Kat Thompson
Today's interview is with Kat Thompson, a Bangkok-born, Los Angeles-raised writer. Today she writes about food and drinks at Thrillist, but she also has bylines in Food & Wine, Munchies, and elsewhere.
Tell us about the work you do as a writer.
As a writer, I'm really proud of highlighting community and uplifting my favorite small businesses or writing stories about strong women, like Padma Lakshmi and Pepper Thai!
I started my career profiling women that I think are ridiculously cool—whether they be singers, artists, or chefs—so to be able to continue doing that has made my heart very full.
How did you get into the writing world?
I've known I wanted to be a writer since I was in kindergarten. My mom and I storyboarded a book together back when I was five—she was the illustrator and I the writer—but had to abandon it because I didn't know how to spell and nor did my mom (English is her second language). Maybe I'll revisit that book one day.
I studied creative writing and media studies during my undergrad and my first gig in the writing world was as an editorial intern-turned-assistant at The Hundreds, a streetwear brand with a media arm.
There, I wrote primarily about art, music, and fashion—but I was always desperate to do more food-related stories, so whenever there was a collaboration with someone in the food realm or I got a food pitch approved, I was thrilled.
From there, I worked in tech at Giphy and did some freelance writing on the side, which eventually led me to my position at Thrillist as a staff writer.
It's always interesting for me to look back at my work at The Hundreds and some of my first stories because although they weren't always directly about food, there are ways in which these different topics can and do intersect. Food writing is never just about food, you know?
Also, working in tech at Giphy and freelancing on the side showed me that my day job didn't have to be involved with writing to be a writer, which I think is important to note for all aspiring writers.
As a food-focused writer, what does your research/inspiration process look like?
I'd say 80% of the time I pitch story ideas and 20% of the time I get assigned stories, or at least there's a conversation about whether or not I want to take on a story.
So much of my research is just browsing TikTok (yes, really), leafing through the thousands of PR pitches in my inbox, and reading stories from other publications and from writers I admire to see what they're covering.
Again, it's not always food publications or food writers. I think because food is something we all have to relate to in one way or another—we literally have to consume it or we'll die—there are ways to find connections with music, art, fashion, and entertainment through the lens of food.
What's your day-to-day like working for Thrillist?
I think being a staff writer can be a very insular job, in the sense that you're doing a lot of it just on your own. I like that—I like the independence. I start the day with a cup of tea and go through my emails, figure out my priorities based on my deadlines, and just get to one of the 12 tasks I likely have at hand. There's a lot of transcribing, scheduling interviews, doing research, making art requests, and actually sitting down to write a first draft.
I honestly think the best part is all the incredible people I've met, whether that be my colleagues, editors old and new, and the interesting people I've interviewed who have offered their time, thoughts, and expertise. I'm extremely grateful to the people who have put their trust in me to tell their stories and have provided honesty and encouragement. Also, the thrill of publishing something I'm really proud of and seeing others read, share, and enjoy my work is priceless!
The hardest part is constantly working under the threat of digital media's collapse. I think most people within the industry feel that stress and respond, either through unionizing or other methods. I'm proud to say I am part of Thrillist's union and the Writer's Guild of America East, which works to ensure our rights and protections as writers. We're bargaining our second contract right now, so any and all support is welcomed.
...also the transcribing sucks.
Favorite piece you've written in the last 12 months?
One of my favorite pieces I've written was this story on what ghosts eat last October. I'm really into folklore and spirits and because it was close to Halloween it just felt like the perfect blend of all my interests in one story! I loved learning about different traditions through this reporting and exploring some of my own heritage, too.
The concept was kind of jokey—like what can ghosts actually eat, really?—but I was happy with how deep I could get through this story.
I also loved this profile I did on Bay Area rapper, Saweetie. It's a food story, yes, but it's also entirely about her experiences, her relationship with food, and her heritage. It was so fun chatting with her and just geeking out over oysters. And seeing the response, hearing about the Filipinxs who felt seen through this story, felt so rewarding.
What advice do you have for fellow writers?
First and foremost, reading definitely makes for a better writer. And you don't have to just be reading highbrow literary shit. I definitely consume a lot of YA and thrillers and other fun stuff that helps me unwind.
It's important to read from different voices and genres and topics and see how other writers approach their work. You learn so much just by reading! I feel like everyone kind of knows this, but just encouraging anyone and everyone to read more.
And to people who are always like 'I don't have time to read,' just try to add it to your routine! Maybe 20 minutes in the morning or 10 minutes before bed—and put your phone away when you do it. I used to say the same thing but realized I'd be spending several hours on social media. Make time!
I also like to read my work out loud as I'm writing. You can figure out how to imbue your pieces with your own voice that way, and also see how things may actually sound. I often catch myself being confusing or dumb when I read aloud; doing so helps me clarify and better articulate what I actually want to say.
Don't procrastinate on your transcribing or you will kick yourself and have to do a rush job on your impending piece and feel doom and gloom the whole time—I do not recommend it.
When you're feeling stuck or in despair, sometimes you just need to step away and do something else for a little bit or sleep on a story. It's amazing how many times I've been frustrated, took a night off, and then returned to a piece with fresh eyes, a full cup of tea, and fervor to get shit done and been able to churn it out within an hour.
Lastly, I really believe anyone can be a writer. I don't want people to feel intimidated to get started. Like any skill, it takes some practice and time to develop, but I know we all have a story to tell and I'm eager to read more.
