Story Craft

Dancing your way into the art of writing

Shop Class: A science freelancer opens herself to the syntax of traditional Indian dance — and the possibilities of free writing

By Jyoti Madhusoodanan • January 23, 2020

Free writing: Releasing your inner artist

Shop Class: Moving your fingers to get out of your head and into your story

By Jacqui Banaszynski • January 23, 2020

Notable Narratives

Four hundred years of harsh history delivered in 8,000 unflinching words

Nikole Hannah-Jones anchors "The 1619 Project" in the New York Times with a "reported essay" that weaves historical events and personal experience

By Lisa Grace Lednicer • January 17, 2020

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Julia Shipley

Tom Warhover

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5 Questions

When the story we cover becomes our own

By Chip Scanlan

January 9, 2020

A reporter chronicles the shutdown of a factory and the closing of his newspaper, capturing a familiar “cycle of death and exodus”

Why's This So Good?

Not just another sappy Christmas story

By Dean Rea and Jacqui Banaszynski

January 3, 2020

Letters to Santa, seen through the eyes of a veteran journalist, reveal the wonders and worries of childhood

Story Craft

The narrative of the year behind? Start now

By Jacqui Banaszynski and Thomas Curwen

January 1, 2020

Thomas Curwen of the Los Angeles Times reminds us of all the (beautiful) news that wouldn't fit in 2019

Narrative News

A career newspaperwoman visits the Newseum in its final days

By Lisa Grace Lednicer

December 31, 2019

She captures the emotional rise and fall of America's "temple to journalism"

Short Takes

Gratitude Notes (#28): A writer’s wish for the ages

December 31, 2019

Short Takes

Gratitude Notes (#27): Readers who reach out, sources who let us in

December 30, 2019

Short Takes

Gratitude Notes (#26): The internet as archival magic

December 29, 2019

Short Takes

Gratitude Notes (#25): Classic guides, classy pens, fast keyboards and supportive friends

December 27, 2019

Short Takes

Gratitude Notes (#24): Shorthand and a driver’s license

December 26, 2019

Short Takes

Gratitude Notes (#23): Family, friends and a borrowed cabin in the woods

December 25, 2019

Short Takes

Gratitude Notes (#22): Carved ducks and coffee

December 24, 2019

How the New Yorker's Paige Williams makes it work

Annotation Tuesday!

The chronic pain of runaway medical debt

By Trevor Pyle

December 24, 2019

An investigative narrative exposes a system where the bounty hunter rules