experimented with ways to grow my writing business and find new clients to work with. My preferred method has been to get out and meet people at networking events and mixers. I get to know who’s out there, what they are doing and if they by chance have any writing needs or know someone who does.

Two years ago I was in a networking group with a lady who knew the publisher of FitNFabs Magazine was looking for writing or editorial help. She sent an email to the publisher referring me to her, but we didn’t hear back. Later on, I met another lady who also referred me to the publisher, knowing the best way to get in touch with her was through Facebook. Within the next few days, I was setting up an appointment to meet the publisher because she had an opening for Editor-in-Chief!

I prepared for my meeting with the publisher by creating a portfolio of my writing samples, publication history, and resume. I could tell during the meeting my presentation, experience and my networking contacts set me up to be the perfect candidate at the right time for the position. By the end of the meeting, the publisher was already talking about terms and contract.

As Editor-in-Chief of FitNFabs, I’ve been tapping my networking connections hard. I need dedicated health and wellness experts to write content for the magazine and also become a part of the FitNFabs community. I’ve been able to add the knowledge of a professional home organizer, success coach to CEOs and a personal trainer into the pages of the magazine, all people I’ve gotten to know and trust from networking.

If you’re in business for yourself or have a side project that requires clients – get out and meet people in your community.

Attend local chamber functions to meet owners of businesses and find out what their needs are.

Join professional organizations within your sphere. I’m a member of the California Writers Club, where I meet other writers and find out how we can support each other and collaborate.

Join a business referral networking group where professionals from different industries connect, refer potential clients and business to each other.

Over an Overpass in a Yellow Surrey, Oxnard CA

Sun, 14 Oct 2018 00:25:00 GMT

The sight of the yellow canopied two person surrey parked out front of our hotel lobby brought us relief. All we had to do was rent it at the front desk, hop in, and start roaming around Oxnard, CA via pedal power.

The day before, we left our home in the San Francisco Bay Area excited to start on our weeklong vacation in Southern California. During the first few hours of the drive down we soon discovered mounting traffic delays were holding us hostage from enjoying our vacation.

Our estimated five and a half hour drive became an agonizing eight hours. Our cold-hearted GPS continually announced 15-minute increments being added to our ETA.

So, we weren’t eager to get back in the car upon reaching our destination. A surrey was the perfect mode of transportation for us. The surrey fit two people side by side on a bench seat, four wheels guaranteed our stability, and we each got a steering wheel.

I turned my wheel and tried pedaling, but the surrey seemed just to be listening to John’s steering. I looked at the mechanics behind our wheels and saw that his was hooked up to the steering and mine was decoration only. My right side foot pedal was bent, making it hard for me to keep my foot straight.

After a little parking lot practice, we pedaled to the harbor front path running in front of our hotel and condo complexes lining the harbor. A friendly maintenance man driving a golf cart slowed down so we could pass. A jogger, people walking their dogs, a girl in a stroller, smiled at us as we cheerfully made our way along the shaded waterfront.

A quarter of a mile later, we neared a monumental obstacle, Channel Islands Boulevard overpass linking to the other side of the harbor.

We approached the traffic intersection. My first thought was to stay on the sidewalk, but it was too narrow for the surrey. A single bike rider came toward us and could tell from my furrowed brow and hands on my hips that we needed some assistance. He told us that the lane we were in was the bike lane, we wouldn’t have figured it out otherwise because the bike lane signs were on the other side of the overpass.

So we pushed the surrey up over the overpass hump, got back in at the top and rode the brakes down. While on the other side of the harbor we stopped at Channel Islands Maritime Museum . Our surrey dutifully waited for us outside as we explored inside. John was delighted to see that they have an impressive collection of maritime ship paintings depicting dramatic sea voyages and battles going back to the 17th century.

As we pedaled our way back to the hotel, it was high noon in the beach town, with warm beating sun overhead. John was sweating…a lot. He stopped cycling for a moment, and suddenly I was tasked with taking up his slack, which I couldn’t do for long. I think he was trying to show me just how hard he was working to move us both.

Back over the overpass, we went. This time when we reached the top, John wanted to take a selfie from the summit as we were quickly going downhill. I had to remind him that we were on the road, with cars and didn’t want to do something dumb just for a selfie!

Tame Your Writing Project and Get it Done!

Fri, 05 Oct 2018 16:11:00 GMT

Is a Daunting Writing Project Holding You Back?

A feeling of dread washes over you when you read the next “to-do” on your schedule.

Write my website pages

Even though you scheduled two hours to work on writing your website, which should be enough time to make headway, you decide to check your emails again and take an extra-long lunch break.

When you check your schedule again, it’s time for the next to-do. Oh well, writing your website pages will have to be re-scheduled. After a momentary sense of relief knowing you can’t possibly squeeze in time for your website today, you realize that you’ll have to write the website pages at some point.

Before you block off another two hours to write your website, figure out the best way to break down this monumental task so that you’ll actually do it.

Give yourself a deadline. Some writing projects have deadlines attached but personal projects you can do “whenever” have a tendency to get done never, put an end date on it.

Break the project down into manageable tasks to sprinkle throughout your schedule.

Any writing project you do can follow a similar writing process.

If you’re working on writing your website, list all of the pages you need to write. For each page you’ll need to set aside time for:

Research – gathering supporting info
Outline – bullet points of what you’ll cover and arranging in order
Rough Draft – turn bullet points into sentences
Writing – type up a clean draft
Editing – make notes on what needs to be changed
Clean up, Polish – make corrections, read through for clarity

Create the writing project timeline. After you’ve identified all of the tasks associated with your project, estimate how long each task will take. Working backward from the deadline, schedule time to get all of the tasks done.

Do the work of writing. Now that you have a comprehensive plan, you won’t have to think about the next step. Do each step as you planned out. You’re free to have fun as you work on completing each step.

Congrats! You met your deadline and wrote your web pages!

Try following this process the next time you need to write a project that freaks you out.
Instead of giving up or putting it off –

Break it down and put it on your schedule in manageable portions and get it done!

Affordable Southern California Vacation Spot Hides Behind Its Name…Oxnard?

Fri, 07 Sep 2018 22:43:00 GMT

This year my husband and I celebrated our ten year wedding anniversary. Of course we’d have loved to jump in a plane and flown off to some exotic locale. But with time and financial restraints we had to be a little less lavish in our summer vacation planning. I wanted to go somewhere warm, on the ocean and far enough away that we’d feel like we really “went” on vacation.

I pulled up Google Maps and ticked off all the California coastal towns we’d visited together – Mendocino, Bodega Bay, Carmel, Monterey, Morro Bay – until I scanned down to the Santa Barbara area. The hotel prices seemed a little high to sustain us for a full week. I looked around at the nearby towns – Ventura sounded familiar which was next to Oxnard. “Hummm what’s going on in a place called Oxnard?” I thought as I compared hotel prices, beach access and ocean proximity. Between the two towns, I found a nice harbor front hotel for a medium price per night in Oxnard – all requirements met.

When I told my husband John where we were going for our ten year anniversary, he set down the laundry he was folding, looked at me with disgust on his face and asked, “Oxnard?” like I’d lost my mind.

“Hey, it’s really not as bad as it sounds,” I said defending my decision. It’s got to be the words “Ox” and “Nard” together that raise eyebrows. I mean if I said we were going to “Ventura” nobody would screw their face up over that.

So, I have to admit I became a little nervous I’d made the wrong decision after we got off Highway 1 heading into Oxnard. We’d passed up Santa Barbara’s blue ocean views, brown sandy beaches in the foreground, and outline of the distant Channel Islands breaking horizon sight lines. Acres of flat farmland then barren sand dunes surrounded the road as I thought to myself “this can’t be all there is out here.”

Breaking free from the rural and lonely landscape, we arrived at the vibrant Channel Islands Harbor alive with restaurants, yacht clubs and boaters. Our hotel was on the peninsula which divides the harbor into three prongs. It was dinner time when we arrived. The open late Toppers Pizza we’d eat at within the hour was all aglow in red and gold lights like a Broadway show. Checking in to our modern hotel, the evening breeze wafting through the remaining balmy warmth of the day, I felt reassured that Oxnard would provide everything I wanted in a vacation destination.

Over the next few weeks read about our Oxnard adventures. I’ll share stories about exploring Southern California right here in this blog. Don’t forget a hat, sunscreen and shades for a fun time under the sun!

Nature Stakes a Claim on San Jose’s Historic New Almaden Quicksilver Mine

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 21:33:00 GMT

Look closely at the rolling green hills of the Capitancillos Ridge on the southern end of San Jose, CA. At times the peaceful landscape is jarred by large pieces of rusting machinery, remnants of California’s first mine. No, gold wasn’t found in them there hills but mercury aka quicksilver. The element was used in the gold and silver mining processes to separate the precious metals from crushed ore. Lucky for the ‘49er gold rush crowd, operations to extract quicksilver from San Jose’s New Almaden mines began in 1846 a few years before the gold frenzy.

On our way to find out for ourselves what’s left of the 170-year-old New Almaden mine, my husband and I pass multiple new housing developments on previously rural farming land. I remembered reading that the local reservoirs contain high levels of mercury making the fish unsafe to eat. I wondered at the decision to build new homes in the area and if the residents had to be mindful of mercury exposure.

The suburbs transition to fields, as we take New Almaden Road off the expressway toward the forested community of historical homes nestled between Alamitos Creek and the rising hillside. Entering Casa Grande, a three-story mansion which was home to the succession of New Almaden Mine managers, our imaginations go back in time and deep underground. Antique furnished parlor, library and drawing rooms give a sense of the activities of those who lived there.

A very knowledgeable docent met us as we toured the home and made our way to the Quicksilver Mining Museum located inside Casa Grande. The interpretive museum and docent answered our questions about the mercury mining process. Examples of red cinnabar ore mined deep within the earth are on display. The process of filling tall slender flasks with liquid quicksilver after cinnabar is heated to separate mercury and sulfur is depicted. Black and white photographs of the miners hauling ore and squeezing on the lifts that took them on their decent hundreds of feet underground cover the museum walls. Visitors catch a glimpse into what mining life must have been like.

Back outside we stroll through Casa Grande’s lush green yard to look up at its swaying palms and clear blue sky. Then we started down the street on a section of the 1.6 mile historic home walk that loops around Casa Grande and the Alamitos Creek. Although historic, the colorful homes circa mid- 1800’s with white picket fences and built with a variety of materials: brick, adobe, wood are all private residences. We walked along a length of original brick sidewalk while reading the informational markers in front of each house. Soon we felt at risk of becoming Peeping Toms with residents clearly going about their day. We decided to get back to the car and see more of the area by road.

Driving around the perimeter of the Almaden Quicksilver Park I spotted rusting mining equipment jutting up from the treetops at the Hacienda park entrance. We continued along the wooded drive passing the Almaden Reservoir and recently opened access to Mt. Umunhum. Then wrapped back around the hills and entered from McAbee Road closest to the Senador Mine. Walking on the wide shaded path, we passed an old wood barn near the park entrance.

About a half mile into the walk we found the concrete chimney remains of the Senador Mine. Three crumbling furnaces where cinnabar was once roasted stand, a perfect dystopian backdrop. Markings of the past are everywhere along the park trails, from covered ore cart rails, foundations of buildings or strikingly majestic ruined equipment. I wonder at the natural beauty of the hillsides and its hints of a long forgotten internal apocalypse.

What’s the Difference Between a Blog and an e-Newsletter?

Sat, 30 Jun 2018 19:08:00 GMT

Both blogs and e-newsletters are effective methods for building, maintaining and growing an audience interested in what your business has to offer. From doing both types of publications, I’ve found that the main differences between them are: how they are distributed and how they are interacted with. Below, I outline the purpose of each along with their major benefits.

What is a blog?

A blog, short for Web Log, of regularly scheduled posts, is meant to engage readers who return to your website often to find out what’s new.

What’s the Marketing Purpose?

Build trust and authority in your business specialty as you build your prospect following through informative blog postings.

How is a Blog Distributed?

Your audience can subscribe to your blog and receive a notice when new posts are published, people can find your blog while browsing the internet, or people can click on links that you promote through social media posts.

A Cool Thing About Blogs:

Search engines like Google will index each post you publish – making it easier for people to find your business when they search on keywords.

For instance, if you search on “marketing bad attitude” my blog post, “Don’t Ruin Good Marketing With a Bad Attitude” along with my business name appears on page two of Google out of 53,100,000 pages. This is a good thing because people looking for this subject have a great chance of running across my article.

This type of visibility is possible for each blog post you publish!

What’s an e-Newsletter?

A regularly scheduled email in article style layout. E-newsletters can include useful articles, helpful web links, notice of upcoming events, announcements and reminders, fun game or inspirational quote.

What’s the Marketing Purpose?

Stay in front of serious prospects who are interested in your business. Continue to build relationships and your subject matter authority.

How are e-Newsletters Distributed?

E-newsletters are sent directly to an email address. Email marketing services like Constant Contact or Mail Chimp track how many people open your email and click on links inside the newsletter.

People will forward a good e-newsletter to their friends!

A Cool Thing About e-Newsletters:

Your e-newsletter fans will reply to your mailing and let you know that they enjoyed the information you shared. The responses you get back are more personal because you are building a relationship with your readers.

Similarities are Okay

It’s ok to publish the same article on your blog as you do in your e-newsletter. You may have a different audience for each type of publication. If you do have readership overlap, be sure to offer something “new” or different in each place so there’s a reason to check out both.

If you need help planning, editing, or writing content for your blog or e-newsletter contact me for a complimentary 30-minute writing services consultation.

Turn Off Your Insta-Editor and Write

Fri, 18 May 2018 22:32:00 GMT

Books, magazine articles even blogs have the power to transport readers through words alone. Amazing right? Have you ever been inspired to write something of your own but get stuck after the first few sentences? You go over your words a few times tweaking things here and there. You want everything you write to be perfect before you move on. So you don’t move on.

Our internal insta-editors can hinder any form of writing – emails, case notes, reports included. How can you get work done efficiently if you’re waiting for perfection? The following steps are suggestions on how to override your insta-editor until the timing is right.

Move Through the First Draft on a Path

I’ve started a new piece of writing only to get stuck polishing the first paragraph over and over because I didn’t know where the rest of the story was going.

I got ahead of myself, skipping the planning phase. Set up your writing path by “brainstorming” or thinking about your idea, finding the focus of what you’re going to write about, then break that down into points that you will turn into paragraphs or sections.

If you know where your writing is going, you’ll be less likely to get stuck perfecting the first few sentences.

Re-thinking Perfection

I understand the desire to send out perfect writing. I want that too, but it won’t happen if you’re holding up the process re-working the first few sentences. What is perfection anyway when it comes to writing? An email – for instance – doesn’t need to be poetic.

Clarity: Can your readers understand what you’re trying to say? Because this is the point of written communication, yes?

Concise: Keep focused on an argument or main point. Stick to the reason you started writing in the first place.

Entertainment Value: This is optional, especially for an email, but if you have an interesting take on your topic readers will appreciate it and read to the end.

“E” is for Editing at the End

Lastly, editing does have its place in the writing process and that is at the end. There can be different “end points” like the end of a section, the end of a page or once all of the initial writing is done. Make the conscious decision to edit only when you get to the end point of your choice.

When you edit at the right point, you’ll feel encouraged by the progress you’ve made and how your words are shaping up.

Visit 100 Years Ago Today at History San Jose – Part 2

Sun, 06 May 2018 01:31:00 GMT

After exploring the Trolley Barn, we discovered our pancake breakfast had worn off. We walked down the wide street of San Jose’s History Park wondering if we could order up a hot dog for lunch. Turning a corner, we faced the Pacific Hotel, a replica building that grounds visitors with a sense of what the city of San Jose originally looked like. The first floor of the hotel houses O’Brien’s Ice Cream Parlor . O’Brien’s a local favorite for candy and ice cream from 1868 through the mid-1900s. Since it was the only food-related establishment in sight, we walked into the white counter, mirrored, air-conditioned shop.

I asked the ice cream server if there were any other places serving food in the park and the answer was no. So I went ahead and ordered a hot fudge sundae for myself and a chocolate milkshake for hubby. We ate, a little guiltily at first, but finished our sweet treats trying to remember if we ever had a lunch like this before.

Back outside in the warm afternoon sun, we set out to explore the rest of the park’s extensive grounds. The replica Electric Light Tower catches visitor’s attention rising above the park. John photographed interesting geometric designs looking up through it. The original was erected in 1881 at a busy downtown San Jose intersection and was quite a spectacle then.

As we continued down the block, we met up with Rosie the Riveter across the street from the replica 1869 Empire Firehouse. Rosie looked like a real person from afar. I thought she was checking out the firehouse but discovered she’s a statue.

The dark wood paneled Stevens Ranch Fruit Barn at the back of the park is a museum sharing Santa Clara Valley’s history as an orchard and farming community before its transformation into Silicon Valley. Next to the barn are a few samples of migrant worker one-room houses giving an idea of what living conditions on area farms was like.

Historical homes of founding San Jose families were moved to the park. The preserved homes help tell the story of the families that used to live in them. Some of the structures are furnished to re-create what life was like during the period of the home. Other homes are sponsored by cultural groups displaying cultural relics and exhibits.

We peered in windows, walked through homes, and peeked in backyards. It dawned on me that we were amongst the highest concentration of outhouses in the Bay Area, maybe even the entire state of California. Little wood structures – painted similarly to the home they sat behind – covered rickety wood benches with centered cutout.

Closing out our trip to San Jose’s History Park we stopped by the print shop on the way out. A docent and member of the printer’s guild spelled my name backward and upside down demonstrating typesetting. She showed us how a few of the printing presses ran leaving us in awe of how time intensive (and dangerous – squished fingers?) printing used to be.

It’s really amazing how much history is available to explore in one place – San Jose history, California history, transportation history, immigrant history and much more. Activities happen throughout the year featuring different aspects of the park. Come once to explore all of the buildings, and then come again to focus on just one area of interest, if you can narrow it down that is!

Find visitors information for San Jose’s History Park here .

Visit 100 Years Ago Today at History San Jose – Part 1

Thu, 19 Apr 2018 01:52:00 GMT

Recently my husband and I were looking for something to do that would divert us from our everyday life. We couldn’t go great distances for our getaway but we could go back in time. How’s that done? You may ask.

I was pretty sure that San Jose has a collection of old buildings open for touring. We looked into it and confirmed that a section of Kelley Park houses San Jose’s History Park . After a big pancake Saturday breakfast we were ready to visit history.

History Park’s main entrance at the end of Phelan Avenue opens up to a wide pedestrian-only tree lined street – huge wood barn on the right and historical homes on the left. We veered right toward the crusty Associated Gasoline station and the blacksmith shed with early farm tractor out front. Taking in the scene by snapping pictures, we spun back to the Trolley Barn.

Caught Up in the Trolley Barn

Trolley Barn volunteers – train and trolley enthusiasts – greeted us and shared their wisdom about some of the vehicles found inside.

The 1914 electric-horseless-carriage caught my attention. I was amazed that a car from so long ago runs on 14 car batteries (no gas) and has the capability to be re-charged. I did “know” that different car manufacturers tried out different fuel sources – electricity being one of them. But I’d never seen a car with a carriage inspired frame filled with 14 car batteries before. And it works!

The barn houses several vintage trolleys that volunteers preserve, display and give rides around the park on. We got to check out a 1930s era streetcar, with a guided demo on how to start it and clang the bell to get pedestrians off the tracks.

Later in the day we rode the outdoor track around the perimeter of History Park. The car we were in was open air at the ends – nice for warm San Jose days – while the middle of the car is covered.

I highly recommend the Trolley Barn to car, train or trolley buffs. Don’t miss their special Transportation Day celebration held on Father’s Day every year. All the cars and trolleys – that are able – are taken out for a spin.

Catch up on our adventure at History Park next week: Ice Cream for Lunch at O’Brien’s, Wild West to Orchards and Housing Cultural History – all covered in Part 2.

Get Over Your Fear of Publishing (FOP)

Sat, 24 Mar 2018 22:53:00 GMT

Suffering from FOP? It’s a common condition, especially when starting a new blog, website or newsletter. I suffered from FOP when I began writing this blog. I was worried that internet trolls would leave negative comments on my posts. But as I started publishing and comments started coming in, I found that I could approve or deny those comments. So, I really had no reason to worry in the first place because I can control what comments are allowed on my posts.

When someone tells me that they’re experiencing FOP I feel a little sad. Sharing your thoughts and passion about a topic you care about helps people. It helps you gain a deeper understanding and you get to share that useful information with others.

Let’s take a look at some common forms of FOP and possible solutions.

No One Cares About What I have to Say

Why wouldn’t we care about what you have to say? is my question. I write about historical places to visit around the San Francisco Bay Area. Sure, not everyone wants to read those articles but friends, family, and people searching the internet for local tidbits do.

As long as you care about the topic that you’re writing about, you will develop an audience in time.

My Writing Isn’t Good Enough

Feeling confident in your writing skill is a huge challenge. Some people are just naturally fearless in this department. For the rest of us, this fear can be cured through organization.

For example, I started this article with an idea – which I turned into the title. Then I introduced what would be addressed throughout the article in the introduction. Each section has its own subheading which I’m filling out as I go along.

Following a structure allows you to feel confident that you’re hitting all the points you need to make to give your reader something useful to read.

Not Sure What to Write About

When you start a newsletter, blog or website there should be a reason behind that decision. It could be your business, hobby, or an organization that you participate in. When you write content for those publications, stay on topic.

Take it easy on yourself and use real-life examples like happy customers, a learning experience, interviews or event reporting are just a few ways to inspire a story idea.

Not Ready for People to Read My Writing

Don’t worry, when you start a blog or website, no one knows about it. This gives you some time to get comfortable with seeing your writing online.

Ask a few people to read it and give you feedback. When you feel comfortable with how everything looks, send out announcement emails and social media posts…push that publish button!

Have a Lingering Case of FOP?

If your finger is still hovering over the publish button, I’m happy to diagnose your writing project needs. Contact me at eva@evabarrows.com

Getting to the Top of Nob Hill Ain’t Easy – San Francisco, CA

Sun, 25 Feb 2018 19:24:00 GMT

Nob Hill, a San Francisco neighborhood that rises 376 feet in elevation at a 25 percent grade is not easy to get to. The top of Nob Hill is home to silver baron, James C. Flood’s 1886 mansion and properties of other San Francisco elites past and present. No moat or portcullis needed to keep the riff-raff away, mounting the hill itself is deterrent enough.

The past two years I’ve attended the San Francisco Writers Conference held at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins hotel perched at the top of Nob Hill. Reluctant to drive myself into the heart of the city I’ve experimented with different methods of transportation to the conference. Each method is a strenuous adventure.

Via MUNI Bus

Surfacing from the Powell Street BART station into a rainy cityscape, I attempted to track down the MUNI bus that would take me to the top of Nob Hill. With a bus number in mind from my review of the online bus schedule, I could not find where it stopped. I stuck my head inside the door of another bus loading passengers and asked that driver where to catch a bus that went up the hill. She directed me back across the street giving me another bus number to find.

Pouncing through puddles I arrived at a bus shelter where the rain continued to come down. After a ten minute wait, the bus came and I crowded into the back door. I slogged my way to the front to pay not wanting to get in trouble for fare dodging. Before I put my money in, however, I asked the driver if he was going to the top of Nob Hill. He said, nope. He let me off at a corner where another bus that did go up the hill would make its stop. I waited under the canvas awning of a storefront amongst other commuters. The awning became heavy with rainwater and unleashed a wave of water on top of our heads.

Soaked and impatient I decided to walk up the hill myself instead of waiting for the phantom bus. I was running late and needed to get to my post at the conference. One leg lunge after the other I slowly pulled myself up the incline. Huffing and puffing like I did hiking Lower Yosemite Falls, embarrassed by my out-of-shapeness. Claiming victory at a turtle’s pace, I made it to where the sidewalk plateaued. Out of breath, outerwear drenched, shirt soaked in sweat, I arrived at the conference.

Classic Cable Car

The next day I decided to try catching the cable car up Powell Street which runs directly to my destination. The rain clouds had dispersed to reveal a sunny blue-sky Saturday morning. I bought my seven dollar ticket to ride and got in line with hundreds of tourists. The day before, (when it was raining) nobody was in line to ride the cable car. That was when I should have taken it. I wound up watching ten cars be turned around at the end of the track to take brimming loads of people up the street. As I waited I began to strategize. I was running out of time, I was going to be late for the conference, again. I noticed that people were hopping on the cable car further down the street. But only a few people were being let on at a time. It seemed that I had a greater chance of getting on sooner if I just stayed where I was. Finally, I had my turn to ride the wooden antique cable car clanging up the hill.

By Car – Hired or Self Drive

Okay, technically I didn’t hire a car to take me to Nob Hill for this year’s conference. I asked my husband to drive me there. Luckily he felt sorry for me and dropped me off across the street from the hotel. I would say by far this is the best way to get to Nob Hill, stress-free (for me) and super direct (no puffing up any hills.) I had some time to watch cars start the descent down Mason Street. Kids in back seats screamed as parents lifted their feet off the break downhill. Remember that? Hands in the air like you’re in a roller coaster, and WEEEEEE, the car goes sharply downhill? Yeah, that was fun.

If you do drive yourself to Nob Hill time-limited street parking and pricy garage parking are available. Also, consider using Uber or taxi to arrive at your swanky destination.

Hoofing it aka Walking

I really really really don’t recommend walking to the top of Nob Hill. It can be done but if you’re going up there for a fancy dinner or want to impress anyone with your appearance do – not – walk. I watched as other people struggled to get to the top of the hill. A woman who appeared to live in the area replaced a trip to the gym with a hike up Nob Hill. Wearing workout clothes and clinching a bottle of water, she slowly made it up the street. Her face was pink and sweaty, she gulped for air. An old man plodded up the Mark Hopkins block and paused to hold a trunk of a tree to steady himself. A young woman walked her Labrador up the same block, the dog’s haunches visibly swayed as he climbed.

My Recommendation

The most comfortable and direct method to surmount Nob Hill is to have someone drop you off. But this can be cost prohibitive if the person taking you isn’t related. The second best way is taking the cable car during an off-peak time. Otherwise, you’ll have to drive yourself mentally prepared to pay for a parking garage.

Don’t Ruin Good Marketing With a Bad Attitude

Sat, 27 Jan 2018 00:33:00 GMT

The person whose newsletter it is, works locally so I went ahead and sent them an email introducing myself. I told them that I’m a local writer and would be happy to meet with them sometime.

Their response back was a conversation stopper . They had no need for a writer, their marketing department develops the newsletters, and my invitation to meet in person was ignored.
So in other words, this person is sabotaging their business’s marketing efforts.

I question: Why bother sending out newsletters if this is the response you give when someone reaches out to you?

What Went Right

The newsletter itself did what it was supposed to do. Someone on the mailing list received it and forwarded it to someone else – extending the reach of the original marketing piece.

The newsletter elicited a response from the reader. The reader actually sent an email to the person who sent out the newsletter.

This is the response that you want from a newsletter. You want your readers to reach out to you with comments, feedback, questions, even an invite to grab a cup of coffee. Your newsletter is helping you build relationships.

What Went Wrong and Why

I’ve touched on what went wrong . The “sender” of the newsletter cut short any potential for a relationship.

It seemed like the person didn’t know what was talked about in the newsletter.

They were not ready to respond thoughtfully to any interest the newsletter might create.

Instead of taking a grateful appreciative approach, they took the “ don’t bother me ” one.

It’s all too easy to take them up on that sentiment.

The lesson here is to be gracious and engaged when new contacts reach out to you. Make your goal nurturing relationships instead of stomping on the seed.

Writers on a Boat: Eireene Nealand and Eva Barrows Talk Writing (Part 2)

Tue, 16 Jan 2018 04:40:00 GMT

Part 2 of 2 Part Series

The sun pours in from the cabin windows and from the open hatch above. A cooling breeze wafts into the cozy space smelling of salt and seaweed. The bark of harbor seals, the “ting ting ” clang of various ropes hitting against wrapped sails, and the ever-present seagulls squawk overhead. Eireene and I share our thoughts on writing tucked inside the boat docked at Half Moon Bay California’s Pillar Point Harbor.

Uncommon Approaches to Structure

Eva: I like to base my writing around dialogue. Just focusing on what people would say and then tightening it up and trying to make it sound funnier. I don’t really have jokes, it’s just the situation that’s humorous.

Eireene: Did your family go back and forth a lot?

Eva: Sometimes we’d have a banter.

Eireene: I don’t think I ever learned that.

Eva: You didn’t banter?

Eireene: Yeah, I’m too serious. (laughs)

Eva: But you had music? All of your family members know how to play instruments?

Eireene: Yes. I think it helps to have that. I really write by the sounds of language a lot. So I think I paid a lot of attention to songs. As I write I’m hearing the tones and the sounds. A lot derived from poetry. I love overhearing conversations.

Eva: Right I saw some of your snippets.

Eireene: I’m trying to figure out what to do with the snippets.

Eva: So are you going to take those and make a story?

Eireene: I need to figure it out but I think that’s actually going to be my style. It’s going to have to do with how many conversations I’ve ever heard. Cause I’ve been doing it for years. I have giant files of people’s conversations.

Eva: Do you go back and look at them?

Eireene: Every now and then and I’ll modify them a little bit. And I’ve also learned a lot about storytelling. People are so good at telling stories out loud to each other like in coffee shops. I’m amazed people just visualize the whole landscape and they have a good sense of pacing.

Eireene: Nothing happens in the one little snippet but then you put another snippet next to it…

Eva: It’s like a collage.

Eireene: I like that one little story will connect to another story and deepen it. One sort of becomes a metaphor for the other one.

Eva: You’re kind of like a reporter.

Eireene: I’m more of an arranger. Same with the historical stuff. I just get open to facts and mash them together. I think a lot about structure. I worry about it and I think about it. And that happens until I know the big structure.

Eva: I think of structure as beginning-middle-end, if it flows, if it makes sense, but you have a different scope of structure.

Eireene: I like the detours.

Eva: Do you usually know what the meaning is when you start or does it appear?

Eireene: By the time I’m done writing it’s totally something else. I usually have the beginning and the ending and I stick with those things pretty strongly. Then I spend years writing the middle.

Eva: So what do you want to get that down to? A couple of months?

Eireene: I’m learning so much. There’s a structural thing about how the beginning and ending are related that you just have to figure out. You can actually, hopefully, this is how I plan to save time in the future —you can sit and think about that a lot then know .

Eireene Nealand’s stories, poems and translations have appeared in ZYZZYVA , Chicago Quarterly , Drunken Boat , Poetry International , Catamaran , Sidebrow , WHR , elimae , and The St. Petersburg Review , among other places. Her work has received multiple awards including a Fulbright Fellowship in Creative Writing, an Elizabeth Kosova Fellowship, and an Ivan Klima Fellowship. To her degrees from UC Berkeley and San Francisco State, she recently added a Ph.D. in Literature from UC Santa Cruz, where she studied proprioception, a neurobiological phenomenon that allows us to see textures and shifts. She currently lives in Santa Cruz, where she writes and translates Russian, Bulgarian and French prose and poetry.

Eva Barrows is a San Francisco Bay Area freelance writer. Eva writes about local places, people and events on her website www.evabarrows.com . She founded the online literary journal Imitation Fruit www.imitationfruit.com in 2007 and has enjoyed promoting fellow writers and artists ever since. Her writing has appeared in the California Writer’s Club, Fault Zone Uplift anthology, and the San Mateo County Fair’s, Carry the Light fair winner collection.

Writers on a Boat: Eireene Nealand and Eva Barrows Talk Writing

Thu, 04 Jan 2018 19:58:00 GMT

Part 1 of a 2 Part Series

The bay sparkles. Clear blue skies overhead and fishing boats flit across the calm water. Eireene Nealand and I take over her sister’s green sail boat docked at Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay, CA.

We tell ourselves that we’re actually going to do some writing once we get inside. Eireene takes my bag of crab cake sandwich and fries so I can keep my balance stepping onto the back of the boat. She assures me I won’t fall in the water.

She unlocks the cabin hatch, slides it back and moves the ceiling panel so we can make our way inside. We sit across from each other on padded benches with a multi-use pop-up table between us. Eireene heats up water in the micro kitchen lining one side of the cabin. She sips tea and I eat my lunch.

The boat gently sways back and forth. I take out my digital voice recorder. She agrees to an impromptu interview. For a little context, Eireene is a poet, short story writer, European language translator and holds a Ph.D in Literature and MFA in Creative Writing. So, I have lots of questions for her as I’m in awe of her resume.

I start with the basics.

Siege of Leningrad and the Office Breakroom

Eva: What’s your favorite type of project to write?

Eireene: I like writing weird connections with history. I wrote a story about Lake Ladoga the Siege of Leningrad. It was about a girl in California who felt she was suffering then she learned about the Siege of Leningrad and was like “Wow my life’s not so bad!”

Eva: Do you fantasize about Eastern Europe?

Eireene: I did fantasize about the Communist Revolution when I was younger. But then I went and visited and found it wasn’t so romantic.

I did a whole story about that. It was really great that people had a big dream and the big dream had a lot of awful things to it. But how much worse would it be if there was no big dream and there was just awfulness?

Eireene: What do you write about?

Eva: I try to write about something that’s happened to me. I blow it out of proportion like a Seinfeld episode.

Eireene: Do you stay away from politics?

Eva: I keep it casual. In, The Birthday Committee , which is a funny story, I have a character in the office breakroom and she’s watching CNN and it shows a bomb going off in Syria. It’s not really a comment on Syria it’s a comment to the story. It’s a war zone in the breakroom.

Eireene: What kind of settings do you like to write about?

Eva: Things I’m familiar with. A lot of my writing has been about things that’ve made me mad. I want to go back and reinvent the moment. Become empowered in some way. It’s never a big deal. It’s just something that’s bothered me. The settings are small and familiar, the breakroom at work, the college campus out in the back fields, a coffee shop confrontation.

A Family of Characters

Eireene: It’s interesting a lot of other people have written about my family but they do it in a completely different way than I would do it. They draw on all of these hippie stereo types.

Eva: How many articles have there been?

Eireene: There’s been two major ones about the idea of a hippie family. I think they do a really good job. A better one than I could do. I can’t get at real life directly. It seems like you’re closer to real life.

Eva: I write about my husband a lot. Like things he does that influence me. He’s usually like “oh god you’re writing about that?” I’m not writing deeply about myself, kind of expressing myself.

Eireene: I notice a lot of writers have this break-through moment when they fall in love and write about the other person.

Eva: But I’m not even gushing about him though.

Eireene: Yeah you’re just tracking his behavior. You’re noticing him a lot because you’re happy. One day I aspire to write that kind of story.

Eva: He’s the other character in my life.

**More of our discussion will be posted on the blog next week. Come back to find out how two different writers approach structure in writing.

Write in the New Year: 3 Content Marketing Assessments You Need to Make

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 21:36:00 GMT

Case of The Pseudo Blog

Publishing a vibrant blog on your website can produce huge benefits. One of the biggest rewards of having fresh content rolling in on your blog is growing a loyal audience.

Case of The Old News Website

Don’t Stink Like a Fish: 6 Ways to Keep Your Web Content Fresh

Case of The On-Again Off-Again Newsletter

Abundant Holiday Spirit at the Dickens Christmas Fair, Daly City

Fri, 01 Dec 2017 20:15:00 GMT

They say it’s the smell of roasting chestnuts, the scent wafting through the busy streets of recreated Victorian London at Daly City’s Cow Palace. The warm sweet smell floats on the crisp ocean air even before we make it into the building. Later in the day, a friend would offer me a chestnut to taste. Eager to try it, due to the advertised aroma, I was disappointed when the nut turned out to be ordinary.

Besides the delicious smell, the Dickens Christmas Fair transports visitors to another time and place through many theatrical methods. One of the most obvious conveyances is what people are wearing – royal officers in uniform, Queen Victoria parading in a silk ball gown, unsettled Mad Hatter, and everyone else working at the fair in mid-1800s period correct costumes.

Another striking visual is the use of newspapers. When entering the fair, you’re given a newspaper detailing all of the festive events. Hundreds of noses are deep inside newspapers…a scene that’s extinct nowadays, only to be revived at the Dickens Fair.

Guests are welcome to wear whatever fanciful outfits they’d like or not get dressed up at all. I’m a half-hearted costumer myself. I’ll wear historical dresses I’ve sewn to costume dances but I don’t feel like wearing a hoop and corset all day at the fair. There are too many practical things to consider: clearance to pass people on the London streets, sitting comfortably at a crowded picnic table, and especially maneuvering in tiny bathroom stalls.

My husband and I opted for hybrid costuming. He wore a tuxedo coat, top hat and black jeans. I wore a Victorian-inspired velvet jacket over my normal clothes. A little effort was all we needed to feel like we belonged at the fair.

Last year at the fair, I noticed a parlor room with art easels set up for drawing. My husband, an accomplished artist , would have lots of fun participating in something like that. So he brought his backpack full of art supplies and took part in two different life drawing sessions. A string of interesting characters sat for the artists: Mark Twain and a sprightly green fairy to name a few. Unique participant activities like this are sprinkled throughout the London buildings.

While my husband was occupied with art, I ran off to Fezziwig’s Warehouse accompanied by friends who met us at the fair. Fezziwig’s is a large dance floor where costumed dancers and performers lead guests in vintage dancing. A live brass band, Bangers & Mash, play polkas, waltzes and other dance music. Free of my husband I got the chance to dance the Congress of Vienna with another partner. My new partner confirmed that I did, in fact, know the choreographed waltz well. It felt strange however dancing in pants when I’m used to a swaying dress!

My friend and I got in to see the much anticipated Saucy French Postcard Tableaux Revue . The show was an interesting mix of history lesson and naked people. If you’re over the age of 18 and want to get a seat for the French Postcards pick up your tickets early at the telegraph office – seating runs out quick!

When Postcards ended for the evening, Cow Palace event security was out in full force. My trio was actually escorted to the exit during the sweep of the building. My husband was surprised at how fast the day went and couldn’t believe it was already time to go. Every trip to the Dickens Fair brings opportunities for new experiences – activities to try, characters to meet, shows to watch. But something that always remains constant is the wish for a very “Happy Christmas.”

Plan to Go:

Weekends through December 17th, 2017

10am – 7pm

Cow Palace in Daly City

https://dickensfair.com/

10 Things I Love About Freelance Writing

Fri, 10 Nov 2017 22:58:00 GMT

This month I’m celebrating one year in business as a freelance writer! Here’s a peek into why writing is my passion.

Learn New Things

In order to write about a person, subject or organization I have to know what I’m talking about. I love to educate myself and expand my knowledge. A trip to the library, internet search, or firsthand interviews are just some of the ways I get the info I need to start writing.

Interview People

Often I get to write about interesting people who do interesting things. One of my favorite interviews so far has been with a Hawaiian musician who belts out a killer falsetto. I learned about his music and got a Hawaiian history lesson sprinkled in for context.

Craft of Writing

With the research in front of me, I sift through it all and make a story out of it. I’m in control of where the quotes go, how to weave the facts in, and I set the tone – funny, serious, melodic.

Being Published!

In the past year, I’ve had writing published in a book, blogs, and newsletters. It’s always exciting to see my words shuttled out for people to read. And I have a few fans! I recently went to a ball (yes, a costume Regency era soiree) where at least three people told me how much they love reading my blog.

Project Variety

I have written about so many different things this past year: camping, film festivals and construction projects to name a few. I’m constantly challenging myself by learning new subjects and switching gears from project to project.

In Person Networking

As a solopreneur I need to get the word out about my writing services. One of the ways I do this is through going to local networking meetings, and mixers to meet the community. I’ve picked up a few clients this way and met with people that could be future interview subjects.

Local Travel

The focus of my blog is the exploration of the beautiful San Francisco Peninsula. With so many points of interest in close proximity, I don’t have to worry about running out of content to write about. Experiencing where I live has been refreshing and gives me a greater appreciation for the area.

Creating Publications

I’m also celebrating ten years of publishing Imitation Fruit , the online literary journal that I created and edit once a year. The skills I developed working on the journal and doing layout at a print shop have equipped me for taking on newsletter publications for clients. I’m currently newsletter editor for Midpen Media Center and enjoy the publication process and project management aspect.

Solve Problems

I love to be the one with the answers and the ability to pull off writing and publication projects for clients. I can step in and produce newsletters, examine websites for areas of improvement or take on writing assignments that need to be done.

Work in PJs

Umm yeah, freelance writing has its perks!

Get Lost In a Hay Maze at Arata’s Pumpkin Farm, Half Moon Bay, CA

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 22:34:00 GMT

I thought the window of opportunity to get lost in the gigantic hay maze at Arata’s Pumpkin Farm in Half Moon Bay was closed. I’d been looking through pictures taken late September a few years back. The pictures captured green corn fields, dingy yellow stacked hay bales with orange pumpkins dotting the dusty earth. It was already mid-October. I realized it might be too late in the month to spend an enjoyable afternoon at the farm.

Last year, my husband and I went to Arata’s the weekend before Halloween. Which was a big mistake. All of the parking spaces around the perimeter of the farm were taken when we got there. Farm staff directed us to drive up to the top of a hill. Pumpkin hugging pedestrians swarmed around our car on their way back up the hill. After much searching, we arrived at a muddy parking spot on the hill’s plateau. Then we became a part of the stream of people bounding downhill to the festivities.

Once inside the farm I realized I wasn’t going to enjoy myself. People were standing in half-hour long lines to get tickets to the amusements and to buy pumpkins. The hay maze itself was full of frolicking children and parents. Yes, that’s what the maze was created for but I was used to a relaxed saunter through the maze not a frenzied push. So we wound up walking around the farm to stretch our legs, then hiked back up to the car without a 30lb gourd and slowly drove through the crowd back out to HWY 1.

So when I started thinking about the pumpkin farm this year it was already coming up on two weeks before Halloween. But my mind started plotting a way to go to the farm and enjoy it even though it seemed like the odds of having a great time were slim. I kept my work schedule light for Friday and asked my husband to take Friday off too. We made our escape mid-day and headed to the coast.

In years past we’d stuff a backpack full of sandwiches and drinks to eat inside the maze. I’d bring a beach towel to spread out on the moist ground in the nook of a dead end. Maze-goers gasp in surprise when they stumble upon us eating our deli sandwiches. We shake our heads at them and say in unison “dead end.” But this year we stopped at a seafood restaurant on the way to keep things simple.

South HWY 1 greeted us with views of crashing waves, clear blue sky over the ocean and brownish green rolling hillsides. Turning into the farm we had our choice of front row rock star parking spaces. I stepped out of the car to notice an autumn chill that hung on the air even though the sun warmed my skin.

We weren’t the only ones at the farm on a Friday. A school bus load of kids and plenty of families were around picking out pumpkins and participating in the festivities. But there was no problem getting our maze tickets and we were quickly on our way to getting utterly lost.

The epic play structure was vast enough, twisty enough, tall enough (four bales of stacked hay) to obscure the view of average height participants. We had the choice of portals to take to get into the heart of the maze. After a few wrong guesses we found the right path.

After several years of stalking through the Arata Farm maze I’ve noted some tricks that can help you make it through in better time – if that’s what you’re going for. If you’ve hit a place in the maze where there are several choices to make, wait and see if people come out frustrated from one of those paths. Then don’t go that way. Notice if people leave trash inside the maze, you can use this as a marker and know you’ve already tried the route with the soda can. Also the maze builders like to put in gates made of hay. Go through these gates – they were put there for a reason.

Once we made it out of the maze we scrutinized pumpkin size and shapes. My husband picked out a tall medium 20 pounder. I was surprised to find a bin full of orange pumpkins with what appears to be legions of bulbous green and orange warts. I decided to go for the diseased looking pumpkin because I won’t need to decorate it at all. It was born scary.

I don’t recommend going to Arata’s this coming weekend. It will be a mad house. Mark your calendar for the end of September or first two weeks of October next year to discover the maze. Maybe I’ll see you there!

In a Writing Rut? Plagiarism Isn’t the Answer

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 21:05:00 GMT

The word for taking someone else’s writing and putting your name or your company’s name on it is plagiarism – which is another word for stealing. Writing is like any other product. It takes time to research the subject matter and tons of thought goes into crafting the message. So yeah, if someone’s writing is stolen they’re going to be upset.

Let’s look at three ways to create fresh content to broadcast to your followers. The best part is you’ll be proud of the content because you can legally call it your own.

Write it Yourself – This is a no-brainer. You’re the expert. We want to hear from you about what’s going on in your industry. Tell us about what you deal with every day and how your products or services are helping people out. If you’re having trouble coming up with things to write about check out my article on just that, “ 7 Tips to Finding Your Next Writing Topic .”

Hire a Ghostwriter – In this scenario, you can put your name on a professionally written article and take full credit for it. That’s because you hire a writer – and let them know that it’s going to be a ghostwritten piece – to write as if they were you. They’ll perform the magic behind the scenes to make you look great in front of your readers.

Link Up – This solution involves you (or your ghostwriter) writing an introduction to your topic of choice then listing one or more articles that you’ve enjoyed on this topic. Refer your readers to these articles with a live link and a short reason why you think they should read it – without giving away the heart of the piece. Then cap off your article with your words of wisdom.

These solutions enable you to create valuable resources for your readers without stooping to anything shady. If you’re looking for a ghostwriter you can find me hiding under my desk! Booo.

Why Lodi? Fun, Food and Wine in California’s Central Valley

Mon, 25 Sep 2017 00:55:00 GMT

I never really thought about Lodi and I wasn’t sure where it was on the map of California. Visions of swinging metronome cow tails propelling flies and golden fields of waving grain pop into mind when I read the Evite inviting my husband and me to Lodi for a family celebration.

The town of Lodi is located in the vast farming region of California’s Central Valley, I learn as my husband researches area hotels. We decide to make a weekend of the trip not wanting to feel rushed to get back to the Bay Area after the festivities.

The family party was held at Micke Grove Regional Park where there’s a ton of things to do. Kids enjoy a small zoo, carnival rides, playgrounds and other activities. The large picnic shelter booked for the party shaded us from the 90-degree summer heat. Cupcakes exposed to the sun’s rays melted into a sweet congealed mess.

When it was time to say goodbye to the family, we found our hotel on a long strip-mall motel lined thoroughfare. Some establishments screamed for remodels or even tear downs. Thankfully my husband picked out a fresh looking AAA approved hotel. The blue swimming pool called out to me from across the parking lot to take a refreshing dunk but my travel partner wanted to explore downtown instead.

So we got back into the car and directed the GPS to navigate the way to Lodi’s historic region. The Lodi marque that stretches across the main road into downtown welcomed us. The arch was reminiscent of Spanish colonial architecture – white adobe bricks, red Spanish tiles and hanging brass bells. Surrounded by early 1900s buildings showcasing Lodi’s flourishing industries – bridal shops, breweries and wine tasting rooms.

The Lodi Beer Co. was our choice for dinner and we didn’t regret it. Beer brews in large vats that fill the center of the room with restaurant seating placed around them. Beer label banners full of colorful artwork hang on the walls like heraldry banners in a castle. When our food and beer arrive we fall in love with our meal. The food I had in Lodi was delicious everything from the hotel make your own waffle breakfast to our pub food.

During our time in Lodi, we put the proliferation of wine tasting rooms and local winery marketing together and decided there must be some wineries in the area worth visiting. On checking out of the hotel the receptionist recommended Michael David Winery .

On the way there we passed new housing developments with modern shopping squares complete with Starbucks on the way out to the fields. Pretty soon we were amongst hundreds of rows of grape vines.

Michael David was a wood-paneled ranch-style building with a wrought iron fence protecting it from the road traffic. A homey diner with sturdy wood furniture serves breakfast and lunch and shares a room with a gift shop selling local produce shifting off into a wine tasting bar. The room was packed with people waiting for a seat in the diner. I followed someone I saw go outside near the wine bar.

Once outside trickling water, outdoor furniture – couches, glass-topped tables, oversized shade umbrellas – and a second tasting area in a modern building were before me. The large fermentation tanks set just outside the public area of the winery with colorful billboard-sized wine labels wrapped around them.

First, we went to check out the grounds. The water feature was a huge rocky pool with waterfalls creating soothing background noise. Several wine-sipping nooks were set up around the shaded pool from above and below. A bridal party in flowing resort wear took over the largest sitting area where bottles of wine were shared.

Bocce ball courts were set up near a flower garden full of colorful blooms. Small kids romped in a gated children’s play area with a slide and Wild West façade. Right next to the play area was a chicken coop with several red hens. This extensive wine sipping area abutted the onsite grape vines. Large purple grapes hung on the healthy vines.

We went back to the quieter tasting room in the modern building. The room had high ceilings, wood beams, and extensive windows. The cool countertop felt good under my bare arms as the day was already a hot one. My husband and I shared a tasting of limited and reserve wines, keeping tabs of which one we liked the best. We decided on the 2015 Ancient Vine Cinsault made from Lodi grapes.

A little tipsy after the wine tasting we relaxed in the shade next to the water feature. The sound of clinking wine glasses and laughter drifted on the warm breeze.

Don’t Stink Like A Fish: 6 Ways to Keep Your Web Content Fresh

Wed, 13 Sep 2017 23:33:00 GMT

Keeping your website current may seem challenging but it doesn’t have to be. The good news is you’re already making news as you grow your business. You just have to identify things to add to your site.

If you’re thinking that you haven’t done anything worth adding to your website in a while then it’s time to swim out the door and do something. Having a website should motivate you to stay active in your industry so you can have something to share with your visitors.

Easy Website Updates that Keep Your Business Swimming Strong

Front Page – The most visible web page of your site is a place to get to know you and your business. It’s an opportunity to display important or major new offerings, products, promotions or insights.

Event Page – Get out and do things – tell us where you’re going to be so your followers can come visit you!

About Me – Every six months to a year look this page over. I bet you’ve done something new you can add to this page to keep it current.

Credentials – Good job! You have a new certification, award, or license to enhance your knowledge and skills – Let your visitors know you’re serious about your business by updating this info.

New Clients + Testimonials – A strong list of people you’ve worked with and happy client blurbs always look great and build potential client’s trust in your brand. Keep this updated so we know you’re still making people happy.

Publications – Have you published an article on another website? Has someone written about you and your business? Keep an ongoing list of links to these publications on your website so we can learn even more about you.

Just by adding, updating or moving around information, you stir the water of your site and prevent it from going still.

A Curious Saltbox on California’s Coast

Thu, 31 Aug 2017 00:04:00 GMT

Driving over the gravel road that swoops around the front of the historic ranch house we bounce in our seats. Climbing slightly in elevation acres of empty farmland stretch out before us on the way out to the Pacific Ocean. A variety of hearty coastal grasses blanket the field in thick tufts and thin seed laden stalks that brush against the breeze. Green rolling hills cradle the estate to the East with larger forested hills beyond.

The view of the ocean often times obscured by wispy fog or diffused by sea mist was clear for our visit. The ocean carved inland up the coast to the crescent shaped Half Moon Bay.

The James Johnston House built in 1853 doesn’t have a stitch of architectural ornamentation but manages to be the most striking historic home on the Half Moon Bay coast. From head-on, the home is two stories, painted simply in white with ample glass pained windows trimmed by forest green shutters as the home’s sole decoration.

Approaching the house from the side reveals something unusual: the roofline slopes down to one story in the back. Ah yes, it’s the two stories becoming one at the back that catches Californians cruising past the site off guard. I liken this architectural maneuver to a hi-low dress hemline but on a building. This style of home is called “saltbox” and was a popular colonial design originating around the 1650s on the East Coast.

James Johnston, a gold rush entrepreneur, built his saltbox home while established Californio families lived in Spanish adobe and his American peers were putting up in vogue Victorians. Johnston’s sentimental choice of architecture was based on the home he grew up in, in Ohio.

Whizzing by on the highway before I knew much about the James Johnston House, I thought that it could be a Civil War movie set. I’d never seen another structure like it. An out-of-fashion Yankee Colonial in gold rush era California connected the frontier to the deep rooted nation established back East.

The home became abandoned over time and was unprotected from the stormy coast and grazing farm animals. A picture of the home from 1965 shows the back one story level had been hacked off, the exterior paint stripped and window frames void of glass. The coastal community and outside preservationists recognized the uniqueness of the structure and worked over many years (mid-1960s to present) to bring the Johnston House back to life.

Walking up to the house, visitors pass a rose garden with white picket fence. A pair of partially salvaged fence posts atop weathered wood pillars mark the walkway.

Entering the home through the back door, the brown shingled roof hovers inches away from our heads. The one story section of the home houses a small gift shop and museum office. Victorian costumed docents greet us and start the tour at the front of the house. Our tour guide wears sneakers with his black pants and burgundy vest, eager to show us around.

Original Johnston family furnishings are on display throughout the house along with period correct decorations. A sample of the original wallpaper was found preserved inside a Catholic alter within the home. The paper, mostly white featuring strokes of silver, was recreated and placed on the walls. The white of the paper keeps the interior of the home bright and cheerful on cloudy days.

One bedroom was left unpainted so that visitors can see the fine locally sourced redwood paneling that was used as building material. A patch of wall beam is uncovered by paneling to display the mortice-and-tenon construction work used to create the home.

The living space that was created by the dramatic roof slant is triangular in shape and runs the whole length of the home. I stood comfortably at the start of the room but ducking is required to occupy the lower region. The space was used to house ranch workers and was also available to coastal travelers needing shelter for the night.

The docents comment that they find new items in the house during the monthly tours. A “new” child’s rocking horse in the kids room or a new painting on the wall of the living room. Continued restoration projects and gardening help bring the house back to life inside and out. The coastal architectural curiosity reminds passersby of another time and another place.

The home is open to tours January through September on third Saturdays between 11am and 3pm.

http://www.johnstonhouse.org/

7 Tips to Finding Your Next Writing Topic

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 15:40:00 GMT

If you want to keep track of ideas on paper consider also keeping an ongoing Word Doc file (or equivalent) to track web based publication links.

1) Find out what’s being said on Social Media (Twitter, LinkedIn) about your industry across the nation or worldwide. Cut and paste interesting conversation threads or links into your Word Doc.

2) Keep note of what issues YOU face throughout the month and how you handle these situations.

3) It’s okay to jot down the obvious issues in your field…your insider solutions may not be so obvious.

4) Listen to what your co-workers are chatting about and write down the issues they’re experiencing.

5) Ask your higher ups what issues your industry is facing as a whole.

6) Research what your competition is up to online.

7) What questions do your clients have that you can write about?

Give yourself some time before your deadline to go over your notes and highlight the most compelling issues and trends listed. Pick one of those issues to be this month’s article topic.

3 Historical Peninsula Gardens to Visit

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 00:12:00 GMT

Looking for a quick escape from the daily grind? A local garden may be just the place to breathe deep and collect your thoughts. There’s a number of in bloom historical garden get-a-ways throughout the San Francisco Peninsula. Grab your sun hat and check out these relaxing respites.

Gamble Garden, Palo Alto CA

Gamble Garden is tucked away in Old Palo Alto, a neighborhood of older homes with architectural variety. The garden surrounds the 1902 home of Elizabeth Frances Gamble descendant of Procter & Gamble’s co-founder. The garden is close to the Stanford Shopping Center and University Avenue, a perfect spot for a mid-day retreat.

An edible herb garden with sun faded scarecrow greets visitors entering the gardens from the back of the property. Sunshine fills the gravel lined walkways off the central gazebo. A bush trimmed into the Easter Bunny patiently awaits the seasons to change back to spring.

At the far side of the property a tranquil water fountain trickles, its sound mingles with that of the breeze flowing through the tops of surrounding trees. A circular rose garden, encompassed by a 6-foot tall hedge, offers droopy white blooms shedding petals to the ground.

Benches dot the property situated under shade trees invite guests to stay awhile. Watch birds, bees and squirrels move about their daily garden life.

Filoli, Woodside CA

The Peninsula is home to an English country estate museum house and extensive gardens. The home at Filoli estate was completed in 1917 with the gardens following soon after. Filoli is a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Prepare to meander and contemplate in Filoli’s many gardens. Soak up the sun’s piercing warmth with clear blue sky overhead framed by a variety of swaying tree tops. Eye catching lush green lawns complement red brick footpaths. The fountains and reflecting pools produce the soothing sounds of water.

As the afternoon progresses, watch the fog push over the coastal redwood hills at the foot of the property. The seeping dry ice effect of the cascading fog creates a feeling of magic.

Wonder further back into the gardens, passing through archways in ten-foot tall hedge walls. Discover a variety of vegetation throughout the property: rose garden, herb garden, and squash gardens to name a few.

Find activities enjoyed by the inhabitants of the estate placed throughout the garden. A relaxing spa like pool house offers seating for visitors steps away from the sparkling swimming pool. Tennis courts are a short walk from the home and placed at the outskirts of the garden. Walk all of the way to the back of the gardens and find the “High Place” a great place to look out over the estate.

Central Park Rose Garden and Japanese Garden, San Mateo CA

San Mateo’s Central Park was once the site of a mansion estate. The ornate brick and iron fence lining El Camino and the cast iron dog statue guarding the rose garden are remnants from that time. The rose garden with trellis gazebo and the many tree varieties throughout the park are cared for by the San Mateo Arboretum Society .

The rose garden is full of colorful flowers abuzz with honey bee activity. Sniff the buds of pink, yellow, white and red roses. Check the names on the plates next to each rose variety because they can be pretty funny like “Hot Cocoa” or “Barbra Streisand.” A row of benches line the garden under shade trees, a perfect place for visitors to sit and smell the roses.

Don’t miss the Japanese Garden in Central Park. It’s walled off by a traditional Japanese wood wall with a large gated entrance. Step inside to experience a peaceful escape in the middle of downtown San Mateo. The garden is built around a central koi pond with tons of large and playful koi pushing around tree debris at the water’s surface and splashing in water spouts.

Walk around the pond on a slim pathway, under dangling trees or cross the water on stone bridges. Several pagoda temples and statues made of stone or bamboo are placed throughout the grounds. Relax on the tea house benches to take in the colorful fish and idyllic scenery.

Visiting the Gardens:

Gamble Garden
https://www.gamblegarden.org/
1431 Waverley Street, Palo Alto CA 94301
Free admission
Garden open daily during daylight hours
Main House open Monday through Friday 9 am-2 pm

Filoli Estate
https://filoli.org/
86 Cañada Road, Woodside, California 94062
Tuesday through Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
General Admission $20 adults

Central Park San Mateo
Rose Garden
http://www.sanmateoarboretum.org/
Open day light hours

Japanese Garden
http://www.cityofsanmateo.org/3319/Central-Park-Japanese-Garden
Monday through Friday 10 am to 4 pm
Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 4 pm

Free admission
50 E 5th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401

Pooper Postage Required: Cut Typos Out of Your Writing

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 16:36:00 GMT

Okay so here’s the story: I was working at a print shop when an order for thousands of return envelopes was placed. That’s what it said in the box where you’re supposed to affix the stamp. I mean I knew it was wrong but I couldn’t change it because that’s what the client ordered. So that’s what we printed. All two thousand envelopes had the word “pooper” on them.

I have to admit that was a pretty funny mistake. We all laughed about it at the shop. I bet some of the people who put their stamps on that spot laughed too. This isn’t the kind of reaction businesses want, right? If you want to be taken seriously you’ve got to make sure your words are saying what you mean.

When I’m reading a Victorian novel (cause that’s what I do) and I run across an old-timey typo – a single word misspelled amongst hundreds of thousands – I forgive it. But when I’ve only got three words to read and one of them is dead wrong there’s no room to have understanding – because the meaning is totally shot.

Here are the steps I take to create typo-free text:

Local Writers at the San Mateo County Fair

Sun, 25 Jun 2017 22:03:00 GMT

Yes go to the fair for sunshine, double stacked corn dogs, a block of curly fries melded into the shape of a fry basket, pig races and carnival rides but also consider stopping in at the Literary Stage . Yeah, the San Mateo County Fair held a mini writing conference sandwiched between the fine art and quilt displays inside the main exhibition hall the third week of June.

I was especially excited to visit the Literary Stage this year because I knew I had won two Honorable Mentions for my writing. Out of roughly two hundred submissions I made it to the acknowledgement level. Every piece of writing submitted to the fair was on display hanging on the walls of the literary area. While I was searching for my name I encountered a pleasant surprise. I found that the third piece I had submitted also won Honorable Mention!

Two of my pieces that won have been featured on this blog. Little Free Library , is a post about micro neighborhood book lending and A Decade of Imitation Fruit is a guest post on the topic of the literary journal I have been producing for the past ten years. A new short story based on a comedy sketch that I wrote, The Birthday Committee was also featured at the fair.

Winning stories, essays and poetry are put into an annual anthology Carry the Light: Stories, Poems, and Essays from the San Mateo County Fair . The publisher of the fair’s anthology, Sand Hill Review Press , works closely with local authors many of whom are also members of the California Writers Club San Francisco Peninsula chapter. CWC helps organize the Literary Stage and performs judging duties for writing entries. The anthology, publisher and CWC are great resources for writers in San Mateo County and beyond.

The Literary Stage hosts a variety of events for writers to learn about the craft of writing, authors to read their writing to an audience and an opportunity for readers to buy books from local writers. This year I caught my CWC friend Darlene Frank’s workshop on “Creating Your Most Powerful Writing.” For about an hour and a half Darlene outlined how writers can identify and execute writing with a clear purpose. It was fun to hear a fellow writer share their process and to take the time to think about my own writing in a supportive environment.

After listening to writers that I’ve come to know through CWC read from their award winning work at the Literary Stage author’s panel I am inspired to continue submitting my work to the fair. I hope to move up a notch next year and take home one of the big fluffy ribbons!

Dig-in: Historical Tourism for Foodies, Five San Francisco Ocean Beach Restaurants

Sun, 04 Jun 2017 19:53:00 GMT

San Francisco, established in the late 1700s bleeds history through its architecture. Fight your way west through traffic and tourist crowds to arrive at Ocean Beach, a 3.5 mile sand dune bordered beach. You’ll find some raging history and fine San Francisco cuisine at the following restaurants at Ocean Beach.

Sutro’s and The Bistro at the Cliff House

The Cliff House is perched above the Pacific Ocean at the end of Ocean Beach. Sutro’s one of two restaurants inside the Cliff House is a modern addition to the famous establishment. The walls and ceiling are all windows to best view the crushing waves and piercing rock formations just below.

The Bistro restaurant is located in the recently refurbished 1909 Cliff House. Hints of the past lash out in historical photographs, antique furniture and decoration. The Cliff House looks young and polished now but has gone through several reincarnations and originally opened in 1863.

There may be a wait for a table at the Cliff House restaurants. If it’s just a bite to eat and a drink you want, walk up to the bar and lounge at either restaurant and put your order in.

Louis’ (permanently closed)

A short sprint up the hill from the Cliff House, Louis’ restaurant is a surviving 1937 family owned diner. The interior is classic with party booths, tables and bar seating. American comfort food is on the menu: cup of chili, burgers and monster sized milkshakes with refill tin on the side. Louis’ looks out to the ocean and to an only in San Francisco sight – Sutro Baths.

A good portion of the cement floor plan remains of the Sutro Baths , a Victorian era swimming pool complex, are laid out in the valley below Louis’. Watch people explore the mysterious urban archeological find while tossing back a bowl of clam chowder. Bring cash with you for the meal because old school Louis’ doesn’t take cards.

Beach and Park Chalet

Another two-for restaurant duo is located down the hill from the Cliff House, at the foot of Golden Gate Park and across the street from the expansive Ocean Beach. The building these two restaurants occupy opened in 1925. During the Great Depression artist, Lucien Labaudt covered the reception area in a floor to ceiling mural depicting life in San Francisco.

Park Chalet Coastal Beer Garden is just that. Specialty brews, indoor or outdoor relaxed seating and Golden Gate Park location make this restaurant special. Experience garden and park views from inside Park Chalet as the walls and ceiling are windowed. Beware, once the sun goes down the San Francisco fog can make both indoors and outdoors chilly. Bring a warm coat to the Park Chalet.

Beach Chalet is located on the second floor of the historical building overlooking the Pacific. The restaurant has an intimate and cozy atmosphere. Watch cargo ships cruise into the mouth of the Bay while beach goers surround raging bonfires across the street from the restaurant. If the Beach Chalet is for you, put your reservations in early, it’s the smart thing to do.

MidPen Media Center Guest Post, Palo Alto, CA

Thu, 25 May 2017 17:38:00 GMT

A few months ago I learned how to use a studio camera at MidPen Media Center in Palo Alto. Read about my experience learning how to use studio equipment with the end result of creating a live cable access show. The show my class created is called “Healthy Living” and a link to watch it online is posted at the end of my article. My camera work focused on the show’s guest. Moving the camera out of the way for the hula hoop scene was a fun challenge!

Deer Hollow Farm at Rancho San Antonio, Cupertino CA

Mon, 15 May 2017 23:37:00 GMT

Our mission to photograph the perfect hen brought my husband and I to Deer Hollow Farm in the foothills of Mountain View and Cupertino. After a quick Google Maps consult I found that the farm was only a half hour drive from home and in a park setting that I hadn’t explored yet. A perfect combo for a sunny day outside!

The drive into Rancho San Antonio County Park passed several parking lots near the main road already full of cars. Continuing on we parked at the main lot near the bathrooms and trailhead. I stared at the trail system map and became puzzled at not spotting the location of the farm. My husband spoke with a jogger who confirmed that the farm was a mile into the park.

From my previous light research on the area (I knew there were chickens…somewhere…) I didn’t realize we’d have to walk a mile in and out to visit them! The farm was closing within the hour so we put some speed on our walk.

Soon we walked by a large open field with tall grass. Hawks soared over the expanse with no treetops in their way. A prairie dog popped up in the middle of the field becoming the subject in one of my husband’s many photographs. The open land was the former site of St Joseph’s College which suffered Loma Prieta earthquake damage and was torn down. Abandoned tennis courts overgrown with weeds remain.

The path snakes back into the woods to follow a healthy stream trickling with water from recent rains. Eucalyptus trees shade the path and scent the breeze with their medicinal musk. The leaves of overhead trees swim in the wind current creating swooshing and cracking sounds.

As we walked around a bend in the forested path several small white wood paneled buildings greet us. We had made it to the farm! The Grant Brothers 1853 cabin is preserved and furnished with period items to show what early farm life was like.

With only about a half hour left before the farm closed for the day I spent a few minutes listening to the goats having a “baaa”-off where they all sounded tough and tried to outdo the other. I took a sound recording of them but forgot to take their picture!

The chickens are located inside the farm gate and behind the large white maintenance barn. At least thirty hens and a few roosters run around the yard and mostly hang out at the fence where they hope visitors will feed them. The entire group of birds ran inside the hen house thinking they’d get fed but it was a false alarm. So the chickens all ran back out together as a flock.

The hen’s next door neighbors are bunnies with one especially large furry brown bunny hopping around!

Across the farm yard there’s a pig shed with two gigantic tan pigs. The pigs ate at their troughs and from the farmers hand.

Deer Hollow Farms is a great destination to enjoy the outdoors and be entertained by wild and farm animals. We came to the right place to accomplish our chicken photographing mission!

Scenic Nature Spots are a Must Do When Visiting Ottawa for the 150th Celebrations

Wed, 03 May 2017 23:32:00 GMT

Join me in welcoming guest blogger Katherine Forster as she shows us around her home in Ottawa, Canada! – Eva

For us Canadians, it feels like the advertising is everywhere. Canada is celebrating 150 years since the signing of the confederation. Our country is sending out an invitation world-wide, extending its hospitality to anyone who wants to visit. There will be special events and activities in most major cities and support for various cultural, scientific, artistic, historic projects that promise to showcase the diversity of this vast land. Canada 150 is a big year for us!

I live in Ottawa and here in the capital of the country, we are finding that the hype is huge. And with this being the last year that the Centre Block of Parliament Hill will be open for up to a decade (a major renovation is planned to start after this special year) and our Canada Day festivities promising to be the biggest in years, there is no doubt that many will flock to visit our lovely city. Ottawa offers so much in terms of history and cultural experiences and now with the extra celebrations, it will be hard to choose among so many things to do and see.

My suggestion for those who want to plan a trip to Ottawa this year, is to add a couple of nature stops to your itinerary. Canada is blessed with incredible scenery and that includes the nation’s capital – some of which is not to be missed! And adding a few nature stops to a weekend of sightseeing is a great way to break up hours of indoor museum visits, walking around busy downtown corridors and the crush of crowded line ups. Here are some suggestions:

Hog’s Back Falls and Rideau Falls – Visitors can walk along paths beside Hog’s Back Falls and see it from different angles (located in Vincent Massey Park by Mooney’s Bay) whereas Rideau Falls can be appreciated from above (on Green Island) or from one of the boat tours that brings visitors to the bottom of the falls as it empties into the Ottawa-Outaouais River.

Dominion Arboretum – while a popular tourist spot, the Arboretum is worth braving the crowds on the weekend to appreciate the huge old oaks that can be found along Prince of Wales Drive, a smaller, “wilder” garden, appropriately named Fletcher Wildlife Garden and the ornamental gardens that have perennials blooming for the full summer season.

Ottawa-Outaouais River – This large river that designates the border between Ontario and Quebec boasts winding multi-use paths on both sides , which provides scenic views of both city skylines and also some fantastic sunsets. Don’t be discouraged if there are some clouds at twilight as they can reflect and augment the colourful end of day show.

South March Highlands – Canada’s Capital is situated in the transition zone between the southern Mixedwood Plains and the Boreal Shield and this becomes very apparent when you visit the South March Highlands . Exposed bedrock, provincially significant wetland and old growth forest provide the conditions for a richly biodiverse area and the opportunity to experience the Canadian shield topography.

Mer Bleue – this 7,700 year old bog in the Greenbelt showcases a northern boreal landscape which is a unique habitat for Southern Ontario. It has many regionally rare and significant plants and provides a 1.2 kilometer boardwalk that lets nature lovers experience this habitat in an immersive way in all seasons.

So come on up to visit this great Canadian city this year and take in the festivities, see some sights and enjoy the iconic Canadian nature experience at the same time!

Noelani’s Bar and Grill Creates Escape to Hawaii, San Carlos, CA

Mon, 17 Apr 2017 21:11:00 GMT

I take a few cautious sips from the hurricane glass filled with Mai Tai. Warned about the strength of the drink from a disclaimer on the menu enforcing a three Mai Tai max per person. I try to take it slow. Guzzling a drink with three different kinds of rum is never a good idea.

It’s Friday evening after work, my weary husband takes his time looking over the Hawaiian fusion items on Noelani’s Bar and Grill menu. He’s concerned about not ordering enough food and points to the words “plate lunch.”

“It says lunch, does that mean it’s a small portion?”

“You know what a plate lunch is,” I say. “Pick a main course and add a scoop of rice and the mac/potato salad to it.”

Skeptical, he continues to look over the menu. Eventually he picks salmon from the dinner specials and I go with my taste buds and order a kalua pork quesadilla.

I can tell he’s not completely happy with where we’re sitting. He makes the universal “I’m cold sign” crossing his arms over his chest and tucking his chin in. He asks the staff to turn the outdoor heating lamps on and that helps everyone outside warm up.

The live Hawaiian music starts and I’m disappointed that I can’t hear it too well outside. I stand up to go inside the restaurant real quick to listen. The two sips of Mai Tai already coursing through my body.

A male guitar player/singer and a female backup singer un-obstructively serenade the sports bar atmosphere. After a few minutes enjoying the warm vocals, I go back to our outdoor table. I relay the fact that there are a few open tables inside the restaurant.

My husband speaks with the hostess and we’re re-seated inside, only a table away from the live music. Our experience of the place gets better. I’m warm enough to take my jacket off and I absently sip some more Mai Tai.

The musicians play a Hawaiianized version of Orlean’s “Still the One.” I mouth the words to my husband across the table and he smiles knowing how I hate it when he mouths lyrics at me. I grab his hand over the table and do over the top googly eyes at him, something else that makes me uncomfortable when he does it. We’re doing all the cutesy dating things and make the people at the next table squirm in their seats.

The Mai Tai is only a quarter gone and I’m feeling distanced from the hustle of the dining room. I feel like it’s just me, my husband and the musicians. I don’t even know what game is on or if anyone’s staring at us. I put my hand up to the side of my face as if to block the musician’s view.

“Do you think he can see us?” I shout over the table. The musician looks straight ahead when he performs, he’d have to be looking at us from the corner of his eye.

Suddenly a two foot long quesadilla appears in front of me. My husband gingerly picks through his serving of fish. I can tell he doesn’t think it’s enough food. I offer to share my mac/potato salad and he digs in. I shove greasy cheesy flour tortilla in my mouth and I taste the tender smoky flavorful kalua pork.

I shout again to my husband, “This is my new favorite restaurant!”

He laughs, “You know what happens to your favorite restaurants.”

“Oh no! I didn’t mean that!” I say feeling my eyes widen wishing I could take that sentiment back. All of my favorite restaurants close.

I continue stuffing my face, sipping Mai Tai and bopping my head to the music. My husband and I have gotten into the habit of listening to Hawaiian during dinner when we’re at home.

There’s one song that goes “pineapple, mango, pineapple, mango.” My husband wants to request it but I stop him thinking that’s not sophisticated enough to request.

Our meal nearly gone, the waitress comes over and asks if we want to see the desert menu. I wave the “bring it on” hand gesture at her.

I order malasadas for us, mini doughnuts without a hole served warm and rolled in sugar. We also got a scoop of pineapple-coconut ice cream that we eat in tandem with the malasadas. We eat it all and agree it’s a heavenly combo. I slurp down the last of the Mai Tai.

The escapist evening was ending. I walk past the musicians and the guy stops me. He said something to me I can’t understand and hands me his business card. I take it and thank him.

“He did see me dancing in my chair!” I exclaim to my husband as we walk out to the street.

What restaurant provides an escape for you?

Google Maps Point Hungry Travelers in the Right Direction

Sun, 09 Apr 2017 00:37:00 GMT

I stood on tiptoes peering out through the shutter-covered unusually high-placed hotel room window to see what eating establishments existed across the busy and dark Ventura Boulevard of Studio City, CA. My husband’s Fitbit had declared long ago that we’d put in ten thousand steps by midday and we had many more steps to go on our site seeing day.

Squinting through the window at the place straight across the street from us I tried to figure out if it was a viable option for dinner. I had a feeling that the place was fancy because the restaurant name was in script lettering and climbing ivy was all over the front of the building.

I took my smart phone out of my purse and brought up Google Maps. I dove into the map and found that I was looking at Bistro Garden, “Continental eatery for upscale dining” with three dollar signs next to it. Yes, that would be an expensive place to eat at.

My husband suddenly hovered next to me to see what I was up to. My head bowed over the phone, “There’s supposed to be a Five Guys over there,” I said continuing to look over Maps.

He glanced out the window and said, “Yeah its right there.” I shifted slightly to the right and there it was! Red block lettering indicating a very affordable burger joint that we’d had the pleasure of experiencing in our own neighborhood.

I was a little embarrassed at my restaurant hunt method. Usually we’d walk around a new place, peer in windows and read over menus. I told my hubby that I just wanted to find a decent place for us to have dinner. I wanted to know what was out there…without having to go out there.

Taking a virtual walk down the street with Google Maps, I found it! Four doors down and on the same side of the street as our hotel was Hyperion Public, “Rustic-chic American gastropub & lounge” with only two dollar signs. That is where we’d go for our night on the town. We grabbed our coats and walked briskly down the street.

Becoming temporary inhabitants of the candlelit and fireplace warmed dining room, we finally relaxed. When the food came, there wasn’t enough light to see the details of it so we had to rely solely on our taste buds to report back.

Despite my husband’s blatant tourist “Oceanside” blaring sweatshirt, the Los Angeles swanky diners and waitstaff couldn’t judge us as outsiders because there wasn’t enough light to make out what his shirt said. I knew we had succeeded in posing as Angelenos when our waiter asked if we’d like to take our leftovers home.

Google Maps was a quick way to get familiar with an unfamiliar neighborhood. Maps helped us make an informed decision to the always pressing question, “Where are we going to eat?”

Seal Point Park Rehab, San Mateo, CA: Guest Post at Wild. Here.

Thu, 30 Mar 2017 18:13:00 GMT

Catch my writing this week on the Canada based Wild. Here. blog that discovers nature in urban areas. I explored Seal Point Park on the San Mateo, CA shoreline and found that the park has an unexpected history. Come enjoy a beautiful California spring day with me at this intersection of urban life and nature.

Reasons to Return: Mesa Lane Steps, Santa Barbara CA

Sat, 25 Mar 2017 19:22:00 GMT

Whenever guest blogger Yvette Keller’s dog isn’t walking her on the beach, she writes, reads, and narrates audiobooks. As the owner of Mesa Steps Consulting , she designs training content from her home office and recording studio located in Santa Barbara, CA. This is the life she has always wanted, and she feels extremely fortunate to have arrived there. So fortunate that she regularly wonders, “How did that happen?”

It is an old saying that change is the only constant. Recently, it seems to me like the rate of change has swerved away from the natural flow of time like a Tesla powered by a flux capacitor. When political and social upheaval comes my way, I venture out to not-too-distant neighborhoods, parks, and historical sites. They rejuvenate me and I’m reminded that I control my internal stability and my personal awareness of time.

One of my favorite places to go is my local beach. I visit it over and over again to survey the eternal serenity of the Pacific. It is calming to know that though it is changing (and not all for the better) the ocean isn’t going anywhere.

However, thanks to wind, sand, and waves, the beach is never the same twice– a perfect reason to return. Beaches change dramatically from season to season and year to year. I believe my visits help me become more accepting, more comfortable with any constantly shifting landscape.

This is an image of the same stretch of beach. The California Current is constantly moving particles along, from North to South. Sometimes there is sand. Other times, not so much. Winter storms can often take our sand south to L.A. or San Diego. That’s the best time to go tidepooling and beachcombing for treasures.

Because there is always something to see, bright summery afternoons or silent, misty mornings are equally good for skipping down 247 steps to arrive at the secluded paradise of Mesa Lane Beach.

The trick is getting back up again. Cardio anyone? Built in 1982 to provide pedestrians with safe beach access, Mesa Lane Steps might be the narrowest and most vertical “park” in Santa Barbara. A friend of mine once told me that I could easily train for the Bright Angel Trail at The Grand Canyon by walking up and down the steps a few times every day.

Getting down is easy, but leaving Mesa Lane Beach requires a level of athleticism that typically excludes families and tourists. Locals (including students from the nearby Santa Barbara City College) and surfers tend to be the only ones brave enough to face the many wooden, metal and concrete steps it takes to get home at the end of the day.

Less regularly, the infrastructure that provides beach access also changes. In 2012, the old steps at the bottom had become so badly damaged by high tides and surf that they were replaced. In the image above, I’m standing in front of the new metal steps. The beautiful picture below, by my friend and artist David J. Diamant , shows the original stairs at sunset.

Olieo dog loves running on the beach more than any other activity.

Getting outdoors and being with my family, on the beach, no matter what else in the world changes, is one of my favorite ways to stay healthy and happy, inside and out. Do you have a favorite beach you escape to?

Enjoy Spring at Ardenwood Historic Farm: Fremont, CA

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 18:19:00 GMT

Ardenwood is a historic East Bay farm that’s got crops, animals and wood barns. It was established in the mid-1800s in the Fremont area and is now part of the East Bay Regional Park District . I’ve been to the farm several times and it offers a different experience every time I go. Once I went to Ardenwood with my Girl Scout troop for an Alice in Wonderland tea, another time I toured Ardenwood with my groom-to-be as a possible wedding location and another time to take part in a Renaissance Faire. This past Saturday my husband and I happened to be in Fremont and stopped by Ardenwood to enjoy the beautiful spring day – clear blue sky no sweater required.

The parking lot for visitors is nestled between vegetable field and cow pasture with the road into Ardenwood passing through the organic crop fields. The produce grown on the land is sold at local farmers markets. In the fall, Perry Family Pumpkin Patch fills the fields with pumpkins and spooky decor for Halloween fun.

The entrance fee to explore Ardenwood varies depending on the season and there are additional fees for park attractions such as the railroad and historic farm house tour. Check the park district website for current fees. The 1.5 mile railroad with historic wooden rail cars will re-open to take visitors around the farm, along with tours of the Patterson House in April.

Farm activities take place throughout the day to keep up with all the work that needs to be completed. Special demonstrations happen on the weekend such as animal appreciation like “Meet the Chickens” where visitors learn all about chickens. Victorian crafts like embroidery and felting with sheep wool taken from sheep on the farm are also available to visitors. Saturday, March 18 would be a fun day to stop by the farm to watch Ardenwood’s sheep get their spring haircut on Sheep Shearing Day!

Animals are all around at Ardenwood. Cows greet visitors from their pasture near the entrance. They’re expert at hanging out and relaxing in the shade. The rustle of free range chickens hunting inside an overgrown bush can be heard as the birds scratch at fallen leaves to uncover yummy bugs to eat. While other chickens roam through garden boxes and under wheelbarrows. A few turkeys and peacocks squawk throughout the farm contributing to the farm ambience. Sheep with matted hair wait for the upcoming shearing day as they graze through new grass. A few baby lambs learning how to walk hobble in their newborn pen. Newly hatched chicks huddle together in spacious chicken hutches.

Ardenwood teaches kids about animals and farming through games and interactive displays. A game mounted to the barn door has a spinning arrow that lands on a picture of an animal that children are tasked to identify on the farm. Another activity that caught my attention is a large wood cutout of a 3D cow with attached udders children can “milk.” Water sprays into a milk pail when the teats are tugged on. Another interactive activity was simply using an antique water pump. Kids and adults use their biceps to bring water up out of the ground. A few dads faced off against each other to show their young how water pumping was done.

The nucleus of the Ardenwood estate is the Patterson House built in 1857. The home is referred to as a farmhouse but I’d call it a mansion. It was closed for tours at the end of last year, Christmas decorations still adorn it, but will reopen in April. Visitors can enjoy the large veranda and sit in the shade of the house soaking up the serene park and garden setting. Ornate Victorian woodwork details decorate the exterior of the building along with varied rooflines and interesting architecture. A separate cook house and outhouse accompany the main home.

Ardenwood offers both serene settings and activities to get visitors involved with the workings of a farm. History buffs, animal lovers and recreation seekers won’t be disappointed with a visit to Ardenwood.

Screenwriters Hook Up With Hollywood at San Jose Cinequest

Wed, 08 Mar 2017 05:11:00 GMT

Cinequest’s ad on the Visit San Jose website flashed at me as I was cruising upcoming city events. I clicked over to Cinequest’s site and found that the 13 day film festival just began, running from February 28 to March 12. The festival will honor actors Jane Lynch and Fred Armisen for their bodies of work and screen 100 feature films, 150 short films, and virtual reality films in San Jose and Redwood City. During my internet search I discovered that the film festival was hosting a one day “Writers Celebration” for the budding screenwriter. I was lucky enough to find out in time and attended this past Sunday.

The Writers Celebration kicked off at the San Jose State University campus with two panels of entertainment industry insiders. The first session was a how to pitch and pitch challenge with movie and television talent agents. The winners of Cinequest’s screenwriting competitions pitched their story ideas in front of the agents and audience. Some presenters had flair and kept the early morning crowd’s attention while others went long losing momentum. The panel advised writers to stick to the main character’s story line in a pitch and highlight how the secondary story lines propel the main story. They also encouraged writers to be concise and use action to keep the audience engaged.

The second act of the Writers Celebration was dedicated to discussing the business side of getting into the entertainment industry. The four person panel included Carol Leifer, standup comedian and television show comedy writer. Carol wrote for the television show Seinfeld where she pitched story lines for the character Elaine. Carol advised that women are needed in the writers room because men can’t tap into issues that women face: such as “skinny mirrors” (where department stores create optical illusions) and Korean manicurists that speak about you to their co-workers in front of your face. Carol carries a notebook around with her at all times to get these funny observations documented. Since her reminder, I’ve jotted a few gems down myself in my “funny file.”

The other members of the panel work in acquisition for production companies, Sierra Affinity (Entertainment One) and Grindstone Entertainment Group (Lionsgate). They named a few film and screenwriting competitions their companies scout for new projects: Sundance, Nicholl Fellowship, UCLA and SXSW. They also troll script rating systems, Blacklist, Script Pipeline and Ink Tip. The panelists advise that when a project is submitted to them they pay attention to catchy email titles and intriguing loglines, and if those aren’t there they don’t read the query.

The finale of the Writers Celebration festivities was a recognition ceremony at the San Jose Hammer Theater Center for the Cinequest screenwriting competition winners. Approximately forty screen writers filled the stage with ten writers in four categories: full length feature, short film, 60 and 30 minute teleplays. Some of the winners got to pitch their log lines to the audience and the audience voted for their favorites.

The Cinequest Maverick Spirit Award was given to accomplished director and screenwriter Jason Reitman. The award celebrates Reitman’s bold story telling choices in his work. Being the son of a successful director, it was important to Reitman’s to find his own path. When he started making movies he entered them in film festivals and caught industry attention. Reitman’s experience with film festivals illustrates that they are a great place to gain exposure and recognition.

The cost of attending the Writers Celebration at Cinequest, a mere twenty five dollars was well spent. I left inspired to keep up my “funny file” and look for outlets and opportunities for my own screenwriting. I will definitely keep Cinequest on my radar for further exploration next year.

Public Library Indispensable For Career Changer

Sat, 25 Feb 2017 20:38:00 GMT

I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I forgot how great the public library is. When I didn’t have to research books and periodicals for college essays anymore I pretty much stopped going to the library. I bought books online and in bookstores, rented videos from Blockbuster, then Netflix and Amazon Prime. When my bookshelves overflowed with books I didn’t want to keep, I’d donate them.

I couldn’t continue with this lavish lifestyle of buying and dumping books when I started on my new journey to becoming a full time freelance writer. I found myself suddenly needing stacks of books to educate myself on my new business. I had to find out how to set up a WordPress website, how to get into the freelance writing marketplace, a refresher on journalism, how to write marketing copy and so on. I’d go broke buying all of these resources. So I drove the few blocks to my local library.

The local branch provided a great start to my quest for knowledge. It has current technology and business books. For a wider range of books related to the craft of writing, I turned to the online catalog that is connected to all of the other libraries in San Mateo County to order books from other branches to fill my knowledge void. The ordered books show up at my local branch in about a week.

Besides all of the technical how to books the library has, it also provides a comprehensive collection of current movies, TV, music and audio books. Listen up people! Go to your library and rent the recent release movies for free. Ok, not all libraries are alike. I’ve heard that some public libraries charge for renting new movies but it could still be a better deal than streaming them. Within the last few weeks I’ve checked out the current movies: Suffragette, Man Up, Brooklyn and the new Bridget Jones all for free…

I’m grateful to the San Mateo County Library network for assisting me in learning my new trade and keeping me entertained at the same time.

Twice Removed: Lathrop House, Redwood City, CA

Fri, 17 Feb 2017 02:30:00 GMT

The Lathrop House wasn’t always located only three-yards back from a busy downtown street with no front or back yard. Just the opposite is true. It was originally a grand estate with a number of service buildings surrounding it, unattached kitchen, outhouse…that sort of thing. All on beautifully landscaped and gardened acreage in Redwood City, CA.

But now, the ornate by modern standards, home is cruelly close to a street full of people rushing to the towering superior court house across the street. Encroaching new construction behind the home and on all sides, make it seem as though the Lathrop House is the structure that doesn’t belong.

The house is no stranger to being made to move. It was moved to the back of its own land to make room for a school and then moved again by a new owner. That’s a lot of moving especially for something built in 1863.

The Redwood City Heritage Association opens the house twice a month for visitors to explore the interior. I recommend going on the third Saturday of the month to avoid the crazy parking situation on the other day it’s open, the second Wednesday of the month. Yes, parking really is that bad.

Visitors have full access to the first and second floors of the home with a docent tour. Lathrop House was constructed with local redwood. The owners decided to have the redwood look like more “expensive” wood by having the visible trim painted to look like oak. Original wallpaper was uncovered in the house during restoration. There was enough left to be reproduced for a full repapering of the home.

My favorite part of the tour was the walk-in closet off the master bedroom. The docent advised that the closet may not have been original to the home. Some Victorian era clothing was on display and a wool swimsuit hung on one of the closet doors caught my attention. I always pictured wool swimsuits being made from thick wool that would be heavy with water once it got wet. However, the wool cloth was very thin and did not feel scratchy to the touch.

While I was inside the Lathrop House, I got to peek into what life was like 150 years ago for about forty-five minutes. Then I walked out into the loud, growing and groaning modern world and couldn’t help wishing I could stay in the past a little while longer.

Imitation Fruit Literary Journal: Guest Post at Yvette Keller’s Aspiration Blog

Tue, 07 Feb 2017 23:55:00 GMT

Come celebrate 10 years of Imitation Fruit Literary Journal with me at Yvette Keller’s Aspirations Blog . Yvette was curious to know the recipe behind the creative juices at Imitation Fruit and I told her all about it.

Allied Arts Guild: Local Secret, Menlo Park CA

Wed, 25 Jan 2017 20:02:00 GMT

Menlo Park, CA has swallowed up a secret under the canopy of its tree-lined streets. A few un-exciting brown historical marker signs on the main street, weakly hint at the existence of something worth checking out. These signs have never caught my attention.

“How’d you hear about us?” The grandma aged store clerk asked me as I perused the Artisan Shop.

“Online,” I’d said not thinking about the reasoning behind her question. My attention was on the hand-crafted fur embellished Eskimo doll and red-faced European style marionettes for sale.

“Good job,” she said as she worked at straightening some hanging jewelry.

My husband, an artist, was intrigued when I told him I’d found a hidden art guild he’d never heard of nestled into a Menlo Park neighborhood. He eagerly agreed to come out with me during a break in January rain storms to explore the Allied Arts Guild compound with me.

Some buildings like the sheep shearing shed turned pottery studio and the barn which is now a woodworking shop are original 1800’s era ranch buildings. Other buildings were re-imagined or newly constructed in the Spanish Colonial style around 1930 when the Allied Arts Guild was formed.

Artwork created in the 1930’s has seamlessly melded into the idyllic ambiance of the Guild’s grounds. The tiered courtyard fountain creates the soothing sound of trickling water. A colorful fresco painted onto the recess of the music room’s exterior wall. Pottery overflows with plant life or is simply lined up next to other pots silently welcoming visitors.

We poked our heads into shop windows and found that about half of them were open that day. There was a closed quilt shop that featured piles of colorful folded stacked fabric which I would have loved to browse through. The pottery studio was open and featured Japanese style details such as bud vases attached to lengths of bamboo. My husband was disappointed to find the Portola Art Gallery was closed for the day. The gallery represents current local artists in a wide variety of art styles.

On weekends my husband and I usually move slow and thankfully we arrived just before the Blue Garden Café stopped serving lunch. I ordered a steak panini and my hubby ordered a turkey and cheese panini. I was delighted by the tender and tasty meat and he was pleasantly surprised by apple slices in his sandwich! The meals were on the expensive side but we didn’t mind too much because we enjoyed every bite.

We walked the brick-lined garden path and noticed a few other couples exploring the unique grounds. A group of parents with young boisterous children came to play amongst the adobe style courtyards and pathways.

The day became even more gray threatening rain. It was time to take shelter so we headed to the car. I watched as the parents slipped back out to the road, pulling children in wagons or chaperoning an unsteady tricycle. This recreation seeking group knew the secret of the Allied Arts Guild but to them the Guild was just a part of the neighborhood.

Follow Me to Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA

Wed, 18 Jan 2017 21:56:00 GMT

Carmel is the perfect distance from the San Francisco Bay Area for a quick weekend get-away. It’s beautiful with lush green hills, farmland, rugged coastline and crashing Pacific Ocean waves. There are tons of activities and places to explore in Carmel. Here are the places I explored with my spouse on our mid-January trip to Carmel.

1) On The Way: Moss Landing

On the way to Carmel, we drove over the Santa Cruz Mountains. Santa Cruz or Capitola are both seaside towns with lots of character and would be great places to stop for lunch or sightseeing on the way to Carmel. We decided to keep driving on HWY 1 towards Carmel and ultimately stopped in Moss Landing for a much needed lunch break.

Moss Landing’s pair of power plant smoke stacks are the defining landmark of the fishing village. The stacks interrupt the marshland and harbor feel of the area with their industrial purpose.

We had our lunch at Sea Harvest Fish Market & Restaurant . The restaurant is located at the harbor’s entrance channel where fishing boats come in and out from sea. Kayakers pass by and so do large families of sea otters! The restaurant has great tasting seafood and the best view to take in all of the harbor activities.

2) Where to Stay: Carmel Mission Inn

Carmel Mission Inn is my go-to hotel when staying in Carmel. I’ve been there several times and love the fact that it has updated amenities and a spa-like feel. It’s an affordable place to stay when compared to other hotels in the area. The hotel is right off of HWY 1 and there’s plenty of shopping and eating choices in walking distance.

The moment we got our bags up to our room, I started changing into my bathing suit for a dip in the hot tub. The pool area is nicely furnished with sun chairs and beds to relax on. There’s even a statue of a life-sized happy cow who watches over the swimmers in the heated pool.

3) What to do When It’s Dark: Del Monte Shopping Center

If you go to Carmel in the winter months, it may be sunny and warm during the day but the nights get frigid! Both nights on our quick trip to Carmel were spent at the indoor movie theater, Cinemark Monterey 13, at Del Monte Shopping Center in Monterey. The mall is a quick ten-minute drive on HWY 1 from the Carmel Mission Inn or any other hotel in Carmel.

When waiting for the next movie time to roll around you can do some mall shopping or hang out in one of the many restaurants to grab dinner. We went to Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks . As the name says they serve burgers as well as a selection of tacos and your favorite island drinks. I got my buzz on with the help of a Mai Tai and my husband stayed smooth with a Pina Colada.

Then we watched “Hidden Figures” the first night and “La La Land” the second. I enjoyed both films and was glad we found something to do after the sunset over the ocean.

4) Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast! From Scratch Restaurant

From Scratch Restaurant made my list because of two things. One it’s a two-minute walk from the hotel, located at the Barnyard shops next door. And two, it was featured on The Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” so it has to be great.

There’s close quarters indoor dining and outdoor patio seating with room for dogs to come along. I’ve visited From Scratch a few times and decided I like the homemade cinnamon bun bread dressed as French toast. My husband tried the crab omelet this time and ate it all.

I just watched the “Triple D” review of the restaurant and found that the “extreme sausage biscuits and gravy” featured on the show doesn’t look too daunting to eat. I have new-found courage to try it the next time I’m in Carmel.

5) Do Not Miss Sunday Brunch at Mission Ranch Restaurant

The Mission Ranch Hotel and Restaurant is a short three-minute drive from our home base. It’s a historic hotel with multiple buildings facing ranch-land. The most photographed flock of sheep in Carmel live at the ranch. You can hear the sheep munching on grass as they mow the pasture. They also terrorize the lone tree in their yard by tugging at it and scratching themselves on it.

Brunch is only on Sundays from 10 am to 1:30 pm and is $40 per person. We went on a beautiful sunny morning and were fortunate to be seated on the patio with a vibrant view of Carmel’s coastline. Beyond the lush green field, is a sandy beach that leads out to the blue ocean and a craggy rock point.

Since this is an all-you-can-eat meal my husband stacked his plate high with, prime rib, beef rib, eggs benedict and tender salmon, enough food to get him through the entire day. I tried not to stuff myself right away, so started with a made to order omelet and chocolate covered strawberry. I went back for seconds and picked up spinach salad, French toast and key lime pie. I enjoyed the hot coffee and a mimosa which were included in the price. In conclusion, the food was delicious and the best buffet we’ve ever had. That’s saying a lot!

6) Walk it Off at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Carmel is blessed with a ruggedly beautiful coastline. One of the best places to explore the coast is at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve . The entrance gate to Point Lobos is in the middle of a wooded forest that leads to your pick of a rocky beach or sheer cliff bluff. Wildlife of the sea, shore and air abound at the reserve.

One of my favorite things to do at the ocean is whale watch. I was not disappointed on this winter’s day to see puff upon puff of whale spouts in the distance. Yes, I wouldn’t mind if the whales were a little closer to shore but just knowing they are out there makes me happy. I also heard the “arf arf” call of sea lions at Point Lobos.

Point Lobos is a photographer’s wonderland. My husband waited for the right moment to photograph the sun’s light passing through a wave to capture the crystal essence of the water.

7) Carmel Art Galleries and Shops

Everyone thinks of art galleries when they think of Carmel. Or at least they should. It’s estimated that there are one hundred galleries concentrated in downtown Carmel. My husband is an artist so gallery perusing is always on our list of things to do in Carmel. A few of his favorite galleries are the Wyland and New Masters Gallery.

The architecture of the buildings downtown is historical and even fairytale like. Just looking at the buildings and imagining what fairytale they are inspired by is almost as interesting as looking in the shops themselves.

My favorite place to shop in downtown Carmel is the Sockshop where I just picked up a supply of cute and warm socks to get me through winter.

8) Carmel Sunset Beach

After a morning of gallery hopping walk or drive the rest of the way down Ocean Ave and hang out on the sandy Carmel Sunset Beach. This seems to be a local favorite because everyone and their dog is playing hard out in the waves and wet sand. I like to sit on a blanket and dogs like to come up to me and see what I’m up to on this beach.

The beach is part of the semi-circle of Carmel Bay. The waves are calmer in the bay and dolphins like to put on shows for people watching from the beach. This is a great place to relax, enjoy a snack and watch all of the action laid out in front of you.

Exploring Ralston Hall from the Outside, Belmont CA

Fri, 06 Jan 2017 22:59:00 GMT

I didn’t grow up in the city of Belmont. I’ve just used it as my closet for the past nine years. You know, roll out of bed, dust myself off, toss on some clothes and coast to work on HWY 280. Travel mug sloshing the coffee that was to get my day in the cubicle started off right – if there is a right way to start a day in a cubicle. So with this daily routine and weekends of slumber, chores, and quick excursions elsewhere, I missed out on most of what Belmont has to offer.

I always knew I lived in a pretty area. I couldn’t miss the rolling hills, brown in summer and green in winter. The scent of forest trees wafting at me as I make my way into Safeway, with reusable grocery bags stuffed under my arm. Ample wildlife meander near my apartment building, deer, skunk and raccoon. These are the obvious characteristics of the city, the ones you don’t have to search for.

Now that my cubicle has been packed up and sent to another state without me, I’m venturing out into my community to explore its treasures. I live off of a street called “Ralston” and gather that this is a big local name. There’s a mansion, Ralston Hall , located at Notre Dame De Namur University, that my husband and I tried to find once but we went around the wrong portion of the school. Fellow history buffs told me that they were married at the Hall, so it has to exist.

This time, I used Google Maps to confirm Ralston Hall’s location, then drove down Ralston Avenue and arrived within minutes at the mansion. The fact that I live only a few minutes away from the estate of William Ralston , the man who had much to do with the shaping of San Francisco during the Gold Rush, makes me appreciate my surroundings even more. Desire to know the history of where I am pushes me to discover and enjoy what remains of the past.

My visit was on a clear crisp January day between rain storms. Water runoff filled the creek that runs through the property, creating a soothing water feature. Parking was easy because it was the university’s winter break. Children were at recess, playing games and running around at the neighboring grammar school.

I took my time walking around the front of Ralston Hall. The building is closed to the public because it will be undergoing seismic retrofit. I’m the type of museum visitor who wants to see every room of a historic home. I want to jump the velvet rope cording off the staircase and check out the upper-level bedrooms. Yes all forty-eight of them. So, I’m sad that I can’t go into the mansion at all.

On my trip around the grounds I peer, to the best of my abilities, into any window with curtains pulled back. I glimpse two fireplaces, wood flooring and a mirror hanging on the wall. That’s as good as it gets for interior snooping.

I pass by what appears to be an original brick wall with white painted wood posts at top, sheltering a memorial grotto nestled next to the carriage house. It’s a peaceful retreat to the left side of the mansion. On the right side of the mansion there’s another relaxing area. It is wooded with a variety of trees, several benches for rumination, and a hedged walkway. I spy a family of deer in repose next to the hedge. They closely monitor my movements for signs of danger.

The most ornate object I find around the mansion is a decorative urn that is taller than I am. The faces of Greek Gods and an angry dragon protrude from around the urn. Purple flowers overflow from the top. I’m disturbed to find that there is a map of the university posted right next to the artifact. It’s difficult to take a picture of the urn without getting the map in the shot as well.

The university is everywhere around the mansion. I can’t help but wish there was a time buffer around Ralston Hall. I want to see it in all of its glory inside and out. Maybe in a few years the Hall will re-open and I will be able to explore the grand ballroom and opera boxes for myself. Until then I am content that the mansion is standing and there’s hope for its future survival.

The History and Beauty of Water: Pulgas Water Temple, Redwood City, CA

Fri, 23 Dec 2016 02:12:00 GMT

The Pulgas Water Temple is a celebration of man’s ingenuity, a reminder of a long controversial process that brought water from Yosemite to the people of the San Francisco Bay Area. I was curious about how a replica of an ancient Greek structure came to be nestled in the rolling hills of Redwood City, CA. So I read the educational signs along the walking path. I found that the Hetch Hetchy aqueduct was created based on Roman and Greek engineering methods, and ends at this spot with the water finally flowing into the adjoining Crystal Springs reservoir.

As I walked around I could hear the rushing of water like a great river making its way to a waterfall or the flow of water at a waterslide park, yet I could see no evidence for what I was hearing. I walked around the Temple itself admiring the columns and listening as the noise grew louder. I looked toward the reservoir in the distance and saw the source of the rushing water. The outlet of the aqueduct is hidden below the Pulgas Water Temple parkland and steers the water in open air beyond the park to the reservoir.

The surrounding landscape of moist coastal forest, sparkling water of the reservoir and crisp bright blue sky was simply stunning on this winter day. The beauty of the setting is so much appreciated, that at least two bridal groups were planning their upcoming weddings at the Temple during the time I was there. The Temple is an ideal place to have a romantic picnic or just sit and relax for a while. I soaked up some much needed warm sun and fresh air on my visit.

Visit the park Monday through Friday 9am to 4pm at 56 Cañada Road, Redwood City, CA 94062.

Parkside Aquatic Park: Urban Beach in San Mateo, CA

Thu, 17 Nov 2016 18:50:00 GMT

I caught a glimpse of Parkside Aquatic Park a few months back when strolling along the opposite side of the Marina Lagoon. The sandy beach with children happily playing in the water surprised me as I wouldn’t expect such a park in the middle of San Mateo!

Recently, I was in the area and decided to go take a closer look at the park. It is located in a residential area and hidden behind homes. Since it was a weekday there were few children around but adults on lunch breaks were there taking in the view.

The park was alive with shore and sea bird activity. Birds dominated the water, sand and dock. A few sand-castle remains, evidence of human activity, held strong but the sand was firmly imprinted with bird tracks.

During the weekends of May to September, California Canoe & Kayak rents out small boats and stand up paddleboards at the park. I am putting this on my list of activities to do next year. The lagoon would be a great place to try out different water sports.
Parkside Aquatic Park is a beautiful place to take in the scenery, swim when it’s warm and play in the sand!
Location: 1595 Seal St, San Mateo, CA 94403