The Footnote with Liz Astrof
An index revealing all the minute details of how your favorite authors work
The Footnote is a brand-new column from Moms Don’t Have Time to Write in which prominent writers give us the lowdown on their work habits — no matter how messy or mundane.
This week we have Liz Astrof, author of Don’t Wait Up: Confessions of a Stay-at-Work Mom. Astrof is also an award-winning executive producer and successful sitcom writer, and has worked on shows such as 2 Broke Girls, The King of Queens, and Raising Hope, among others. She currently lives in California with her husband and two children.
Follow the link to visit Astrof’s author page and listen to her episode of Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books.
Early riser or night owl?
Night owl and night eater
Writing on an empty stomach or a full breakfast?
Way-too-full stomach and slight indigestion.
Long-hand or computer?
Computer.
Silence is golden or music for inspiration?
Silence is golden.
Favorite magazine?
US Weekly — for the Stars Are Just Like Us.
Avoid or devour reviews of your own work?
Avoid, then devour.
Frequency of checking Amazon ranking?
Never anymore.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?
The third funniest person working at the Banana Republic.
If you could be any other author, who would you be? Why?
Joan Didion… because, well… Joan Didion.
How many cups of coffee or tea per day?
3 or 4 cups of coffee.
Favorite snack/meal while writing?
Chopped salad, carrots, a tub of gum, and these cheese puff things.
Trick for avoiding writer’s block?
Working out.
Last charge you’ll admit to on your credit card?
A pool float in the shape of a piece of pizza.
Oh, wait! Admit to?! An air fryer!!!
Book you’ve pretended to have read but haven’t?
Moby Dick.
Word you always misspell?
Ocupation.
Go-to outfit for a day of writing at home?
Pajama pants and an old t-shirt.
Edits: love or hate them?
Love, if I know what I’m doing.
Largest number of rejections you’ve gotten for a book or essay before it was sold?
14.
Number of unsold manuscripts in a drawer?
None.
Career goal you still haven’t hit?
Writing a manuscript for a novel.
Places on your travel wishlist?
Anywhere in Europe — I know, it’s ridiculous that I haven’t been.
Number of times you check your word count when writing?
3,279.
Where do you get your news?
From friends and CNN’s 5 Things to Know.
Favorite place to write?
The back corner of Coral Tree Cafe in Encino, California.
Last book you couldn’t put down?
Normal People.
Someone whose book recommendations you respect?
Zibby Owens and Vinnie Marino (my yoga teacher).
I hope no one finds out that…
I have a security blanket.
My secret dream is to…
Be able to eat only one piece of sheet cake.
Most useless skill I have is…
Remembering every single time I’ve been screwed over by a person and what I was wearing when it happened.
