"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 NYC
• The 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!

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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.

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Where to find Ali

Newsletter: https://aliv.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealalivingiano

Website: http://alivingiano.com/

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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 me

As the editor-in-chief of Write or Die Magazine

On Instagram: @kaileydellorusso

Clips 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 risks
• The 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 writers
• How 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.

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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.

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Where to find Mila

Newsletter: https://blacklipstick.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milajaroniec/

Website: https://milajaroniec.com/

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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 me

As the editor-in-chief of Write or Die Magazine

On Instagram: @kaileydellorusso

Clips 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 college
• Her preference for waitressing over hosting
• Customer pet peeves
• Her 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 industry
• Questions that come up the most during her consultations with authors
• Advice 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)

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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.

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Where to find Kathleen

Newsletter: https://kathleenschmidt.substack.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathmschmidt

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathMSchmidt

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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 me

As the editor in chief of Write or Die Magazine

On Instagram: @kaileydellorusso

Clips of the podcast can also be found on TikTok