Interview with...LORI MULLIGAN

       Hi, Fellow FanStorians, and Happy New Year! I hope 2025 has begun well for you, that it continues to be that way, and that it ends up being your best year yet.

        I wanted to kick it off with an interview with a member who’s been with us since July of 2024. I happened upon her near the beginning and immediately loved her posts and under-the-radar style and want to introduce her to you now. Please meet: LORI MULLIGAN!!

Hi, Lori! And welcome to FS! I’m so happy and excited to be doing this interview with you! Thank you for making the time.

        Let’s do the personal details first, since everyone knows that the gold of any terrific writer lies in what inspired him or her to pick up the metaphoric pen in the first place.

Where were you born and raised?

I’m a byproduct of Trenton, NJ: “What Trenton Makes, the World Takes.” I spent the majority of my life on the East Coast. Graduated from Boston University with a BA in Poli Sci and a Master’s in Public Health from George Washington University in DC. I worked for the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD in public and Congressional affairs. The highlight of my NIH career was working for Dr. Fauci (the nation’s go-to during the COVID pandemic) in biodefense project management.

Wowie zowie!! Based on the style of your FS writings, I would never in my wildest dreams have imagined you with such a serious job/career!

I’ve surprised a lot of my former NIH colleagues with my newly unearthed passion for humor writing. So far, they really enjoy it and love this new side of me.

Oh, I bet! What fun for all of you. And it’s nice that you have a support group there. It’s not always easy for writers to share their work because they worry how it will be received.

Where do you live now?

After working in a leadership role for a long time at NIH, I decided to try something different. I’m now a self-employed professional medical writer working remotely from Fort Collins, Colorado. My sister is going to Colorado State University (CSU), pursuing her second career - a veterinarian. Her first job was as a neurosurgeon. Can we say Triple A personality?

Yes! I’ve learned a lot about your sister from your FS posts! It sounds like you BOTH excel at over-achieving!!

What’s your everyday life like?

My life as a writer is pretty laid back. I either work from home or go to a local Starbucks where I’m friends with the baristas and all the regulars. I started an American Sign Language meetup group taught by the most fantastic ASL teacher from CSU. We meet every Tuesday evening and I’m starting to see real progress in myself and the other students.

Uh, see previous comment about over-achieving…

Do you have any cool and/or unusual hobbies you can share with us?

Well, until I sustained a knee injury, I had several activities: I was a ballroom dancer and kickboxer for fifteen years.

WHAT?! That’s like saying you were a hairdresser and a research scientist. Those are VERY different genres of athleticism to undertake. Do elaborate, please!!

Well, I guess you might say I’m a lover and a fighter. I love the elegance and sexiness of ballroom and Latin dancing. Nothing beats the feeling of gliding across a dance floor.

As far as the kickboxing, having lived in or close to urban cities like Boston and Washington DC, I’m hypervigilant about my surroundings. So, my sister and I took a self-defense class, and I liked it so much that I started taking private and group classes in self-defense and kickboxing. Great workout and confidence builder!

Also, the photographer at NIH took me under his wing and taught me how to play squash. Most physically demanding sport I’ve played, and don’t let anyone tell you that racquetball is superior.

Haha! Okay; DEAL!!

By virtue of the fact that you’re living in Colorado, I imagine you ski?

I wouldn’t call it skiing. More like I fall then roll down the hills. Though, as I mentioned, a knee injury took me out of the game.

Hmm. Maybe just as well!

Now let’s talk about what’s brought us together: what was your catalyst for writing?

I’ve always written as a professional at NIH, but it was in the form of breaking down complex medical topics and creating understandable language for the public, media, Congress and the White House. While I found this writing challenging and rewarding, I would always hear my dad’s voice in the back of my head to try humor writing.

Oh, wow! THAT’S certainly different, isn’t it? Usually, parents want/encourage their children to take the sure-thing route! I love that he tapped into that facet of you and then planted the seed in the hope you’d explore it.

When I was very little, I wrote a short story that made my dad laugh out loud, and he told me from that time forward to be a humor writer.

Sweetest. Vignette. Ever! That just melted me.

But, of course, I didn’t listen. I’ve always been told I was a good writer. However, I didn’t pursue humor writing with purpose until December 2023.

Has he gotten to see what you’re doing with it now?

No, unfortunately, my dad passed away in 2007, so he never did see me pursue his advice.

Ugh. What a gyp. I’m so sorry, Lori.

My dad always wanted my sister and me to live our lives to the fullest. So did my mom, of course, but she was a little more practical about career choices.

I hear you.

How did you happen upon FS, and what’s it been like for you?

I was doing a google search, looking for contests to enter, and one of the hits was FanStory. I thought it looked interesting, so I became a member.

Have you gotten from it what you hoped?

Very much so. I love that you can fan people whose work you like and vice versa. Over time, you start to develop friendships which is a lot of fun.

Only seven months in, and you totally get it. Why am I not surprised?

What has been your favorite facet of it so far?

The sense of community and camaraderie.

I agree. Learning to write better seems to work in tandem with relationships formed with other writers. You have more and more people whose ideas and opinions you know you can trust.

What’s helped you here the most?

The positive and constructive feedback that I have received from my peers, especially the constructive. I’m looking to become the best writer possible, so I love getting tips on how to improve. And you, Ms. Allen, are one of my favorite reviewers because you really take the time to give me very specific feedback.

Oh, you sweet talker, you! I knew I liked you right away!

I would also like to say thank you to Tom for always being so responsive when replying to emails.

 

Ohhh, look at that. Yep, you WERE in politics, weren’t you!!

Anything you wish were different?

I find the process for promoting your work confusing with using certificates and pumps and things like that. I wish the website were more intuitive.

Can you explain what you mean by that?

Honestly, I don’t know if it’s the site or operator error but when I try to use my pumps, it tells me I don’t have enough even though I have a ton of member dollars to use.

Hmmm. Yeah, that doesn’t sound quite right. Maybe take that up with Tom, the Swift Email Responder.

Also, I believe since we pay an annual membership, the cost structure for posting and promoting your work should be different, i.e., FREE!

OHHHHH YEAH!! That has been a recurrent suggestion among my interviewees. TOM?? TOM, ARE YOU LISTENING??

Have you been on other writing sites, too?

I visit sites that offer contests and online publication sites that accept submissions.

Tell us about the writing course you’re taking and what inspired you to do that.

So, I did a search for creative writing classes and stumbled upon the online, independent writing center, Center for Creative Writing, directed by Stacia Fleegal. I started taking creative nonfiction classes with a focus on writing personal essays. While green at first, I gradually saw some progress, which fueled my desire to become a better writer in this area. Then, I narrowed my interest even more to humor writing and am currently taking a six-week immersion course in humor writing.

Yes! I’ve noticed that sometimes, in your Author’s Notes, you mention that the post is from an assignment and ask for feedback. That’s such a smart way to hone your craft and increase your own personal intuition, I think. You get lots of good suggestions, which is great, but then you have to separate the chaff from grain of what works best with your particular style.

Has your teacher liked what you’ve turned in?

Yes, she has but she always finds ways to improve it, which I appreciate. She said she’s really seen me take off after reading Sam Irby’s work.

Now let’s talk about your writing style, which I, personally, absolutely love. When I’m reading your posts, I feel as if we’re out for a walk together on a lovely day and have all the time in the world to spend just chatting and enjoying our friendship.

Your pieces are always schmoozey, but they’re also very amusing because you have such a unique way of framing situations that others might find painful or unbearable. {“The Rose,” for example. That one kind of gutted me.}

Is there an author whose style you emulate?

In one session, my writing instructor asked us to read an excerpt from Sam Irby’s book, Wow, a hilarious true story about how to make an adult friend of the same sex. It was a total game changer for my writing. She was so colorful and descriptive and surprising that I just fell in love with her style. I try to emulate it when I can. though I’m the PG-13 version. Her work can get a little raunchy, which is not my style.

Note to my naughty self: Check out Sam Irby.

Where would you like your writing to go?

I would like to develop a nice portfolio of published work and win some more contests along the way.

Do you have a five-year plan?

No, but it sounds like a really good idea. I’ll have to think about that.

This is what happens when two over-achievers sit down together and chat, I fear…

Okay, let’s appeal to your sense of fun here: Please write a limerick about this interview!!!

I'm writing a limerick though I never do

To impress my friend Rachelle who asked me to

I answered best I could

‘Cause I promised her I would

So, here’s to fun we’ve had. *clink* Cheers to you!

Hahaha! To the top of the class with you!! Take a bow!

And, finally, what advice would you bestow upon the newbies who, with the new year, decided to take up the gauntlet of becoming a writer/FS member?

Don’t take constructive feedback personally. Appreciate that someone is taking the time to help you become a better writer. Usually, if people spend time critiquing your work, it means that they think you have intrinsic talent but just need some development and refinement.

I repeat: you totally get what this site is all about! You’re going to be a rock star here, and I can’t wait to watch you blossom.

Thank you for taking the time to interview me! You really know how to tap into a person’s personality and their passion for writing.

(Oh, look: she’s doing that politically savvy thing with her delightful compliments again! Irresistible!)

Thank you, Sweet Lori. I’ve loved every minute of it, too. Xo

Okay, fellow Members! Take a look at the portfolio of this rising talent, and fan her so that you don’t miss even one more post. You will be so glad you treated yourself! xoxox