A Writer's Dream Job, Part 2

Q&A with Amy Shoenthal on finding balance across industries

Welcome back to the Dream Job series from One More Question, in which I pester writers who do work they love to tell us exactly how they got there.

(But actually, they were all happy to share—because for the most part, writers are generous, kind people who want other writers to succeed.)

Last week we talked to Paige McClanahan who is a regular contributor to the travel section of the New York Times.

Today, we’re talking to Amy Shoenthal, who took a detour from what she thought was her dream job to discover another path that offers even more of the variety and balance she needs to stay motivated and inspired by her work. Amy works as a marketing and PR professional, while writing freelance on the side. She’s even a regular contributor at Forbes Women.

So, let’s hear from Amy on how she got to where she’s at now.

Writers, meet Amy!

I love that I can do my full-time job and then use my brain in a different way to do freelance writing on the side.

Britany: What was it about the idea of your “dream job” that was so appealing to you? 

Amy: I grew up in the '90's and was in college during the early 2000's when glossy magazines were all the rage. I also always just loved writing and loved telling stories, so I figured I should do that for a living. I wanted to travel the world, write articles about the stories of the people I met during my travels, and eventually publish a book about it all. 

Was there ever a time when you almost gave up on your dream? Why didn't you? 

I did give up on that dream. I was all-in on journalism until my junior year of college, when I was starting to realize that my first few years as a journalist would have to be spent covering school board elections at local newspapers. I even started to do that as a student. My first summer internship was at my hometown community newspaper. I actually loved it. But then, my senior year of college, when I got a part-time job in the public relations department of an incubator for student entrepreneurs, I realized I could tell people's stories through a career in marketing and PR, and still work with the journalists I admired. I wanted so badly to move to New York City instead of a small town, or even the town I grew up in, and I knew there were more marketing and PR jobs than there were entry-level reporting ones. I'm really glad I did that, given what happened to journalism over the next few years. If I pursued my original dream, I would have likely been unemployed a few years later. 

What was the hardest part about getting to where you're at now professionally? 

Those early years were brutal. I completely abandoned writing for a long time to build my marketing career. I came back to it maybe five years after college, when blogs started popping up, so I started my own travel blog. Then outlets like The Huffington Post did calls for contributing writers, so I applied to be one. I started volunteering for various organizations as soon as I graduated college, and the friendships I made doing that is honestly what led me to some of my best freelance writing gigs, like my current role as a Forbes contributor. 

What is one thing you did that proved beneficial in achieving your dream job? 

I still work full time in marketing. I don't plan to stop. I love that I can do my full-time job and then use my brain in a different way to do freelance writing on the side. I think I would burn out as a full-time writer. I think I would burn out from marketing if I didn't have the side gig. I really like the balance - I think doing each thing makes me better at the other. Both jobs require attention to detail, vigilance, patience, editing, revisions, time management and being open to criticism. But toggling between both helps keep me on my toes. 

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?) 

It was my connections that got me to where I am. I look back to those early years when I seized every opportunity and spent as much time learning as much as I could. Offering my free time to various organizations, doing fundraisers and meeting new people is what really forged those connections. So when my friend who I had met through volunteering became the editor at Forbes Women, she helped me push my application through so I could get the contributor role. That was a huge privilege, albeit one that I worked towards. The real privilege was having time to volunteer back in the day, because I wasn't someone who had to work multiple jobs to pay my rent.My marketing jobs may not have paid much, especially early on, but they were enough to cover my expenses so I had the freedom to pursue passions outside of work. 

How is your current situation different from what you anticipated back when you were aspiring to do what you're doing right now? 

I had so much trouble, until recently, calling myself a writer. Having an identity outside of marketing, once I gave up journalism after college, was hard to come back to. But I'm so glad I did. I never would have thought that I could do both. Back then, you chose one career. You identified with your career. So it was hard to adjust, in these past few years, to multiple identities. Now I'm a marketer, mother, writer, and hopefully future author. Whenever I achieve one goal, I'm always trying to look towards what's next. My goals always get bigger. I don't know if that's healthy, but it keeps me motivated. And busy. 

What is one piece of advice you can offer to writers who feel like their dream job is out of reach? 

Do one small thing each day that gets you closer to that dream. Do your morning pages. Can't sleep at night? Use that time to picture your end goal. Then, take one step towards that goal. Want a New York Times byline? Start reading guest essays and think of topics you might be able to write about. Write a few lines down every day. Eventually it will be something you're proud of, and then one day, submit it to the editors. If you don't hear back, you're no worse off than you would have been had you not actually done the writing. If writing is something you enjoy, find ways to work it into your life. Your dream job will follow, maybe not in the way you envisioned, but you might just surprise yourself. 

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That’s all for today, friends. But I have lots more coming your way. The first guest essay is coming soon. There will be another dream job Q&A next Friday. And if you’re a paid subscriber, I will of course be back in your inbox on Tuesday with the usual big list of writing opportunities.

Stay inspired,

Britany