Why Writer Dennis Lee Eats Pet Food And Other Hilariously Serious Adventures in Writing
Welcome to The Creative Wayfinder’s Compass, a publication from author and writing coach M.K. Hancock that features written interviews with creative minds across industries. Each person is asked the same 11 questions, and all of the interviews featured here will be collected into a book. This interview features Dennis Lee, one of the funniest food writers out there. You don’t have to take my word for it either: Bon Appétit wrote a glowing article this year featuring Dennis’s absurd adventures.
“Start and finish things, even if they aren’t perfect, and just keep moving. As you keep going, you’ll sharpen your knife quite a bit in terms of style, technique, and personality, plus you’ll have a pile of work to show for it.”
Dennis Lee
Who are you and what do you create?
My name is Dennis Lee and I’m a professional food writer and eternal troublemaker. I have two Substack newsletters centered around food. One is Food is Stupid, where I document myself pulling gnarly food stunts like putting mayonnaise in an ice cream maker. I also do things like eat loads of pet food and write sentences like this one with a straight face. The other newsletter is called The Party Cut, and for this one I go and visit Chicago restaurants to tell readers which ones are my favorite to visit. Both publish weekly.
What first inspired you to pursue your creative path, and how has that inspiration evolved over time?
Ever since I was young, I’ve loved writing. For some reason that enthusiasm never left me, and I eventually coupled it with my fascination with food that came about, thanks to food TV. I earned a degree in Creative Writing, but realized early on that it wasn’t an easy way to pay the bills — so I started in a whole different career path (the IT industry, which I hated). Eventually, I started freelancing as a food writer in my spare time, taking occasional pieces for paying food blogs that actually paid me, such as Serious Eats, and was able to use my bylines to keep getting more opportunities.
Now that I’ve been around the block a few times, I’ve grown to be more independent and can write whatever I feel like. My inspiration has always been the same. I like to take kitchen failures and celebrate the worst of them, find humor in everyday life, and make fun of people when they take themselves too seriously, myself included, always through the lens of food.
Can you walk us through your creative process? Do you follow specific rituals or habits to get into the flow of your work?
I’m not a ritualistic creative person, and I envy those who are! My inspirations usually come from observing other people and their habits, so ideas for my writing can come at any moment, from browsing the internet to going out and interacting with strangers. My wife also comes up with some pretty hilarious stuff, too, so we just chatter a lot. If a funny idea for Food is Stupid comes up, I immediately text it to myself so I don’t forget it (I’m sure there’s a better way to do this), then try and start working on the concept within a few days.
What themes, ideas, or emotions do you find yourself returning to in your work, and how have they shifted over time?
I…actually used to write about how terrible my life was during bouts of crippling depression. I’m not sure how I managed to find things funny back then, but I coaxed humor out of those scenarios and readers surprisingly connected to my nihilism. I’ve softened quite a bit over the years, so the self-deprecation has sort of faded away in favor of celebrating joys in the absurd things people do.
What’s been your biggest creative breakthrough, and how did it change the way you approach your art or writing?
My biggest creative breakthrough was when I stopped caring what other people thought of me. I took food writing, a practice that’s generally very serious, and coupled it with butt humor and dark jokes, and really hammered home how ridiculous the whole process can be. I honestly thought and hoped it would derail my entire career, but instead, the very food publications I was ripping into came knocking at my door, asking me to write for them. It was an unexpected turnaround, so I have continued just not caring what anyone thinks — I just do things like try using spray cheese as a skin moisturizer and see what happens. My only rule to myself is: If I’m going to be an asshole, I only punch up.
How do you navigate periods of creative block or self-doubt, and what techniques have helped you push through?
Writers block can be a real thing when you’re churning stuff out weekly. It’s exhausting, especially when you’re expected to write humor, especially in your hardest times. If things get really bad, I don’t force the creative process, because I can get stuck even further that way. If I’m burned out for too long, I simply take a break for a while to try and recharge. As in, I’ll just stop writing for a full week (aside from my day job, also in writing, but doesn’t require much creativity). I realize not everyone can do this, but taking a break is one of the most important things you can do, because if you don’t, you risk putting out crap work, which will become apparent immediately.
How do feedback and criticism play a role in your process? How do you decide what advice to follow and what to set aside?
I listen to what people say, except for random internet commenters, who can be real jerks for no reason. If I hear the same sticking point come up multiple times, however, there’s a chance something in my writing really does need adjusting. I am perfectly happy cutting paragraphs, changing directions mid-project, I just don’t get too attached to my work in early drafts.
How do you balance personal creative expression with the commercial or external demands of your work?
I keep the best, most original ideas for myself. My other writing work as a journalist doesn’t require that level of creativity anyway, so I’m lucky in that my creative endeavors don’t overlap with my main paycheck.
What’s one of the most challenging projects you’ve worked on, and how did you overcome the difficulties you face?
I don’t have any one single project I can point to, but consistency has always been the most challenging thing to keep up with. Constantly writing on a regular rhythm takes a certain kind of motivation nobody can just give you. I have a feeling you all know what I mean.
How do you stay motivated and disciplined, especially during times when inspiration is lacking or inconsistent?
I have been doing this for so long that I don’t give myself a choice. Even if I’m not feeling particularly energetic. As long as I can come up with a first draft of something, I can almost always shape that into something usable for later. Is all my work the best, ever? Hell no! I’ve bombed more times than I can count. But I don’t give myself a choice, I make sure to write in bits and pieces until something takes shape. It can take a while.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out, or to an artist who’s struggling to find or trust their creative voice?
I’ve noticed that a lot of people give up before they even begin, because they’re afraid of flopping immediately. Your first work isn’t going to be the best you’re capable of, but you can’t have an audience if you don’t have any work to show them! Start and finish things, even if they aren’t perfect, and just keep moving. As you keep going, you’ll sharpen your knife quite a bit in terms of style, technique, and personality, plus you’ll have a pile of work to show for it. Just commit to finishing projects until you get your footing.
M.K. Hancock here, and I want to say thank you for reading The Creative Wayfinder’s Compass, a publication for the edification of creative minds. Every writer’s journey is unique, but they all come with lessons worth sharing—and Dennis’s story is no exception. I know I found his insights into humor, resilience and rest refreshing, and as a regular reader of his blogs, I can’t recommend his work enough.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your own creative journey, explore the rest of The Creative Wayfinder’s Compass and discover what my coaching looks like. I’m here to help, and I offer adjustable rates depending on the circumstances.
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How do Dennis’s experiences resonate with your own creative path? What’s one project you’ve finished, even if it wasn’t perfect? Leave a reply to share your thoughts and/or experiences in the comments below!
