My interest in writing began in second grade, when I wrote my first story at age 8. Even then, my writing needed little correction; I appeared to have absorbed the conventions of usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization almost without thinking. I continued to write short stories through fourth grade, but it was for my fifth-grade teacher that I wrote, while in sixth grade, what I called my first novel—a longer story than I had ever written, complete with more than 10 chapters...
My interest in writing began in second grade, when I wrote my first story at age 8. Even then, my writing needed little correction; I appeared to have absorbed the conventions of usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization almost without thinking. I continued to write short stories through fourth grade, but it was for my fifth-grade teacher that I wrote, while in sixth grade, what I called my first novel—a longer story than I had ever written, complete with more than 10 chapters and a Scrooge-like character who softened at the end. Although it was too short and amateurish to be considered for publication, it impressed my teacher, who told me I possessed remarkable talent for someone of my young age.
Many years passed. In 1980, I graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with a bachelor’s degree in editorial journalism. Over the course of six-and-a-half years, my byline appeared in the Tacoma Review, the Mercer Island Reporter, The Wenatchee World, The Citizen (Bothell), the North Beach Beacon (Ocean Shores), the Shelton-Mason County Journal, and, most recently (March 2001 – April 2003), The Chronicle (Centralia). During my stay at The Chronicle, where I was assigned two city government beats, health, energy and social services, The Associated Press picked up my five-part series on energy sources, which was reprinted in The Oregonian and The Columbian (Vancouver, Washington). My six-part series on teen pregnancy sparked much conversation around town, my "Night in the E.R." and "Day on the Job" features read as compellingly as fiction, and my Harry Potter editorial drew praise from fellow reporters as well as readers, and even from members of both groups who disagreed with me.
My journalistic responsibilities did not end with reporting. While with the Tacoma Review, the North Beach Beacon, the Shelton-Mason County Journal and The Chronicle, I also wrote headlines and cutlines and proofread and edited galleys. At The Chronicle, I often corrected errors other staffers had overlooked.
I have also worked as a legal proofreader for Perkins Coie, where an attorney relayed to me a judge’s praise for my professional conforming of that attorney’s motions and pleadings to “blue book” style. As a magazine production editor for United Advertising Media in Bothell, I coordinated the monthly production of between eight and 14 parenting magazines and their supplements.
Lately I have been working on a book about how to write formal American English, which I hope to complete by or before 2018. I have several other book projects in mind, including one that addresses the inadequacies of Washington state’s mental health system.
I would be happy to send or show you one or more writing samples. I can also send you a list of reference books that I have compiled.
