Nieman Storyboard

Sasha Bonét on ‘leaving room for the story to shape itself’ and how a family home can become a character

Podcast

Sasha Bonét on ‘leaving room for the story to shape itself’ and how a family home can become a character

The writer and cultural critic breaks down her approach on interviewing, research, and story structure for her memoir, “The Waterbearers”

Christina M. Tapper

How we reveal our character

From the Editor

How we reveal our character

Scenes from an election week. Plus: Selling a book proposal and the value of a ‘flop’

Mark Armstrong

National Book Award finalist Claudia Rowe on writing about teens and the foster care system

Podcast

National Book Award finalist Claudia Rowe on writing about teens and the foster care system

The author of ‘Wards of the State’ on preparing sources to be part of a book and covering the foster care system-to-incarceration pipeline

Marina Leigh

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

Story Craft

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

Tricia Romano

Nieman Storyboard’s guides on storytelling

The art of pitching: How to sell your book or story idea

Story Craft

The art of pitching: How to sell your book or story idea

Editors from The Atavist, Wired, and more share what they’re looking for in a story or book proposal.
How to craft a narrative: Everything you need to know

Story Craft

How to craft a narrative: Everything you need to know

A four-part series on the key elements of nonfiction storytelling, including scene, character and endings.

Lauren Kessler

The Nieman Storyboard guide to books on storytelling

Story Craft

The Nieman Storyboard guide to books on storytelling

Journalists, authors, producers, filmmakers, and Nieman Storyboard readers share more than 40 books that inspire their work.

Mallary Tenore Tarpley

How to interview for narrative vs. news

Story Craft

How to interview for narrative vs. news

From broad and open-ended to narrow and specific: Journalist Kim Cross’s five-part series on interviewing for narrative nonfiction.

Kim Cross

Strictly Q&A

Sasha Bonét on ‘leaving room for the story to shape itself’ and how a family home can become a character

Podcast Strictly Q&A

Sasha Bonét on ‘leaving room for the story to shape itself’ and how a family home can become a character

The writer and cultural critic breaks down her approach on interviewing, research, and story structure for her memoir, “The Waterbearers”

Christina M. Tapper

National Book Award finalist Claudia Rowe on writing about teens and the foster care system

Podcast Strictly Q&A

National Book Award finalist Claudia Rowe on writing about teens and the foster care system

The author of ‘Wards of the State’ on preparing sources to be part of a book and covering the foster care system-to-incarceration pipeline

Marina Leigh

Journalist Kate Sosin on covering trans issues in the age of Trump 2.0

Strictly Q&A

Journalist Kate Sosin on covering trans issues in the age of Trump 2.0

“As a trans person, I have to write news that makes me want to get up in the morning … stories that are more constructive than just, ‘Here's another thing that has been taken away from you.’”

Carly Stern

Story Annotations

Megan Greenwell on holding out for the once-in-a-lifetime book idea

Story Annotations

Megan Greenwell on holding out for the once-in-a-lifetime book idea

The author of “Bad Company” on the merits of waiting until she was seized by an obsession and couldn’t let go

Carly Stern

Behind the Scenes: Bloomberg examines a private detention center and a town 'Addicted to ICE'

Story Annotations

Behind the Scenes: Bloomberg examines a private detention center and a town 'Addicted to ICE'

Rachel Adams-Heard, Polly Mosendz, and Fola Akinnibi looked at local government agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain immigrants in New Mexico

Mark Armstrong

A profile of a newspaper press becomes a requiem for an era

Story Annotations

A profile of a newspaper press becomes a requiem for an era

Los Angeles Times veteran Thomas Curwen found professionalism and pride in the last Friday night run of the newspaper's storied presses

Trevor Pyle

Finding a quiet voice in the center of America’s screaming immigration debate

Story Annotations

Finding a quiet voice in the center of America’s screaming immigration debate

The Washington Post's Ruby Cramer profiled a small-city selectman caught in the crossfire of fear, anger and blame over asylum seekers

Trevor Pyle

Story Craft

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

Emilia Wisniewski

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

Tricia Romano

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

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

Emilia Wisniewski

In praise of outtakes: How journalists make the most of their story cuts

In praise of outtakes: How journalists make the most of their story cuts

Mallary Tenore Tarpley

Nieman Storyboard Newsletter

The art of listening

From the Editor

The art of listening

Sasha Bonét on structuring a memoir. Plus: Pamela Colloff on getting unstuck, European Press Prize, and more

Mark Armstrong

How we reveal our character

From the Editor

How we reveal our character

Scenes from an election week. Plus: Selling a book proposal and the value of a ‘flop’

Mark Armstrong

Storytelling with humility (and teeth)

From the Editor

Storytelling with humility (and teeth)

The New Yorker's Burkhard Bilger goes to ‘Molar City.’ Plus: Dana Hedgpeth on history’s lessons, and a tribute to a beloved Los Angeles Times mentor

Mark Armstrong

‘Surprise is magic in journalism’

From the Editor

‘Surprise is magic in journalism’

Author Claudia Rowe on writing about the foster care system. Plus: Keeping your day job while publishing books with Erin Somers

Mark Armstrong