Story Craft

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

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

By Jacqui Banaszynski • December 1, 2023

Former U.S. Secretary of State and controversial career diplomat Henry Kissinger, who died this week (Nov. 29, 2023) at age 100.

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Strictly Q&A

Jennifer Senior follows a personal trail to undo the erasure of her disabled aunt

The Atlantic writer uncovers the painful truth behind the treatment of a generation of Americans warehoused in asylums and denied by families

By Carly Stern • November 29, 2023

From the Editor

A “gratitude alphabet” as writing practice

The editor embraces a columnist's invitation to use the alphabet as a meditation on gratitude and a celebration of words

By Jacqui Banaszynski • November 28, 2023

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Personal Essays

Two Native American journalists talk turkey about Thanksgiving

By Jason Begay
November 23, 2023

University of Montana journalist Jason Begay, of the Navajo Nation, talks to Washington Post journalist Dana Hedgpeth, of the Haliwa-Saponi tribe, about living with and correcting history

Personal Essays

A journalist’s journey into her family story leads to a history of American pie

By Dustin Renwick
November 22, 2023

Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle baked a humble dessert into a big idea

From the Editor

Taking aim at gun violence coverage

By Jacqui Banaszynski
November 21, 2023

The Washington Post publishes a daring project with never-before-seen photos of the aftermath of mass shootings

Story Annotations

Peek inside a successful book proposal

By Carly Stern
November 17, 2023

Author Kim Cross annotates the lengthy proposal that landed a contract for the book that revisits the 1993 Polly Klaas kidnapping

Narrative News

A newspaper re-embraces print

By Jacqui Banaszynski
November 15, 2023

The Guardian again bets on elegant design, elegant writing and a print publication to showcase the best of in-depth nonfiction journalism

Strictly Q&A

Nonfiction author Kim Cross breaks down how to sell a book proposal

By Carly Stern
November 17, 2023

The narrative journalist details the upside of rejection, the importance of timing, the value of a good agent and the reality of advances

From the Editor

Will history be served by email clutter?

By Jacqui Banaszynski
November 15, 2023

The editor reflects on some overzealous inbox housecleaning — and frets about gaps left by our erasure of digital ephemera

Story Craft

The Post-it puzzle of a big writing project

By Mallary Tenore Tarpley
November 9, 2023

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

One Great Moment

“…last straws and camels’ backs…”

By Jacqui Banaszynski
November 8, 2023

Charles P. Pierce (paraphrased) on college basketball coach Bobby Knight

From the Editor

The core role of editors in trustworthy journalism

By Jacqui Banaszynski
November 7, 2023

In frenzied times and a strained news economy, editors are often the first to be cut — just when they are needed more than ever

One Great Moment

“History is a merciless judge.”

By Jacqui Banaszynski
November 2, 2023

David Grann in his nonfiction book "Killers of the Flower Moon"

From the Editor

Story craft and presence is what the journalist brings to chaos

By Jacqui Banaszynski
October 31, 2023

The editor reflects on a discouraging week of news — and the value of bearing witness in the face of that news

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