"Journalism is storytelling. It's about conveying the facts in such a way that readers are drawn into the narrative, so they see and feel what the people in the article see and feel. It's important to be accurate and balanced, but it's equally crucial to be descriptive and compelling. Life is full of stories. Newspaper and magazine articles are one way to convey them."

Patricia Lynn Henley earned a master's degree in journalism from Stanford University. She spent 10 years as a reporter and news editor at The Sonoma Index-Tribune, a twice-weekly community newspaper in California's Sonoma Valley, and is now pursuing an independent writing and editing career. She is co-author of "The Sugar's at the Bottom of the Cup."