I interviewed Julieanne Smolinski for a paper at my lame college. She is @boobsradley on twitter and writes for xoJane and GQ. She is also very cute. Anyway.
In your own words, how would you describe the market for writers these days?
It really depends on what you want to write and what kind of job/hours you're interested in. I think it's so funny when journalists tell kids in school not to pursue a career in writing because there are no jobs. It's funny because like, I doubt a chef or a painter or someone like that would tell you not to paint or cook for that reason. I don't think it's the strongest job market, but there are so many online properties right now that take submissions and you can just kind of pitch, cold, that it's a lot easier to just shoot off an email and wind up with a byline. Print is trickier, obviously, but the opportunity is there in digital for people who want it.
Do you think you take on a more friendlier tone with the reader when writing for the internet? Why?
I think snark is funny when it's done well, but it's not my personal forte. A good insult comic is worth her weight in gold, but my base setting is "friendly." I think the only time I'm ever not friendly is when somebody gets gross or weird.
Do you think blogging helps writers find their "voice" and readership within the community of tumblr? How has it helped you?
Yeah, of course. I wouldn't have a writing career at all if not for Tumblr and Twitter. But I don't think what people think of as bloggin will always get you jobs. I don't think the more diary-esque stuff is good for you to put up, professionally. I don't know why, but it makes me uncomfortable. But I mostly write humor and entertainment stuff, so it all depends on what you're looking to do.
What do you think is the reason people take more from the internet nowadays than they do from print (ie newspapers)?
I don't think they necessarily do – I mean, it's definitely a format and it's out there, but I know plenty of people who get all of their information from print or television. There are such a huge portion of people out there that are wigged out by the Internet, which is probably good in a way. But the rest of us normal people who do our reading online – it's just a convenience factor, plain and simple, and it's so specific. I can find things written in a voice I like, for my area or my demographic.
As a writer, do you find it difficult to get your pieces published? Is it easier to get published in print or net for you? Why?
I've been very, very lucky and it hasn't been difficult for me, and I don't know how it really is for other people… I've been writing for the internet for a long time, and I just like the length and turnaround time of it, personally. Print's great and pays better and there's a little more prestige, I think, but it's a much more complicated process.
How does writing help you in your life?
I love my job so much – the fact that I get to write and read for a living is still pretty absurd to me. Right now I'm at work, and I'm barefoot and wearing a Fleetwood Mac t-shirt. I live alone and work at home, but it's funny when I'm around other people because I'm laughing to myself all day. I just sit at a laptop and type and do this weird laugh, because I'm having the time of my life. I was visiting family over the holidays and I'd be on my computer, working on something, and doing this involuntary goofy giggle. My mom kept saying, "What are you laughing at? Do you do that when people aren't there? Do you realize how creepy that is?" Yes, I absolutely do. Not a bad problem to have.