How did you become a writer? Professionally? By sending email after email to editors, begging them to publish my writing, until one day, they started paying me for it. Metaphysically? By writing at every opportunity, and writing in my head when pen and paper weren't available. And of course, by reading.

Name your writing influences (writers, books, teachers, etc.).

There are too many to name. But a few that spring to mind right now: James Wood, Christian Lorentzen, William Gass, Colette, Henry James, Dwight MacDonald, Norman Rush.

When and where do you write? Ideally, I'd write in the mornings, or at least immediately after I wake up (which, I must be honest, is often in the afternoon), in a cafe. I write much better when it's light outside, and I hate writing in my apartment. In reality, I often write at all hours, often at home.

What are you working on now? I'm revising the last essay of my soon-to-be- book.

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? Yes, often. The best remedy, I find, is to read really good prose for an hour or so, internalize its rhythms, and get back to work.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received? To be honest, I haven't received much advice. Insofar as I've learned to write--I'm skeptical that writing can be learned or taught, really--it's been by following examples, not advice.

What’s your advice to new writers?

You should only care about the opinions of writers you think are good. Everyone else doesn't matter.

Becca Rothfeld is a contributing editor at the Point and the Boston Review. Her essay collection is forthcoming from Holt.