Who are you?
I'm Mignon Fogarty, better known as Grammar Girl.
I've been the host of the Grammar Girl podcast for 17 years, and I'm the founder of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network. I have written 10 books about language, including the New York Times bestseller GRAMMAR GIRL'S QUICK AND DIRTY TIPS FOR BETTER WRITING and the newly updated GRAMMAR DAILY, and I'm an inductee in the Podcast Hall of Fame.
What do you write?
I write articles, podcast scripts, courses, and books about grammar, punctuation, word usage, etymology, and word-related history in a friendly, accessible way. I like to give people easy ways to remember the rules and also give them "wow, language is amazing!" moments.
Where do you write?
I have a lovely office with a big iMac, but I spend more time than I should writing at the kitchen table on a MacBook — usually because I open it during breakfast or lunch to take care of a few tasks and end up staying there for hours.
I used Apple Pages for years as my word processing program but was essentially dragged into Google Docs by collaborators and coworkers. I actually like it quite a bit now and use it as my main writing program.
I keep long written to do lists but also have a reminder widget on my computer desktop with three or four of my most urgent tasks.
I've tried all kinds of pens, but my favorite is still the cheap Bic Round Stic. It's smooth and reliable.
I have two locations for recording my podcast. When I'm doing an interview that requires video, I record in my spare bedroom, which has bookcases along one wall, and I use a shotgun mic. But when I'm recording just audio, I have a tiny studio that I built in the space beneath the stairs in my basement. It has acoustic foam on the walls and ceiling, and I record using a Heil PR40 mic. In either case, I record using Audacity on my MacBook.
When do you write?
I tend to write in the late afternoon or evening because my mornings get taken up with email and social media. I am on the West Coast, and most of the people I work with are on the East Coast, so I wake up feeling behind every morning.
I write or edit two pieces a week for the Grammar Girl podcast, and I put together an email newsletter every week. Those are hard deadlines — although I have been getting ahead on the podcast lately, which is very unusual (and feels great!). I do find that it's nearly impossible for me to write without a deadline though. Knowing someone is expecting something from me keeps me on track.
When I have big projects, I always like to think I'll be able to break them up and work on a little bit each day. But what actually ends up happening is that I work on them once or twice a week in huge chunks.
Why do you write?
I've been writing for as long as I can remember, and I enjoy the process of writing. I started the Grammar Girl podcast and website to share tips I was gathering for myself while I was working as an editor — when to use "that" and "which," when to use a dash, and so on. I like helping people, and when I learn something useful or interesting, I feel almost compelled to share it.
I went through a period of soul searching a few years ago because I felt like I should be doing something different, and I came to the conclusion there is actually no better job for me, and I'm lucky as heck to have it.
Writing feeds my curiosity, and it also helps that I get a lot of positive feedback. Hearing from so many people that my work helps them also keeps me going.
How do you overcome writer's block?
When I feel stuck, I usually either go for a walk or work on a different piece of writing. I always have multiple things going at once, so if I can't come up with a good ending for a piece about commas, I can write quiz questions for a LinkedIn Learning course, for example. Sometimes I cook, rationalizing that having food on hand or frozen will save me time when I am feeling more like writing. If I can't write, I try to at least do something productive.
Bonus: What do you enjoy doing when not writing?
I live on the California coast, and when I'm not writing, I enjoy gardening, reading, hiking, and walking on the beach looking for sea stars.
My thanks to Mignon Fogarty for today's interview.