When Blogging, Lindy Writer Lets Her True Self Shine Through

Christina Fifield-Winn writes about life, whether it’s her own or someone else’s.

This author likes to be the life of the party but watch out - she’s going to tell the story and she especially likes all the glory details. That’s not a typo.

Fifield-Winn can spin a tale and make it shine, with passion and no lack of a sense-of-humor.

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Lindenhurst Patch sat down with Fifield-Winn for a virtual chat to find out what makes this local blogger tick, and why her latest book Suki takes a serious look at "being grateful for what you have every day because it can all be taken away in an instant."

Patch: How did you begin blogging for Patch?

Christina Fifield-Winn: "I'd been blogging on my own site for a long time and after building a following, some of my local fans suggested that I post on the Patch. Since then I've gotten a great reception in the communities around me. In fact recently I attended the Mayor's Beautification Breakfast in Lindenhurst, and a Town trustee recognized me from my posts on Patch."

P: What led you to being a writer?

CFW: "I used to work for The New York Times. I'd stand across from a friend of mine for eight to 12 hours, inserting all of the parts of the Sunday paper and talking. I used to tell her about all of the crazy stuff that would happen to me.

"One day I described my encounter with Wayne, a large, biker-looking, gay man with a crazy love for Danielle Steele. He was a customer at the bookstore I was managing, and he loved to bring the drama. When I was done, and my friend could breathe again, she wiped the tears from her eyes and suggested that I write and sell my stories.

"One and a half contest awards later, I was off and running. I look for a perspective about a situation that I can get enthusiastic about, ramp it up and invite my readers to the party."

P: In your blog posts, Meet Chantay and Meet Chas, you describe the life of a person you met and interviewed. What is it that attracts you to tell the story of the "characters" you meet? 

CFW: "Some of my Suki readers have commented, 'You never know what goes on in someone's life.' And they're right...we never know until someone tells us. All it usually takes to find out is a willing listener. I love the little details that, when told correctly, are the main ingredients to what makes us who we really are. If I were to mix up my own ingredients up for you, then we'd cook up one hot mess…LOL."

P: I've often heard it described that writers are the ones who can't really mix in with a crowd, but are the ones standing off to the side watching and "taking notes?" Would you describe this as yourself? Or how would you describe yourself at a gathering/party?

CFW: "To quote myself, 'I always say that just because you have a party, it doesn't mean that you'll have a good time. You have to invite the right kind of people...the types that know that they are the party.' I'm not a sidelines type of girl. If I wanted to stand off to the side and take notes, then I'd be a reporter.

"In order to get my messages across effectively, I have to participate to understand. Most of my blog posts are about things that happen to me. It's important to be among people to get the best stories. #LifeOfTheParty"

P: Where do you get your inspirations to write blog posts?

CFW: "I find inspiration in anything that makes me passionate. It can come from the first sip of Starbucks that I take in the morning, or from a news story that I hear on the radio. The more spontaneous I am, or the more out of the box I think, the better the piece.

P: What was the last book you read, and did you enjoy it?

CFW: "I spend most of my time (when not being Queen of the Quirky) reading and editing the unpublished manuscripts of authors you will all hear of one day, but I absolutely loved The Gaze by Javier A. Robayo. It was so great I felt compelled to post a review of his book on both my website and Patch."

P: You said your book Suki is about "being grateful for what you have every day because it can all be taken away in an instant."  Why did you write about this theme?

CFW: "We live in a time when everything moves really fast and change happens on an almost daily basis. In an atmosphere like that, it's easy to let our lives race out of control until the Universe stops us dead in our tracks...usually in the form of a personal disaster. The only way (in my opinion) to really live is to savor what's going well. In my blog posts I try to comically bring to light a perspective that might be going unnoticed in the daily chaos.

"Suki isn't humorous, but I think it's an excellent example of how hard it can be to maintain a balance between gratitude and becoming self-absorbed when tragedy strikes. Besides all of that, I love surprising my readers with unexpected twists. From what I've been hearing, in that respect, Suki isn't disappointing anyone."

P: Besides Patch, of course, what's your favorite website?

CFW: "I'm a huge fan of Trailer Trash with a Girl's Name because it lets my mom off the hook...my childhood could not have been as traumatic (or as funny) as this poor schmuck's. Stacey Roberts, the writer of THAT blog, is compiling his posts into book form...I'm so looking forward to the finished product."

P: Any tips for the aspiring Patch blogger?

CFW: "The best blogs are the ones that reflect who you really are. If you try to be something you aren't on the page, then you won't have much fun...and in the end, isn't that what it's all about? You're good enough, so let your true self shine through!"

Click here to read Christina Fifield-Winn's blog posts on Patch.

Related Coverage:

• How to Blog on Patch: It's Easy
• Lindenhurst Patch Seeking New Bloggers
• Blogging on Lindenhurst Patch

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