Story Craft

How Stephen Rodrick prepared for his story about ICE occupying a small town

How Stephen Rodrick prepared for his story about ICE occupying a small town

Plus: Audio Flux wants your (short) story, and Tom Junod on publishing his first book at age 67
Getting the story: How 7 writers found their idea and main characters

Getting the story: How 7 writers found their idea and main characters

From the Nieman Storyboard archives: Here are the strategies journalists use to find their next big story
High-impact storytelling in college admissions essays, and what we can learn from it

High-impact storytelling in college admissions essays, and what we can learn from it

Roy Peter Clark shares lessons from his latest book, and calls on journalists to share their knowledge with the next generation
How to end a story

How to end a story

A Zoom with Susan Orlean reveals an ending for Ellie Silverman’s story about a D.C. officer five years after Jan. 6, 2021
Author Grace Talusan on going to uncomfortable places in your writing

Author Grace Talusan on going to uncomfortable places in your writing

Talusan, who teaches creative nonfiction at Brown University, asks her students to first challenge themselves in small ways
The art of dialogue: 5 conversations from great narrative stories

The art of dialogue: 5 conversations from great narrative stories

From the Nieman Storyboard archives: How journalists capture dialogue between a character and friends, strangers, and themselves
How the team behind the ‘American Shrapnel’ podcast helped their sources feel safe

How the team behind the ‘American Shrapnel’ podcast helped their sources feel safe

As a reporting team revisited a series of bombings across the South in the 1990s, fears of political backlash remained prevalent
Meet the main characters: How six writers introduce their subjects to the reader

Meet the main characters: How six writers introduce their subjects to the reader

From the Nieman Storyboard archives: the descriptions, the scenes, and the internal thoughts that bring characters to life in narrative nonfiction
Behind the Scenes: Burkhard Bilger weaves humor and history into a story about teeth for The New Yorker

Behind the Scenes: Burkhard Bilger weaves humor and history into a story about teeth for The New Yorker

The New Yorker staff writer shares his own dental history to tell a story about America's ailing health care system
From index cards to interviews: Eight journalists on reporting and writing scenes

From index cards to interviews: Eight journalists on reporting and writing scenes

Nieman Storyboard's archive of lessons and advice from some of the most memorable narrative nonfiction