Sarah Skaer, the new Mrs. Michael Felbinger

Find Your Writing Niche: Cindy does hair. I don’t!

At the beauty salon my hair stylist, Cindy, told me how she and her daughter, also a hair stylist, attended a workshop and learned more ways to use foils.  An image of a piece of aluminum foil shot across my mind then my mind was a blank. I tried to picture the foil encasing a browned, baked turkey.

No luck.

I use aluminum foil to keep my tuna casseroles warm.

Foil at beauty salons is as basic as salt is to chefs, but I scanned every brain cell to conjure up another use for foil besides wrapping hair around them.

Again, no luck.

Cindy, though, was ecstatic at learning new ways to use it.

My mind switched to writing, specifically the interview I had conducted the day before.

It was a typical interview: I was interviewing someone who organized a nonprofit and wanted publicity for a benefit.

Typical?

1)  A World War II veteran had founded help A Veteran, a 501 (c) (3) category nonprofit.

2)  The man recited airplane lingo to me. I had no idea what he was talking about and had to ask several questions to understand what he meant.

3)  He had an interest in jazz, had met pianist Stephanie Trick, a world-renowned stride pianist.

4)  Stephanie had agreed to perform the concert gratis.

What did I learn?

1)  What is stride?

2)  Who is Stephanie Trick?

I have conducted hundreds of interviews, but I learn something new with each interview.

Suggestion: Interview as often as possible. You will always learn something new.