Story Craft

A magazine writer and editor shares real-life lessons from 50 years of interviewing: It's not a conversation and you are not a supplicant

A journalist starting her career turned to the older generation of "new journalists" to learn the skills and ethics of narrative

A round-about tip, a dogged pursuit and some creative tactics made the career of a young reporter and helped end a war

A kitchen renovation reminds a writer that not every story can be saved without a complete rewrite and a thoughtful blueprint

After four years reporting, writing and rewriting, a first-time book author sends in her manuscript — then braces for another year-plus of work

A Seattle Times intern resisted easy news angles to learn the truth of recovery for five women mountain bikers who survived a cougar attack

A last phase of interviewing is to gather the details that create cinematic scenes written with a distinct POV and camera lens

A matrix of spreadsheets and physical calendars can help a writer organize notes, track scenes and visualize a story timeline

To gather the goods for a successful narrative, a central focus of interviewing needs to track the journey of situation or event

A narrative journalist and nonfiction author shares how she pre-reports to find a viable story and a compelling central character