Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Ramirez.
Hi Allison, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m from South Florida—born and raised in Miami and the Florida Keys. I’ve loved reading and writing since I was a kid, but for a long time I worked in education. My first job was in a daycare, then through college I taught in different classrooms (from Montessori to subbing at my old high school, which was a hoot considering I was only a few years older than some of the students). After college, I briefly taught reading intervention and English Lit to high schoolers.
Didn’t feel like that wasn’t for me so I moved to Savannah (followed my best friend there actually) to pursue an MFA in writing at SCAD. I started a blog to experiment with different writing styles and topics and then I moved to New York for internships at two very different magazines, which also gave me a real sense of the range of stories I wanted to tell.
From there I headed to LA, juggling all kinds of jobs (babysitting, furniture industry, film/production), but always writing. I wrote essays on dating, love, and sex for Cosmo, Vice, and the LA Times; I wrote about art and artists for the Getty; and I wrote about my first apartment burning down, for Seventeen. Then I found travel. I’d always been into restaurants, cocktail bars, wine, etc… and I realized that oftentimes the best way to tell the story of a place, of a person, or of a culture, is through its food.
In 2020, I moved back to the South to be closer to family. Breaking into the freelance scene here was surprisingly tough—Atlanta has this big city energy but a small-town feel when it comes to media. I eventually found my footing. Today I write a lot about restaurants in Atlanta while continuing to cover destinations I know well (Miami, LA, Savannah), in addition others I love/have visited/want to learn more about.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Struggles? Fighting people for money (kidding, kind of), living with friends in small spaces, not making six figures, still having student loan debt. Time management. I have a full-time copywriting job and so my work bleeds into evenings a lot. Also, too much screen time. I just got my eyes checked, and I’ll just say, it’s not good. At this rate, I’ll need a walking stick by like 2030.
Writing isn’t easy; your brain never turns off. But when it’s rewarding, it’s worth it. I’m constantly learning. I love that part.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Most people don’t really understand my job, so they’re always asking how I get these opportunities (sometimes free hotel stays or comped meals). I specialize in storytelling, writing about places, people, and experiences, often with a focus on diversity: highlighting Latinos, women in interesting fields, and people or places I can personally relate to, or that feel like home.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Be a good person. Make lots of friends. Ask questions, but not too many. Have strong boundaries. Always lead with curiosity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/allisonramirez
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/27kinds/
