Carrie Bradshaw: A Realistic Journalist or a Writing Fantasy?
Fictional Journalists #2
Sex and the City introduced us to Carrie Bradshaw, a columnist who turned her and her friends' escapades on love and relationships into a full-fledged career.
But how realistic was her journey as a journalist and writer?
As someone in the media world (as a journalist), I can’t help but analyze Carrie’s career through a real-life lens and my own experiences in the field. She writes one column a week (regularly, people would write 2-3 stories a day), lives in a Manhattan apartment (depends on the person's background), and somehow affords designer shoes on a freelance writer’s salary (impossible as Carrie herself self-analyses her spending 40k on shoes).
Let’s break down her journey:
🔹 The Power of a Personal Brand – Carrie’s success comes from her ability to make her writing deeply personal and engaging and, most of all, RELATABLE. In today’s media landscape, writers who build strong personal brands—especially in lifestyle and opinion writing— thrive.
🔹 Freelance Realities vs. Fiction – Most freelance writers juggle multiple gigs to make ends meet, yet Carrie’s single column supports a high-end lifestyle. In reality, a weekly column wouldn’t be enough for groceries and rent, let alone Manolo shoes!
🔹 Networking = Opportunities – Carrie is constantly surrounded by influential people, which helps her land book deals and magazine features. This mirrors the importance of networking in media—connections often open doors that talent alone can’t. (This one is advice we all should take to heart...ALWAYS NETWORK!)
🔹 Writing About Your Life Has Risks – Carrie’s column is deeply personal, which sometimes backfires. From Mr. Big to Aidan, her love life is public knowledge, affecting her relationships, both romantic and platonic. Many writers who share personal experiences face this same challenge.
🔹 Print vs. Digital Shift – SATC aired before the digital revolution, so Carrie never had to worry about clicks, SEO, or social media engagement -- but she had to worry about backing up her work (which she never did) and regretted a lot in one of the episodes. If she were a journalist today, she’d likely be managing a blog, a podcast, and an Instagram brand all at once, and personally, I think she would not be able to juggle.
🔹 Creative Freedom vs. Editorial Control – Carrie writes exactly what she wants, with no apparent oversight from an editor. In reality, journalists and columnists have to pitch, revise, and adhere to editorial guidelines—something SATC conveniently glosses over at all times.
While Sex and the City romanticized the writing life (and makes me want to do the same when I start writing), Carrie’s career still offers valuable lessons about the power of storytelling, personal branding, and navigating the media world in a big city.
What do you think? Let’s discuss! Which fictional writer should I analyze next?
