why i turned down a contributing editor role

marie claire's hiring spree, the cutting room floor $55K salary, and the power of saying no

This past weekend, I ran into an old colleague at a party. We started talking about the career changes we’ve made since our days in municipal government. I said I left my full-time job in 2023 to be a fashion writer.

It was hard that first year. Pitching was demoralizing because legacy magazines would barely acknowledge the existence of Substack. I pinched my nose and swallowed a rate of less than 50 cents per word so I could add the perceived pedigree of a Vogue byline to my portfolio.

But slowly, the tides started turning. I would notice differences here and there—things that would have been unfathomable a few years ago. Like editors scouting writers via Notes. Brands getting on Substack and investing in editorial campaigns.

The latest move that cements this shift is Marie Claire’s recent hiring spree to bring on a cohort of influencers, stylists, writers, content creators—people with online audiences in the fashion space—as contributing editors.