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In 2014, when I was freshman in college, I saw a job post announcing that Daniel Jones, the founding editor of Modern Love, was looking for an intern to help judge the column’s third college essay contest.
I applied, miraculously heard back, interviewed with Dan and then took a test — which I sometimes describe as the “Goldilocks test.”
Dan provided a variety of real essay submissions, scrubbed of names and other identifying information. I had a limited number of hours to read them and write evaluations explaining my reasons for accepting or rejecting them: This essay was “too hot.” That essay was “too cold.” And this one? This one was “just right!” And here’s why. (There were more than three essays to evaluate, but for narrative’s sake …)
This year marks a decade of my work for Modern Love and the column’s 20th anniversary. A beautiful alignment, if you ask me.
To celebrate this milestone, Dan and I created a special package of articles exploring the column’s history and impact. Whether you’re a new reader or a Modern Love loyalist, we think you’ll enjoy perusing these stories.
Modern Love’s 20th Anniversary
These real stories often have real-life impacts on readers. Here are eight of the most moving accounts from people around the world.
Dan shares seven lessons on how to love better.
We asked 12 past Modern Love essayists to write letters to their younger selves — the people they were when they published their Modern Love stories.
How did Modern Love begin? And what did David Bowie have to do with it? Find out here!
For the last 14 years, Brian Rea has translated Modern Love essays into moving illustrations. In video and words, he describes his artistic process and how doing this work has changed him.
We collected some “Words of Wisdom” — incisive aphorisms about love and relationships pulled from Modern Love essays and Tiny Love Stories. You can swipe through and share the quotes that feel truest to you.
We want to hear your stories.Here’s how to submit a Modern Love essay. Don’t feel like writing more than two posts on X, an Instagram caption or a Facebook post? Consider submitting to Tiny Love Stories, which are no more than 100 words.
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