Shandana A. Durrani has been a magazine editor and writer in New York City for 19 years. Her work has appeared in numerous publications and websites including Condé Nast Traveler, Glamour, Cigar Aficionado, Wine Spectator, Silverkris, Haute Living, NYMag.com, Justluxe.com, Simonseeks.com and Jetsetter.com. She is the author of "Day Trips from New York City" and the co-author of "Insiders' Guide to New York City."

L&S: What sparked your interest in writing to begin with?
SD: My interest in writing was sparked at an early age. I lived in my imagination because it was cooler than my real life. It was an escape because I was bullied a lot at school as a child. It was my way to make a whole new life for myself. From that imagination, I began writing stories.

My father often stressed that I had to do as well or better in school than my older sisters. They always did better than me in science and sometimes math but the one thing I was always better at was writing. Since I knew I had talent, I began researching professions. By age 12, I realized I wanted to be a journalist. That's unusual as most children haven't the foggiest notion what they want to do. At the time, my dream job was working as a photojournalist for National Geographic. That still is my dream job although I know that will never happen.

L&S: You have an impressive portfolio, having written for internationally renowned publications such as Conde Nast Traveler, Glamour and Wine Spectator to name but a few. What was your motivation behind penning Day Trips From New York City?
SD: I had co-authored "Insiders' Guide to New York City" and the editor of the book, Amy Lyons, liked my work and offered me the chance to write "Day Trips from New York City" by myself. I knew it would be a daunting task—it was a lot of work—but I decided to do it as I knew it would lift my resume and writing profile. Who wouldn't want to see a book written by them at the bookstore?

L&S: What are some insider must-sees you would recommend to first time NYC visitors?
SD: There are many insider must-sees in NYC but I will name just a few of my favorites. Visitors should go to Wave Hill, which is a park and gardens in Riverdale, a neighborhood in the Bronx. It's one of New York City's hidden gems and you can find peaceful portions of the park at which to share a picnic lunch with a friend and gaze at the boats floating by on the Hudson. I also think Governors Island is a great place to spend a summer afternoon. It's free to get there by ferry from Manhattan and you can rent single or tandem bikes and ride around the island. It has great views of Manhattan as well as the Statue of Liberty.

I love the city's museums. The Metropolitan Museum of Art shouldn't be missed. I especially love the Egypt wing and the Temple of Dendur. A great place to sit and relax and contemplate the ancient structure. I love the planetarium at the Natural History Museum as well as the many animal exhibits. There are also a bunch of good small museums scattered around the city. The Tenement Museum and the New Museum of Contemporary Art are two of my favorites.

L&S: Are you working on any further book projects? An expansion of the Insider's Guide perhaps?
SD: Not working on any other books at the moment. Both Day Trips and Insiders Guide are first editions so I will be working on their second editions sometime next year.

L&S: What would be your best advice for budding writers?
SD: My best advice for budding writers is to write all the time. Write in a journal, write poems, write stories, write a blog. It's a VERY hard business to break into. I was lucky in that did a lot of internships while in college and wrote for my high school as well as college paper. When I got to New York, I was already a bit ahead of the pack in that respect because I had clips to show potential employers.

You have to be willing to do a lot of grunt work in the beginning of your career. Don't think that you are too good to be someone's assistant. You'll probably be getting someone's coffee, doing expense accounts, writing correspondence, etc. No, it's not glamorous, but it serves to show your employers that you are willing to do whatever it takes to help your career and those skills become handy in future jobs. Employers are more willing to give new employees writing assignments who show that they are driven and not above paying their dues. Everyone pays their dues and hardly anyone goes from college to a staff writing position right away. Be humble.

Network as much as you can. Go to events or writer meetups. Be pleasant. Be personable but not pushy. Get business cards. Pitch ideas to the editors you meet if they are open to them. Read a lot of classic or good literature. It's the best way to increase your vocabulary and make you a better writer. Read good magazines such as the New Yorker, National Geographic, Harpers, etc. Find websites that are looking for writers but make sure you get paid, even if it's a small amount. DON'T WORK FOR FREE. It sets a bad precedent and lowers the value of not only your writing but every other writer out there.

If you really have a passion for writing, don't let anyone tell you no or discourage you. If you have talent and passion, you'll be able to break into the business. It will take time, so be patient.

L&S: Where could we pick up a copy of “Day Trips from New York City”?
SD: "Day Trips from New York City" is available on pre-order via Amazon.com and through www.globepequot.com. It will be on American bookshelves in June. "Insiders' Guide to New York City" will be available in the Fall.

Follow Shandana A. Durrani at her website (www.shandanadurrani.com) or on her Twitter account at www.twitter.com/missadvnture