Janine Robinson is a professional journalist and credentialed high school English teacher from Laguna Beach, California, who has spent  the last five years coaching college-bound students on their college application essays. For 20 years, Janine wrote and edited stories for newspapers, magazines and Internet  companies. She worked as a staff reporter for The Miami Herald and The Orange County Register newspapers; wrote freelance articles for The  Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine, Entrepreneur media and Orange Coast magazine; and, was the editor of a monthly lifestyle magazine for women in Orange County. Currently, Janine is the managing editor of Pelican Hill magazine, which is published by The Irvine Company mainly for its Newport Beach resort. She also provides freelance writing, blogging and editing services as LagunaWriter.

During the summer and fall, Janine tutors students working on their college admissions essays (aka personal statements) and supplemental pieces both privately and in small groups. She also has worked as a writing coach for clients of top private college counselors, including Kristin Thomas of Laguna  College Counseling in Laguna Beach, CA, Lynn Fair of Square One College Counseling in Laguna Beach, and Lisa McGlaughlin of Edvantage in Irvine, CA. (Read these testimonials to see what former students and their parents have to say about her work.)

Although many students learn to write academic essays in high school, many have not been taught how to write narrative essays about themselves. Drawing on the  ”New Journalism” story-telling techniques, such as using anecdotal leads, concrete details, poignant examples and a narrative style, Janine teaches students how to tell their own stories. On this blog, Janine shares tips, information and inspiring examples to help students discover their own stories, and learn to convey them in an engaging style. Using a step-by-step approach to essay writing, students can get past the fear and pressure, and tell a personally revealing story about themselves that others (college counselors) want to read.

Janine also is the proud parent of two college students. Her daughter just started her fourth year at a wonderful liberal arts college outside Little Rock, Arkansas, called Hendrix College. Her son started his second year at the equally wonderful University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. (Both Hendrix and UPS are both showcased in the terrific college guide, 40 College That Change Lives, in case you are on the prowl for stellar small colleges often off the radar.) In her free time, she enjoys surfing, hiking, cooking, gardening, ceramics, hitting the fleas, gazing at stars, and chasing birds.

Learn more about Janine’s professional background at her Web site, LagunaWriter. Visit the Contact page to send her an email.