Contents
Foreword: The Journey of Writing / Amanda Dahling
Acknowledgments
Introduction / Mary Kay Blakely
Part I: Profiles of People, Places, and Issues
The Miranda Obsession / Bryan Burrough
Bryan Burrough on fresh writing and the importance of transitions
Harvey’s Two Families / Ken Fuson
Ken Fuson on finding the universal truth
The Price of Football Fame / Wright Thompson
Wright Thompson on writing what most are thinking but not saying
The View from Within / Seth Wickersham
Seth Wickersham on good stories versus great stories
Confronting a Different Kind of Loss / Jane Gordon Julien
Jane Gordon Julien on digging to find the story and the right words to tell it
Vinyl Hero / Doug Meigs
Doug Meigs on revision versus rewriting
Rewrite / Robert Sanchez
Robert Sanchez on the value of being a relaxed and confident reporter
Skid Row Karaoke / Randall Roberts
Randall Roberts on themes
Sexuality: A View from the Chair / Kevin Dubouis
Kevin Dubouis on asking intimate questions and writing about taboo topics
A Persistent Culture of Poverty / Simina Mistreanu
Simina Mistreanu on mentors and influences
The Big Payback / Pate McMichael
Pate McMichael on finding the right vehicle for a story
When Daddy Comes Home / Walt Harrington
Walt Harrington on the freedom of a perfect dovetail
The Town That Blew Away / Justin Heckert
Justin Heckert on using technology to enhance the details
Part II: First-Person Journalism
Caught up in History’s Stormy Wake with Ethel Kennedy / Mary McNamara
Mary McNamara on voice and humor
To Just Stay Alive / Robert Langellier
Robert Langellier on being a young writer
Video Games with a Refugee / Sean McLachlan
Sean McLachlan on standing up for yourself and your stories
Reaming the Cube / Jason Effmann
Jason Effmann on streamlining writing and getting out of the way
A Sad Thought Danced / Suan Pineda
Suan Pineda on the beauty of language
These Mountains Eat Men / Sara Shahriari
Sara Shahriari on being a successful freelancer
Part III: Personal Stories and Memoirs
Faye’s Ashes / Shane Epping
Shane Epping on artistic influences and the storyteller’s toolbox
Afghanistan: A Long Road Home / Lois Raimondo
Lois Raimondo on understanding media and manipulation
Engaging Social Responsibility / Besa Luci
Besa Luci on journalism that takes time
Without Completely Falling Apart / Jessi Hamilton
Jessi Hamilton on setting the bar high for all forms of writing
When Nationalism Trumps Race / Melanie Coffee
Melanie Coffee on using digital technology to be a better journalist
Soul Train on Mute / Michaella A. Thornton
Michaella A. Thornton on objectivity and transparency
1202 Park Avenue, 1999 / Sona Pai
Sona Pai on the power of the personal essay
Afterword: Defeating That Crippling Sense of Inadequacy / Ginger Hervey
Last Words: Mary Kay Blakely
Contributor Biographies