Chatting with Author Mindy Sink
I began my career in journalism, finding the story, pinpointing the right angle, researching and fact checking and editing. These skills have helped me through myriad writings styles and projects.
Whether you’re crafting a guidebook, writing a newspaper article, creating a marketing newsletter, or penning an entrepreneurial memoir, the fundamentals of journalism are indispensable.
My friend Mindy Sink also began in journalism. We met in Los Angeles where I was editor of Special Events and she came on for a few years as an editor and writer. She then went on the New York Times and later transitioned to travel and guidebook writing and marketing.
I chatted with her for the series Chatting with Authors.
-Liese Gardner
Mindy Sink: Walking the Walk
Trained as a journalist, author Mindy Sink applies the skills she developed in the newsroom to every facet of her writing career, from daily reporting to hiking 60 trails within 60 miles for a guidebook, to her role as a communications strategist.
“I’ve found journalism provides a foundation that applies to many fields,” Mindy says. “Everything I do circles back to those core skills -- asking questions, digging into the research, and presenting it in a way that captivates readers and shows them why they should care.”
I first met Mindy when I was editor of Special Events magazine in Los Angeles and brought her on to help me write articles on the national events industry. After relocating to Denver, she joined the New York Times Rocky Mountain Bureau where she refined her expertise working on major stories.
Today, she is the Director of Marketing and Communications for a growing brand that offers cooking lessons as part of after-school enrichment for children. This role includes content writing, editing, and oversight of social media strategy.
In her own time, Mindy has authored numerous guidebooks and articles exploring local trails, events, and culture in Denver.
For me, Mindy’s journey affirms a truth we both believe: How you do one thing is how you do everything—especially in writing.
WRITING GUIDEBOOKS: HOW IT BEGAN
“After 10 years with the New York Times Bureau, I was ready for a change,” Mindy recalls. “When I got pregnant, I transitioned to freelancing for the flexibility it offered. When Sophie was about two, my mom spotted a Craigslist ad from a publisher seeking someone to write the first edition of a guidebook.”
Intrigued, Mindy applied. Unbeknownst to her, the “interview” was actually a competition. She submitted a full proposal for the book, pouring hours into research and planning.
“It was a lot of work,” she admits. “I was essentially pre-writing the book.” Her effort paid off. Mindy landed the job and authored her first guidebook, the Moon Handbook to Denver.
“I went from having deadlines that were just hours away to a deadline that was a year out! And it turns out, guidebooks really do take all that time. It’s not just writing about covering your favorite hotels or restaurants—the author gathers everything, from permissions and maps to photos.”
Her success led to another opportunity: writing Walking Denver for a different publisher. “It was perfect timing,” Mindy says. “Wilderness Press had just released Walking San Francisco, and when I approached them with the idea for Walking Denver, it was a natural fit.”
While the publisher was different, the expectations were the same—Mindy was responsible for everything from securing photos, permissions, and maps to identifying the best bookstores for placement and assisting with marketing the book.
Things went so well that Wilderness Press asked (or one could say begged) her to write a hiking guidebook next. “They knew I was a good writer and reliable, but I’m not sure why they thought I was the right fit. I’m not an experienced mountaineer, so I resisted for a long time. But they wore me down,” she says. “In the end, I’m glad I did it. That book, more than the others, opened doors to new relationships in publishing and travel writing.”
The experience also pushed her to expand her focus beyond the trails. She began writing for a local paper, covering topics that took her back into the city. “I work on the books alongside a full-time job. You’re not going to get rich doing this—it’s more of a hobby for me. But it keeps all my skills sharp.”
To date, Mindy has authored or co-authored six books, including the Moon Handbook Guides to Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs Getaways, Sixty Hikes Within 60 Miles, Walking Denver (now in its second edition), and Colorado Organic: Cooking Seasonally, Eating Locally.
“In the end,” she says, “it’s the little things. I didn’t do anything remarkable, but I did something that challenged me, and I think I’m better for it.”
Her advice? Find ways to challenge yourself, have fun, and grow—whether it’s on the trail, at the keyboard, or somewhere entirely unexpected.
FIVE THOUGHTS ON WRITING FROM MINDY
“Everything I do goes back to the skills I learned as a reporter – asking questions, doing research, and then putting it together so it’s interesting and relevant to the reader.”
“There is a formula that always helps get the piece started. First, there is the lead paragraph which hooks the reader and lets them know why they should read this article. Next is the ‘nut graph’ that tells them in a ‘nutshell’ why this story matters to them. This can be applied to almost all writing.”
“I enjoy thinking of different ways to tell a story and promote content.”
"Journalism skills are transferable to other industries."
"Good writing requires using those muscles and staying on top of your craft, whether it is fiction or non-fiction."
Mindy Sink
OFF THE TRAIL
“I love thinking of different ways to tell a story and promote content,” Mindy says. One of those ways has been turning her hiking experiences into articles that also connect back to her books. After “60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Denver and Boulder” was published by Menasha Ridge Press in 2020, she wrote a fun article for the publisher’s blog, “10 Zenish Things I Learned About Myself from Hiking 60 Trails.”
Here are her 10 lessons learned:
1. Meditation doesn’t mean sitting still.
2. Be grateful.
3. My body is amazing. Look at what it’s doing for me!
4. It’s probably not personal. If something isn’t working, I can still go for a hike.
5. You got this. Whether it’s hiking or meeting a deadline, just do the work.
6. A little stubbornness goes a long way. Lost the trail? Double back. Start over. Get it right.
7. Connect where and when possible. Chat with fellow hikers along the way.
8. Preparation is vital.
9. Stopping is just as important as going. Take in the view instead of just checking the box
10. Caring for yourself starts on the trail, not after. Hydrate, snack, and rest before you need to.