Interview by Lucy Danziger, Invaluable Advice from Ann Binlot
Ann Binlot is the perfect person to give advice about how to become a successful freelance writer, since she is one herself. Ann gets to travel for work, on assignment, to cover some of the most interesting cultural events in art, fashion and sports, including recent trips to Asia, Europe and far reaches of the USA. So of course we asked her for helpful insights about how she got started and what advice she would give to someone who wants to be a successful freelance writer like her.
Ann Binlot, writer extraordinaire
Ann’s official bio, which she sent us when we asked her for one: Ann is a seasoned Brooklyn-based freelance writer who covers art, fashion, architecture, design, travel, and food for platforms like The Cut, The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Galerie, Highsnobiety, and CNN. Recent assignments have brought her to Seoul, where she covered LG Oled’s presentation of Korean artist Kim Whanki, as well as to Paris, where she caught Parris Goebel’s groundbreaking Nike Women performance, and most recently to Miami, where she stopped by a myriad of exhibition openings during Miami Art Week.
We caught up with Ann between assignments and asked her the relevant questions that will help you or anyone make the right moves to follow in her footsteps. Essentially it takes hard work, commitment and having the long-view in mind. Ann is an inspiration to anyone thinking of pursuing this goal and is respected as a prolific writer at the top of her field. My emailed questions are in bold, and Ann’s written answers are in regular text font. Follow her on X for more great Ann stories and adventures in journalism.
What advice would you share with others who want to try and make it as a writer nowadays? Specifically:
1. How did you get started? What would you suggest someone do as a first step? (Take a writing course? Get an internship?)
Ann: I wanted to be a storyteller for as long as I remember. I started early and joined the school paper in middle school and I took writing courses in high school. During college I did an internship at the Associated Press’s Paris bureau. Journalism is so competitive, that I did more internships after graduating. I had a stints at Newsweek’s London bureau, and at Harper’s Bazaar and BlackBook, an indie culture magazine in New York.
I earned a graduate degree in journalism from Columbia, and I was working as an associate producer at CBSNews.com. I was also interested in art, so I freelanced for publications like The Economist and T in my free time. A now-defunct website called ARTINFO had an opening for a style editor, and I went for it and took a pay cut because I would be writing more in that role. Writing is a very competitive, low-paying field, so make sure to develop a strong network of people who can help you out, and it helps to be independently wealthy or to have a day job that provides a stable income.
2. What’s the one skill you rely on most? Reporting? Relating? Telling a detailed scene or narrative? Researching first?
Ann: I love doing the research and picking up a new subject. I read everything I can — books and articles, then I look at the subject’s social media. If it’s an art exhibition, I’ll go see it in person.
If it’s a film, I’ll watch it. For fashion collections, I’ll have attended the show. While I’m doing the research, I think of any questions I want to ask that haven’t been posed yet.
3. Do you pitch most of your ideas? If so where do you get most of your inspiration? Reading, talking to people, or observing?
Ann: I pitch most of my stories. I have a strong network of publicists who keep me updated about their clients’ projects. On top of that, I always have my eyes and ears open for story ideas. I read as much as possible and I talk to as many people as I can so I know what’s going on. I love culture, so I see as many art exhibitions as possible.
4. How do you know if something is a book, an article, a Q and A or even a video or short topic?
Ann: You develop an instinct for it over time. I always ask myself, is this better long form, or for a short article? If there’s a visual element with movement, like with dance, I often opt for a video. It’s not always in my control. Editors I work with often decide whether something should be a Q&A or written out in narrative form.
5. What are you most proud of? Something you would love to be known for?
Ann: I’m most proud of giving BIPOC talent the spotlight they deserve. I would love to be known for discovering emerging artists and fashion designers. I also love producing packages and artist portfolios.
6. Lastly, Do you have a mantra, or words you live by? If so what are they?
Ann: Stay humble. Everyone has ups and downs, so it’s important to keep your ego in check. Always be ready to develop a new skill set. With AI and so many new social media platforms, it’s important to know how to ride the wave of change.
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