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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
  • MY EVER-CHANGING FAMILY
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the writing life

I Write. Therefore, I Procrastinate. Why?

July 18, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

i-write-therefore-i-procrastinate-why barbara-falconer-newhall-at-a-writing-retreat

I write. Therefore, I procrastinate. Why? Could the thing I have in mind to write be too big, too gleaming, too unattainable?  Read more.

The Human Need to Name Things — While Standing in a Patch of Weeds

February 8, 2025 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

The Human Need to Name Things

We can’t help ourselves. We like to name things. We have a human need to name things, including the colors of the weeds in a weed patch.  Read more.

A New Roll-Out for ‘Wrestling with God’ — Just in Time for the Holidays

November 16, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

wresting-with-god-cover-newhall-2024

Big news! Today is the day. It’s a new roll-out for my prizewinning book “Wrestling with God.” Join the celebration. Buy a copy or two!  Read more.

Widowed: I’ve Been Writing a Memoir in Essays All This Time

September 14, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

memoir in essays widowed

For three-plus years, I’ve been writing blog posts about being widowed. Do I have the makings of a memoir in essays?  Read more.

I’m Going on a — Homemade — Writer’s Retreat

April 27, 2024 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

Barbara-Falconer-Newhall-at-laptop

I’m going on a homemade writer’s retreat. Just me and my laptop. No dental appointments. No lunches with friends. No Facebook. No Instagram.  Read more.

I’m Calling In Sick Today and Putting My Feet Up

October 7, 2023 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

I'm-calling-in-sick-today and feet-up

My weekly writing deadline is only hours off and I’m feeling blah after a Covid booster. So I’m putting my feet up and calling in sick today.  Read more.

Cathy Guisewite: I Can’t Wait to Spend Time With This Funny, Wise Lady

April 6, 2019 By Barbara Falconer Newhall

cartoonist Cathy Guisewite's new book, "Fifty Thing That Aren't My Fault," arrived in my mailbox yesterday. Can't wait to read it. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Cathy Guisewite, cartoonist and author of “Fifty Things That Aren’t My Fault,” writes the way I want to write: with humor and grace. Read more.

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ON THE FUNNY SIDE

Airbnb — When a Home Away From Home Gets Way Too Homey

It's no Airbnb, but rather a real Bed and Breakfast, cluttered but clean and cozy. Candlewyck House, Pentwater, MI. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Airbnb is supposed to be a good deal — homey and cheap. But maybe, really I’d be better off in a real bed and breakfast like this one. Read more.

MORE "ON THE FUNNY SIDE"

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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!

 

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