November 13, 2017

Ep. 9 — New York Times Culture Writer Taffy Brodesser-Akner On Celebrity Profiles, Personal Essays, and Her Bizarre Brush with British Tabloid Fame

1 hour 6 minutes

Write About Now guest, Taffy Brodesser-Akner, is one of the most prolific and provocative culture writers out there. She was recently named features writer for the New York Times Culture desk, and staff writer for the Magazine. Prior to this, she was a freelance force for seven years, penning numerous features for such publications as GQ, ESPN magazine, the Times, Saveur, Outside, Vulture, Salon, and many more. Getting into the writing game a little later in life, Taffy is proof that passion, talent, and hard work can take you to lofty heights in a short period of time. She is one of the rare, happy writers who gets to tell the stories she wants to tell, the way she wants to tell them.

In the podcast, she shares her own story of a career in hyperdrive—from writing endless amounts of personal essays about her body to landing a dream assignment with GQ to interview Nicki Minaj. I don't want to give too much away--but let's just say it was an exhausting experience. Taffy also talks about the freelancing vs. taking a full time job. Oh, and you have to hear her story about being dubbed the "mystery brunette" by the British tabloids, after paparazzi caught her hugging Tom Hiddleston on a London street.

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