Today I speak with New York writer Imani Dawson, who just recently wrapped up the daunting task of writing the monthly weight loss column for Shape. By the way, I met her this spring and she is smokin'.

How did you get your column gig at Shape?
I belong to an online networking group called Freelance Success and someone posted a message about the weight loss diary column. I've struggled with my weight since I was nine years old and I thought that column would be a great way for me to finally make fitness a priority.

What was the hardest part about it?
Like most women, I'm very secretive about my weight, so putting the actual number out there was disconcerting. Plus, I have possibly the world's slowest metabolism so the months of stalling were especially painful. This year, I learned to resign myself to the fact that while I may never be 120 pounds, my hearty frame can definitely withstand a nuclear attack or at the very least a famine.

Did you learn much about how to write about personal issues while making them interesting to others?
I'm the kind of person that will tell a stranger the story of my life without much prompting-so it wasn't really that tough to share intimate details. I did learn a lot about how to structure an essay, because I hadn't written any since my college applications.

How did you get your current job?
I'm a show writer for BET's video countdown show, 106 & Park. A friend of mine in the industry referred me for the position. Television is impossible to break into unless you have a connection. I've been writing primarily about hip-hop for over 5 years and now I'm transitioning from journalism to television. But I'm still freelancing about topics that fascinate me.

Do you have any other big projects or freelance gigs coming up now that your Shape gig is wrapping up?
I'm working on some TV ideas and trying to motivate myself to finish a book proposal-but nothing really major.