I studied journalism as an undergraduate at California State University, Chico. One of the best things I did in college was work at a couple of the local alternative newsweeklies. I would definitely recommend interning at your local newspaper or NPR station if you’re a beginning writer hoping to gain experience. I learned a lot about how to produce concise, publishable work on a deadline…something that will help no matter what kind of writing you do.
A lot of people say that writing is a lonely job but I found a lot of camaraderie in journalism. Every day you meet wacky and interesting people, work shoulder-to-shoulder with editors, and best of all: people read your stuff every day. It’s a writer’s dream! Not to mention all the cool adventures you get to go on–backstage passes, helicopter rides, bird-watching with the local president of the Audubon society…
- Non-Fiction Sampler - New to my work? Here is a selection of stories to give you an idea of the kinds of things I write about.
- Non-Fiction Bibliography – This is where you’ll find a full list of my non-fiction work, plus links to stories available online.