Many moons ago, I used to be a journalist.
Kind of.
I freelanced for USA WEEKEND magazine, where I interviewed various people for columns. This was during the spring and summer of 2006, and at this time, I was deep into one of my various obsessions: the writings of Augusten Burroughs.
With great voracity, I read Running With Scissors, Dry, Possible Side Effects, Magical Thinking and Sellevision, in that order, at warp speed. His sardonic and often dark wit charmed me, and after reading all of these books (since then, A Wolf at the Table, has also been released and devoured, in signed, first edition by me) I decided that I needed to meet him.
Possible Side Effect was released that summer and a new release meant a book tour. I couldn't leave my job at the time as assistant to the Vice President of book publishing and functioning alcoholism at ****** books (not a good fit, natch) in time to make it to the signing, but I did get there just after Augusten had left the building.
With tears welling in my eyes, a nice man who worked in the Barnes and Noble in Union Square gave me one of the extra initialled copies of the book, and sold it to me at half price.
After running home to smell the pages and lick the hardcover jacket, I started formulating a plan. The movie adaptation of Running With Scissors was meant to premiere that fall, and USA WEEKEND had not yet run any stories about the author. With steely determination but low expectations, I asked my editor if she'd be interested in an interview with Augusten, to be published during the press junket for the movie.
"Sure."
At this point I think I died for several minutes. She told me to contact his publicist and set it up. Because I'm scrappy and would literally cut my toe off to have a chance to hang out with him, I found his PR manager, and set up an interview, IN HIS HOME IN MASS.
Me. Him. Bentley. Cow. Talking.
It's safe to say that I prepared myself for weeks, writing thousands of questions, all way to in depth and provocative for the 400-500 Q & A I was supposed to write. But it my ever hopeful brain, I believed that after spending an hour or two with me, Augusten would realize that I was a perfect protege, the missing piece his family needed. I would move in immediately, of course, and begin to cultivate a life-long bond with my favorite author, who would teach me to hone my skills and cook me tempeh chili.
While this didn't exactly happen, I did conduct a wonderful interview with Augusten, which I still have on my digital recorder, punctuated by me clearing my throat and he snapping his Industrial Flavor Nicorette Gum. Afterwards, he said to me "I have a question for you."
(gurgglee drool eye flutter) "yes?"
"how old are you? are you in high school? you look like you're 15"
(head spins around in circles, vomits pea soup) "I'm 22."
"wow. does you dad own usa weekend? how did you get this gig?"
"IWORKEDREALLYHARDINCOLLEGEANDAMUNHEALTHILYCAREERDRIVENANDIDON'TSLEEPVERY MUCH."
"I see. would you like to play with my dogs?"
And so commenced us, sitting on the floor of his bedroom, playing with his french bulldogs that I had read so much about. He gave me his email address and wrote me fantastic directions on how to get back to the highway. We hugged, and he said "email me when you've got yourself a real good job."
Click HERE to see the story that was published in USA WEEKEND
Several weeks later, I was asked to be assistant to the creative director at Domino. So I emailed him. He wrote back.
You said: I know I'm going to get to where I'd like to be at a magazine, because I want it so badly, and if I keep on trying, writing every day and applying to jobs everyday, eventually it will happen. It has to happen,
Robin, this is the truest thing. Now, I'm not saying you won't face rejection, frustration, crushing disappointment along the way BUT THAT DOESN'T MATTER. All that matters is that you get what you want, and if you never give up, if that isn't an option because you NEED THIS, you'll GET IT. Getting the interview with me is a perfect example of how to live, in general. You wanted something? So you said, "THis is what I want and I can do it" and they let you do it. Now, you'll have a nice, big piece in the largest newspaper in the world. Which is so much better than having some little piece in the Village Voice or some local paper. Also, it's better to want too much than not enough. It's better to shoot too high than in the middle.
Set goals. Say, "In two years, I want to have enough high-quality freelance pieces so that i can go to Vanity Fair..." or whatever. It's important to be specific with what you want. If you're vague, you won't get what you want.
And if you don't have the confidence, fake it.
a
This email comes with me, printed, folded and worn, wherever I go. I've changed career paths
but I still think about this message often.
Still a huge fan of his work, an article about his studio in Manhattan caught my eye in the New York Times today, and here are some pictures of my literary idol in his new home.
Although his stint in New York is without his longtime partner, Dennis, and the pups, I wish him all the best and that him with all my heart for the pep talks and the kindness that are part of the bubbling concoction of incidences that led me to this blog, writing about his home today.
Please click HERE for the full story from the Times, and HERE to go to his website for information about his new book!!! Can't wait to eat that one whole as well.
xo
RJS
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