New York Magazine "The Exes That Froze Embryos and Regret It"

"From hurt feelings and debt to legal battles and harassment, risks come with committing by combining DNA" My latest!

I’ve been pitching New York Magazine for five years. Since I was working at Google! Since I was reporting harassment at Google! And I finally placed a story there.

It’s my first deep-dive investigation. By which I mean, the first article that doesn’t have me in it. (My sources are WAY more interesting.)

How did this happen?

Fifteen months ago, I placed my first feature — about fertility — at a glossy, prestigious magazine. I WAY over reported it. Then it got killed. (A true rite of passage.) I was devastated.

I had pitched many, many personal essays to a different editor. But shortly after my old piece died, this editor reached out after reading my book review/ anti- foster-care-as-plot-device screed in The Nation.

I pitched her for about six months.

Then I met my main source for this embryo story, Jennifer, who froze embryos with a boo then broke up. Her saga was so compelling and she was so well-spoken, and it was clear that so many other women were going through the same thing yet feeling isolated and alone.

My editor took the story! Then I hunted for other people in the same situation. Then Alabama ruled that embryos are children.

All the things I learned from the killed story made this 1000x easier. And I had the voice in my head of my teachers, Jeanne Lenzer and Shannon Brownlee, telling me to “follow the money” — which elevated this story. It’s not just a set of individual heartbreaks. It’s a venture-capital funded disaster factor!

I hope you enjoy this story. I’m excited to do other fertility pieces. If you have a wild tale, I’d love to know!

One ask - do you know a good admin?

I’m preparing for maternity leave, and trying to get through the pitches for this newsletter, so I’m hiring an administrative and research assistant. Fully remote, flexible, 5-10 hours a week (or maybe more), at $18-23 an hour, depending on experience.

If you know someone who might be good (or someone who you work with! or you!) please give me their info! Or send me the resume and a bit about them/why they’d like to do this! emi [@ ] eminietfeld dot [com]

xoxo

Emi