The tagline on her website states “Author. Writer. Totally Awesome Girl.”
Lesely Arfin is an amazing writer with a ton of sass and style. In 2007 her book Dear Diary was published – an examination of the journal entries she penned as a teenager and in her early twenties. She lives in New York City in a super adorable apartment with books above the kitchen bench. Currently she has a monthly column in Russh magazine, offers sage advice, writes regularly at Cafe Con Lesley and has just started a blog called I Never Go Out. She kindly answered a few of my questions.
What do you enjoy the most about what you do? I love that it’s hard and sometimes I hate it but I keep doing it because an orgasm in my brain happens when I get that release. I’m addicted to that feeling.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt (professional or personal)? That staying true to myself often leads to the best possible results (personal). Also I’ve learned that when doing a job for someone else, it is most important to be of service to the job rather than myself (professional).
What is your essential daily ritual? Usually I wake up, make coffee immediately, head to the office. Stop for a carrot juice and salad or oatmeal. I work on whatever project or just write for a good few hours (albeit fucking around on Internet is unavoidable) and after that I go to my class (substance abuse counseling) or just go home, eat with friends, read, chill, whatever.
What do you do if you’re not inspired? How do you shake a creative block off? Cleaning helps me. Reading, meditating, sometimes calling people and getting out of my house or office and just forgetting about it for a little while. Often just powering through and writing anyway will usually force the block to run and hide.
Digital or analog? Both.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? What about the unborn? I’m interested in meeting my unborn children. I’d like to meet up with all my dead friends and my grandpa.
What dream do you still want to fulfill? I want a Porsche, babies, property, multiple properties. I want to be in NY Magazine one day. I’d like to get a PhD. I’d like to live in an apartment that can fit a couch. Write another book, get more commercial work, start my own rehab center, learn more about alternative medicine, get a juicer, take a ballet class, sing in a punk band, become interested in science-y things, everything… The list gets longer everyday.
Current inspirations/obsessions? Kind of obsessed with girl graffiti writers, this girl Tracy I just met, this girl Elizabeth I work with. Always inspired by witchcraft, surfers, punks, jocks, dicks, freaks, weirdos, losers, black people, white people, space cadets, looney birds, sex workers, diamond thieves, drag queens, trash, disgust, barf, puke, shit, etc.
What sound or noise do you love the most? The sound of rap music. The sound of Mama Cass singing.
What are you reading? And the Heart Says Whatever
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Brain orgasms! I get them too. Maybe I should pen a book on “How to achieve Cerebral Climax”.
i love dear diary its so good i hop u write anothr one.
I am obsessed with both Lesley and Elizabeth.