Since I have a good amount of new subscribers here thanks to my post about my husband’s enviable book-logging habits, I thought I might just re-introduce myself in a way that I promise won’t be boring to any past subscribers (or people who know me IRL, who will do the lovely, but never not disconcerting “oh I read your last newsletter!” thing while bumping into me on the street, or worse, a family gathering).
Who am I?
I’m a longtime reporter who used to work for Quartz, The New York Times, and Foreign Policy and has written for a gajillion other places including New York Magazine’s The Cut and The Strategist, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Vox, The New Republic, and Elle. I covered US and global politics, various social justice issues, and technology – and now bounce around all of these topics, and then some. In recent years, I’ve written about why everyone loves to hate the dating app Hinge, how Poles mobilized to help refugees when Russia invaded Ukraine, or about how right-wing media fuels the gold coin industry (I bounce far and wide, friends, and I haven’t even mentioned Glossier).
I’ve spent my entire life shuttling between Brooklyn, New York (where I was born) and Warsaw, Poland (where my family’s from). I’m still shuttling, but right now that toggle is on the latter location, specifically the riverside neighborhood of Praga. I’m here with my two cats, Kirk (very cuddly, will eat anything, but really enjoys an avocado) and Tilda (weird, and has a remarkable sweet tooth), and the aforementioned husband (cuddly sometimes, will eat most things).
What am I doing now?
I’m a freelancer, so the answer to that question is – way too many things, all at the same time. On good weeks, most of my working time is devoted to working on my book, U up? A Social History of Online Dating, which will be published by One Signal/Simon & Schuster in the US and with Icon Books in the UK. The book idea stemmed from my time on the tech team at Quartz, where I wrote a lot about how Big Tech affects regular people. Here’s the Publisher’s Marketplace announcement, which was one of the most exciting things to happen to me, ever.
I’m also doing ongoing editing and research for another author, whose identity I hope to be able to reveal one day because they are an awesome and accomplished human and their book is going to be BIG. I also have a temporary contract editing a weekly news analysis newsletter about EU politics, a corporate ghostwriting gig, and a translation one. Plus any extra one-time assignments I pitch or get commissioned for (Editors! Please save me from the hell that is pitching and find me if you want some banger stories, preferably on online dating). And of course, this newsletter.
What am I doing on Substack?
This newsletter is a reflection on the process of writing a narrative nonfiction book, as I work on mine. I’ve written about my slightly unhinged way of writing long things on small pieces of paper, on the romance and impossibility of the writing desk, and what being diagnosed with ADHD means for me as a writer. I’ve started interviewing other authors about their process. I have a monthly series about how I sold my book, from how long it took me to get an agent to the importance of having an argument, posts meant to be the kind of resource I was looking for when I was in the trenches of writing my proposal and querying. All of this may change, so don’t be surprised if it does (I reeeeally hope you stay subscribed if this happens!).
How’s the book going?
Slowly? I’m learning that the rhythms of writing a Very Long Thing vary a ton, especially if you’re juggling other work. I wrote one chapter in just about three weeks, and another took me so many months that I don’t even want to admit the actual number to myself. I’m currently writing, reporting, and researching at the same time, because in my case it would be a bit foolish not to. The deadline is nigh, my overall outline is solid, and I’ve already done literal years of research, so it just makes sense to do things this way (and if I let myself do all the prep first and writing later I’d never finish).
What am I reading?
I’ve written recently about how I’m in a bit of a book rut, paralyzed with everything I should be reading, but I’m kinda sorta out of it. I’m listening to Nicola Twilley’s book Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves, which has absolutely, blissfully nothing to do with my book, or technically any of my interests, but is absolutely mind blowing (did you know that people speculate on frozen orange juice concentrate, a substance that also sounds utterly disgusting when you read about the process of making it?). I also recently started Kerry Howley’s Bottoms Up and the Devil Laughs, which is a great example of a compulsively readable nonfiction yarn, even if the topic is a bit diffuse.
On Substack, I’m a big fan of
, ’ and ’ .What am I loving?
My book work. My book writing accountability buddies. A meticulously designed public reading room in Warsaw where I’ve started to work (Free coffee! Records! Old posters!) These pens. Junk journaling. My stupid chair that lets me sit cross-legged (I’m sorry for the ‘zon link, if you find it elsewhere, please let me know). This soup. This pasta. Putting Quadratini wafer cookies in the freezer (Trust me. Other brands work too).
What am I worried about?
The list is very long, and not very interesting. But when it comes to book stuff, which is presumably why you’re here, the list is also very long! Will I do my topic justice? Will I get all the reporting I want done? Will I finish in time (extensions are fine and good but my subject is timely and publishing already takes forever!)? What will I have to cut or leave out?
But I generally believe in my writing and reporting capabilities, and mostly fret about something else: the dreaded question of “platform” and what I should be doing to set the book up for success. How do I build an audience in a way that feels authentic and doesn’t take away too much time or brain capacity from the actual writing? Is what I’m already doing completely misguided? What do I invest in and what can I mostly ignore?
What’s annoying me?
Let’s pick a few innocuous ones. The way track changes looks and works in Microsoft Word. Going viral. The fact that I can’t commit to keeping a journal.
Welcome! Let me know who YOU are in the comments!
Lovely introduction!
Frozen orange juice concentrate? Have you seen Trading Places? Great film, if you've seen it, you'll know why I'm mentioning it.
Holy mackerel, nearly 4,000 likes on that Note? I'm so proud that I was one of the very first to like it (I don't get notes going viral, I'll take whatever victories I can get!)
Really eager to read your book. I've got so many questions re: dating in today's world.