How to Use Philosophy to Reason and Debate Choices - Scott Gold

In Chapter 10 of 17, Scott Gold applies his Washington University philosophy major to his writing career, choosing a rational mindset when making decisions. In avoiding emotional and impulse-driven pitfalls that lead to judgmental and prejudice-based behavior, Gold finds his philosophy education helps him better reason and debate sensitive, ethical subjects such as the decision to eat meat.

How Playing Guitar, Writing, and Cooking Shape Worldview - Scott Gold

In Chapter 9 of 17, Scott Gold grows up wanting to learn more about the world around him.  To do this, he pushes himself creatively, playing music, exploring food, and writing.  Gold's creative expressiveness helps create shared experiences with others, that in turn introduce him to new experiences and cultures.  

How it Felt to Butcher a 700 Pound Steer - Scott Gold

In Chapter 7 of 17,while writing his first book, "The Shameless Carnivore", author Scott Gold travels to upstate New York to help a farm family butcher a 700-pound steer named Ernie. The emotional experience teaches Gold greater respect and reverence for killing and eating animals.

How Writing About Meat is About the Meaning of Life - Scott Gold

In Chapter 5 of 17, Scott Gold shares how surprises and responding to them shape a writer's career. Always a performer - writing and performing music - author Scott Gold develops a topical writing niche - "meat" - he uses as a platform to explore culture. He maps this approach beyond food writing into anthropology, history, and the meaning of life.

How Bartending Satiates Food Writer's Appetite for Good Story - Scott Gold

In Chapter 3 of 17, food author Scott Gold tends bar at Char No. 4 in Brooklyn to learn cocktail and food history. This allows him to shape the conversation and satiate a continuous appetite for story.

How Stage Performance Shaped Writing Career - Scott Gold

In Chapter 2 of 17, author Scott Gold speaks to how writing provides a performer a stage and the ability to harness passion for his or her curiosity, sharing, storytelling, and learning. Gold highlights how these ingredients connect his own love for non-fiction food writing, intellectual curiosity, and playing with language to his goal to entertain audiences.

How Writer Chuck Klosterman Helped Blogger Find His Voice - Mark Graham

In Chapter 13 of 13, New York Magazine writer Mark Graham shares early writing influences. Starting his blog in 2000, Graham he finds inspiration in pop culture author and journalist Chuck Klosterman. Klosterman developed his distinct voice and novel approach to covering pop culture writing for publications, including Spin Magazine and Esquire, and, over time, authoring several books.

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Why Online Commenter Culture Makes Writers Better - Mark Graham

In Chapter 12 of 13, New York Magazine writer Mark Graham explains why website, blog, post, and message comments provide such immediate, measureable feedback for writers and organizations. This commenter culture and the associated commenter contributions and relationships greatly resonate with Graham. He details why he embraced interactive commentary in 2002 upon starting his personal blog and its continued impact throughout his career at Gawker and New York Magazine.

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Why Blogs Remain Relevant as Media Business Transforms - Mark Graham

In Chapter 11 of 13, New York Magazine writer Mark Graham highlights why blogging remains relevant amidst shifting media and publishing business models, especially for weekly print publications. Blogging continues to make more substantial impact both within Internet based context and overall business context. Graham highlights examples within his daily environment as well as detailing importance news organization collaboration plays in blogging performance.

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Why Blogs are an Ideal Way to Consume and Discuss Media - Mark Graham

In Chapter 10 of 13, writer Mark Graham details why a passion-driven personal blog can shape into a career. From his early personal efforts at www.whatevs.org, Graham moved on to VH1, Gawker Media / Defamer, and New York Magazine. Blogging appeals to readers and pop culture fans seeking real-time news cycle updates. It also offers a non-stop discussion platform between commenters and with authors that push content consumption experience beyond print media or television.

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Why Pop Culture Writing Makes for a Fulfilling Career - Mark Graham

In Chapter 9 of 13, New York Magazine Vulture writer and editor Mark Graham shares why he loves pop culture. The constant unpredictability provides nonstop fun and challenge. It provides universal appeal, offers opportunity for many perspectives, and is light-hearted and fun.

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How Letterman and Cheers Writer Inspired Move to VH1 - Mark Graham

In Chapter 8 of 13, General Motors OnStar marketer Mark Graham cultivates a relationship with VH1 executive Fred Graver over two years while also continuing his pop culture blog www.whatevs.org. Graham's persistence and communication help him land a New York-based VH1 opportunity in line with his digital marketing and blogging experience.

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How to Overcome Fear and Anxiety Moving to a New City - Mark Graham

In Chapter 7 of 13, writer Mark Graham accepts a New York City digital media position at MTV Networks and confronts life change elements leaving Detroit for New York. Born and raised in Michigan, Graham confronts the uncertainty present in leaving behind family and friends for the unknown. Graham prioritizes being himself through the transition, embracing the relocation experience and all the new discovery present in the process.

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How Aspiring Writers Can Build Personal Brands Online - Mark Graham

In Chapter 6 of 13, New York Magazine editor and University of Michigan graduate Mark Graham advises aspiring writers to developing a personal brand, hone a point of view, and build a body of work, available online. Graham believes these steps will help college graduates best position themselves when applying for full-time or freelance digital media and publishing opportunities.

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How New York Magazine Editor Built a Personal Brand - Mark Graham

In Chapter 3 of 13, New York Magazine Vulture editor Mark Graham talks about first covering the space. After his May 2001 Beyond Interactive layoff and time spent reflecting on what comes next, Graham starts a blog writing about his annual year-end pop culture awards - The Grahammys. By January 2002 this blossoms into his blog www.whatevs.org - he creates in January 2002. Throughout following years at next position at General Motors doing OnStar marketing, Mark spends mornings and evenings cultivating whatevs.org, building a following, and ultimately enabling his transition into a full-time writing career.

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How to Land an MTV Video Music Award Writing Job - Mark Graham

In Chapter 2 of 13, New York Magazine editor and writer Mark Graham traces progressive milestones shaping his blogging and writing career, from early blogs, including UltraGrrrl. The development path began with writing for friends and family. Graham continued cultivating his voice through audience expansion across blogging peers, print media, and, ultimately, television.

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How GM OnStar Marketer Moved into VH1 Editorial Role - Mark Graham

In Chapter 1 of 13, early career roles, including a General Motors OnStar marketing position, provide Mark Graham a foundation to explore his writing passion. Over several years, this morphs into editorial and writing roles at MTV Networks, Gawker Media's Defamer.com, and New York Magazine.

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How Takka Takka Drummer Rediscovered Playing Music - Conrad Doucette

In Chapter 13 of 13, musician and music writer Conrad Doucette reflects on how he re-entered music performance. An open and accepting approach has enabled him to make quick decisions, including the mid-20s moment to return to playing drums.