Who is Taylor Lorenz?

Taylor Lorenz is a technology columnist for The Washington Post and the author of the newly released book Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet. Residing in Los Angeles, CA, she explores the intricacies of online fame and its implications.

What is Her Writing Focus?

Taylor delves into how technology transforms our communication and connections. Her work often highlights major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. However, she also enjoys examining niche topics that illustrate the evolving tech landscape and its cultural ramifications. A fervent tech enthusiast, she began her journey in blogging, and now finds joy in reporting internet-related stories.

Where Does She Write?

Her writing setup is quite casual; she often types away in bed with her laptop perched on her knees. Taylor primarily uses her laptop and phone, favoring the Notes app for jotting down ideas. While she occasionally sits at her desk, she finds it challenging to focus there, preferring the comfort of her bed.

When Does She Write?

Due to her ADHD, Taylor relies on bursts of hyper-focus to fuel her writing sessions. Although these moments don’t always align with her deadlines, she produces enough content to keep her editors satisfied. She doesn't adhere to strict schedules or word counts; rather, she writes her pieces from beginning to end in one go until her creativity wanes.

Why Does She Write?

For Taylor, writing serves as a means to engage in reporting. She relishes the opportunity to meet new people, learn about diverse subjects, and share experiences. While she finds the writing process to be laborious and often painful, the satisfaction of seeing a story published makes it worthwhile.

How Does She Tackle Writer's Block?

Taylor admits she lacks a foolproof strategy for overcoming writer's block. She waits for her mind to enter a state of hyper-focus, as forcing creativity rarely works. Although she can be a procrastinator, the pressure of approaching deadlines or concerned editors often helps her transition into a productive mindset.

Bonus: Her Hobbies Outside Writing

A passionate horror movie aficionado, Taylor aspires to work on a horror film someday. She watches 3 to 5 horror movies weekly, using this as her primary form of relaxation.

My sincere thanks to Taylor Lorenz for participating in today's interview. You can find her on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.