Highland Park Writer Published in New York Times

Highland Park writer Milla Goldenberg is no stranger to being published. She's been posting on her own blog, the Milla Times, for nearly a decade and has been blogging for Patch since we launched the platform in 2011.

Goldenberg is also the copy editor of GEEK Magazine--"a lifestyle magazine made by geeks for geeks of every kind"--which first hit newsstands last month.

But even a writer as prolific as Goldenberg had to stop to celebrate when she received word earlier this month that one of her personal essays would run in the Modern Love section of the New York Times.

In her piece "So Much in Common--in Name Only," Goldenberg shares a personal story about an online relationship built around a shared surname and some lofty expectations.

"So Much in Common" ran in Sunday's Times. It can also be viewed online on the Times website.

Patch recently chatted with Goldenberg about her life as a writer and the experience of being published in America's paper of record.

Patch: So, I know you've been writing for a long time. When did you first start blogging?

Milla Goldenberg: I started my blog in 2003. It was originally to satisfy a school assignment on keeping a journal when I worked overseas. I was a graduate student then, studying journalism at the University of Southern California. I was in London for a summer internship, which I chronicled on my blog.

P: Being published in the Times is something that a lot of writers dream about. Was that the case for you? Or did you just shoot for it and hope for the best?

MG: It was definitely a long-standing dream. I had submitted to the Modern Love column before and had been rejected more than once. I expected another rejection this time. I always tell people that being a writer is a lot like being an actor.

P: How has the feedback been? I know you're used to fighting in the Internet trenches.

MG: Haha, yes, I am. Thankfully, my previous battle wounds have helped me develop a thick skin. I'm happy to say it's been very positive so far. I've gotten several emails from women saying they agreed with me. I've gotten emails from people who also share my surname. And, I've gotten a lot of new friend requests! There have been a few nasty comments as well, but it's the Internet, so no surprises there. I don't take them to heart.

P: So, what's the next step for you as a writer? This is a great accomplishment, but I know you've got some other cool things in the works. Care to share?

MG: I'm working on another personal essay, which I hope will be ready in the next few weeks. I don't think it will go to the New York Times because it's about my time working in the porn publishing industry, but i have a few other publications in mind. I'm also putting together a book of haikus from a Facebook group I started about a year ago, called Haiku Wednesdays. It will have the best haikus from the first year from various group members. I also copy edit a magazine called GEEK--I just returned from Comic Con. So, there is a lot going on, but I like staying busy.

P: Anything else you want to add?

MG: Just that I love Highland Park and that I am happy to be part of the community. As you know, there are a lot of creative people here, which makes it easy to find inspiration to keep going.