WRITING AND EDITING

Good writing, like good design, demands structure, balance, creativity, and attention to detail. There’s a beginning, a middle, and an end. There’s that moment you know your once-favored elements need to go. Subtle details are as rewarding as bold ideas. And there’s energy in research.

I’ve included some of my favorite pieces below.

Young at Hearts
carolyn zalesne carolyn zalesne

Young at Hearts

… and Clubs, Diamonds, and Spades! The following joke was making the rounds on the internet recently; it reminded me of my grandmother and her friends. But probably not for the reasons you think.

Read More
A Passion for Purses
carolyn zalesne carolyn zalesne

A Passion for Purses

For most of us, the decision to buy another handbag is about one or more of the following considerations: does this one match any of my shoes or will I have to buy new shoes? Does this one have a designated cell phone space that will guarantee no missed calls? Is this one small enough to be demure ... yet large enough to live out of for the weekend? I talked with Samra Robbins about her collection of vintage handbags.

Read More
Chapter 10: My First Wimbledon
carolyn zalesne carolyn zalesne

Chapter 10: My First Wimbledon

with Roy Barth from his book, Point of Impact.

No matter who was invited to play and how they got there, Wimbledon was, to me, the ultimate tennis stage. In the days before the current point-based ranking system, whoever won Wimbledon was deemed the No. 1 player in the world. As young players, Johnny Sanderlin and I dreamt that someday we would be good enough to play there.

Read More
I am a Therapy Dog
carolyn zalesne carolyn zalesne

I am a Therapy Dog

This story about Lynne Schwartz and her dog, Scruffy, appeared in the 2008 September/October issue of the JWOL Newsletter, right before the High Holidays. Lynne passed away in May of 2021; Scruffy pre-deceased her. In their memory, their inspiring story was reprinted.

Read More