By Jillian Sorgini
The life of a writer can be just as hectic as the life of a celebrity.
After flying back from a celebrity interview in L.A. Laurie Sandell took time out of her usual routine to talk with students about the industry that she knows inside and out.
As the senior feature writer for Glamour, Sandell’s life has not always been so charmed. In high school, her peers voted her “Most Likely to be a Starving Writer,” but she has proved them all wrong.
Graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Sandell traveled the world for four years. She spent time in Israel and India, but eventually returned to the U.S. Although writing was her dream, she took a job as a bank secretary.
Her first break came when a friend asked her the write a review for Biography magazine. Sandell reviewed a Barbie coffee table book and the magazine loved her work.
She kept generating ideas and soon she got her second break. New York Magazine assigned a piece to her.
“Once I was assigned for New York Magazine, all the doors started to open,” Sandell said.
Sandell’s work appeared in magazines like Esquire, New York, Glamour, In Style, Real Simple and US Weekly. With a growing portfolio, Sandell took a huge risk. She quit her banking job to freelance full time.
After two years of freelancing, Sandell began to write more and more for Glamour. When an editing position became available, she jokingly suggested that they hire her. Though she had no editing skills, her forthcoming nature and ideas helped her land the job.
Along with the job came sacrifices. Instead of making her own hours, Sandell now worked five days a week in the office. “I liked writing in my bathrobe and having coffee all day,” Sandell recalls.
In addition to the time commitment, her job as an editor challenged her as well. Instead of working with her own material, she worked with other people’s pieces. She struggled to hold back her inner writer that tempted her to rewrite pieces.
“The best editors aren’t rewriting,” Sandell said. “They are always getting the best out of their writers.”
While she learned a lot working as an editor, Sandell was a writer at heart. Realizing how much she missed writing, she took a position as a writer.
Now the senior feature writer, Sandell has the opportunity to interview numerous celebrities including Ashley Judd (her favorite), Faith Hill and Sarah Jessica Parker.
While flying to LA to interview celebrities sounds like an ideal job, Sandell’s job is not all fun and games. There are articles that must be written and deadlines that must be met.
Fortunately, working at Glamour is nothing like the vicious atmosphere depicted in the hit movie The Devil Wears Prada. Sandell admits that there is some truth in the movie, but at least not where she works. “It’s certainly not relaxed [at Glamour]. There is a constant pressure to produce, but that is typical at most magazines.”
Aside from talking about her own experiences, Sandell also gave students advice. The most important lesson she taught was never to settle. By constantly pursuing what she wanted, Sandell’s life has fallen into place quite nicely. In addition to her monthly articles, Glamour now publishes her cartoons as well.
Eventually, Sandell would like to write a book. She is currently working on a memoir, but plans to continue her job at Glamour.
“There is just so much good nonfiction for me to write right now.”
