Name:
Nancy Redd
Age:
29
Job Title and Description:
Author, Columnist, & College Speaker
College/Major:
Harvard, Women’s Studies
Website:
http://www.nancyredd.com
nancyredd
What is a typical day like for you?
It really depends on how close to a deadline I am! In no particular order (and at all hours of the day and night) I generally spend about 7 hours a day ‘writing,’ whether for one of my columns or an upcoming book, about 1 hour (give or take, depending upon the day) on the phone with my assistant, agent, editor, and/or clients, and about 3 hours reading blogs and catching up on the news. Some might call those 3 hours procrastination but I truly believe that in order to stay relevant one really needs to be up on one’s current events and pop culture! And it’s fun.
Some days, however, I simply mull over my project in my mind, while other days I’m “on a roll” and am hunched over my keyboard for eighteen hours with nary a break. I’ve been known to take my laptop on vacations (much to hubby’s chagrin) but rarely get any work done while away, so I’ve learned to just hustle and get everything done beforehand.
I work from home, so there’s no commute or clothing budget, which is my favorite perk. I am in my pajamas as I write this! However, being a writer and working from home can either feel like Paradise Island or solitary confinement, depending upon your personality. Not everyone is cut out for it, and it DOES require a LOT of focus and capacity to self-direct.
What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?
When I arrived at Harvard, I was ready to take it by storm. However, from day one, I was doomed. I was no longer just competing against the 80-90 people in my high school class in southern Virginia – my classmates were child geniuses, national sports champions, and Natalie Portman. Everyone seemed to have more talent and confidence and brains in their pinky fingers than I had in my entire body.
I tried my hardest to make a dent on campus, thinking that if I could get a toehold on campus I could make it happen. But it just got harder and harder. Everything I applied for I was rejected from. We’re not talking about one or two programs or projects, y’all – I was rejected from 50 or 60 things. And not just the competitive school newspaper (which I was rejected from) or fancy sororities (which I was also rejected from) but VOLUNTEER WORK. In college I wasn’t cool or talented enough to tutor inner-city kids or pass out condoms or wash dogs for charity, y’all!
Eventually, and on the advice of my big brother, I gave up trying to compete for positions at Harvard, and I ventured out into Boston all by myself to see what was out in
At Teen Voices I finally found my voice, even though I wasn’t a teen anymore (I had just turned 20 when I started). Surrounded and encouraged by strong women, I developed the confidence to go after additional gigs, landing an online column with the Princeton Review on applying to college, which led to a book deal with them shortly after.
Who is one person who changed your professional life for the better?
When I got my first book deal to write The Girls’ Guide to the SAT, one of my best friends at the time who was known as being much smarter and more popular than I was, just sneered and said, “You only got that because no one else wanted to do it.” Great ‘friend,’ right? However, what she meant to be a put-down to keep me in my place as the friend at the back of the pack actually helped me to thrive and break free from the closed-minded cliques that were keeping me from happiness and success. I started to focus on more stuff that ‘no one else wanted to do,’ like auditioning for Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and other writing opportunities that my classmates didn’t think cool enough for them. What a shift! I was still rejected a lot, but my percentage of acceptances shot through the roof. I’m so glad that my nasty ‘friend’ helped me to break my habit of only going after (and being rejected) from that which was most popular and that which my friends wanted to do, too. When I started following my heart and TRUE interests, that’s when the ball really started rolling in my direction.
Is there a particular quote or mantra that you live by?
Luck equals opportunity plus preparation!
What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?
Just because you are an intern, a low-paid employee, or a newbie to the field does NOT give someone the right to mistreat you or to put you down. While most everyone I’ve ever worked for/with has been wonderful, I have dealt with some doozies and I wish that I had extracted myself from the situations sooner! From being forced to do stuff that was NOT in my job description (spending an UNPAID weekend in NYC shilling tacky handbags for the girlfriend of my boss) to being yelled at for no reason (WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THIS ESOTERIC AND INDUSTRY SPECIFIC PHRASE IS YOU DUMMY?), some people really have power trips that can be unpleasant to be around, and no one deserves that!
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Hugs at events (I love a hug!) and the emails from readers. I tend to tackle topics that some find taboo, so a lot of girls contact me not asking a question or anything, but just to say ‘hi.’ I think it’s because they’re so excited to not feel so alone anymore. I remember doing this with authors when I was growing up, too, so it’s especially heartwarming for me.
What do you look for when considering hiring someone?
A meaty, well-written, and enthusiastic cover letter. It’s the first thing I see and can say so much about the person behind the words. I hate cover letters that ONLY repeat what’s on one’s resume. I also get sad when I receive covers that mean well but are filled with vague statements like “I’m passionate and excited to work for you because you’re awesome and we have a lot in common.” This might SEEM like it’s what I’d want to hear, but that same sentiment is so much more powerful when backed up by who YOU are, by writing something like, “I believe my attached blog posts on SUBJECT express my passion and excitement about the position you’re offering. My work with ORGANIZATION crystallized and expanded my interests in X, Y, and Z, which I note are your passions as well. This is why I think we’d work well together- we have a lot in common and after perusing your website and reading about your journey, I would love to work for you not only because of your work with ISSUE, which I would love to become more involved with under your tutelage, but also because I think you’re awesome.” You’re hired, superstar!
What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?
Don’t just have big dreams – have big plans, too. Put yourself out there and be confident about what it is you want to do. Get business cards and build a website. Hustle and network constantly, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from higher-ups or to ask to be included in something you think sounds awesome but for which you don’t see any published opportunities. Get so used to hearing ‘no’ to the point that it doesn’t bother you anymore. Always take time to celebrate when you get a ‘yes!’ When you get a ‘yes,’ do not half-ass your work – give much more than expected, especially with your first few projects. ALWAYS write thank you emails to those who stick their neck out for you no matter the outcome of their efforts. And remember to offer yourself as a source of support to those coming up after you – it’s karma!