Hi, Danielle. Thanks for your question. Often editors come to this magazine—and others—through internship programs offered by journalism schools across the country. They start as assistants and move up the ladder. Editors (and researchers and designers and production people) are also hired from other magazines and websites here in New York City.

But there's no one way of becoming a magazine editor or designer. And you don't necessarily need to have gone to school for it. I myself don't have a degree in journalism and never intended to be an editor. I started as a freelance writer for a New York–based magazine called TIME OUT NEW YORK. One thing lead to another; I was hired as an editor, then kept getting promoted. After I had been at TIME OUT for three years, I was hired by US, and then by GLAMOUR, where I worked with Kristin van Ogtrop. And when Kristin got the big job editing REAL SIMPLE, she hired me to work for her.

Does that answer your question, at least in part? If not, let me know.

Hi Danielle,
My path to REAL SIMPLE was more traditional than Jim's. I went to school for journalism at a small university in the Midwest, and specifically studied magazine journalism--as opposed to "print" journalism that many J-schools offer. Then I actually started out at REAL SIMPLE as a summer intern in a program run by the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME). I had one semester left at school after my internship and when I graduated that December they asked me to come back as a freelance staff member. I worked in the freelance postion for about four months before joining the staff full time. I like to consider my internship as a two and a half month interview.

I've now been at REAL SIMPLE for a little over a year and am an assistant editor. I'll soon be joining the ranks of the Simply Stated bloggers in Home and Organizing.

I also didn't get a journalism degree, per se, although I did major in English literature, so I had a comfort with words and editing overall. I'd simply always been a media maven and specifically a devotee of magazines. In my last year of college I got an internship at a magazine, which led to my first 'real' job as an editorial assistant at another magazine, and so on and so forth over the past ten years or so until I landed at Real Simple, where I'm a senior editor. So, the bottom line: To get on the path to working at a magazine the intern thing is vital. It can be frustrating to spend summers/semesters working for peanuts, but in terms of nabbing that first job on salary? Someone with solid experience at another publication, no matter how large or small, will usually get the gig. Bonus points, of course, for having previous internships at publications with a similar focus to your area of interest but it's not vital and you can move around within areas as time goes on and you gain more experience. Oh and like Kristin, I'll also be joining the Simply Stated blogger ranks soon, covering health, fitness, and wellness topics.

Hi Danielle. I've come to work at Real Simple in a manner completely different than that of Jim, Kristin, and Liz...on the other hand, I work at Real Simple in a quite a different capacity than they do. In college I majored in sociology, which has very little to do with the actual crafting of magazines (though I did do quite a bit of research on how and why people use magazines and other media, as well as edit and write for my school's newspaper). Studying sociology also had very little to do with my initial career path - music industry publicity (to gain that job, I interned at several record labels while I was in college). After a year in the music biz, I learned that I was not really interested in the publicity side of things, so I switched careers and became a writer/editor/producer/designer/wearer of all hats for a music website. That job led to a few different jobs editing, designing, and producing websites in the late 90s/early 00s, until I landed the Webmaster position at IN New York magazine (a New York City tourist guide). After four years at IN, I came to RealSimple.com as a producer (basically, the person who takes all of the words and pictures you see in Real Simple and turns them into web pages) and now (three years later) I manage the day-to-day production of everything on the site.

Considering the timing of the beginning of my career versus the advances that have been made in online editorial and production education, I can't really say that my path was typical of someone who is in school now looking to do what I do. When I first started working in online, education in that area didn't really exist, so someone who is looking to work in this field might benefit from some coursework. And as everyone else mentioned - in any field - internships are key.

Hi Danielle,

My name is Julee...I'm currently the associate fashion editor here at Real Simple, and I definitely contribute landing my job to hard work, a lot of help from mentors and most importantly, something I like to call P-Squared....Passion and Persistence! Here's my story:

I took a route similar to Kristin's, as I majored in Journalism (along with Leadership studies) at the University of Richmond (Va.) and then supplemented my education with as many internships that I could get. During the summers between my years in college I made sure I was interning in NYC. Being from rural PA, I rented out a dorm room at Barnard College each summer and often had to find odd jobs to pay for my dorm and board, since most of my internships did not pay. By the time I had graduated, I completed internships at Bergdorf Goodman, VIBE magazine, and CONDE NAST TRAVELER magazine. I employed my passion and persistence every step of the way, since a lot of internships are hard to secure. After graduation, you'd think that landing a job would have been easy for me after having such extensive experience, however, that's not how the editorial side of publishing works. They don't take the best and the brightest of each graduating class...rather there is only a certain number of spots on each staff, so you basically have to wait until someone leaves or gets promoted. It's all about timing!! Again, P-Squared comes back into play. Eventually I scored an interview for the assistant to the managing editor at Real Simple...aka Kristin van Ogtrop....and I got the job! I have been at Real Simple for three years now and I've been lucky enough to move up to my current editorship. I hope that helps! Just remember to stay focused and go for what you want!
P.S. I will also be joining the ranks of Simply Stated and blogging about fashion in the Beauty and Style section.

I recently moved into a new neighborhood that's very social; several people call and stop by daily. While I love the sense of community, some neighbors pop in a touch early or call a tad late. What's the current conventional wisdom for hours in which it's appropriate to call and visit?

Hi, Tara. I'm not an etiquette expert but will put you in touch with someone who is shortly. In my humble opinion, however, you yourself should establish the boundaries that are right for you. If "too late" for you is nine p.m., you should let your neighbors know that—politely, of course. Same goes if "too early" is eight a.m. The official etiquette here isn't as important as your own needs, within reason. And you sound like a reasonable person.

I also like your use of the semicolon.

Anyway, all of the above is just my opinion. I'll get you a more official answer soon....In the meantime, does anyone else have any thoughts about this?

First of all, I love Real Simple! I devour my magazine every month (and the website in between). My only concern is that often/the majority of the time, when doing stories on clothes, shoes, accessories, etc, the pieces featured are generally all in the three digit range. Sometimes there is one piece that is more reasonable, but everything featured is generally consistently a couple hundred dollars - for a skirt or a pair of shoes. That's just not realistic for the average working, yet stylish, American woman. Is there a reason that you all make those decisions? And is it possible to feature more items that are actually under $100 and attainable? Thank you!

Hi, Karen. Thanks for your question. I'm going to get you an answer soon either from our fashion director or from our editor in chief....I'm actually at a conference now in CA, so coordinating this is trickier than normal (I'm not in the office), but I'm working on it!

Hi, Tara—here, at last, is the response to your question. Sorry this took so long. This is from Amy Nebens and Jara Negrin, lifestyle experts and cofounders of poshmom.com and coauthors of the book LIVING THE POSH MOM LIFE. They've appeared on the TODAY show and THE EARLY SHOW, and Amy (on her own) authored of the book A GRACIOUS WELCOME and has been featured as a REAL SIMPLE expert.

Here's their advice:

"It's perfectly appropriate to expect people to respect your home time and not drop in before 9 am during the week and before 10 am on the weekends. Any hour past dinnertime people should expect the shop is closed unless they've called beforehand. And speaking of phone lines, friends and neighbors should expect yours are off limits past 8 or 8:30 pm, unless it's an emergency.

Some suggestions to ward off future untimely visits and phone calls? Answer the door with a yawn to too-early visitors with the explanation of, 'You'll have to excuse my grogginess, but I'm not usually up at this hour.' For phone callers who interrupt your evening, it's okay to tell them, 'Listen, I'd love to chat, but my brain doesn't function so well this late after a long day. I'll give you a call back in the morning.'

Bottom line: While it's lovely you live in a neighborhood that's welcoming to newcomers, community friendliness knows some bounds."

Hope this is helpful. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Once again for Tara: I've asked etiquette expert Jodie R.R. Smith (mannersmith.com) to answer your question, too. She's the author of FROM CLUELESS TO CLASS ACT: MANNERS FOR THE MODERN WOMAN (and another, similar book for men). Look for her post shortly!

Dear Tara,

Welcome to your new neighborhood! As you have already learned, etiquette is culturally and situationally very specific. For those with young children in school or those who conform to the general work-world schedule, it is not uncommon for a doorbell to ring as early as 7:00 am on a weekday and 8:30 am on a weekend. This pop-ins may be to ask a quick question, borrow an egg, or politely plead for a shared ride to the bus stop. For a come-in-and-have-a-cup pop ins, the times tend later. 8:00 am (after school has started) on weekdays and closer to 9:30 – 10:00 on weekends. Savvy neighbors know not to knock if the newspaper is still on the welcome mat in the morning or if all the front lights are off at night.

Now, for those overly-eager neighbors… Polite yet firm tends to win the day. “Suzie, I would love to invite you in for a cup of coffee. Can you come back at 10:00? Oh, not today, how is 10:00 tomorrow then?” As for those late-night calls, when you answer the phone by saying “Beth? What’s wrong!?!” any time she calls after 9:00 pm, she will begin to realize it is too late for you.

Of course, as the relationships build, you can be more direct. “Suzie, I am SO not a morning person. I love to chat with you. Please pop over anytime after 10:00 in the morning.” Or “Beth, since I am an early bird and am up with the sun, if you want to chat, please call before 9:00 at night. Unless it is an emergency!”

Jodi R. R. Smith www.Mannersmith.com

Hi, Karen. Here's the response to your question from another Karen—Karen Kozlowski, our fashion director:

"Sorry that you're frustrated with the high prices of some of our fashion. We always try to keep in mind that not every woman has the same budget, which is why we show a wide range of prices. (Some readers want and can afford more expensive pieces; some don't and can't.) When we do show something that's getting up there in price, we always make sure that it's worth the money—because it's exceptionally well-made, or something you'll be able to wear forever...not just because it's a trend. That said, check out our story in the May issue about great summer clothing that's extremely inexpensive. It's called 'Summer Steals.'"

Thank you all for the excellent advice -- it's really up to me to set the boundaries. I have to work on drawing the line as politely as possible. Amy & Jara have some good example replies that I wouldn't be too uncomfortable using. Jodi, you're so right that visiting times are culturally-specific. I moved to a farming town where 6:00 am is considered a fine time to stop by your neighbor's house. I like the idea of asking callers what's wrong after a certain hour -- I could definitely see myself saying that. Thanks for pulling together the experts, Jim!

Tara—I'm so glad this was helpful. Thanks for being a part of this conversation. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask me here or email me at jim_baker@realsimple.com. We'd also love to know how the advice worked.....

I have searched your website as well as your Real Simple Weddings magazine and cannot find help with the rehearsal dinner invitation list. Does anyone who is visiting from out of town for the weekend, cousins, etc., have to be included in the dinner? I heard somewhere that all out of town guests need to be included, but this gets almost to be ridiculous! I'm the mother of the bride, so it is not even my party, but if we leave 2-3 people out, will it appear deliberate? Thanks!!

Hi, Susan. I'm one of the editors of REAL SIMPLE WEDDINGS and, based on what we've heard from couples (and parents of couples), you are not alone in the rehearsal dinner dilemma! I asked event planner Calder Clark of Blue Moon Events in Charleston, South Carolina (www.bluemooncharleston.com), to weigh in on your predicament. She has planned gorgeous weddings—and her smart yet practical advice was invaluable to us while creating WEDDINGS. Here's what she has to say: "Traditionally, it's considered the height of hospitality to extend a rehearsal dinner invitation to each and every guest expected for the weekend. But no couple should go into debt for their wedding—or their rehearsal dinner! Increasingly, for rehearsal dinners, my clients are opting for intimate affairs for only the wedding party and family followed by high-energy after-parties where all guests are welcome. That option typically appeals to both families and the couple, especially since it's a cost-effective and fun happy medium." I personally love this idea. Perhaps you could rent an extra hotel room for a Before the Big Day Party and have some snacks and cocktails for visiting guests or just invite everyone to join you at a nearby bar or lounge post-rehearsal dinner? I hope this helps. And have a wonderful time at the wedding. Please send us some photos after the celebration—we'd love to see it!

When my sister handed me "Real Simple" magazine, I was thrilled. I began skimming through its pages, noting images from various advertisments that struck me as creative, real, and simply beautiful. I was pleased to gain tips that were stated in a consice enough manner to stick in my head. I remember being engrossed in spurts of excitement to apply what I read. I would love to share some tips of my own in the same manner as "Real Simple" magazine. Therefore, I am eager to know how you got your jobs. For me, writing for "Real Simple" would be a dream come true.