Articles

“The Revolutionary Hill Estates had not been designed to accommodate a tragedy.”

—Richard Yates, “Revolutionary Road."
Katharine Seelye and "Life on an Island: Silence, Beauty and a Long Wait for the Ferry"

Katharine Seelye and “Life on an Island: Silence, Beauty and a Long Wait for the Ferry”

In a lyrical New York Times story that resonated with readers, the writer juxtaposes the hardship and the loveliness of winter on a remote Maine island
Eva Holland and "Get Schooled in the No-Nonsense Art of Survival"

Eva Holland and “Get Schooled in the No-Nonsense Art of Survival”

Writing for Outside magazine on an "Extreme Polar" camp, she decides to focus on fun -- and wonder -- instead of macho explorer suffering

“If I were hauling 600 miles across the Arctic, I’d choose J. for stamina and his uncomplaining nature … “

—Leanne Shapton, The New York Times Magazine, March 20, 2016.
Writing through a whiteout: David Grann and "The White Darkness"

Writing through a whiteout: David Grann and “The White Darkness”

In his New Yorker piece on an explorer following Shackleton's footsteps in Antarctica, the reporter struggled through his own writing blizzard
Syria's "selfie teen" highlights the devastation of war -- and the fog of war

Syria’s “selfie teen” highlights the devastation of war — and the fog of war

The blond, baby-faced 15-year-old has captured international attention with his videos and tweets, but it's hard to piece together the whole story

“The American people want someone to articulate their rage for them.”

—Paddy Chayefsky, “Network.”
Pacific Standard's executive editor shares some do's and don'ts on pitching stories

Pacific Standard’s executive editor shares some do’s and don’ts on pitching stories

Jennifer Sahn also mounts a defense of the overwhelmed editor, and why you might not hear back right away when you email

“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, not the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”

—Ecclesiastes 9:11, King James Version
What Journalists Need to Know About Writing Screenplays

What Journalists Need to Know About Writing Screenplays

Narrative writers on the similarities—and crucial differences—between journalism and screenwriting