A Writer's Dream Job, Part 1
Q&A with New York Times travel writer Paige McClanahan
I recently lugged an old typewriter of mine to a typewriter repair shop. It’s been over two decades since I last used the baby blue Smith Corona. I’ve thought about using it many times over the years as it gathered dust—but finally felt compelled to get those sticky keys in working order when a friend told me she’s using hers to work on her book, freed from the distractions of the internet. And the words are flowing. I’ve recently committed myself to a big creative project (a memoir? maybe?) and I’m hoping that working on this relic from my childhood will do the same for me.
The heft of the typewriter in my arms as I carried it to the shop got me thinking about the big dreams we have when we’re young.
The last time I rapped away on those heavy keys, I was eight years old and working on a novel about kids who rescued orphaned animals; I dreamed of being a professional writer from an early age, loved the feel and sound of the typewriter, and turning my thoughts into a pile of paper. Today, I’m lucky enough to write for a living—although my focus at some point shifted to non-fiction. I am, in many ways, what I wanted to be. Even though professional writing looks much different than what I imagined while working on the epic animal tale in my grandparent’s basement. And I definitely didn’t know the word memoir.
I got to thinking about how those early dreams we harbor tend to morph and move (and sometimes change entirely) as we grow up, until it’s hard to recognize when we’ve arrived—or when we’ve wandered completely off course. Of course it’s okay to let our dreams wander and change direction, but I think it’s helpful to remember what we wanted when our lives were simpler and full of possibilities.
All of this made me curious about how many writers are doing what they once would have considered a “dream job.” So obviously, I turned to Twitter.
A bunch of people responded and I sent them all a list of similar questions about their work. My original plan was to collect some quotes from all of these writers and compile them into a single piece. But the answers they sent back were so packed with honesty and insight, I’ve decided to publish each one in its entirety.
Now we have ourselves a series of interviews with writers who say they’re working what was once their dream job. Each interview showcases a different path; what worked and what didn’t. I hope you’ll find these helpful and inspiring. Maybe they’ll motivate you to keep working towards your idea of a dream job. Or maybe they’ll help you recognize that you’re already doing it.
We’re kicking things off with Paige McClanahan, a freelance travel writer and regular contributor to The New York Times travel section. Paige is an American living in the French Alps, which already sounds pretty darn dreamy. But let’s hear from Paige about what it took to get there.
I’ll be publishing the Dream Job series every Friday. So check back next week for another one. Or, if you’re not already subscribed to One More Question, hit the button and don’t miss what’s to come.
Paige McClanahan on being a travel writer for The New York Times
Britany: What did you once imagine your dream job to be?
Paige: When I was a kid -- maybe 11 or 12 years old -- I used to say that I wanted to be a writer for National Geographic when I grew up (we always had tons of old issues around the house). As I got older, that evolved into writing for The New York Times, which I started reading daily when I was in college.
What was it about writing for National Geographic and The New York Times that appealed to you?
Of course there were plenty of things I didn't do well as a student (physics and chemistry come to mind), but I felt like I had a real knack for putting words together in ways that resonated with people. I was also fascinated by the news and incredibly curious about far-flung people and places — so the idea of a job that combined writing for a public audience and exploring the world around me was pretty hard to beat.
Was there ever a time when you almost gave up on your dream? Why didn't you?
I had been freelancing for about five years when our first daughter was born, and I kind of felt like that might be it for me and journalism -- I didn't want to travel as a new mother, didn't want to be at the beck and call of an editor at any hour of the day or night. So for about four or five years, I either took time off or did corporate work, which was great for that phase of my life but ultimately not nearly as satisfying as journalism. I was nervous to dive back into freelancing a few years later, but I'm so glad that I did.
What was the hardest part about getting to where you're at now professionally?
Persisting through all of the rejection, and then adjusting to the public scrutiny that comes with writing for a high-profile media outlet. I'm still a ball of nerves in the 24 hours or so before a story runs.
What is one thing you did that proved most beneficial in achieving your dream job?
At first, it was really important just to be persistent in sending out pitches, no matter how many rejections I got. And then once I started getting commissions, I always did my best to be professional and keep a good attitude. (I still do this, and I think that it can go a long way.) That means always (always) filing on time, sticking to the guidelines the editor gives me, thanking editors for their edits and being gracious in accepting their changes.
What is one thing outside of your control that proved beneficial in achieving your dream job? (Or, Is there any aspect of your identity or situation that put you in a privileged position to achieve what you have?)
I actually started freelancing after moving to Sierra Leone, a small West African nation where my then-boyfriend (now husband) had a gig with the UN. From there, I started writing for The Christian Science Monitor, and later for The Guardian. I feel like if I had been pitching stories from a bigger city like Nairobi or Johannesburg -- let alone New York or London -- it would have been a lot harder to break in.
How did your first assignment for the New York Times come about? Did you pitch it?
Yeah, it was a cold pitch. I had come across (ahem, Google stalked) the email address of an editor on the Travel desk at the NYT, and I pitched him an idea for a 36 Hours column. He wasn't the right editor, but he forwarded it to the appropriate colleague, who gave me the commission. I had done a number of travel features for The Washington Post at that point, so I'm pretty sure that experience helped me get in the door. Plus, I think I wrote and re-wrote that pitch about a dozen times to get it just right.
How did one assignment eventually turn into being a regular contributor?
So I actually wrote one story for the NYT and then... took a five-year break? (Two children happened in there.) But when I was getting back into freelancing in 2018, I looked up the email address of the editor I had worked with on that first story and sent her another 36 Hours pitch. I got the commission, and then the editor was really pleased (or so she said??) with what I filed, so she asked what else I could do for them. I think that being an American based in Europe (I live in the French Alps) was a big help there. I did several 36 Hours stories before I got my first commission writing an in-depth reported piece (as opposed to the service-focused travel stories that I'd been doing). I pitched something that was big news in my backyard, and they were really pleased with it; it also seemed to do well in terms of traffic on the site. After that, I found that my editor was really open to similar pitches on other subjects -- and that's been keeping me busy ever since!
Did you have any kind of mentor along the way? How did you find them and how did they help you?
So many people have helped me, but especially other writers who have been in the business for longer than I have. These were mainly fellow journalists who I got to know through my work. They helped me by giving me feedback on my story ideas, brainstorming outlets to pitch, and just encouraging me to be ambitious and keep going.
How is your current situation different from what you anticipated back when you were aspiring to do what you're doing right now?
Back when I was in college, I kind of thought that writing was something that I might be able to do "on the side" of my "real career" -- I never really thought that I could actually earn a living from it. The fact that writing is now my full-time job still kind of amazes me.
What is one piece of advice you can offer to writers who feel like their dream job is out of reach?
Find people who are doing the job you want to do and just reach out and ask if you can take them out for a coffee or have a chat over Zoom. Some people won't respond, but others will -- and those of us who've benefited from the help of others along the way are usually pretty happy to pay it forward.
A big thank you to Paige for sharing some insight on her path as a freelance travel writer. You can follow her on Instagram, or check out her website to read more of her work.
And because I was feeling particularly ambitious this week (ie avoiding other work) I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow with another Q&A!
Stay inspired (and hydrated!),
Britany
What a beautiful surprise in my inbox this morning. Thank you for this inspiring interview, I'm looking forward to the rest of the series, another reason to love Fridays!