Authors In The Media With Sheila Yasmin Marikar

I am so delighted to be reuniting with Sheila Yasmin Marikar discussing her journalism career for this edition of Authors In The Media! She contributes pieces to The New York Times, The New Yorker, and several other publications! 

Q: Sheila, what interested you about being a journalist? Did you go to college to get a journalism degree or did you apply for a job right out of high school?

A: I went to college because I had no idea what I wanted to do and, as the daughter of first-generation Indian immigrants, my parents would have disowned me if I didn’t. I took a lot of liberal arts classes and decided to major in history because it didn’t have a lot of requirements and allowed me to take classes in other disciplines, like business administration and hospitality. (Making pasta from scratch is not a skill I use regularly … or ever … but learning how do it sure was fun!) 

What I most wanted to do was live in New York City, and I knew I would need a job to be able to do that. Throughout high school and college, I interned at museums and non-profits in Manhattan. During my junior year of college, I interned at the Washington, D.C. bureau of ABC News. I was working in the production department of 20/20, logging tape and answering phones. That was the first time I felt that this was a job that I could do, that I would enjoy doing. That summer, I interned at the New York headquarters of ABC News. Five days after I graduated, I started working there full time.

Q: Would it be fair to say that your career as a journalist has helped with your career as an author? Do you prefer journalism writing more or writing fiction more?

A: I don’t think I’d be an author had I not started out as a journalist. I’ve always loved reading novels, and I did a bit of creative writing when I was younger, but when I started working as an entertainment journalist at ABCNews.com, I learned how to write on a deadline and craft a story that would be easily understood. Those are excellent skills to have if you want to be an author. 

I prefer a balance of both. Only having one project to pour all my energy into has, thus far, been daunting to the point that the project doesn’t get done. It’s better for me to have one or two big things (a novel, a longform, long-lead journalism assignment) as well as some shorter journalism assignments in the hopper. That could change!

Q: In our Q&A you told me you pitched and wrote over 100 articles for The New York Times, and dozens of articles for The New Yorker! I think that’s very impressive Sheila! How does it feel knowing you’ve submitted so many pieces for them? What is your advice for anyone wanting to submit a piece for The New York Times & The New Yorker?

A: Keep pitching. I pitched the New York Times several times before I finally got a “yes, go for it.” I had to tuck away my ego and not be shy about following up once, twice, three, four — I think half a dozen times. (I wrote about it in my newsletter, Your Friend on the Ground: https://yourfriendontheground.substack.com/p/how-to-get-into-the-new-york-times) 

There’s a fine line between being persistent and being obnoxious. I have crossed it. There is no hard and fast rule about how many times it is TOO many times to pitch or follow up, but I will say … do not call. Never call an editor out of the blue, especially if you have never spoken to or met them. 

I still routinely get rejected. You can’t take it personally. It’s just an idea. If one editor doesn’t go for it, maybe another, at another vertical or publication, will. 

Q: One question I enjoy asking journalists is, what wisdom have you learned in your career that you would love for everyone to know whether they pursue a journalism career or not? 

A: Listen. Give whomever you’re speaking with (or interviewing, in the case of journalism) your full attention. Put your phone facedown, do not migrate over to another tab, don’t think about what clever thing you’re going to say next. You’ll be a much better conversationalist, journalist, and person if you listen. 

Q: Another question I enjoy asking journalists is, could you give a list of fascinating people you’ve interviewed and interacted with? I love knowing the people journalists had to interview and what their experiences were like!

A: There are too many to name but some that come immediately to mind: Kris and Kim Kardashian, whom I interviewed during the first season of their E! reality show. Kris was remarkably clairvoyant about the future she envisioned for Kim; Kim said she wanted lots of babies. John Legend — I wrote about his wine label and we met at Soho House Malibu. He is magnetic, extremely charming, and smart. David Macklovitch from the electro-funk band Chromeo. He was working towards a PhD in French literature at the time and we talked a lot about semiotics. It was a fascinating conversation that I only glancingly remember because it took place in the middle of Lollapalooza. Good thing I recorded audio and saved the transcript.