Hello there, and thanks for stopping by! 

My name is Shannon Brooks. I am a writer, fixer and self-proclaimed “hospitality junkie” with over 20 years of experience working in the travel and tourism industry. I started my consulting company FORWØRD in 2015 to help brands, organizations, destinations, agencies and individuals tell their stories and communicate with authenticity, sincerity and personality. 

I write everything from speeches, bios and strategic plans to blogs, e-newsletters and social media posts. I also write editorial articles and never shy away from an opportunity to conduct an interview. I’ve even written obituaries and eulogies. Essentially, if there’s something that needs to be communicated, I can help you do it with discernment and tailor the message to resonate with your audience(s).

One of my greatest superpowers is finding the right words. I strive to make every word count — no fluff, unless of course that’s what the client wants. I aim to spark curiosity in the reader that makes them say “I want to go there and do that — or eat and drink that!”

If you want to differentiate your destination or product, I am the gal for you. Fair warning:  I will steer you away from generic, sweeping messages like “having something for everyone” because that’s not contributing any value to you or the reader.

Editing and itinerary planning are my other strong suits. That’s where the fixer part comes in. I can make something existing better and give it a fresh polish, be it a rough draft, a seed of an idea or “vintage” copy that needs an update.

I’m also particularly adept at curating experiences and planning trips — my research game is strong, I’m hyper-organized and I have a knack for homing in on the most compelling restaurants, hotels and shops. I’m passionate about places, I get way too excited about appealing aesthetics and I love a good backstory. 

Earlier in my career I was a public relations pro and planned hundreds of press trips and shoots for Visit Santa Barbara and Visit California, which shaped the professional traveler and storyteller I am today. So did a transformative stint studying abroad in Siena, Italy during my time as a UC San Diego undergrad. I didn’t become fluent in Italian during that magical spring term, but I did become enamored with discovering different cultures. And I got hooked on exploring and getting into travel adventures every weekend. To this day, I always have at least a few trips on the horizon.

Looking further into my past, it’s probably no surprise that I was yearbook editor in middle school and high school (ahem, clearly I like to control the narrative!). Though I was technically born in San Francisco, I consider myself a Central Coast native. I grew up in the small Santa Barbara County town of Lompoc, where my parents were public school teachers.

In late 2020, I returned to the Central Coast after a decade away (living in Sacramento and Los Angeles, respectively). I currently reside in Santa Ynez, where I’m loving small town wine country life, appreciating being near my family and taking advantage of every opportunity to wear a hat!

If you’d like to explore working together, please drop me a line: shannon@takemeforword.com.