Carter Sherman of The Guardian recalls being horrified by Ocarina of Time

Carter Sherman has been covering sexuality, gender, and the complex personal and national politics that accompany it for years. He was the chief reporter of Second and has written Elle, Mrs. magazines, and Los Angeles magazines as well. Along the way, he received a Scripps Howard Award, a National Press Club Journalism Award, and four Emmy nominations.

Sherman was kind enough to tell us about his coffee addiction and the journal he keeps for inspiration.

What is your most important tool?

French press. I’m from Seattle, so I like to think I come for my coffee honestly.

How many tabs do you have open right now?

There is no limit.

Which game do you remember?

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. As a child, I was terrified of music that sounded like Deku Tree’s dungeon.

What is your favorite thing to do?

“Happy Birthday” song. Think about the salary.

What creation are you most proud of?

I am very proud of my book, The Second Coming: Sex and the Next Generation’s War on Its Future. To report this, I asked over 100 people under the age of 30 about their experiences and thoughts on sex following #MeToo, the pandemic, and the fall of Roe v. Wade. I was honored that so many people were open with me and were willing to open up about such an intimate matter. I have spent ten years writing about reproductive health, gender, and sexuality as a print and video journalist, and The Second Coming I really felt like the end of the report.

What is your passion?

Rick and Morty. I ate the first eight seasons of the show in, like, two weeks.

What do you do when you’re stuck?

Whenever I find an interesting note, I add it to the list I keep in my Notes app. Then, when I feel like I’ve failed, I read the list. Sometimes, the word initiates a thought; always, it reminds me that good writing – the process of trying to figure out what, exactly, you’re trying to say – is worth the work. (Recent additions to my list: “a little laugh,” courtesy of Shirley Jackson; “and a lasso look,” courtesy of Carson McCullers; “her voice heated with desire,” courtesy of Katie Kitamura.)

What do you think should be confusing?

What would be the tagline of your biopic?

What was the last GIF or meme you used?