About Susan Deitz

Susan Deitz

Susan Deitz

Catapulted into single life as a young widow and single parent, Susan Deitz's unusually deep understanding of her new world was about to be born, a course in undependence (her term for the wholeness needed for a full life) unlike any she had known at Smith College. Totally unprepared for life without a mate, her nights were battles with fear and the dreaded what-ifs. But when those tigers retreated, each new dawn found a more confident woman. On her own, living out her singleness, she was using her own judgment to make decisions for her little family -- minor perhaps in the wider world but crucial for her small family. And they proved to be good ones. From those years of life lessons learned the hard way came a lifework and the world of Single File.

The sun of this universe is the syndicated advice column Single File. Featured for two decades by the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, the column has been part of Creators Syndicate for a decade.

Susan also:

--Conceived, created and hosted a four-hour radio program on New York City station WMCA.

--Was the singles expert for six years for the Prodigy online service.

--Co-authored (with Robin Moore, who wrote "The French Connection") "Valency Girl," a factional book about her experiences with Charles Revson of the Revlon cosmetic empire.

--Gave seminars in her original curriculum, "The Art of Living Single," as a part-time professor at The New School in New York.

--Designed, created and conducted a national survey of 1,900 people on single sexuality.

--Wrote a second book, "Single File," which was published by St. Martin's Press and was a Joan Kahn book. It went into second printing and a paperback edition.

--Oversees a popular blog for the column on creators.com.

--Is preparing to make her material available as an application on an electronic device.

--Sends readers (free for the asking) parchment copies of her Declaration of Undependence, Sexual Bill of Rights, and Emancipation Proclamation.

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Workaholism -- Part 1 Sep 17, 2025

When career becomes life and there are virtually no boundaries between them, work stops being the connection it can — and should — be. When does that happen? Well, for one thing, when there is nothing it can connect you to. Think about th... Read More

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The Other Woman Speaks Sep 10, 2025

DEAR SUSAN: This is my response to your recent column about single women dating married men. You tell us that when the man's wife learns of the affair and gives her consent, single women seem to lose all interest in continuing it. Well, Susan, I disa... Read More

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Dear Jon Letters Sep 03, 2025

DEAR READERS: Do you think being me is easy? Do you think being behind a computer much of the day — pounding out advice meant to be helpful — is all fun and games? Well, think again. Just recently, some pretty strong stuff came my way fro... Read More

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Bed Gratitude Aug 27, 2025

Her phone call startled me. The distraught woman on the other end spoke in rapid-fire sentences, most of them half-finished. Every word was confused, jumbled. But after some time, it became clear that her husband of 30 years was leaving the marriage.... Read More