Lauren Wicks

Title: Freelance Writer

Location: Birmingham, Alabama

Education: B.A. in Journalism with minors in Food & Nutrition and Literature, The University of Alabama

Expertise: Interior design, food and cooking, travel, wine
- Former Assistant Digital News Editor for EatingWell
- Former digital editor for Veranda

Experience

Lauren Wicks has been a freelance writer and editor since 2022. She previously worked as a digital editor for Veranda and EatingWell and was an editorial fellow at CookingLight.com. Lauren's work has been featured across a host of respected national media brands, including FoodandWine.com, Redbook.com, RealSimple.com and Delish.com.

Lauren began working as a freelance writer in college and began her professional career as a writer and copy editor for Alabama Weddings magazine before joining Cooking Light and the world of food media. She's been working with national and regional lifestyle publications since 2018.

Lauren fell in love with journalism while working at The University of Alabama's student newspaper as an extracurricular activity. As a lifelong lover of language and literature, she pivoted her career aspirations from becoming a dietitian to a food writer and graduated with a degree in journalism and minors in food & nutrition and literature. She began her career as a freelance writer for StyleBlueprint.com and a freelance writer and copy editor for Alabama Weddings magazine right out of college.

Her professional journey was jump-started by the Meredith Fellowship Program with CookingLight.com where she covered everything from viral food news to ingredient explainers and groundbreaking nutrition studies. She then became an assistant digital editor at EatingWell.com, where she continued to hone her writing, SEO and content strategy skills. During that time, her work was also featured on FoodandWine.com, RealSimple.com, Parents.com and TravelandLeisure.com, among other Dotdash Meredith brands.

Lauren left the food world in 2020 to join Veranda's digital team and helped the brand grow exponentially over the next two years. She covered everything from luxury home tours designed by the world's top creatives to first-person travel features and deep dives into the world of wine. While at Hearst, her work was featured on TownandCountry.com, HouseBeautiful.com, Delish.com and Redbook.com, among others. She recently took the leap to become a freelance writer and editor in order to cover the diverse host of topics she is passionate about.