Articles

Inside an award-winning book proposal

Inside an award-winning book proposal

Plus: Lessons from an author after the book comes out, and tell us your favorite stories in song
June 12, 2026
Mark Armstrong
Annotation: The award-winning book proposal that became Lorraine Boissoneault's ‘Body Weather’

Annotation: The award-winning book proposal that became Lorraine Boissoneault’s ‘Body Weather’

Boissoneault, whose proposal won the J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award in 2024, breaks down how she wrote it
June 10, 2026
Erika Hayasaki
Summer inspiration for journalists and writers

Summer inspiration for journalists and writers

Plus: Season Two of Nieman Storyboard’s podcast is coming soon, and is an MFA worth it?
June 5, 2026
Mark Armstrong
How 5 journalists structured their stories to hook readers

How 5 journalists structured their stories to hook readers

From the Nieman Storyboard archives: How writers craft their stories to build momentum and cohesion
June 4, 2026
Emilia Wisniewski
A closer look at a Pulitzer finalist story about mental illness and recovery

A closer look at a Pulitzer finalist story about mental illness and recovery

Rachel Aviv's annotations on a woman's schizophrenia diagnosis. Plus: Asking editors the right questions
May 29, 2026
Mark Armstrong
Annotation: Rachel Aviv on reporting and writing her Pulitzer finalist story about a schizophrenia diagnosis

Annotation: Rachel Aviv on reporting and writing her Pulitzer finalist story about a schizophrenia diagnosis

The New Yorker staff writer talks about finding the right story structure and working with a family to access medical records and journals
May 28, 2026
Mallary Tenore Tarpley
Scenes from National Magazine Award winners

Scenes from National Magazine Award winners

Plus: More AI cautionary tales, how to create a book X-ray, and a Nieman Fellow's new book on writing
May 22, 2026
Mark Armstrong
Your next story is outside

Your next story is outside

Plus: Tell us your favorite graduation speech, ProPublica's new podcast, and a rejoinder to AI slop
May 15, 2026
Mark Armstrong
Finding the narrative in small-town libraries and bars: How Keith O’Brien told the origin story of Larry Bird

Finding the narrative in small-town libraries and bars: How Keith O’Brien told the origin story of Larry Bird

For his book “Heartland,” O’Brien visited the basketball legend’s hometown in French Lick, Indiana, to uncover a story never told
May 14, 2026
Emilia Wisniewski
Behind the scenes as a Pulitzer juror

Behind the scenes as a Pulitzer juror

And Aaron Parsley dedicates the Feature Writing honor to his nephew. Plus: 2027 Nieman Fellows, and IRE Award winners
May 8, 2026
Mark Armstrong