Author, essayist, and CCAS alumna Lisa Friedman, BA ‘82, discusses her writing career and the importance of never giving up, as well as how GW helped her accomplish her goals.
“Writing is my passion, something that brings me great pleasure, and also terrific success. But it is the teaching and sharing of the craft of fiction that produces a true spark of excitement for me.”
Lisa Friedman
BA '82
Where did you grow up and how has your background influenced you today?
I'm from a remote town in rural NY, and I had little exposure to other people and their dreams. The first person I met at GWU was a pro athlete, who managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA while traveling for her sport. Her determination, and the focused goals of others in my classes, elevated my own ambition and I am happy to say I rose to the competition - something relatively rare in my small and limiting town.
Tell us about your current professional role and how it excites you.
Writing is my passion, something that brings me great pleasure, and also terrific success. But it is the teaching and sharing of the craft of fiction that produces a true spark of excitement for me. Writers are a special people, and I am grateful to work with others in the field.
What accomplishment are you most proud of personally or professionally and why?
My humor column in the original Huffington Post is something I cherish - in fact, I reread my own humor essays to remind myself why I write. I think humor is an overlooked gem. This October, my novel about addiction, Hello Wife, will be released. I'm already enjoying the excitement surrounding the publication.
What is your only-at-GW moment? In other words, what is an experience/opportunity you believe GW provided you access to?
I went on a political symposium to Egypt and Israel with David Altshuler, an experience that changed the course of my career. I became aware of the world in a new way, and several of the participants who traveled with us went on to important and exciting careers.
What is a fun fact about you that you'd like to share?
I am still in school. I take classes, teach classes, and volunteer in culture and arts programs around Washington DC. My favorite program is Smithsonian Associates, which offers online classes led by industry and world leaders in every possible topic. I sign up for online evening classes which I watch after work. I call these: "dinner theater."
Was there a standout course, professor, or organization from your time as a student that inspired your career path?
I took courses in so many different departments including biology and psychology, some of which were part of the medical school curriculum. I don't believe in accepting "no" as an answer to something I really want to do.
What is a piece of advice you would offer to students seeking to pursue your field of work?
Never give up. Write like your life depends on it, and pay no attention to critics!
How do you give back to the GW community?
I support several programs and projects, and I'm still on campus almost every day.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the GW community?
I am so proud of my diverse education and experience at GWU. I appreciate the expertise and effort of everyone in this community.