"The stories that are most rewarding are often the ones that really fill you with a cold dread as you begin, because you're inventing something that doesn't lean into a template," the New Yorker staff writer tells Bustle. "It requires a lot more imagination, and I think it's perfectly natural to stop and think 'I could have just done this the easy way. Why didn't I?'"
It goes without saying: Getting fired sucks. The moments before are excruciating, especially if you get invited to a last-minute meeting with HR and know exactly what's coming. The aftermath is even worse: losing a steady paycheck and health insurance, diving into a daunting job market, and taking a massive hit to your self-esteem. It's a true walk-in-the-rain-and-feel-sorry-for-yourself moment. Being laid off is hardly any easier.