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Barbara Falconer Newhall

Veteran journalist Barbara Falconer Newhall riffs on life as she knows it.

  • A CASE OF THE HUMAN CONDITION
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left coast writers

Jack Shoemaker of Counterpoint Press Shares Fifty Years of Book Publishing Wisdom

October 8, 2015 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Jack Shoemaker of Counterpoint Press spoke at the Oct. 5 meeting of Left Coast Writers.

Jack Shoemaker of Counterpoint Press shared 50 years of publishing wisdom at a meeting of the Left Coast Writers at Book Passage in Marin County. Read more.

Crime Novelist David Corbett: Acting Taught Him How to Write Scenes

August 15, 2015 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Cover of David Corbett's book "The Art of Character."

What’s the best way to master the art of scene writing? By acting out scenes by the playwriting biggies. That’s the advice of writer David Corbett. Read more.

Gary Kamiya — A Fun Guy Sings a Love Song to San Francisco

October 17, 2013 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Bearded author, editor and cofounder of Salon.com Gary Kamiya reads from his new book at Book Passage. Photo by BF Newhall

Due to a common writing misstep, Gary Kamiya, a highly experienced writer and editor, found himself with only six months to write a 385-page book. The San Francisco author and co-founder of Salon.com described his predicament recently to a gathering of writers at Book Passage, Marin county’s powerhouse independent bookstore. Read more.

The Writing Room: Writing Tips from Jasmin Darznik of “Good Daughter” Fame

November 9, 2011 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Jasmin Darznik, author of "The Good Daughter" | Photo by Sarah Cramer Shields

Writing tips from Jasmin Darznik: “The big lie of memoir is that the story ends.” Read more.

Book Openers: Memoiring in the Mountains with the Bestselling Jasmin Darznik

November 8, 2011 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

I first met Jasmin Darznik back in 2006, and right away she presented a problem. We were in the same nonfiction writing workshop at Squaw Valley and I didn’t know what to say about her manuscript.

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ON THE FUNNY SIDE

Feng Shui Tip for the Writing Room and the Bedroom — Your Mother’s Not Allowed, and Neither Are the Kids

There are no photos in my my writing room. No kids, no parents, no family. Pictures of my parents have the worst effect on me when I’m trying to write. “When are you going to get a real job, Barb?” they shout from their frames as I enter the workroom. Peering over my shoulder, they pass judgment on me and my thoughts, “You’re writing about that? Shame on you.”

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TO MY READERS

Please feel free to share links to my posts with one and all and to quote briefly from them in your own writing, remembering, of course, to attribute the quote to me and to provide a link back to this site.

My Oakland Tribune columns, btw, are reprinted by permission of the Trib. With the exception of review copies of books, I do not accept ads or freebies of any kind. Click on the "Contact" button if you have questions. Enjoy!

 

DON’T MISS!

Slashing government regulations. A crime? The scene of the Oakland Ghost Ship fire that killed 36 cordoned off as a "crime scene." Photo by Barbara Newhall

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st.-peter's-square-by-barbara-newhall

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a young woman dressed in pink and gray running clothes warms up on a street corner. Photo by Barbara Newhall

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Christina Newhall says yes to the dress. Her wedding dress -- with a sign from the Nordstrom store. Photo by Barbara Newhall

The Bride Said Yes to the Dress . . . The Mother-of-the-Bride Diaries Begin

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