‘I’m a big believer that knowing how to put a story together is still going to matter in the future,’ Condé Nast Traveler executive editor, Candice Rainey tells me at we catch up at the magazine’s HQ at One World Trade Centre. “There’s going to be fewer people who know how to do it well, which makes us that much more valuable ten years from now.”
It’s interesting that storytelling is where our conversation begins, as it’s one of the facets of what she does that has always fascinated me. You see, Candice is a master storyteller. Whether penning an article herself or commissioning the work to one of her stable pool of prominent writers, she’s made it her mission to bring intellectual rigour to the topics she covers. If you’ve followed her work, you’ll know that her writing runs the gamut across all the things a culture woman want to talk about and would be interested to know about.
With almost two decades in the industry under her belt, she’s wracked up the kind of CV most writers could only dream of, with her name having appeared on just about all of the biggest and most influential US titles. She cut her teeth at GQ, before spending six years at US ELLE, supporting editor-in-chief Robbie Myers on the day to day development of the print magazine, writing and editing feature pieces and celebrity profiles with the likes of Rihanna, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Lopez and Gwen Stefani. After ELLE, she went freelance for a year, writing for the likes of The New York Times, WSJ Magazine, Bon Appetit, Glamour and Wired magazine, before joining the team at Details as Deputy Editor, where she was the forefront of the magazine’s evolution and editorial revamp.
Today she’s the executive editor of Condé Nast Traveler, the glossy travel magazine that gives Pinterest a run for its money in the wanderlust stakes thanks to its breath-taking photography and excellent reads. It’s part of the reason the magazine is the one monthly we all feel compelled to hoard here at TLE HQ. Here, we got Candice to spill on her tips for aspiring writers, the importance of mentors and the advice women aren’t hearing enough of right now.
ON HER EARLY YEARS: I always loved to read, and I think that played a big part in my wanting to become a writer and an editor. That and control issues. Just kidding (kind of). I have a very vivid memory of reading terrible Mormon teen lit during social studies class and getting caught. Such a rebel—reading during class! My mom just dug up a bunch of bad poems I sent to Seventeen magazine about rain hitting the windows, which is a pretty good indication I was doing a terrible impression of Sylvia Plath and/or Bob Dylan in my tween years.
HER CURRENT ROLE: When I joined Condé Nast Traveler as deputy editor I was working mainly with print editors on honing Condé Nast Traveler’s voice, tone, and look. One of my first big projects was reinventing the front of book, which was a great way to learn Pilar’s vision for the magazine. Now as executive editor, I’m working on all aspects of the brand—social, digital, print. This sounds like such an ink-stained-wretch comment, but I actually see the addictive pleasures of Snapchat. As someone who focused mostly on print for the majority of her career, I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s challenging to figure out new ways to approach storytelling. But that’s what I love about my job—I learn about the world every day and communicate vital intel through all these different platforms. I’m never, ever bored.
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MORNING ROUTINE: I get up at 6/6:30 a.m. and have coffee with my dog, Stevie, who usually needs a good five minutes of belly-rubbing time. I definitely have a bad habit of firing off like ten emails right away, which I’m sure annoys quite a few of my editors. Who wants to see an email that early, really? But if I don’t send it right then, I’ll forget. Then I look at the New York Times. Then I look at Instagram. An insane amount of content on Instagram has to do with travel, so…I’ve been using it a lot more and even launched a work-only account where I try to surface all the invaluable information I learn in this office every day (@candice_rainey). If I have time, I head out for a run. If I don’t, I get my daughter’s lunch ready, get her up, make her breakfast, and get her out the door to school, which is a Herculean effort. Somehow it takes twice as long as I think it will. After I drop her off, I walk over the Brooklyn Bridge to work and listen to a podcast—lately I’ve really been into “The Q&A with Jeff Goldsmith.” He did this great Aaron Sorkin interview that I’ve replayed like four times. I might grab an iced coffee or a cortado at Kaffe 1668, which has basically become a morning pit stop for Condé eds. If you’re a freelance writer and/or a media journalist, I would suggest hanging out there. Then I head over to One World Trade, usually listening to music. Right now I’m really into old Sleater-Kinney records for some reason. Probably because I just read the Carrie Brownstein bio, which is weird and wonderful.
LIFE AT ELLE: I always say that I learned how to be a magazine maker at GQ and a writer at ELLE. I had some incredible mentors at ELLE, including Robbie Myers, who still to this day champions great writing and writers. The reach of that magazine is astounding, probably because Robbie has continued to publish pieces about subjects and issues women really care about and deal with constantly in their lives. It’s pretty damn smart. Before Girls or The Hairpin or Jezebel, ELLE was writing provocatively and honestly about women and the lives we lead. ELLE is really such a genre-busting book, I think all young women should keep it next to their nightstands, mining it for wisdom. You know, when their iPhone dies.
I think part of the reason women are historically lousy at negotiating salaries has to do with the fact that we want to be liked, especially by our bosses. And the reality is, asking for a raise and a promotion can be awkward and perhaps a situation where you will in fact not be liked at that very moment. You kind of have to be okay with that.
LEAVING FREELANCE LIFE FOR DETAILS: After six years at ELLE, I went freelance before later joining the team at Details as deputy editor. I sort of fell for the staff, if I’m honest. There were some very talented people there, and I was lucky enough to come on board as a freelancer, which is the best possible way to try a job on before committing full time. We were a lean team, especially for a Condé mag, but I think that made us a tighter group in a way. I have great memories of that place, and I still work with quite a few of my colleagues on pieces here. I worked really hard throughout my career, and I think because of that, I’ve spent considerable time at terrific magazines staffed with blindingly brilliant people. I know it’s the “eat right, exercise” answer, but it’s true.
ADVICE FOR ASPIRING WRITERS: Find great editors and write for them. A lot. Listen to them when they ask you to cut that genius line or rework the lead that you thought was untouchable. And when they ask you to rework the lead a third time, do it. Take their notes. Study their edits. Read writers you love and then steal all their secrets.
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN HER CAREER DEVELOPMENT: I feel very fortunate to have worked for some insanely talented women. Pilar Guzmán, my current editor in chief, has helped me understand the world. Literally! I mean, she speaks in paragraphs about Egypt and I just sit there trying to keep up. Robbie Myers, who taught me a lot about being a more patient editor. Also Lucy Kaylin, now the editor in chief of O. I remember at GQ, when I was like four, I had a terrible interview with a celebrity who didn’t want to answer any of my questions (I will say, my questions may have sucked). She sat me down and revealed to me her process, which was invaluable. Lucy had gotten the goods from everyone—Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise. I doubt she’d remember that conversation we had, but it stuck with me for a long time. I’ve also had great male mentors as well. Adam Rapoport who is now the editor-in-chief of Bon Appetit taught me everything I know about packaging. He also taught me how to scramble eggs properly. And transcribing Michael Hainey’s interviews was basically like taking a graduate level class in how to conduct an interview. GQ was like magazine bootcamp back then.
ON MENTORSHIP: I enjoy mentoring young editors, especially women. When I find a young person who’s still interested in pursuing the hard work of becoming a writer or an editor, that’s pretty special. That pool is shrinking, obviously. But I’m a big believer that knowing how to put a story together is still going to matter in the future. There’s going to be fewer people who will know how to do it well, which will make us that much more valuable ten years down the line.
ON PUSHING FOR MORE MONEY AT WORK: I think part of the reason women are historically lousy at negotiating salaries has to do with the fact that we want to be liked, especially by our bosses. And the reality is, asking for a raise and a promotion can be awkward and perhaps a situation where you will in fact not be liked at that very moment. You kind of have to be okay with that. My advice is: do your homework. Know what the comparable salaries are out there by using Glassdoor or talking to people in the industry who are privy to this information. When I was in a job years ago where I knew I was being underpaid, I read Mika Brzezinski’s Knowing Your Value. There are some great tips in there about how to approach this seemingly daunting process, one of them being to write out beforehand how your job has expanded. “I deserve it” doesn’t work. Prove why you’re invaluable. In other words, make yourself invaluable by doing great work. Make it impossible for him/her to let you leave or take a job with a competitor.
ON DEALING WITH STRESS: When I know we’re closing an issue that week, I definitely have anxiety about getting through all of the copy and editing. But you know what? I remind myself: I’ve never printed blank pages. Also, rosé and a roast chicken always helps. And HBO Sunday-night programming of course.
ON THE ADVICE WOMEN AREN’T HEARING ENOUGH OF RIGHT NOW: That rigor will make up for most if not all of your blind spots.
THE CHALLENGE OF SPINNING MULTIPLE PLATES: What’s balance? If you’re a working mother in New York, I just think we all do the best we can. It’s a hectic life. A fulfilling one, but completely nuts. I have a terrific boss who has a family and gets what it means to be a working mother. In fact, many of my colleagues are working moms who are very supportive of one another. That’s huge. And, sadly, not as common as it should be. Running is also important for me—I try to knock out 20 miles a week as a general goal, but it doesn’t always happen. In fact, it rarely happens. I get to like 18. I think Haruki Murakami put it best: “I run in order to acquire a void.”