I’m very excited to welcome
to the podcast this week! Mila is one of my favorite writers who speaks openly and honestly about the writing life and process. If you have been a subscriber to In the Weeds for any length of time, you know that process fascinates me. I want to know how everyone is doing this writing thing, down to the pens they use or the spreadsheets they are creating. (wait, are you making spreadsheets??) In Mila’s publication, , she writes musings on craft that always seem to hit. Whether she is talking about time (or lack thereof), intention, desire, writing advice, or committing to the writing life, I always leave her work with nuggets of wisdom and the feeling that I’ve just spoken to a friend who gets me.I was thrilled to be able to chat about her time in the service industry, plus work and making money in general, another subject Mila is always so candid about.
I'm a big believer in throwing your entire shoulder against the door. And if you really are meaning to do something, just do it 110%.
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.
This is a skill I’m still learning…to separate writer from author. Because the writer writes, but the author is an authority and you have to push your product, kind of. So, it's like having two separate selves – your person and your persona.
About Mila Jaroniec
“I was working at Last Exit when I turned 30---the red background picture is from my birthday dinner, and also a custom tip jar I made for the coffee shop. The verdant interior is Park Avenue Spring--every season, they changed the whole decor and menu. The other picture was taken in the bathroom of Pure Food & Wine, where I would usually stop for a glass after my shift. It's wild to think that while I was just casually sitting at the bar, drinking a biodynamic sauvignon blanc and thinking about what to do with my life, Sarma Melngailis' (the owner of Pure Food & Wine) life was totally falling apart. I hope she can reopen someday. I loved that place.”
Formerly employed at:
Bean Heads Coffee House in Cambridge, NY (dishwasher)
Travonna Coffee House in Columbus, OH (barista)
Taj Bar in Columbus, OH (bartender)
The Argonaut in Washington, DC (bartender, server)
Park Avenue (Autumn/Winter/Spring/Summer) in New York, NY (hostess)
Last Exit Books & Coffeehouse in Kent, OH (barista)
Author of: Plastic Vodka Bottle Sleepover
Favorite writing ritual: First thing in the morning, make coffee and hit the desk.
Favorite cocktail to order from the bar: Orange vesper or kir royale
Favorite meal to order: Whatever the vegan option is! If there isn't one, my go-to is a house salad with vinaigrette, french fries, and champagne.
What you do for work now: I'm a freelance makeup artist for Dior and teach two novel intensives at GrubStreet and Writing Co-Lab.
Bio: 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.
"Writing may not always pay the bills, so having a diverse set of skills ensures you can adapt and find work wherever you go."
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“What I've learned about myself as a writer is that I'll move aside anything for it.”