In the Weeds

"Having some sense of stability, even if it's not a ton of money, but a routine and a sense of stability and community—those are things that really help your writing."In this episode, we talk about:Ali’s restaurant jobs including a sandwich shop in Main and Mooncake Foods in NYCThe camaraderie found among service industry coworkers How she transitioned into a career in TV, including her work on shows like “The Morning Show.”The collaborative process for writing for television and film such as breaking stories together and writing scripts based on the show's voice.How to overcome the fear of sharing your work Focusing on the process of art making rather than seeking the validation of others and more! ***Ali is a WGA Award-nominated screenwriter who wrote for the first two seasons of THE MORNING SHOW (Apple TV+). She was previously a Field Producer for THE OPPOSITION W/ JORDAN KLEPPER (Comedy Central) and starred in the largely improvised indie film THE END OF US, which premiered at SXSW. She has written and directed dozens of short films and web series for BuzzFeed, Condé Nast, and independently, which have over 1 billion views online. Her work has been profiled by Huffington Post, NBC’s Today Show, and NYLON Magazine, which said she "is the rare kind of person who can acutely observe human behavior and mine it for storytelling that balances sharp insight with much-needed levity." Her online writing has appeared in Vulture, BuzzFeed, The Hairpin, and on her bestselling Substack newsletter, Little Things. ***Where to find Ali Newsletter: https://aliv.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealalivingianoWebsite: http://alivingiano.com/***In the Weeds is a podcast and a weekly newsletter created by Kailey Brennan DelloRusso | subscribe here for letters on novel writing, the creative process, and working in the service industry.Where else you can find meAs the editor-in-chief of Write or Die MagazineOn Instagram: @kaileydellorussoClips of the podcast can also be found on TikTok

“What I've learned about myself as a writer is that I'll move aside anything for it.”In this episode, we talk about:Mila’s restaurant experience working as a dishwasher, coffee shop worker, bartender, and server.How working in the service industry impacted her writing life and the decision to quit her job to focus on writing.Following your passions and taking risksThe challenges of working in places with such a big drinking culture and how parenthood changed her perspective on nightlife.How to prioritize self-care as writersHow to balance social media with writing, and the impact of the writer’s online persona.Embracing gigs that foster your writing life and pay the bills.***Mila Jaroniec is the author of Plastic Vodka Bottle Sleepover and the creator and editor of Black Lipstick. Her work has appeared in Playgirl, Playboy, Joyland, Ninth Letter, PANK, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, Southwest Review, The Millions, NYLON and Teen Vogue, among others. Mila earned her MFA from The New School and is represented by Annie DeWitt at The Shipman Agency.***Where to find MilaNewsletter: https://blacklipstick.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milajaroniec/Website: https://milajaroniec.com/***In the Weeds is a podcast and a weekly newsletter created by Kailey Brennan DelloRusso | subscribe here for letters on novel writing, the creative process, and working in the service industry.Where else you can find meAs the editor-in-chief of Write or Die MagazineOn Instagram: @kaileydellorussoClips of the podcast can also be found on TikTok

"I may not be able to tell you where anybody I've ever hired went to college, but I can tell you if they worked in the service industry or not because I tend to favor that on resumes."In this week’s interview, Kathleen shares how hostessing and waiting tables prepared her for future careers in public relations and book publishing.In this episode, we also talk about:Kathleen’s experience working in the service industry while attending collegeHer preference for waitressing over hostingCustomer pet peevesHer decision to start her own PR company and her successful Substack newsletter, Publishing Confidential, where she demystifies the publishing industry.Some tips for aspiring writers including the importance of doing research and educating oneself about the publishing industryQuestions that come up the most during her consultations with authorsAdvice on how to take care of yourself in your work life and how it's not your business what other people think of you.Dating people you work with (or rather, NOT doing that)***Kathleen Schmidt is the Founder of Kathleen Schmidt Public Relations. She’s previously worked in all aspects of the industry, as a literary agent, acquisitions editor, and ghostwriter. Her career encompasses 30 years of creating and directing impactful and strategic global media, marketing, and branding campaigns for politicians, A-List celebrities, athletes, and high-profile personalities. To date, she has worked on 50 New York Times bestsellers, and her clients have continuously appeared in top-tier national print, broadcast, and radio outlets.***Where to find KathleenNewsletter: https://kathleenschmidt.substack.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathmschmidtTwitter: https://twitter.com/KathMSchmidt***In the Weeds is a podcast and a weekly newsletter created by Kailey Brennan DelloRusso | subscribe here for letters on novel writing, the creative process, and working in the service industry.Where else you can find meAs the editor in chief of Write or Die MagazineOn Instagram: @kaileydellorussoClips of the podcast can also be found on TikTok

“Everyone comes into a restaurant, everyone comes into a cafe and if you're open to it you can actually meet the most interesting people with stories. I think especially as a writer, you will most of the time be alone, so use that [time] to connect.”In this week’s interview, Sophia shares her experiences working in restaurants in Germany during the pandemic, starting her own publishing press, growing her Substack newsletter, and her writing life.Sophia Hembeck is a writer and visual artist based in Edinburgh. She has published two books of essays called: Things I Have Noticed, 2020 & Things I Have Loved, 2023 and currently working on her 3rd to conclude the Things-Trilogy. Her bestselling substack 'The Muse Letter' is published every month, where she wonders about the meanderings of life. She holds a M.A. in Playwriting (Szenisches Schreiben, UdK Berlin) and is teaching creative writing classes since 2020. She is represented by Zoe Martin from JE Literary Agency in Berlin.***In this episode, we talk about: Sophia's experience working in cafes and restaurants in Berlin and Edinburgh. Restaurant work during the pandemic. The challenges and experiences she had in the service industry,  including dealing with difficult customers and the physical toll it took on her. The start and success of her newsletter, The Muse LetterThe transition from the service industry to starting her own publishing press and teaching writing classes. Self-publishing two memoirs (with a third in the works)Sophia’s experiences with writing and how working in the service industry provided inspiration. The importance of standing up for yourself, especially in work situations. ***In the Weeds is a podcast and a weekly newsletter created by Kailey Brennan DelloRusso | subscribe here for letters on novel writing, the creative process, and working in the service industry.Where else you can find meAs the editor in chief of Write or Die MagazineEducational Director at Chill SubsOn Instagram: @kaileydellorussoClips of the podcast can also be found on TikTok

“I blame MFA programs for not positing restaurant work as a viable option at the beginning of a writer's career” Courtney Maum is the author of I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You, Touch, And Costalegre, the publishing guidebook “Before And After The Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide To Finishing, Publishing, Promoting And Surviving Your First Book” and the memoir The Year Of The Horses. In this week’s interview, Courtney shares her past jobs as a waitress, barista, and crepe maker, the stigma around restaurant work, and how MFA programs don’t always provide practical job advice for writers. Courtney is the author of five books, including the groundbreaking publishing guide that Vanity Fair recently named one of the ten best books for writers, BEFORE AND AFTER THE BOOK DEAL and the memoir THE YEAR OF THE HORSES, chosen by The Today Show as the best read for mental health awareness. A writing coach, executive director of the writing retreat “Turning Points” and educator, Courtney's mission is to help people hold on to the joy of art-making in a culture obsessed with turning artists into brands. You can sign up for her publishing tips newsletter and online masterclasses at CourtneyMaum.com***In this episode, we talk about:Courtney’s time working at a restaurant in FranceHer past employment as a crepe maker and a barista at Starbucks  How stepping outside of your comfort zone and interacting with people from different backgrounds can be valuable for writers The flexibility service industry jobs allow and how that benefitted her writing life. How the publishing and teaching industries can be elitist and fail to provide practical advice on job opportunities and rates of pay The stigma around restaurant work and how it needs to be reversed. Country club culture Exploring other job opportunities can provide financial stability while pursuing a writing career.***In the Weeds is a podcast and a weekly newsletter created by Kailey Brennan DelloRusso | subscribe here for letters on novel writing, the creative process, and working in the service industry.Where else you can find meAs the editor in chief of Write or Die MagazineCommunity Manager at Chill SubsOn Instagram: @kaileydellorussoClips of the podcast can also be found onTikTok

Welcome to In the Weeds, the podcast where we explore the intersection of writing and working in the service industry. Here is a look at what's to come! ***In the Weeds is a podcast and a weekly newsletter created by Kailey Brennan DelloRusso | subscribe here for letters on novel writing, the creative process, and working in the service industry.Where else you can find meAs the editor in chief of Write or Die Magazine Community Manager at Chill Subs On Instagram: @kaileydellorussoClips of the podcast can also be found on TikTok

Brittany Ackerman, the author of The Brittanys, discusses writing her debut novel while working in a sports bar in LA, the stigma of "real jobs," and how to pursue writing while working in the service industry.Brittany Ackerman is a writer from Riverdale, New York. She earned her BA in English from Indiana University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Florida Atlantic University. She has led workshops for UCLA’s Extension, The Porch, Catapult, HerStry, Write or Die, and Lighthouse Writers. She currently teaches writing at Vanderbilt University in the English Department. She is a 3x Pushcart Prize Nominee and her work has been featured in Electric Literature, Jewish Book Council, Lit Hub, The Los Angeles Review, No Tokens, Joyland, and more. Her first collection of essays The Perpetual Motion Machine was published with Red Hen Press in 2018, and her debut novel The Brittanys is out now with Vintage. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.***In this episode, we talk about:Brittany’s entry into restaurant lifeExperiences in different kinds of restaurant settings, like fine dining, a sushi restaurant and a Packer’s barCustomer and co-worker pet peevesPersonal growth through serving jobsThe stigma of “real jobs” and Brittany’s thoughts on societal perceptions of restaurant jobs versus traditional office jobs and how each has its own value and challenges.Advice on how to pursue writing while working in the service industry, including making a strict writing schedule and using serving experiences as literary material.How she wrote her novel, The Brittanys, by utilizing a restaurant schedule***In the Weeds is a podcast and a weekly newsletter created by Kailey Brennan DelloRusso | subscribe here for letters on novel writing, the creative process, and working in the service industry.Where else you can find meAs the editor in chief of Write or Die MagazineCommunity Manager at Chill Subs On Instagram: @kaileydellorussoClips of the podcast can also be found on TikTok