Story Craft

Two journalists talk to the bots — who talk back — about the pros and pitfalls of AI

February 16, 2024

"Once we accept that AI is flawed, we can use it responsibly, even relish in what it has to offer." ~ journalism professor Casey Frechette

Story Craft

Writing in bursts of freedom

January 25, 2024

A science journalist who typically writes to a structure experimented with free-form bursts she learned from playing with paint and music

Story Craft

A hockey lover writes a perfect “deke”

January 19, 2024

In a quick personal post, a veteran journalist executes a disciplined fake that keeps readers engaged — and rewards them with a surprise

Story Craft

Gifts for reporters and writers!

December 13, 2023

Just in time for the holidays — or any day — journalist and author Kim Cross shares her must-have reporting and writing tools

Story Craft

A New York Times Insider piece takes readers beyond the public persona

December 1, 2023

David E. Sanger's essay on reporting the advance obit for Henry Kissinger offers insights into the "odd dance" of interviews with power brokers

Story Craft

The Post-it puzzle of a big writing project

November 9, 2023

Author and journalism teacher Mallary Tenore Tarpley uses Post-its and origami paper to outline her reported memoir on eating disorders

Story Craft

Notes from a nonfiction writing workshop

October 26, 2023

From the mountains of Romania to storytellers everywhere: Sharing key lessons from a five-day immersion in craft

Story Craft

How a 9/11 narrative guided a gun violence narrative 22 years later

August 25, 2023

Reporters from The Dallas Morning News pieced together a tick-tock of a deadly mall shooting, starting with "normal aspects of life"

Story Craft

Climbing the “ladder of abstraction” to evoke empathy and elevate your message

May 31, 2023

A concept adapted from theories of rhetoric can help writers choose details that add both intimacy and universality to a story

Story Craft

Endings: How to leave readers satisfied ~ and wanting more

May 19, 2023

In Narrative Elements 4, Lauren Kessler pays practical attention to the oft-neglected challenge of story endings

Story Craft

Character: The beating heart of narrative

May 11, 2023

In Narrative Elements 3, Lauren Kessler outlines the reporting tools that turn predictable profiles into compelling character studies

Story Craft

2023 Power of Narrative: Revving the story engine

May 10, 2023

Atavist editor Seyward Darby on the writing craft that drives readers through a story to the end: Plot, characters, scene