Mallary Tenore Tarpley

How Do You Motivate Yourself to Write Personal Essays?

I have a lot of ideas for personal essays that I’ve been wanting to write about lately, but a busy work and social life have led to weeks of procrastination. When I do have free time, distractions get in the way, and I’m left thinking, “Tomorrow. I’ll write tomorrow.” I have no problem churning outContinue reading “How Do You Motivate Yourself to Write Personal Essays?”

Meeting Three Journalism Pioneers: Koppel, Schieffer and Brokaw

This week, I met Ted Koppel when he came to The Poynter Institute Monday night to talk about the state of the media. I live blogged Koppel’s talk for Poynter Online and then wrote a recap of what he had to say. One of the topics he talked about at length was social media andContinue reading “Meeting Three Journalism Pioneers: Koppel, Schieffer and Brokaw”

Recent Poynter Online Stories about Orange County Register, Kansas City Star Columnists

My last two stories for Poynter Online have been about two columnists who made headlines after making decisions that readers and journalists found fault with. The most recent story, published Thursday on Poynter Online, talks about the backstory behind a sports column that the Orange County Register‘s Mark Whicker wrote earlier this week. In theContinue reading “Recent Poynter Online Stories about Orange County Register, Kansas City Star Columnists”

New Amazon Wish List a Reminder to Find More Time for Books

I’ve spent the past two hours listening to the rain and creating my Amazon wish list. I usually e-mail myself titles of books that I want to read, so instead of having them build up in my e-mail box, I created a wish list to keep them organized and to remind myself that I needContinue reading “New Amazon Wish List a Reminder to Find More Time for Books”

Highlights from My Trip to Costa Rica

After two weeks of traveling through Costa Rica and having family in town, I’m now back to a regular routine — which means I’ll resume my regular blog schedule. My trip to Costa Rica, which I took with five of my close college friends, was one of the best trips I’ve taken. We went toContinue reading “Highlights from My Trip to Costa Rica”

Taking a Brief Blogging Break While in Costa Rica

For those of you who read this blog regularly, I figured I would let you all know that I’ll be in Costa Rica for the next nine days. I’m heading on a trip there with six of my closest college friends. We’ll be in San Jose, Tamarindo and Monteverde, among other places, and plan toContinue reading “Taking a Brief Blogging Break While in Costa Rica”

Learning the Craft of Journalism from Providence College’s Roy Peter Clark ’70 & John Quinn ’45

While in college I regularly sought guidance and support from journalists whose work I admired. My alma mater, Providence College, didn’t have a journalism school, so internships, editing my college newspaper and having mentors helped teach me the skills I needed to pursue a career as a journalist and have any chance of succeeding. InContinue reading “Learning the Craft of Journalism from Providence College’s Roy Peter Clark ’70 & John Quinn ’45”

Videos, Photographs, Sites That Are Worth a Look

It’s one of those nights where I’m by myself, listening to music and relaxing. My cat just hopped on my bed and nestled herself across my arms, not seeming to mind that her body’s moving up and down to the clickety-clackety rhythm of my wrists as I type this. I told myself earlier in theContinue reading “Videos, Photographs, Sites That Are Worth a Look”

Looking for Suggestions of Where to Go in Costa Rica

In less than two weeks I’m heading to Costa Rica with five of my 10 close college friends. Eight of us took a trip to Fort Lauderdale two years ago after graduating and have wanted to explore another place together. The trip means a lot to me especially because I live so far away fromContinue reading “Looking for Suggestions of Where to Go in Costa Rica”