Seth R. Graves

SETH R. GRAVES
Seth.R.Graves@gmail.com

EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts •  May 2011
The New School—New York, NY
Creative Writing, Poetry Emphasis
Teaching of Writing coursework; Pedagogy certificate

Critical thesis title: The “Modality” of Documentary Poetics, Origin and Contemporary Perspectives

Poetry available or upcoming in Verbal Pyrotechnics; Short, Fast, and Deadly; PoetSpeak; and Why I am Not a Painter (Argos Books anthology)

Master of Arts •  May 2010
University of Missouri—Columbia
Journalism
Thesis: A Life of Process and Progress: The Influence of Writer Donald M. Murray

Abstract:
With his pronouncement to “teach writing as a process, not a product” in 1972, Donald (Don) Murray (1924–2006) enacted an approach to writing shared by like-minded scholars that would become termed the “writing process movement.”

This thesis explains how Murray cultivated and spread his ideas to various public spheres: newspapers and newsrooms, academic and journalistic institutions, books, conferences, and the work of his peers and students. Murray served as a bridge between the worlds of academia and journalism, providing practical notions on writing suggested by a real, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer himself. He was one of the nation’s first newspaper writing coaches, and his approach was a key influence on several institutions, including the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, FL. This thesis collects various subjective accounts, taken from interviews and outside sources, which attest to or discuss the nature and extent of Murray’s influence.

In addition to employing biographical methods, the paper draws heavily from ethnography, treating the work as a polyphonic collection of voices that describe Murray’s relationship with individuals and institutions. This study incorporates over two dozen interviews and analysis of a variety of texts: books on craft, textbooks, publications about or dedicated to Murray, journal articles, and Murray’s own writing in his daybook journals, articles, and books.

(207 pages total, including 100-page appendix of interview transcriptions)

Bachelor of Journalism •  May 2008
University of Missouri—Columbia
Journalism Major (Magazine Publishing), English Minor
Magna Cum Laude; Society of Professional Journalists; Walter Williams Scholar

WORK EXPERIENCE

Publications Assistant •  Current
The New School—New York, NY
Editorial services assistant for Communications and External Affairs Department
Copy editor for university’s online content management system (CMS), print projects, university-wide news and events

Graduate Teaching Assistant •  August 2010–May 2011
The New School—New York, NY

Fall 2010: Teaching Assistant and Class Instructor
Course title: They, the People: Political Journalism, Past and Present
Lecturing professor: Sam Tanenhaus (editor, New York Times Book Review)

I taught students across divisions of the university, from Parsons to Eugene Lang College. In addition to the 1.5-hour lecture, I taught my own 1.5-hour discussion section each week, leading discussion, giving assignments, and grading the students.

Winter/Spring 201: Teaching Assistant, Riggio Honors Program
Course title: 12th Street Staff; faculty sponsor: Rene Steinke

I advised in the development of the literary journal 12 Street, staffed by members of the Riggio Honors Program:Writing and Democracy at The New School. Coming in during the journal’s editorial process, I gave the class instruction on macroediting, copy editing, and proofreading and guided the staff through the editorial process.

Intern •  September–December 2009
Franklin & Siegal Associates—New York, NY
Literary scouting agency; duties included book-length manuscript review, writing reader’s reports, and office support

Graduate Research Assistant •  September 2008–May 2009
Missouri School of Journalism, University of Missouri-Columbia
Representing Berkley Hudson, Ph.D.
Emphasis in media history and visual evidence; duties included research and evidence collection, writing and editing drafts or portions of drafts, and coordinating professor’s projects and papers

Research Contributions:

Hudson, B. & Townsend, R. (2009) “Unraveling the Webs of Influence and Intimacy: Harper’s Magazine and Willie Morris, 1967-1971.” Literary Journalism Studies, 1(2).

Hudson, B. & Boyajy, K. (August 2009). “The Rise and Fall of an Ethnic Advocate and American Huckster: Louis N. Hammerling and the Immigrant Press.” Media History, 15(3).

Hudson, B. & Hinnant, A. (2011). “The Magazine Revolution, 1880-1920,” in The Oxford History of U.S. Popular Print Culture. ed. Christine Bold, University of Guelph. New York: Oxford University Press. (In press.)

Editorial Intern •  January–May 2009
Persea Books—Columbia, MO
Book publishing internship; duties included reading manuscripts,
writing reader’s reports and rejection letters, pitching work, marketing, and research; Persea Books is a W.W. Norton affiliate

Copy Editor, Publishing Assistant, and Contributor, Freelance •  2005–2008
Meredith Corporation and Better Homes and Gardens Magazine—Des Moines, IA
Duties included copy edit, project design, exploratory research, historical and archival research, contribution to articles published in Meredith magazines; Special Interest Media contributor

Advisor •  January 2006–December 2008
The Missouri Review—Columbia, MO
Worked closely with editors in manuscript review and handling, project design; developed audio program

Prototype Editor •  January–May 2008
Living With Arthritis Magazine (prototype only)—Columbia, MO and Des Moines, IA
Capstone funded by Meredith Corp.; team development of an entire start-up magazine, including all aspects of editorial and marketing; developed business plan and presented full prototype to Meredith executives.

Intern Reporter •  May–August 2007
LondonNet Online—London, UK
Published entertainment and tourism reporting in London; full-time hours; in-house assistant

Reporter •  January–May 2007
The Missourian—Columbia, MO
Regional newspaper beat reporter; duties included publishing about ten articles each month, following breaking news, research, and deadline reporting

Managing Editor •  August–May 2007
Epic—Columbia, MO

SKILLS

Strong oral and written communicator with an understanding of publishing, editorial, and academic discourses. Proficient on many programs including Adobe Create Suite, Office Suite, and SPSS. Trained in quantitative research. Experience as tutor/volunteer instructor. Basic understanding of Spanish, French, and Greek languages. Experience developing databases, spreadsheets, and directories. As a copy editor, proficient with Chicago, AP, APA, and MLA styles.

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST