"My life is simple," she said. "I live in L.A. with my boyfriend and our pets, and mostly I just read and write and edit for FindLaw.com—and go to Pilates classes, which I'm embarrassed to admit, since it's such an L.A. cliché, but actually I love the classes."
Hilden first became interested in being an attorney after a stint on her college debate team, during which she realized that practicing law was something she could be good at. She went on to attend and graduate from Yale Law School.
During the three years that she worked as an attorney, Hilden focused on First Amendment, criminal defense, and appellate issues, among other things; and she also appeared on programs such as Good Morning America and networks such as Court TV and CNN.
It wasn't until after her mother's death that she decided to turn her full attention to writing.
"After my mother died in 1992, I felt compelled to write about her," she said. "I also felt the need for some time away from the law in the wake of her death. So, I went to Cornell's M.F.A. program for two years to write. Then I realized writing was what I wanted to do; I had just lacked the courage to do it."
However, although she had made up her mind to become a writer, the transition wasn't easy.
"There are two aspects that make it difficult. One is financial; obviously, it's easier to be a lawyer. It's not just about the amount of money, but the constancy of it. Can I be sure I can pay a mortgage every month?" she said. "The other has to do with confidence. I know I'm a good lawyer and that I can become better through study and experience. As a writer, it's a little hard to fathom how and why you improve; and for me, it seems to come in fits and starts."
When asked what she likes the most about her new profession, Hilden said she enjoys communicating through writing.
"I've always had to strive to be a better speaker; and in the end, I have to just admit it isn't my forte," she said. "I hate admitting it because it seems to be something women often say—'I'm better on paper'—and for many women, I think it isn't really true. But for me, it seems it is."
"I hate when lawyers get lost in terminology or when novelists get pretentious," she said.
Currently, Hilden is toying with the idea of writing for young adult and/or children's markets.
"I've had a hard time figuring out what genre I want to write in. At first, I didn't even think about genre. I wrote a memoir because my mother's death was so heavily on my mind and then a novel, 3, because I was fascinated with a particular idea and wanted to see how it would play out. Increasingly, I'm moving toward wanting to write in the young adult/children's markets because there is so much play for imagination and the issues are so emotional and visceral. I also am gravitating toward screenwriting and TV writing for the same reasons."
In addition to writing books, Hilden also writes and edits columns dealing with various First Amendment issues for FindLaw.com. A collection of her columns can be found at writ.corporate.findlaw.com/hilden.
When it comes to life after law school, Hilden advises law students to be honest with themselves about what type of law they want to go into and about their personal strengths and weaknesses.
"That means focusing not only on the subject matter, but the reality of the practice and their own personalities," she said. "The fit is so important—and poor fit may be a reason so many lawyers are unhappy. I think students have to look within and say, 'Am I competitive, or do I actually hate competition? Am I good on the spur of the moment, or do I do much better with time to prepare? What activities that I'm doing stress me out, and which energize me?'"
She also has advice for lawyers who have been practicing for a couple of years.
"As you rise in the law, take time to pick out and mentor subordinates—not just for them, but for you—because there's nothing as valuable as having someone you trust as much as you'd trust yourself when it comes to getting work accomplished the way you want it done. That's how you can keep your hours reasonable and your stress levels down."
