Prized Writing 2014-2015 - Slingin’ Ink Samantha Brooks

Sep 13, 2026

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A first-person journalism profile explains how Tony Mercado’s identity and career evolved from soldier to tattoo artist, using vivid scene-setting and direct voice to hold a general audience’s interest. The narrative introduces his appearance, shop setting, and signature tattoo imagery, then traces his pathway into body art through early experimentation, Army service, and later apprenticeship. The piece highlights journalistic angles, character details, and clarity of prose to show how experiences become permanent and meaningful.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

Slingin’ Ink Samantha Brooks

Writer’s Comment

Instructor’s Comment

Profile Narrative

Prized Writing 2014-2015 herself, even though it’s just the two of us talking. I say y’all rather than you because I understand that my friend doesn’t exist in a vacuum – indeed, none of us do. At its simplest, y’all is a contraction of you and all. You – you are you, I am me, and for the sake of this sentence I must distinguish between you and me; and all – even as I separate myself from you, I do not isolate you. I understand that when I speak to you, I must consider more than just the person standing in front of me. I acknowledge that you are part of something bigger, something stronger and more important than the word you alone can hope to convey. You are a sibling, a parent, a friend, a teacher, a student. As one human being to another, and with all the love in my Texas-bred heart, I speak to all of you. Slingin’ Ink Samantha BrookS Writer ’s Comment: When I met Tony Mercado, he was not the stereotypical tattoo artist I was expecting. I scheduled an interview with Mercado over the phone and envisioned the kind of person I was going to meet – someone probably bald with a scraggly beard, dirty jeans and an oversized T-shirt is what came to mind. And tattoos, obviously. Tony has a lot of tattoos, so I got that part right, but that was pretty much it. He was clean-cut, friendly, and rather charming, if I’m being honest. I showed up to the interview with all my questions written out and expected my finished paper to have an edgy ring to it– which in the end, it sort of did, but not in the way I had anticipated. Within minutes of meeting him I knew that I was going to have to put a totally different spin on this profile than I initially planned. When I left the parlor, Isat down in my car and thought to myself,“How on earth am I going to start this piece?” I then realized that I had to approach this not head-on, but at the proper angle–putting Mercado’s background at the forefront. Like tattoos, experiences are permanent, and with a little bit of detail, you can learn a lot about someone from looking at them. Instructor’s Comment: For their second major assignment, students in my UWP 104C: Journalism class write a 1,500-word profile piece. This article requires them to find an angle that will interest a general audience and to capture details, both large and small. Samantha immediately understood that Mercado’s journey from soldier to tattoo artist could interest a broad audience. That provides the foundation for a great article. Throughout it, she captures her subject’s voice in an exemplary way. Readers experience Mercado’s sarcastic sense of humor, with voices of his co-workers sprinkled in for additional verisimilitude. Through it all, Samantha demonstrates many of the finest journalistic skills: finding the right subject, noting the important details of that subject’s world, and conveying that information in clear prose. – Nathaniel Williams, University Writing Program 4 5 Prized Writing 2014-2015 Tony Mercado is a big fan of needles. In fact, he uses them almost every day. It hasn’t always been this way for 30-year-old Mercado. Standing beside the counter of a tattoo and piercing shop in Davis, California, I introduced myself to the tattoo artist and shook a uniquely decorated hand. The artist flaunts numerous tattoos, including the words “VIDA AMOR”(“Love Life”) written across his two hands – a letter on each knuckle. Shoulders slumped and chest thrust, Mercado emanates a charming confidence that gives a friendly air to our conversation. Neatly styled hair, dark eyes and similar facial features complement his crisp plaid shirt, corduroy pants and overall sharpness. If his forearms were trees, the ink on his wrists and hands would be the roots and grass of a picturesque scene. His long sleeves conceal broad arms with presumably many more tattoos. Those exposed on his open skin are colorful and captivating. After getting acquainted and grabbing a Sprite from the bakery next door, Mercado and I w

FAQs

Who is the subject of the profile?

The profile centers on Tony Mercado, a tattoo and piercing artist.

What earlier experiences shaped Mercado’s tattooing background?

Mercado began experimenting in ninth grade with a homemade tattoo machine, then resumed more seriously about 10 years later while in the Army.

How did Mercado transition from military service to professional tattooing?

After serving for 11 years, he practiced by offering free tattoos to friends and later developed his skills through apprenticeship in Sacramento.

Sep 13, 2026

Upload by Hazel