If you’re asking how I decide what to write about, my answer is really scattershot. It’s a mixture of “Hey, I feel like writing about this today” or “Hey, I’m going to sit at this keyboard for two hours and see what pops out” or “Hey, my last piece had a story about cocaine use that was pretty well-received, maybe I should expand upon and clarify that in my next essay” — there’s really no process. I write what I feel like writing about for the most part. I hope that answers your question? If not … I can always answer another one. :)