Will Work for Food

You mentioned that this was financially challenging. How so?

It's extremely difficult to make a living as a freelance writer. A lot of the writers I know are married; they have two-income families, health insurance -- it's not just about paying your rent. Writing for newspapers pays maybe 50 cents per word, glossies are $2 per word, and your first few articles are 300 to 500 words. You have to generate a lot of ideas and get a lot of work in order to make what you need to live on.

I am not in this for the money. I do something that I love every day, and ... that's priceless. If I was in it for the money, I'd still be pushing paper and practicing law.

You have to be honest with yourself and think about giving up the Hamptons time-share and things you like in your life to pursue a career that may not be as lucrative.

Has your life changed socially?

I have the same friends I've had since before I was an attorney. I'm doing the same sorts of things, but now I have an expense account for dinners, and I shop at H&M and Target (TGT - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) ... I don't need to wear suits, so that's changed. I haven't been able to travel and take vacations; that has definitely changed ... It's either go on vacation or pay the rent.

When you left law, were there any dissenters?

Yes -- my father, but he seems to have gotten over it. He thought I was crazy ... and the partners in the law firm were horrified. But for the most part, my brother, mom and friends were supportive. I think that my father's concern was more ... about me being able to survive. He would say, "Why can't you practice law for the restaurant business?"

Now he likes the fact that he can get into any restaurant in New York City and be treated well. He calls and says, "I got a free dessert, and I just want to tell you how proud I am of you."

How is writing for the blog different from writing for hire?

The main difference is when you write for a paper or magazine, you are writing in their voice, for their readers. When you write for yourself, you don't get edited.

I don't know if I get as much out of the blog in terms of growth -- it's important to get constructive feedback. I'd like to continue growing and learning as a writer; I'm not trained as a journalist.

One of the first people I wrote for was Sam Sifton, of the New York Times. I learned a lot from him, and he gave me a chance to write for what I consider the greatest newspaper on the planet. To have his feedback ... was terrific.

It sounds like a mentor is incredibly important.

Yes, I think especially if you're a career changer. To have someone who believes in you, will nurture you and give you a chance. When I met Sam, I only had clips from Restaurant Business Magazine and Time Out. I was a nobody. At least now I'm a nobody with more clips. He gave me a shot, and I will always be grateful for that.

Is that why you respond to all your emails?

I do. That's why I like teaching classes, too. A lot of people in my classes are looking for guidance. I've helped ... people get jobs in the industry. It's a good feeling ... to think that you might be able to help someone start a new career [and] a new life.

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