Paparazzi, by Allie, 9

What I'm writing this week...

The health insurance story was hard to write. My first draft was 2,300 words, twice as long as it should be. My co-worker helped me edit it. It's hard to cut your own work...

Lot of these headlines start with Napa, don't they. It's intentional. My editor wants readers to be able to scan headlines and know a story is local. It's all about local coverage...

Local employers fight rising health care costs
Nov. 26, 2006

Napa retailers get wrapped up in holidays
Nov. 25, 2006

Holiday weekend kicks off shopping season for Napans
Nov. 28, 2006

Napa bookstore adds used books to shelves
Nov. 14, 2006

Building business: Seminary Street Commercial Condominiums
Nov. 21, 2006

Napa brothers light up holidays with ornaments
Nov. 20, 2006

Clothing boutique raises the bar on Main Street
Nov. 18, 2006

Napans size up the perfect Christmas tree
Nov. 24, 2006

Trend: black and white

Seen recently in an AirFrance onboard magazine. Black and white.
The ultimate mix and match -- and available at all price points, from the Fendi coat to Walmart trench (see previous blog).

A Halloween Series

When I told my senior editor I wanted to do a Halloween series, and handed him a list of eight story ideas, I think he was a little surprised. We compromised with four. This took me about a month to organize.

By the way, the reporter doesn't edit the story, write headlines, choose photos, or write photo cutlines. It's all the editor's job.

Ghost hunters: Local couple sees dead people - all the time
Troy Huckins and Cherilyn Hays believe in ghosts and haunted houses. And not just during Halloween. Huckins and Hays are paranormal investigators sometimes called ghost hunters. The two seek out unexplained events and, in a scientific manner, attem...
6.8K - Oct. 31, 2006; scored 1000.0

The business of collecting
Don Carillo is a rock-and-roll dude who happens to love Halloween. Carillo, known as the guitarist for local hard-rock band The Spoils, but also Mr. Mom to three children, said he likes Halloween because it s our imagination and alter ego holiday. O...
3.9K - Oct. 30, 2006; scored 1000.0

Local merchants stock Halloween fun
As the year's spookiest night approaches, Napa businesses are reaping the rewards of the second most popular decorating holiday. According to the National Retail Federation's (NRF), consumers are expected to spend $4.96 billion this Halloween, up sig...
5.8K - Oct. 29, 2006; scored 1000.0

American Canyon's scariest couple
Carlos Schollar and Krystie Bolton are spending most of October with a bunch of ghouls, psycho clowns and other terrors. And they're having a great time. "As a kid I loved Halloween and so did Carlos," said Bolton. "So when we got together we wanted ...
5.6K - Oct. 28, 2006; scored 1000.0